Bryant and May and the Invisible Code

By: Christopher Fowler

Narrated by: Tim Goodman

Two small children - playing a game called 'Witch-Hunter' - place a curse on a young woman eating lunch in a church courtyard. An hour later the woman is found dead. Then a society photographer is stabbed to death in a nearby park and suddenly a link emerges between the two cases. As the members of the Peculiar Crimes Unit investigate, they realise that the case might not just end in disaster - it might also get everyone killed.

©2012 Christopher Fowler (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd

Someone's on a witch hunt

In the churchyard of London's St. Bride's Church, a young woman sits reading until, driven away by the annoyance of two young children, she enters the church's nave. Minutes later, she collapses and dies. The children report that they were playing a game of "witch hunter" and put a curse on her that killed her.

When the autopsy fails to identify a specific cause of death, Arthur Bryant of the Home Office's Peculiar Crimes Unit naturally wants the case. But the Metropolitan Police have jurisdiction and the PCU, being persona non grata in the Home Office, lack the power to take over.

Certainly their enemy-in-chief, the satanic Oscar Kasavian, isn't about to lift a finger to help them. He has vowed to wipe out the PCU and, particularly its beyond-retirement-age leads, Arthur Bryant and John May. Imagine Bryant and May's surprise, then, when Kasavian almost humbly asks them to help him with a problem involving his young wife.

As Bryant and May and the rest of the PCU team begin to investigate, the case takes on ever larger proportions. Government corruption, whistleblowers in private industry, mental illness and its history in London, private clubs, Russian gangsters, codes and ciphers and the supernatural are all thrown into the heady mix. On top of all that, there are disquieting revelations of how the British class system, cronyism and the complete disregard of commercial/government conflicts of interest conspire to ensure that a cabal of venal and ruthless men stay in power in British government.

But this is no grim, deadly serious police procedural. With the PCU, that's just not possible. Arthur Bryant is the absent-minded fellow with his latest meal evidenced down the front of his clothes and his cell phone made unusable by the melted sweets on it. He can't understand why people take exception to his conducting experiments at home and in the office involving things like pig carcasses and explosives. John May is Bryant's opposite: sartorially impeccable, careful to massage egos when necessary and a believer that the simplest answer is usually the right one. Despite their vast differences, Bryant and May make an effective team and, as always, they go right down to the wire in their investigation.

This tenth book in the Peculiar Crimes Unit series is notable for its use of London settings in the story. Descriptions of churches, museums, streets and history bring the city alive. This was a particularly satisfying story, one of my absolute favorites in the series. I laughed aloud several times but, as always with this series, I learned a lot and I was touched by the very human members of the team and the people they deal with.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I would suggest that at the very least, you read the previous book, The Memory of Blood, first. There are certain plot issues that come out of that book and it will make The Invisible Code that much more satisfying to know about them. Best of all, though, would be to read the whole series from the beginning, starting with Full Dark House.

One final mystery, though. The book is out in the UK, but as of September, 2012, there is no publication date listed in the US. However, you can get the audiobook from Audible. That's what I did and I can highly recommend it. The narrator, Tim Goodman, is wonderful. His voice for Arthur Bryant is dead-on perfection.

Narrator is Superb;

Each character's voice is instantly recognizable. Delivery is precise and nuanced. Goodman is a masterful narrator. I enjoy this series, and have listened to seven of the books offered in audio. This story line was not my favorite, but did keep me listening to the end.

A new Bryant and May == Christmas in August!

I love the way Tim Goodman brings these characters to life, especially dear old Arthur Bryant. I highly recommend the audio version of the entire series, and I'm so glad that the first one has just been made available.

While the plotting of The Invisible Code may be a bit less meticulous than that of the previous volumes, and the mystery itself ends in a rather hurried denouement that ties up the loose ends of a prior subplot in a clumsy manner, it seems hardly to matter in the end, because the story is, like all its predecessors, still enthralling. Once again, Bryant and May land a blow for truth and justice against the dark heart of London power on behalf of its most vulnerable prey. And from the conclusion, it would appear that the darkest is yet to come...

wow

Would you consider the audio edition of Bryant and May and the Invisible Code to be better than the print version?

This was the best one yet kept you guessing till the very end

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bryant, always has a ace up his sleeve

Have you listened to any of Tim Goodman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

excellent

Great Fun

Narrator was terrific... story drug on a little but characters were well developed. Want to listen to more with these characters and same narrator.

Excellent book in a superb series

I look forward to each Bryant and May book eagerly. I don’t know how I missed this one initially, but it was a wonderful surprise when I began to listen and realized it was new to me and not a repeat. I mainly love the characters- truly delightful- although not always the plots, as some can veer toward horror rather than mystery.

This one has a witchcraft theme, always interesting, and a good plot as well. Nice twists and turns to a satisfying conclusion.

The narrator does a great job, and adds to the enjoyment. I don’t have a single complaint and happily recommend this book

Another excellent Bryant and May adventure!

Where does Bryant and May and the Invisible Code rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I love this series. It is funny & smart. The plotting is intricate & there are red herrings galore. One of my favorite Audible series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Fowler's love of London, particularly it's odd & hidden side, is used to good effect in Arthur Bryant's character.

Have you listened to any of Tim Goodman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reader (Tim Goodman) does a brilliant job. His depiction of Arthur Bryant is spot on.

Any additional comments?

This is the tenth in the Bryant & May series. If you haven't read any of these books you are missing something good. I do highly recommend the Bryant & May series as a whole.

excellent mystery!!

Christopher Fowler did not disappoint! definitely recommend for mystery enthusiasts. I cannot wait for the next installment.

Bryant and May!

I like mysteries from the frightening, intense ones to the lighter side.
I put Bryant and May in the lighter category. They are a bit fun but not silly. Very interesting and intelligent. No romance just a good mystery to relax and listen to. Have enjoyed many Christopher Fowler books and the narration is spot on. Bryant is a great character!

Bryant & May series

Strange that some reviewers love them and some hate them. I think those who hate them want something superficial but these books are a nothing but. They have layers to them. Enthralling, addictive they are superb
ve and beautif I lay written.