The first tantalising paragraph of this novel sets the scene for its interwoven themes of assumed identities, variable interpretations of appearances versus reality, and the written word versus reality. Authors' motivation for writing, and publishers' motivation for publishing (publishers get a bad press - pun intended) are robustly challenged.  Tropes of the espionage novel are given short shrift - a character who claims to find himself 'employed in a semi-official capacity' is met with much eye-rolling, but the novel's cast and the reader may be a little too quick to forget that clichés are clichés because they're sometimes true. This being the case, elephant traps seem to be opening up for the unwary reviewer, but here goes:
 
I loved this book, and since reading a pre-publication copy I've been bending the ears of anyone who’ll listen to tell them so.  I know Jack Messenger’s writing from short stories such as those in his Four American Tales, where characters are evoked through pitch-perfect voice, and a contained intensity means the stories stay with the reader long afterwards.  I was curious to see how he would fare with the novel genre, carrying with it as it does some general expectations of a fuller cast, more gradual evolution of characters and a sustained and more intricate plot with opportunities for nuanced pace. 

It turns out that the writing is ultimately assured, plot lines expertly played out and interwoven, and the characterisation a delight. It is also very funny... Characters and the tangled, sometimes dangerous situations they find themselves in are drawn in with a light, erudite and always witty touch. Cultural allusions are there, but almost entirely constrained to appearances on characters' t-shirts. As already mentioned, clichés of the form are played with and expertly used to the author's own ends. Whether 'author' means protagonist Howard, or Jack Messenger himself, is a game for the reader to enjoy playing as the novel unfolds.

Seeing the novel's other characters through Howard's unique lens is unfailingly entertaining. The complexity of family dynamics and possibility for one person to be many things to different people is beautifully illustrated by the different but equally pertinent telephone ringtones Howard and his brother choose for the same family member.  Howard's understanding of the female sex is hopelessly at sea in some regards, coming closer to reality in others, but whether deluded or accurate his perceptions seem only to hinder rather than advance him. (His dress sense may be a factor here, too). Howard's almost pathological idealization of the women closest to him means, intriguingly, the reader is called upon to fill in the blanks when it comes to those characters and their motivations. There is limitless entertainment to be found in the men - brother and perpetual goad Eugene, English drunk and bibliophile Giles, affable and unaccountably rich Serge, and the off-stage but oppressive figure of Howard and Eugene's father.

Set in Paris in the summertime, Farewell Olympus is a thriller, comedy and love story. It does include the quest for the perfect croissant, as the author has it, but also the quest for understanding, courage, white teeth and true love.  I challenge anyone not to enjoy it.

★★★★★

This book is ingenious. It is a page-turning, suspense-filled detective story that includes a sharp sense of humour AND it has a hero who fulfils his detective role with an intellectual slant, giving us a sceptical view of the world as filled with corruption, literary references, irony, and relatives we’d rather not see.There is a wonderful dead-pan attitude of the hero that makes the reader eager to hear more. Here is the hero’s reaction when he is woken in the night by his unwanted house guest who is also his brother :"‘Shouldn’t you be in bed?’ I asked, after I’d had enough and put on a robe. I checked the time: three o’clock. A bad time. The hour of the demon. Shovel-faced men with pitiless eyes knock at doors at three o’clock in the morning."The hero’s troubled and hysterical interaction with women he’s attracted to is akin to Peter Sellers experiences in the Pink Panther movies:"‘There is nothing wrong with your teeth, Howard. In fact, I have noticed how well you look after them. They are very even – so even that I thought they might be dentures. Delphine says she is almost certain they are genuine.’‘They are genuine.’Celeste approached and manipulated my upper lip with her thumb. She examined my teeth. I could see them reflected in her eyes. They looked blue today – her eyes, that is. She tugged at my lower lip and pulled it around. It was curiously unsettling to have a beautiful lawyer examining my mouth in that way. I could hear people passing on the street outside her window. I wondered what they would think if they could see through the blinds."Here’s an example of the irresistible style and humour of the story when the character is struggling to deal with the hot weather and his professional and sleuthing dilemmas:"Deeply unhappy, I wandered to the balcony in search of perspective, to feel the elements against my skin. The cloudless sky pressed against my best intentions; the sun battered at my humble ambitions. The city couldn’t take much more of this. People had fainted in the streets; an elderly man had died of sunstroke; the president had removed his jacket."The novel's humour is corny and fresh at the same time. This trait mixed with a reluctant, under-dog detective makes this tale a highly diverting read. To top it off, this detective who sees no hope in this world ends up giving us just that!I did receive a PDF copy of this book free due to Jack's early-bird offer. However, my review is honest in its enthusiasm and praise. I highly recommend this book!

★★★★★

‘What I love about this book is the way it grabs you right from the very start – which is quite rare for me. The relationship between the two (half) brothers is fantastic – and anyone who’s got siblings will enjoy their spiky exchanges. It’s a funny book, with a twisting plot and some twisted characters. It’s also a wise book full of memorable observations on this imperfect World. “Money talks – but it’s mostly lies.”’ (Amazon UK review)

‘I am a reviewer from Publisher’s Weekly, and I got the privilege to review your novel Farewell Olympus. It was a stupendously hilarious yet profound read! Your ability to infuse humour into foreign espionage resurrected the clichéd mystery genre.’