Another cracking read, with the elderly detectives and their team taking on the tragic death of a baby. For this story, they return to the world of the theatre and have to solve the apparent locked room murder of the child by the sinister Punch of Punch and Judy fame.

Meanwhile, a subplot concerning Bryant's memoirs sets up a future plotline and holds the promise of explaining the persistent malice of Whitehall official, Oskar Kasavian, who has plotted throughout the series to shut down the Peculiar Crimes Unit. ( )

Peculiar mystery investigated by the Met offshoot Peculiar Crimes Unit. I seem to have missed the magnificence enjoyed by other reviewers. ( )

Another magnificent instalment in this wonderful series. I do hope the last few pages aren't too portentous! ( )

Another classic by Christopher Fowler. Each book is so readable and flawless. ( )

This was an entertaining and enjoyable read - an old-fashioned detective story set in contemporary London, with a bit of social commentary and some interesting historical excursions into the history of Mr Punch. Although this is the first I've read in this series, there were a lot of familiar memes from police TV shows and other books - multiple murders, a special unit with enemies in high places, an incompetent boss, an oddball main detective character who keeps his hunches to himself until the big reveal. At first I thought it was going to be a paranormal story like the Ben Aaronovitch series I read last year (where Mr Punch also made an appearance), but it isn't and I think I enjoyed it more because of that. ( )