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Quite Ugly One Evening
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Quite Ugly One Evening
Narrated by:
Angus King
Buy Now for ₹682.53
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Narrated by:
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Angus King
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Written by:
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Chris Brookmyre
Reporter Jack Parlabane thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places, and where could be less likely than a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series? But unlike the media family exploiting their show's renewed relevance, he's not there to stoke controversy: he's there to solve a murder.
Already in deep water with his employer, Jack desperately needs a win, and solving this decades-old mystery could be it. Problem is, he's in the middle of the Atlantic, and someone onboard has already killed once to keep their secret.
And that's not even the tricky part. No, the tricky part is definitely the dead body locked in a stateroom with him, covered in his blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he's getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.
Quite Ugly One Evening is a zeitgesty locked-room mystery that sees the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning.
Praise for Chris Brookmyre:
'Chris Brookmyre is a genius' Richard Osman
'In the pantheon of great crime writers' Elly Griffiths
'There's nothing he can't do' Mick Herron
'Chris Brookmyre is a storytelling mastermind' Chris Whitaker©2026 W.F. Howes
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The plot itself is compelling and fairly intricate, with a strong central mystery that keeps the momentum going. The Maskyn family forms the backbone of the narrative, but it takes a while to get a clear sense of who is who, especially with the number of characters involved. This confusion stands out more in the audiobook format, where there is no easy way to refer back, and the absence of the family tree that is included in the print version makes it harder to track relationships. I found myself struggling at times before eventually bridging the gap by checking a Kindle sample, where the family tree on the first page made a noticeable difference.
Parlabane finds himself in a tight spot, with a locked room mystery at the centre that adds a classic puzzle element to the story. The resolution is clever and satisfying. However, one aspect that does not entirely hold up is how easily the Maskyn family allows Parlabane into their inner circle. He is present in meetings and personal discussions with a level of access that feels a bit too convenient and underexplained.
Another element that stands out is the strong and repeated political commentary. References to Brexit, Boris Johnson, Trump and Liz Truss are not just brief touches to ground the story in a particular time, but appear frequently and carry clear authorial opinions.
Despite these issues, the book remains an engaging read. The central puzzle, the tension surrounding Parlabane’s situation, and the eventual payoff all work well enough to keep the pages turning.
Jack Parlabane Returns After a Long Absence
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