The Satsuma Complex

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To describe me as anonymous would be unfair, but to notice me other than in passing would be a rarity. And so begins Gary's quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to finally bring some love and excitement into his unremarkable life… As in his television work, Mortimer conveys an infectious joy in his own oddity, and, as his recent bestselling memoir And Away… showed, there’s a sweetness to his worldview that makes his writing gently poignant. And although I can’t imagine non-fans emerging anything other than baffled, those who are used to his brand of weirdness will find that the book works well as a thriller, too. Like Spike Milligan, the only vintage comic whose fiction is still read, Mortimer has managed to use a novel as a vehicle for his distinctive comedic voice. When the police arrive on Gary’s doorstep the next morning saying Brendan is missing and he was the last person to see him alive, the book takes all sorts of twists and turns. There’s a bit of a mystery, a bit of romance, and a bunch of insight in human beings and their behaviour.

Burke’s podcast, Where There’s A Will There’s A Wake, revolves around death and Mortimer said he’d like to die fighting a bear – or hit by an articulated lorry carrying Flumps.And so begins Gary’s quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to finally bring some love and excitement into his unremarkable life… About the Author The much loved comic proves adept at noirish fiction in a debut whose surrealist humour sets it apart. Off the wall doesn't quite cover it. Fans of Mortimer's surrealist turns on Would I Lie to You? or his internet sketch show Train Guy won't be disappointed. Nor will crime fiction devotees, if only they can get over the talking squirrels.' - The Observer Like Spike Milligan, Mortimer has managed to use a novel for his distinctive comedic voice' - The Telegraph Gary Thorn goes for a pint with a work acquaintance called Brendan. When Brendan leaves early, Gary meets a girl in the pub. He doesn't catch her name, but falls for her anyway. When she suddenly disappears without saying goodbye, all Gary has to remember her by is the book she was reading: The Satsuma Complex. So, it’s no surprise that I’m a Bob Mortimer fan and have been appreciating his quirky style of humour for years now. So it’s not surprising that, while reading The Satsuma Complex, I could hear his voice every time his lead character, Gary Thorn, opened his mouth.

Dystopian Fiction Books Everyone Should Read: Explore The Darker Side of Possible Worlds and Alternative Futures Gary works as a solicitor of little talent and has a thing for drinking in the pub and eating Battenburg cake. When necessary, he also seems to be able to glean words of advice and wisdom from the local squirrels who tend to show up in times when a good talking to is required. This is a really slow burn, and I found the ending to be terrifically satisfying. So much so that I’d enjoy a Gary Thorn Part II. Or Gary and Emily. Or what Gary did next. The much loved comic proves adept at noirish fiction in a debut whose surrealist humour sets it apart' - Observer And so begins Gary's quest, through the estates and pie shops of South London, to finally bring some love and excitement into his unremarkable life?Some people bury their faces in their smart phones all day. Not me. I’ve had the same old Nokia phone for years and years and have never bothered with social media and the like. I don’t see the point of it; I’ve got enough strangers in my life as it is.” The writing style I enjoyed as it was very reminiscent of how Bob tells all of his tales anyway: short, sharp sentences that set the scene nicely without any fluffery. It was funny in the right places, but I think could have been injected with a little more (it was also particularly Bob-humour as well, which was well received). The much loved comic proves adept at noirish fiction in a debut whose surrealist humour sets it apart’ – Observer I thought if I did the same character, I'll just write the same book,’ the comedian told Kathy Burke on her podcast. ‘So I thought, you know go doing something different.’