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5 of 6 copies available
Unremarkable legal assistant Gary Thorn goes for a pint with his coworker Brendan, unaware his life is about to change. There, Gary meets a beautiful woman, but she leaves before he catches her name. All he has to remember her by is the title of the book she was reading: The Clementine Complex. And when Brendan goes missing, too, Gary needs to track down the girl he now calls Clementine to get some answers.
And so begins Gary's quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to find some answers and hopefully, some love and excitement in this page-turning, witty, and oddly sweet story with a cast of unforgettable characters.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 5, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797161280
- File size: 199120 KB
- Duration: 06:54:49
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 19, 2023
Comedian Mortimer’s quirky debut novel follows a hapless protagonist on the adventure of a lifetime. Gary Thorn is an awkward 30-year-old legal assistant at a London law firm. When Brandon Jones, a private investigator for the firm, invites Gary for a drink for the umpteenth time, he finally accepts, having run out of viable excuses. After a brief conversation, Brandon gets a phone call and leaves the pub. Gary is pleased and surprised when an attractive woman who had been watching the pair then walks over to him and strikes up a conversation. The two talk for hours, but the woman leaves without giving Gary her name. The following day, two detectives show up at his apartment and inform him that Brandon has been murdered. Gary sets out to find the mysterious woman from the bar, hoping she will provide him with an alibi. The author’s comedy chops translate well to Gary’s deadpan voice (“I’ve never been good at striking up conversations with the opposite sex. I knew what would work for me if the roles were reversed—something like: ‘Do you prefer even or uneven surfaces?’ ”), and he never lets the frantic pace flag. Here’s hoping Mortimer has more mysteries up his sleeve. -
Both narrators are spot-on delivering this lighthearted mystery. Thirty-something Gary Thorn reluctantly meets his colleague, Brandon, for a drink. When Brandon leaves suddenly, Gary starts chatting up a beautiful woman who is carrying a popular book titled THE CLEMENTINE COMPLEX. When Gary goes for more drinks, the woman disappears--leaving the book behind. The next day, Gary learns that Brandon has been murdered. Or has he? Narrator Bob Mortimer gives Gary just the right flippancy. He is terrific as Gary's eccentric neighbor, Grace, making her slightly loopy but undoubtedly in charge. Sally Phillips as the elusive woman sounds as beautiful as Gary describes her. Her attitude is snarky and seductive, while her backstory is performed with just the right tongue-in-cheek tone for this entertaining comic mystery. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine -
June 10, 2024
British comedian Mortimer's (And Away...) debut novel, first released in the UK as The Satsuma Complex, follows Gary Thorn, a British legal assistant with little to distinguish him besides his large nose. Gary meets up with Brendan, a private investigator he knows from work, at a local pub. When Brendan is unexpectedly called away, Gary strikes up a conversation with a pretty woman sitting alone, reading. The two hit it off, but she disappears before Gary can get her name. Fortunately, she leaves her book behind, allowing Gary to use it to track her down. Then Brendan goes missing, and Gary is caught in a web of police corruption that may involve Emily, his mystery woman. When Emily also goes missing, Gary jumps into action. Mortimer and narrator Sally Phillips portray Gary and Emily, respectively, providing energetic and humorous renderings of their interactions. Listeners will enjoy their antics, though remnants from the UK publication may cause some confusion (e.g., the titular clementine is referred to as a satsuma throughout). VERDICT Mortimer spins a hilarious tale populated by outlandish characters with hearts of gold. A perfect fit for listeners who enjoy light, funny mysteries.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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