The Lonely Hour

Bryant & May, Book 16

By: Christopher Fowler

Narrated by: Tim Goodman

Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

There's method in the madness of a murderer who strikes in the night's darkest hour.... 

On a rainy winter night outside a nightclub in London, four strangers meet for the first time at 4:00 a.m. A few weeks later a body is found inside a willow tree on Hampstead Heath. The Peculiar Crimes Unit is called in to investigate. 

When another victim seemingly commits suicide, it becomes clear that in the London night is a killer who knows what people fear most. As they explore a night city where all the normal rules are upended, Bryant and May are drawn deeper into a case that involves murder, arson, kidnap, blackmail, bats and the psychological effects of loneliness on Londoners. It's a trail that takes them from the poorest part of the East End to the wealthiest homes in North London - an investigation that can only end in tragedy.... 

©2019 Christopher Fowler (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Excellent

Almost wrote a spoiler but caught myself in time. I will say I am shocked and need to know when the next one will be released. Please do not make me wait to long, I won’t be able to sleep!!!
To take my mind off of it I will listen to the entire series again. Yes they are that good.

Don’t let it be over

Wonderful as usual. I feel like I’ve lost part of my family. But somehow there was hope.

review

So splendid!! the BEST Bryant & May novel yet! Bravo!! bravo!! More please, Mr Fowler!!

Mr. Fowler loves to throw out historical comments

The napalm treaty was signed by Obama but was not ratified u till many years later. Plus, it still allows for its use in protection of civilians. You show your politics in Bryant's musings, but you should be concerned with facts. in 2019 London beat NYC in total unnatural deaths by 200. That is murder and suicide combined. I wonder with shortage of policing funds and tight budgets how many murders end up listed as suicides. More importantly, how wonderful it must be to live somewhere so safe from murder than one prefers suicide. I do so enjoy these books, but the writer can be a bit maddening.

Love Mr. Bryant and John May

Another great read. These two detectives offer so much more than another crime solved. Breathlessly left on 5he edge of my seat.

Oh, to be so lucky

as to have not already had the joy of discovering this marvelous world.
I have read and/or listened to all of this series. Some of them more than once already and I don’t doubt, will again. They are full of so much of what drives voracious readers to keep looking for such gold while searching through too much of silver, bronze and sometimes tin.
Looking forward to as many more as Christopher Fowler cares to write.
Tim Goodman’s narration is among the very best of the hundreds of books I have listened to. When I read the physical books now, I hear all the characters just as he has so convincingly voiced each one and so wonderfully brought them to life through not only distinct sounds but the nuances of each character’s personality and temperament as well.

Excellent as Ever, but sadder

There is an elegiac quality to this one, not only with Bryant and May's friendship but with all the other characters as well, but that to my mind only enriched it. Still very funny and brilliantly written. Love Fowler.

Bring them back!

Love the peculiar crimes guys!

I feel like I know the team. Bryant and May are the best duo ever!

Couldn't stop listening. Excellent.

This new tale follows on the present day timeline, with our heroes facing up to several deaths. Bryant handles things with his usual tactlessness, May makes a huge mistake, and I go off him a bit.
I'm a huge fan of this series, desperately waiting on each new episode, always reluctant to finish, never disappointed. This one certainly didn't disappoint.
We discover the crime backwards, with our heroes, as the story unfolds, which was interesting. It was almost cinematic in the way scenes were set. I was in there with them.
The humour is sharp but the tears flow too. The characters are so well drawn they barely need a touch to keep them spinning. One reverts to who we always knew them to be. Raymond is his usual useless self but you want to give him a hug.
I love them all. I loved this book.
What on earth do I do now while I wait for the next one?
Christopher Fowler writes prose. His paragraphs are crafted things of beauty.

Bryant and May.............may they live for ever!

I was astonished and delighted that Mr Fowler had not buried our two old detectives.
What can I say, they are all back in form, allowing the reader to laugh with old friends.
I don't care what the story is about because the joy of listening to Bryant's antics and May's eternal patience is a pleasure in itself.
I will now just hope that Mr Fowler, who probably enjoys writing these stories as we love reading them, will not try again to send them off in a scene of twilight sadness, and just let nature take it's course! Thank you Mr Fowler, you have given me some more hours of enjoyment with your last book. Please don't stop!

Bliss

What can I say? it's Bryant and May. If i was on a desert island and had to choose a series of books well say no more. Cliffhanger ending, please Chistopher don't make us wait too long!

Brilliant 5 star

Brilliant as all these Bryant and May Books are , story stunning full of London information with a great storyline to the very last chapter can’t wait for the next one
I have read every one my favourite author thank you for a great book

Just as good as ever

Enjoyed this as usual with this series. The story was quite involved and I think it is helpful to read them in order to get the background of the various characters.

For anyone who loves or has an interest in London history, the books have an extra dimension with the snippets of information included, though it reminds you of how different it now is and what has been lost.

I’m so pleased another book in the series is almost due.

Excellent as always.

To readers like me each new Bryant and May is the return of old friends. The series is steadily approaching 20. This book is fascinating. Complex as always and clever both in the story and the diverse elements along the road to the solution. There are strong characterisations and a core of mostly lovable individuals. I really enjoyed it but sadly I don't think the next one is written yet.

Brilliant

Loved it, can't wait to start the next . I like that the characters are mature.

One of the best Bryant&May books

I love this story which at first appears to echo the earlier ones with all the funny bits, all the historical bits about London. May getting annoyed with Bryant doing his own things. Then suddenly things change and a curve ball of emotions and tension makes the story richer, deeper and more gripping. With an unexpected twist in the ending leaving me wanting more.

Pretty dam sound fair dinkkum

We have listened to the whole series and have been rivited,educated,mystified,spooked,enthralled thoroughly entertained ...tophole

Another cracker from Christopher Fowler

I don't think any of these books have disappointed me, and this is no exception. Great story, wonderful reader.