This book creates an unusual context for seven detective stories. The overall setting for these is a research paper created by Grant McAllister in which,many years ago,he analysed the essential components of detective fiction. The separate murder mysteries demonstrate these themes. That is an interesting glue to hold the separate short stories together. Grant and his partner moved to a remote island many years ago but only one of them is alive. The survivor is visited by Julia who wants to question Grant about his original thesis and an unpublishe book about White murders written a long time ago.She is in many ways acting as a detective on Grant's case. Much of the book is to do with the anomalies she discovers in the early short stories and she wants to know if the mistakes were accidental or a means of holding readers' attention. The whole package moves to an unexpected conclusion. The best of the book is the short murder stories. The attempt to analyse what makes a gripping murder mystery is more of an effort for the reader. The book achieves its importance by pursuing an unusual idea.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc. I was intrigued by the premise and the book within the book is one of my favourite tropes so I was excited to read this.
This follows our writer Grant who lives on a Mediterranean island. He published a book of short stories in 1940 with a small publishing company, which barely sold 100 copies. Now many years later (it's not clearly specified what year the novel is set in) an editor, Julia, from a publishing company that specialises in crime fiction wants to republish the short story collection with a new introduction and an explanation for the stories. As time goes on Julia begins to notice similarities to a real-life crime that happened in 1940 and took place on Hampstead Heath. Is there more to these stories than meets the eye?...What is Grant hiding?...
The story for this was promising and hooked me in, however half through I realised what this book was and it just didn't work for me. Basically the Grant and Julia storyline is barely in this book, and this is mostly a collection of short stories written in Agatha Christie style. I liked the first short story about the two people in Spain and the one that follows a woman who is having dinner in a top floor restaurant when she sees a burning building, but the others just didn't intrigue me much and I found the ending of the short stories rather abrupt and hurried. The main problem for me was that I just couldn't connect to most of these characters, and the mathematical theory aspect of this novel which sounded intriguing was actually rather basic with victims, suspects, murderers etc. Overall as a novel Eight Detectives fell flat for me, because what I got was eight short stories held together by a thin narrative. Had the short stories been shorter, and the main narrative more fleshed out and better plotted this might've worked. Unfortunately this was no The Shadow of the Wind. This isn't a bad book by any means, but it just didn't meet my expectations. If you enjoy short stories and love the Golden Age of Mysteries, then maybe you'll like. 3/5

This was a good murder mystery that felt very Agatha Christie. I did enjoy it but towards the end I felt it dragged a bit. I loved the premise of this book and the description of a nesting doll describes it so well. I enjoyed the mysteries and I did guess a few things. The books is clever but for me there was something that held me back from loving the book.
It begins with a mystery story then the next chapter shows that it was just a story. The story then alternates between the stories written by the author and an interview with the author. I found it to be engaging and it requires you to be involved and try to figure out the mysteries.
The characters were okay, I didn’t really connect to them and I felt they could have been developed more.
Overall I did really enjoy this book and I know that others will enjoy it.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 - Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi.⁣
⁣
Thank you @michaeljbooks for approving this ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.⁣
⁣
I cannot recommend this to all thriller and murder mystery lovers. This book was quite unlike anything I have read before, completely original. I absolutely loved having 'short stories within the bigger story' concept, a unique element that is new to me.⁣
⁣
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I've been reading a lot of crime novels lately and found myself guessing the endings/ not really being surprised anymore but Eight Detectives has changed that. It was a completely different experience and so cleverly written. I am so glad I've been given the opportunity to read it.⁣
⁣
It is out August 20th and I recommend you get this in your pre orders.

This is a really quirky and well plotted book.

Twenty years ago Grant McAllister wrote a series of short murder mysteries to prove that all detective stories have the same mathematical structure.
Editor Julia Hart is looking at the book for republication and the impoverished author is keen to do so.

What follows is very clever, seven very well written and clever mini detective stories but then twists and turns and links to other events and people.
I loved it.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so unlike anything else I’ve ever read!

I really enjoyed the individual murder mystery stories and the main overarching storyline. I did t guess any of the mini story endings correctly or the main story arch, the twist took me entirely by surprise. I won’t spoil the ending though...

If you like a murder mystery, this is for you!

