Dirty Tricks & Faber, €4.95) Reviewed by John Lister If, like me, you're one of those annoying people who likes to laugh at things you're not su Be Dirty Tricks Don't be fooled by the which promises that "the conventions of sex and violence have never been more satisfyingly explored." The publishers must be pleased the Trades Descriptions Act does not apply.
Crisply written, chirpily cynical and bouncing with gallows humour, Michael searing social commentary -but because of this it makes good summer deck-chair reading.
His anonymous narratorhero is an amusing but selfobsessed, nasty bastard. Maybe that's what struck the common chord with me, but somehow Dibdin persuades the reader to find points in his jaundiced look at life among Oxford's pampered middle classes.
it is hard not to share his contempt for small business "hatcherism, his weariness a wine bores and poseurs. Only his ruthless attitude to women is clearly designed to antagonise and prevent us from liking him too much.
The plot has a neat succession of twists and surprises, out il anytning the weakness is in the limited number and tricks on offer.
Perhaps Mr Dibdin is more easily outraged than 1am, or maybe today's palate has be come iaded from overdoses of televisioh cinema and video ture of adultery, carnality, er needs to be offered i larger portions or more highly spiced or quirkily presented It's rather like ordering a all the ingredients are probab of quality and quantity never quite lives up to the promise of the menu.
Dibdin's style - much more readable than in his rather laboured Italian cop thriller Vendetta - reminded me of another novel narrated by a witty but thoroughly nasty and vindictive hero, which also makes a good summer holday read.
Now made into a disappointing Chevy Chase movie, Memoirs or an Invistole Man bi H.F. Saint has many moments or quite deuciously poor taste comedy. Ignore the film - go straineto the book.
I went looking for my copy to check the publisher - but it had disappeared!
Features -