White Corridor

By: Christopher Fowler

Narrated by: Tim Goodman

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

The unthinkable has happened at London's Peculiar Crimes Unit. In the depths of winter, a member of staff has been found murdered, and everyone who works there is suddenly a suspect.

But Arthur Bryant and John May, the eccentric elderly detectives who run London's strangest crime division, aren't on hand to solve the crime. They've ventured into the heart of the English countryside, only to become stranded on a desolate snowbound section of road.

As the blizzard worsens, Bryant and May attempt to solve the crime long distance using only their mobile phones. Unfortunately, their situation is about to get very much worse.

©2007 Christopher Fowler (P)2007 WF Howes Ltd

Critic Reviews

"The fair-play solution will particularly satisfy lovers of golden age mysteries. Once again, Fowler shows himself to be a master of the impossible crime tale." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Sherlock Holmes meets Inspector Clouseau in this mordant, award-winning series in which Fowler gleefully skewers religious zealots and government officials alike." ( Booklist)

Another great Peculiar Crimes mystery

I just love the Peculiar Crimes mysteries. They are so much fun to listen to! And the narrator is fabulous. You can't go wrong with these books.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

addictive, always a pleasure

Wonderful, absolutely perfect narrator; endearing, lovable characters that I can't get enough of; masterful narrative structure.
Sure, the ending is a bit of a stretch, but it still goes down well. This series is one of my major addictions.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved this book!

I just finished White Corridor and am crestfallen that I have now listened to all the books in this series. I adored every one of them, but have to note that White Corridor may be my favorite. The plot is absolutely riveting, the characters complex and interesting and, of course, the two aged detectives, just as bright and captivating as always. Mr. Fowler is a brilliant writer and Tim Goodman, as narrator, is superb. I have listened to a number of the books multiple times. If you like a good, quirky, contemporary, engaging mystery with surprise twists-and-turns, you can't beat White Corridor. I highly recommend this - and all the other Bryant and May books - if this is your genre. I am missing my two detectives already!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Dreadfull

Starts out with a group of suburban women sitting around killing a moth they have captured under a glass by concentrating their minds on this pointlessly cruel task and yapping about how "all women" have some sort of "extra" psychic power which they can use to defend themselves against men. And moths, apparently. Delightfully encompassing sexism, classism, and animal abuse all in the first paragraph. I am returning this and have no idea what happened next.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

What????

What a disappointment after so many great B&M novels. This one has too many rambling plots and is very slow to get going. Seems to be trying too hard.

Favorite of the series to date

What did you like best about this story?

Clever and exciting plot lines with some creative twists and settings make this my favorite of the series so far. I've been listening to them in sequence and I'm glad there are still a good many more to go.

My Favorite so Far

I love Arthur Bryant.

The characters in this series are just brilliant and I love the narration. Fowler has a great talent for colorful description and his characters have interesting insights and ideas. The fact that the stories are intriguing just makes the books all around good "reads".

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

This should have been a much better book than it was. The zany characters had a lot of promise. But the characters were so unrealistic, and the events so improbable, that the author pretty much blew it. There are some very funny moments, but they drown in the mess.

AUDIO: Seems to me there must be some genre/style that this reader would be suitable for, but this book wasn't it. Maybe Rumpole. When Rumpole's been drinking too much, and thus starts expounding.

3 of 7 people found this review helpful

As quirky as ever

Another highly enjoyable episode of the life and times of the Peculiar Crimes Squad, narrated superbly.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The best double act since Poirot and Hastings

If you could sum up White Corridor in three words, what would they be?

I love the Bryant and May books and this was a cracker. A roller coaster of murder, psychology and office politics and a corpse who isn't all that she seems. Add to the mix our two elderly detectives whose take on criminal investigation is a combination of common sense, lateral thinking and off the wall humour. A really unique take on detective novels - and the better for it.

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that the plot and the outcome always surprise you and the great characterisation of all the characters - especially Bryant and May. Despite the often gruesome murders they bring a humane and intriguing insight into crime, the people responsible and a refreshingly anarchic view of life and authority.

What about Tim Goodman’s performance did you like?

He is great. You totally forget there is just one voice - he brings the characters to life and you can see the action in your head - just like a film - he seems to revel in the subjects, especially Bryant whose eccentricity is brilliant conveyed by Goodman.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A very peculiar crime.....two very peculiar detectives.

Any additional comments?

In the world of detective fiction it's great to have such an original and essentially British take on what is sometimes a very formulaic genre.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bryant & May, a good match

I'm really enjoying these books and I'm not a fan of crime novels generally.

Once you get to know the characters these books really come alive. I love the curmudgeonly old Bryant and the ever patient May.

These stories really seem to suit the audio format, probably because the narrator is so good.

There is something very addictive about the gentle charm and subtle wit in these stories, give one a try and you'll be hooked.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

White Corridor

These Books are just fantastic

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

fantastic

I just love this author and the way he portraits his characters.I am addicted to his work and would like to hear some more on audible as I have heard all three.
Great plot that twists and turns right to the end.Brilliantly read and a great escape from reality.Very enjoyable and gripping.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another brilliant Bryant & May story

I love Christopher Fowler's Bryant & May stories and they are narrated perfectly by Tim Goodman. I think they may be the only antidote against growing old gracefully.

Brilliant as always!

A triumph of wit, storytelling and narration! what more is there to say! I love these books.

Good listen

The two main characters are delightful and at times funny in their interaction with each other. Enjoyed the way in which the story developed. Well worth listening too.

Long live Bryant and May

This series gets better with each book. Another well written mystery by Christopher Fowler which has not been let down by the narration of Tim Goodman.

This is not your typical modern day murder mystery, it is slower paced with interesting characters and unusual storylines (usually totally unbelievable but still entertaining). Thankfully it is without the excessive graphic violence which seems to be standard of most modern crime and thrillers.

Atmospheric and gripping

Excellent book and very well read, the actor got the voices of the characters just right. The author obviously is very fond of London and this comes across strongly. This series is quite unusual but the characters are very believable and likeable.