Oranges and Lemons

Bryant & May, Book 17

By: Christopher Fowler

Narrated by: Tim Goodman

Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

One Sunday morning, the outspoken speaker of the House of Commons steps out of his front door only to be crushed under a mountain of citrus fruit. Bizarre accident or something more sinister? The government needs to know because here's a man whose knowledge of parliament’s biggest secret could put the future of the government at stake.

It should be the perfect case for Bryant and May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit, but unfortunately one detective is in hospital, the other is missing and the staff have all been dismissed. It seems the PCU is no more. But events escalate: a series of brutal crimes seemingly linked to an old English folk-song threatens the very foundation of London society, and suddenly the PCU is offered a reprieve and is back in (temporary) business!

And if the two elderly detectives, ‘old men in a woke world’, do manage to set aside their differences and discover why some of London’s most influential figures are under life-threatening attack, they might not just save the unit but also prevent the entire city from descending into chaos....

©2020 Christopher Fowler (P)2020 W F Howes

Critic reviews

"The most consistently brilliant, entertaining and educational voice in contemporary British crime fiction." (Cathi Unsworth, author of That Old Black Magic)

Love Love Loved it!

This series has been such a bright spot in my life!
As with the preceding books, I laughed from cover to cove - despite the underlying tragedy of guest characters. Fowler, mostly through Arthur Bryant and Raymond Land, is a comedic genius of a clever, informative and subtle sort.
So sad to have finished the book. Now I have to wait another year before the next. I will read many other books this year, but rest assured none will be as entertaining.

Great listen

One of the best Bryant and May novels! As always...perfect narration by Tim Goodman.

As usual a great story.

Hope this isn't the last of the series, it would be like losing old friends.

Absolutely wonderful

Always a pleasure to listen to Bryant & May. Christopher Fowler, you have done it again...

Tons of mouth noises

Another great book in the series - my 1st time with the audio version. Narrator's performance is fine but he makes a ton of soft mouth noises like his lips stick together. Had to force myself to finish.

Only B&M to make my cry

I have read all of these books but in this one Fowler covertly takes on what has been going on in the world, the ugliness and inequity, and writes an excellent story about it. As usual I had no idea who the villain was, and it is the speech by this so called villain that made me cry because (this sounds heavy handed and prescriptive but it was not) the world had made them so. Fowler actually has a new young character who is an interesting counterpart to Bryant (though don't let May go anywhere please). The usual rollicking mythology, London love, and labyrinthine plot but there was something extra here that reflects the world right now and also felt quite sorrowful.

Memorable

These books always make me laugh out loud and I am so grateful there is somebody who can write something so funny and so poignant at the same time. It is also great to see Raymond Land take center stage For a few moments as he has always been an important character

listened twice!

And I could listen to a third time. This is one of the best in the series. Fowler was at his best. The language, too, is part of the ride. Plots & personalities interweave unexpectedly, yes...suprises...& the character development is fabulous; wonderful historic & geographic elements sweep you along like a Greek chorus. You can even follow them along by Google maps.
Tim Goodman is SO good at the narration it is...acting each character clearly. Overall too, one could listen to his voice (and voices) all day long.
By the end of the last book things were uneasy about the partings occuring between them all. Here we be reassured that The Pecular Crimes Unit, Bryant & May, et al, still have a rabbit up their sleeves. Yay!

The Bryant and May series is a virtual gold mine!

Tim Goodman Is a superb narrator , and has become the voice of Bryant & May!

disappointed

loved first few stories but this one was too long, boring at times to the point I was yelling at the audio device "get on with it". I guessed the murderer from the first few chapters but waited for Bryant to get to it. should have stopped buying the books in this series back a few books. too bad, I used to love the Bryant character.

What a treat !

It was a real treat to have a new Bryant and May to listen too in lockdown. I’ve missed them and always feel anxious about wether Christopher Fowler will bring them back . I enjoyed this very much just as I have all the books in this series.

Quirky, amusing and full of factual information.

I had forgotten just how enjoyable this series is. It's very much Marmite-love them or hate them. They are amusing, and the characters have developed over the years.
One of the best part of the books is the research that obviously goes into them, and therefore giving us some historic facts about London and various through the ages. Simply brilliant, and can't wait for the next book.

Crime history humour and imagination

all rolled up I to a delicious nugget of joy. You can listen to this any time of the day or night and be drawn into the story and encouraged to stay with ever word. The writing is perfect and the reading couldn't be more perfect. A huge fan of the books is now an even bigger fan of the audible versions!

Another classic Bryant and May

Loved all the usual twists and turns, plus a surprise addition to the team! Such good fun that I can even forgive the occasional mispronunciation.

Can’t wait for the next one.

Too slow reading, wonderful story

Kudo's to the author for the irrationally constructed but all too complete a story of mystical occurences in the always unpredictable London weather. Thank you, it was a lovely read.
The only downside is the slowness with which the reader read what Bryant said and thought. It became annoying... but the I focussed on the story and I forgot my annoyance...

Another amazing story from the old boys

Thankyou for another story from Bryant and May. l enjoyed this book very much not only from the story line with it's twists and turns but feel l know the characters so well they feel like a pair of cosy slippers. Bryant and May have become two of my most favourite detectives and l can't understand how they have never been picked up for a tv series. Still maybe it's better not to as l have a minds eye picture of how they look and would not want some one elses interpretation . Once l started to listen l could not stop listening, a good plot and well thought out as usual with lots of well written social history and the old history of London thrown in. Well read by Tim Goodman . l have listened to all the Bryant and May audio books and have enjoyed each and every one of them on their own merit. Tim Goodman took some getting used to and l almost gave up on the first book but l am so pleased l did not as l would have missed out on some of the best characters and stories l have ever heard. I would highly recommend that everyone should at least listen to Bryant and May once. Long may they live. Thankyou Christopher Fowler for writing these books and giving us all these wonderfull characters.

Wonderful

The narration is superb, wonderful characters, I’m even developing a fondness for Raymond! Visions of monks and aniseed balls, clarified butter as WD40, so many things to make me laugh out loud much to the surprise of those I walk past in the park. Joy from beginning to end but the best line of all ....... Bryant and May will be back! Thank you to Christopher Fowler and Tim Goodman.

Best one yet!

Really good book! Best one yet! I never tire of Bryant and May and I am so happy they are going to return 😁

Stalled

I listened to it once, and, as is my habit , a few weeks later I wanted to listen again. It no longer plays. I have tried several times, no go. I haven't been able to contact you so am trying this way of getting your attention. Many thanks.

another great story

Loved it. Great story. Outstanding narration. Nice twist. Probably my favorite in the series so far.