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The Vesuvius Club

Book 1 in the series:Lucifer Box

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When several British scientists turn up dead, Edwardian painter and secret agent Lucifer Box sets off across Europe to track down those responsible. Leaving his residence at 9 Downing Street, Box delves into all things seedy and debauched as he follows the clues and the dead bodies to Naples, leading him to the mysterious and deadly Vesuvius Club. The book is presented as a turn of the century adventure novel, with the style reminiscent of 'The Thirty Nine Steps', involving weird and wonderful characters, and a plotline similar to those found in James Bond novels.

Characters:

Characters are colorful and eccentric, particularly the protagonist Lucifer Box, embodying a mix of charm and flamboyance.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is witty, descriptive, and playful, mixing humor with elements of pastiche.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Lucifer Box, a secret agent embroiled in a series of ridiculous and mysterious events, combining humor and absurdity.

Setting:

The setting combines Edwardian London with Naples, vividly bringing the era's decadence to life.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick, often feeling rushed, which can detract from the depth of the narrative.
He was an imposing cove of sixty-odd, built like a pugilist, who had made a fortune in the diamond mines of the Cape. His declining years, he’d told me during the second sitting – when a client begins...

Notes:

Lucifer Box is both a talented portrait painter and a secret agent in Edwardian England.
The book is described as part James Bond and part Sherlock Holmes, featuring humor and extravagance.
Lucifer Box is unapologetically bisexual, which adds a unique twist to the narrative.
The novel is set against a backdrop of mystery involving dead scientists and a sinister cult.
The supporting characters have quirky and whimsical names, enhancing the book's comedic tone.
The author, Mark Gatiss, is known for his work on the TV series Doctor Who and The League of Gentlemen.
Readers noted that the book is fast-paced and filled with absurd situations and comedic elements.
Some reviewers felt the story's plot could be convoluted, making it hard to follow at times.
The book is a satire that parodies traditional spy and detective stories, while also celebrating them.
The writing style combines wit, humor, and vivid descriptions of both London and Naples.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

It includes sexual references, drug use, and potentially offensive humor.

Has Romance?

There is a significant romance element, particularly through the bisexual escapades of the protagonist.

From The Publisher:

Meet Lucifer Box: Equal parts James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, with a twist of Monty Python and a dash of Austin Powers, Lucifer has a charming countenance and rapier wit that make him the guest all hostesses must have. And most do.

But few of his conquests know that Lucifer is also His Majesty's most daring secret agent, at home in both London's Imperial grandeur and in its underworld of despicable vice. So when Britain's most prominent scientists begin turning up dead, there is only one man his country can turn to for help.

Following a dinnertime assassination, Lucifer is dispatched to uncover the whereabouts of missing agent Jocelyn Poop. Along the way he will give art lessons, be attacked by a poisonous centipede, bed a few choice specimens, and travel to Italy on business and pleasure. Aided by his henchwoman Delilah; the beautiful, mysterious, and Dutch Miss Bella Pok; his boss, a dwarf who takes meetings in a lavatory; grizzled vulcanologist Emmanuel Quibble; and the impertinent, delicious, right-hand-boy Charlie Jackpot, Lucifer Box deduces and seduces his way from his elegant townhouse at Number 9 Downing Street (somebody has to live there) to the ruined city of Pompeii, to infiltrate a highly dangerous secret society that may hold the fate of the world in its clawlike grip-the Vesuvius Club.

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About the Author:

Mark Gatiss writes for the multiaward-winning British television comedy The League of Gentlemen, on which he portrays a debt collector, a cursed veterinarian, a dog cinema owner who has recently branched out into VHS and DVD rentals, and a Knight Rider fan, among many other characters. He also stars in the feature film The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse and has written episodes for the rejuvenated Doctor Who television series. He lives in a laboratory with a stuffed cat.

 
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