Sat 5 Feb 2011
A Review by Ray O’Leary: KINGSLEY AMIS – The Crime of the Century.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[3] Comments
KINGSLEY AMIS – The Crime of the Century. Mysterious Press, US, hardcover, 1989; reprint paperback, October 1990. UK edition: J. M. Dent, trade paperback, 1989.
In London, three women are found stabbed to death within a few days, each with a similar “clue” planted on the Body. So the Police have a Serial Killer on their hands, and to quiet growing unrest, the Under-Secretary, with the wisdom of his breed, forms a Committee to deal with the problem.
But as the murders continue, it becomes obvious to one of the Committee-Men that the Killer must be one of his fellow-members.
Crime of the Century was originally a serial in the Sunday London Times in 1975, and like most serials it’s passably entertaining but ponderously lightweight. Amis fills the Committee (read Suspect list) with every modem “type” he or I could imagine, and rings in some rather banal Red Herrings, such as the Terrorist Group extorting money and the Nice Guy who suffers Mysterious Blackouts.
After the Fifth Installment in the Times, readers were invited to submit their own endings, and the winner is reprinted here, along with Amis’ own finish. I hate to say it, but the Winner’s solution was a bit better.
February 5th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
This is a book I don’t remember seeing when it came out. If I did, I probably turned thumbs down on it right away because of the serial killer aspect.
But even though Ray’s report on it is only so-so, if I see this again, and on sale for not a lot of money, I’m more inclined now to like the puzzle part of it, so I’ll be a lot more likely to look at it a bit longer, next time.
February 5th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
The best way to read this is in weekly installments as it ran in THE TIMES.
As Ray says it’s light fare, but enjoyable from Amis always sprightly mind. For a bit better mystery by the author check out THE RIVERSIDE VILLA MURDERS, which might be described as an Agatha Christie plot crossed with the sexual coming of age of an adolescent.
A bit better serial novel is Roger Ebert’s entertaining BEHIND THE PHANTOM’S MASK, which has a bit of everything thrown in.
February 7th, 2011 at 6:59 am
Ray, you should win the Pulitzer for the phrase “ponderously lightweight.”