I think I'm one of the few that didn't enjoy the story within a story aspect of this book.
It was cleverly done,and there were definite Christie vibes,but for me I just felt it too disjointed,and possibly one twist too many

This had me in mind of Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - not for the story but the sheer complexity of working out what was going on (in a good way!) and this novel is of that mindset. The man in this book, Grant McAllister, a professor of Mathematics, came up with a rule book of sorts which he could apply to books of crime fiction. He then wrote a few stories - 7 - to be exact - that adhered to these rules. Since then he's lived the life of a recluse on an island far from anyone or anything.

Enter an editor from London who wants to republish this book. They go over the stories but Grant remembers them differently now and the stories have changed. They're Christie type stories and many novels such as Ten Little Indians come into play. Alongside these stories is the main story which unfolds between Grant and this editor, Julia. Each story leads into their story. Am I making sense? This is so hard to explain without giving any clues away!

Let's just say I would never have thought that golden age crime stories and maths would or could go so well together. Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd write.

Many years ago Grant McAllister, a professor of Mathematics, came up with rules applying to murder fiction. He then wrote seven stories that were perfect examples of this to him. The book had little interest and he now lives on a Mediterranean island in peace and seclusion. His peace is disturbed by the arrival of Julia Hart, an editor, whose publisher wants to reprint the book. Julia reads each story to Grant and then asks him about them. There are some inconsistencies in the stories and his answers to questions.

The stories themselves are very Christie-esque. They are of a time and style that any Agatha fan would understand and recognise. We have variations on a victim(s) and a detective(s) in various settings. There is even an homage to "Ten Little Indians". The stories themselves are good enough. However it is the extended story about Grant's memories and Julia's interest that is the real story here for me.

With the telling of each story we expand the narrative of what takes place between Julia and Grant. There are tensions here. Grant seems uncomfortable with the scrutiny of his stories. Julia seems determined to extract background both on the stories and on Grant's life. I enjoyed this.

All in all I found this a curiously different idea. The explanation of detective stories via mathematics was intriguing. The whole broader picture I really did find entertaining. What about the ending I hear you ask. Well in true Christie style my lips are sealed however I did find the ending satisfying. Aspects of it I had my suspicions about - some parts took me by surprise. This may be a book for fans of a particular genre however I think many of them would find this entertaining as I did.

I adored this book and read it pretty much in one sitting.

Titled "The Eighth Detective" in the UK this is a Christie-esque puzzle that offers not just one crime tale but several, as an editor works with an author on a book of short stories...these stories all together offer up a particularly intelligent formula that doesn't show it's true face until the end. Eight Detectives is clever, involving and has a practically styled prose that keeps you immersed throughout.

What DOES make a good crime novel - this is the theme Eight Detectives explores throughout it's twisty narrative, where the stories themselves speak to a wider mystery and the effect of reader and author is key 

I haven't read a book like this before and as a huge Agatha Christie fan it was a genuine joy to read offering a homage to that greatest of crime novelists whilst also being entirely it's own thing.

Definitely one to watch in 2020. Highly Recommended.

I was sold on Eight Detectives from the description, but rarely have I been so let down by a book. The quality of the writing was frequently poor (especially towards the beginning, although it improved in the later stories) and there was little by way of narrative tension. If you're a fan of classic crime fiction and would like to read a modern novel that plays with the plots and tropes of the Golden Age novels, I'd recommend Rules For Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson which, while still not perfect, does what this seems to set out to do in a much more readable way.