Review: #569
Title: Barnaby Grimes: Phantom of Blood Alley
Series: Barnaby Grimes - 4th book
Author: Paul Stewart / Chris Riddell
Read Before: no
Comments: Phantom of Blood Alley fails to capture the mysteriousness that the previous three books in the series did. It doesn't fully capture your imagination and attention as the titular Phantom doesn't present too much of a threat until near the end of the book. While Barnaby Grimes' signature wit is still here, it seems dulled down so that it isn't as funny or clever as it could have been. The plot was simple and predictable, the mystery being easy to crack a long while before it is revealed. The writing was decent though and there were some interesting elements to the story. Phantom of Blood Alley is about Barnaby tasked with investigating a crime whereby the brother of a Lady died, suspecting something strange was afoot. The author throws in a few nice references to modern technology such as skateboards and photographs, which adds a small sense of connection to the reader.
Rating: 6/10