This book offers a range of short stories all held together with an extended interview between a fictional writer and editor about the nature of murder mysteries. The stories explore some of the main permutations of classic crime that people will be familiar with from writers like the great Agatha Christie, but the stories are then discussed and dissected.

The stories are framed by the discussion between Julia Hart, a book editor, who has travelled to an island in the Mediterranean to interview a writer, Grant McAllister, with a view to republishing his 30 year old book, 'The White Murders'. Each of the 7 stories in this book is presented and discussed by Julia and Grant, the latter sharing his mathematical analysis of detective fiction - sets and subsets of victims and detectives and killers which allow for unlimited combinations in the imagination of the crime writer.

I'm actually in two minds about this book. It is a clever idea and I liked the stories and the analysis generally. However, I did feel like some of the stories were so open that there weren't really enough clues for the reader which did kind of undermine my investment in the stories a bit - something that was utterly confirmed for me by other developments in the story's denouement.

Overall, I can see that some will read and love this - it is clever and engaging. For me, I like a bit more emotional investment in my detective stories that I didn't really find here - I'm not sure if it was the short story element or the mathematical approach that stopped me from engaging fully. However, it is definitely worth a read for fans of detective fiction as it is unusual and surprising.

A brilliant little puzzle of a book. Editor Julia Hart visits reclusive author and mathematician Grant McAllister to discuss a reissue of his book. He has devised a mathematical formula for murder mysteries, mapping out a set of rules which all detective fiction follows. While they read over his work together, Julia picks up on a number of inconsistencies and begins to suspect a real murder mystery lies behind the stories...

This is a really clever, tightly plotted book with stories within stories all unravelling towards an exceptionally twisty ending. A suitably sharp homage to Agatha Christie and the Golden Age of crime fiction. Would highly recommend for any murder mystery enthusiast.

What an unusual book!


I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book as I'm not keen on short stories.

Alex Pavesi has very cleverly threaded all the stories together into a wonderful patchwork tale.

Quite unlike anything I've read before.

Some of the maths went right over my head but that didn't lessen the enjoyment of this little gem.

“Grant McAllister, a maths professor, has written down the rules for murder mysteries. There must always be a victim, a suspect, a detective and then, you just have to shuffle the sequence and expand the permutations.

One day, Julia Hart shows at his door, wanting to republish his book and they both spend time revisiting his writing. But when Julie notices inconsistencies in the stories she wonders if these were just mistakes or if in reality they are clues, and she finds herself in a mystery of her own. “

Reading books within a book was a phenomenal idea. Although it took me a few chapters to get into this book I ended up really enjoying it.

I loved the idea and how nothing ever really is what it seems. I was hoping for a different ending but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

It is such a great twist to a book and proof that, even if murder mysteries are a recipe that need a few essential ingredients, everyone can add their own spices and even a secret twist that will change and break the rules.

I really enjoyed the fact that this book had layers of mystery and it was really great trying to find out what was happening throughout the reading.

Keep a detective hat on whilst you read and try to piece the puzzle together. I find it really interesting and I was completely wrong most of the time.

I did really enjoy Eight Detectives (or The Eight Detective) and highly recommend it to people who enjoy reading really interesting and modern murder mysteries that will keep wondering about the plot.

I would also like to thank Netgalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Alex Pavesi for a copy of this fantastic book prior to its publishing date in exchange for an honest review

All murder mysteries follow a simple set of rules. Grant McAllister, an author of crime fiction and professor of mathematics, once sat down and worked them all out.
But that was thirty years ago. Now he's living a life of seclusion on a quiet Mediterranean island - until Julia Hart, a sharp, ambitious editor, knocks on his door. His early work is being republished and together the two of them must revisit those old stories: an author, hiding from his past, and an editor, keen to understand it.
But as she reads, Julia is unsettled to realise that there are things in the stories that don't make sense. Intricate clues that seem to reference a real murder, one that's remained unsolved for thirty years.
If Julia wants answers, she must triumph in a battle of wits with a dangerously clever adversary. But she must tread carefully: she knows there's a mystery, but she doesn't yet realise there's already been a murder . . .

