Sorry it had to end

I love the way in which Coe incorporates characters from previous novels, the story's breadth and how it develops and of course the characters. The humour is rich and in all the right places. But I did become a tad disinterested by the victims daughter and friends inquiries. He manages to make his novels clever and yet ordinary but always so enjoyable.

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Patchy

Well read, quite entertaining, with both fast-paced and interesting sections contrasting with dull and irrelevant passages. Sample provided in advance of purchase is not representative of story.⁸

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Not a favourite of Jonathan Coe’s novels

The plot seemed to go off a little about half way through and some of the characters were not quite believable. As a native of Cambridge, it was good to hear those references, which were well researched.

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Originality. Done well

Very well written, great narration with some clever angles & twists. Will look for more by Jonathan Coe

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Okay

I finished it, which would not be the case if I disliked it. Some of the story lines were amusing/engaging, but it was a bit unsatisfying as a whole. Also, didn’t Truss last only 42 days, not 50 as claimed in the book? A week more and the UK would have sunk into the ocean!

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The Perfect Pairing of Politics and Whodunit

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest offering from Jonathan Coe. It paid homage to his earlier work, What a Carve Up and the longevity of a certain family of who define right wing Conservatism. I revelled in the whodunit and was held right to the end by the twists and revelations. At times the early parts of the novel almost persuaded me that I was listening to recent Anthony Horowitz novels, but that kept being punctured by the political nature of this clever satire. Whether it finally gives comfort for the future is a question to ask. That identifies me as a sympathiser with Coe’s regret for the loss of a sense of community and shared responsibility rather that each for themselves. I enjoyed the multi-voiced narrations and these added variety and much fun. This I an accomplished novel and a listen that will interest and please any who select it. The clarity of the audio-book is exemplary and it was pleasing to hear that there was an audiobook proof editor. They are well worth their salary.

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Wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking

This is a great listen, with ingenious plotting, interesting and engaging characters, an entertaining variety of literary genres and fascinating political and philosophical commentary, all woven around Liz Truss’s brief and ignominious premiership, The performances are excellent throughout. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Clever and convoluted

I’ve enjoyed most of Jonathan Coe’s previous novels but I think this one is probably my favourite. Convoluted and clever, I really didn’t spot most of the twists coming! An interesting structure with everything weaving together well - and that’s before you even take into account all the wonderful political sideswipes and social statements. A very entertaining, witty and thought provoking novel.
My only slightly negative comment would be that I didn’t find either of the female narrator particularly effective.

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What a blast!

I think Jonathan Coe had an absolute blast writing this, his fifteenth novel. He must have had to draw up extremely complex spread sheets of what all his characters were doing in the present and in the past. What a tangled web indeed, sometimes bewildering to the listener!
Coe swipes at everything and everyone from Liz Truss’s lamentable brief premiership, queues for sighting the Queen’s coffin, the vileness of those with power and privilege, worthless mystery novels and the dire state of book publication then and now, the pursuit of money and the abandonment of principles in the hierarchy, decades-old dark and dirty duplicity in a Cambridge College resurfacing in the present day, the deplorable state of employment with rubbish jobs, and zero hours, the deadly hold of wokery... The list goes on and on. It’s a raucous, passionate, outrageous, witty melange of everything that’s wrong about our present society made wickedly witty and enjoyable.

I liked young Phyl fresh from university with a useless degree living at home and working in a sushi bar. So far so credible, but her final career and choice of partner is gloriously and wickedly woke!

There is a great deal that is sharp and clever throughout, but I particularly liked the theme of the ballad of Lord Randall which one character would mumble in his sleep. I can’t say more without spoiling what I thought was the cleverest (if ridiculous) strand in this massive plait of invention.

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Good Story

Sometimes a bit confusing but overall very enjoyable book. Listened to it this time. Might be better to read so you can go back to check some of the timeline flips.

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