Thomas Lang, a 36 year old drifter, previously an officer of the Scots Guards, is offered a contract to murder a wealthy London CEO, which he politely declines. When he goes to Alexander Woolf's flat to warn him, an intruder is waiting. Unfortunately, Land has no choice but to maim or be maimed, and finds himself embroiled in a complicated game without a rule book.
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Thomas Lang, a 36 year old drifter, previously an officer of the Scots Guards, is offered a contract to murder a wealthy London CEO, which he politely declines. When he goes to Alexander Woolf's flat to warn him, an intruder is waiting. Unfortunately, Land has no choice but to maim or be maimed, and finds himself embroiled in a complicated game without a rule book.
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I picked up Hugh Laurie's "The Gun Seller" out of curiosity, since I have been a fan of the actor since his "Blackadder" and "Jeeves and Wooster" days. And yes, the book is quite funny. However, it took me until most of the way through to really become invested in the fate of the protagonist, and sometimes I had a little trouble following the plot. The first half of the book spends most of its time effectively mocking pop-culture tropes, making it difficult to get into the plot, and then the second half of the book speeds towards the climactic action sequences and resolution, and the humor becomes more subdued.
I think the novel achieves its intentions; I just also think that when I pick up a novel, I'm not generally looking for what this book is giving.
So, three stars for a genuinely funny novel that I think many people would probably enjoy very much. Just not my thing, I suppose.
Sunnyside
Dec 28, 2008
Hilarious, witty, entertaining!!
In addition to his acting and musical talents, Hugh Laurie adds writing! This is a fast-paced read, poking fun at spy novels. This book would easily translate to the screen. I can't wait to read his next novel. If he ever gave up the screen (perish the thought!!), he could easily continue his writing career. I gave 2 of these books as presents this year. Don't miss this book!!
awm
Nov 8, 2008
fast paced mystery in Laurie's inimitable voice!!!
I purchased this book for my son s' birthday and decided I wanted a copy for myself..and am so glad I did!! It is a wonderful and refreshing spy thriller written prior to 9-11 that has a good understanding and representation of the way governments work with and against each other. You can clearly hear almost all of the classic Laurie personas he has played over the years and it was written well before House came out...see Black Adder, A bit of Fry and Laurie for some fun...READ THIS BOOK ...you will not be let down!!!
icewarrior31
Apr 3, 2007
If you love Hugh Laurie, you'll love this
This man is brillant, his biography alone is stunning and if you've seen him in House, MD you know what a great actor he is. But all that aside, this is Laurie's first exploration into literature and he delivers a great story. I could really hear the voice of Laurie in his story telling which intern made the characters come alive for me. This is a savvy little spy novel and whether or not you like that type of reading, get this book for the sheer pleasure of letting Hugh Laurie tell you a great story.