My thoughts about this cleverly written brilliant murder mystery
Agatha Christie style suspense was brilliant it starts of with seven elements of short stories that are read by a editor to the original author with some mathematical discussion with each murder mystery stories to find out the links about this 7 short stories leads to a suspense that will give you chills that took my breath away brilliant writing novel that I have not read before what a debut from author Alex Pavesi a outstanding thriller that will take away your breath I would like to say thank you to Michael J Books
Netgalley and Alex Pavesi for a review copy for giving me to read and review this brilliant thriller ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥💥

You know when you’re relieved to have finished a book that it wasn’t a good experience. The premise of this book is that a young female editor visits an elderly author who lives on a Mediterranean island to edit a collection of murder mysteries he wrote decades beforehand. She reads each out loud to him before they discuss it. The author of the stories had also written a research paper on the mathematical definition of the components of the classic murder mystery. You might think this would result in something clever but no! It’s as simple as there has to be a victim or victims, a murderer or murderers, and so on. Each story is dissected to explain how it fits in with his theory. The ending aims to surprise the reader with a twist but any intelligent reader is going to be way ahead of this.

For me, this was a clunky, poorly written book. It is possible that the short stories are written badly on purpose. I hope so because they’re distasteful on the whole and full of dreadful metaphors. Having said that, I don’t think the rest of the book is well written either. It’s clear that the intention was to write a clever variable on classic murder / detective mysteries from The Golden Age but, in my opinion, it fails on all counts. It didn’t give me any pleasure whatsoever.

With thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I’m not sure that I enjoyed it. It’s basically a book of short stories held together by an unlikely narrative. The maths parts are confusing to me and I have maths at A level. Really don’t like either of the two endings either. Granted it’s an unusual story, but didn’t grab me. Sorry. Two stars for the short stories.

A completely unique and original crime novel, Eight Detectives is a clever combination of eight short stories, with an overarching linking plot that clever intertwines them all. I enjoyed each story individually and loved the clever way it combined mathematics with murder to make this is an exceptionally clever puzzle of a book.

Fans of the Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle will love this novel for its classic golden age feel, combined with its incredibly original and gripping twists. I read this breathlessly and applaud Alex Pavesi for his ambition with Eight Detectives.

Crime fiction author Grant McAllister's books are being republished after 30 years. Ambitious editor Julia Hart realises that there are things in the stories which don't make sense. Is there a real murder to solve?

I felt that this really didn't flow well, that the pace was too choppy because there were too many old stories constantly being revisited

Several years ago Grant McAllister wrote and privately published a book of murder mysteries which explained his mathematical definition of what characteristics a murder mystery should contain - suspects, killer or killers, detective or detectives, victim. Now an editor, Julia Hart, has visited him on the Mediterranean island where he now lives. Her boss is interesting in publishing the book and want Grant to work on an introduction with Julie. Julie believes that the stories contained in the book give clues to the murder of a woman in London in 1940.

I read this book in one day. Absolutely loved it. It’s not just one mystery - all the murder mysteries from Grant McAllister’s book are in it too so you get 8 stories in one book. - and they are all very Agathie Christie-esque. Fantastic read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Alex Pavesi for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Well this is probably one of the twistiest books I have ever read! It sort of reminded me of a mash up of And Then There Were None and Clue (the brilliant film with Tim Curry).

Eight Detectives is brilliantly written and makes you doubt everything that you have just read which although at the time I was thinking I would never understand, when I finished I realised how genius this actually was!

The final few chapters had shown me that I didn't really guess anything correctly so I would say this was a complete success.

Happily stumped and highly recommended!

#EightDetectives #NetGalley
It gave me a current of 10000 volts.
Grant McAllister, an author of crime fiction and professor of mathematics, once sat down and worked them all out.
But that was thirty years ago. Now he's living a life of seclusion on a quiet Mediterranean island - until Julia Hart, a sharp, ambitious editor, knocks on his door. His early work is being republished and together the two of them must revisit those old stories: an author, hiding from his past, and an editor, keen to understand it.
But as she reads, Julia is unsettled to realise that there are things in the stories that don't make sense. Intricate clues that seem to reference a real murder, one that's remained unsolved for thirty years.
I loved the narration of the story. Its so different from other psychological thrillers available in the market at this time so I highly recommend it to everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK Michael Joseph for giving me an advanced copy.

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.