“The Detection Club: Part 2” by Jean Harambat picks up right where the cliffhanger graphic novel left off in part 1.

Famous detective fiction writers continue their hunt for the murder of the eccentric man who invited them all to his island. The theories come fast and furious, but with this imaginative group, will the truth be revealed or obfuscated by made up red herrings?

I enjoyed the wrap up of this mystery and the cartoonish art style. I wish it had been published as one volume, so plan to read both parts if you pick this one up.

A great idea but poor execution. The idea of a detective club filled with the biggest mystery writers of the 30's is a fantastic one. Too bad they just bumble around until the solution falls into their lap. The art stinks too. This European comic was an all-around fail.

I still feel like it all came together a bit too clumsily. By this I don't mean the mystery, which was appropriately "Clue"-like in its eventual simplicity, but rather the comic itself. The progression from one scene to the next at times didn't make sense to me, and this was most pronounced at the end of the comic, before the epilogue; that ending just didn't fit properly with the small reveal that preceded it. I had to reread those two pages a few times to see if I was missing something, but I don't think I was - the sequence of the panels (and events) just didn't gel, in my opinion.

Ending the comic on an epilogue about Agatha and Chesterton was a good touch, though, and I once again enjoyed their snarky yet sweet banter.

I'm rating this the same as the first one, as I decided to treat the two volumes as one (which would have made more sense), and I kept in mind the admiration I felt for the first installment while reading the second.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* i think vol 1 & 2 should be put together and it would make the book much better and feel less cut off and more cliff hanger imo

Part 2 of The Detection Club picks up with the arrival of the police and the discovery of Roderick Ghyll's body. All of the mystery writers proclaim their favorite theories to the police inspector, but Agatha Christie manages to identify a villain. G. K. Chesterton then deduced what actually happened to Roderick Ghyll. And then the comic ends with a wedding with Mendelssohn on bagpipes and Australian folk songs. A nice wrap to this take of the classic murder mystery!

The Detection Club is a graphic novel about a group of famous mystery writers who are invited to a private island and end up having to solve a murder. For the purpose of this review, I am reviewing both volumes at once. In fact, my first criticism is that this did not need to be split up into two volumes - the entire thing is only 140 pages. This is unfortunate, as there was definitely enough content to be explored that could have made this book longer.

I did really enjoy this, as it captured the writing styles and eccentricities of the famous authors pretty well. I liked the idea that these mystery authors would have to solve a murder themselves. It was also a fun little story that did not take much time to read. It also did address some of the historical racism including orientalism and the "yellow peril stereotype" which were both so widespread when these classic mystery novels were taking off, but I felt it did so lightly. Overall, the story was light and entertaining, but as I mentioned before, this could have been a lot better if it had been just a little longer and more fleshed out.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

Having read The Detection Club Part 1 which I didn't like I went into this one with my mind open hoping that the second instalment of the series I would like but I really do think that me and graphic novels/comics really just don't work.

The art style was amazing and I enjoyed the premise of the story and wanted to love it but I just didn't.

I downloaded this at the same time as I downloaded part 1. The plot and concept are right up my street. The illustrations are good but I just couldn't read the font without straining my eyes so I was unable to finish this sadly.

Thanks to Europa editions for access though. They make many fantastic graphic novels but this just didn't do it for me.

I previously reviewed The Detection Club: Part 1.  Fans of that title will no doubt enjoy this follow up.  The style is comic book with entertaining graphics.  The sleuths are members of the real 1930s Detection Club including Agatha Christie, G.K. Chesterton, John Dickson Carr, Dorothy Sayers and others.  Each of these authors is portrayed with their individual personality and style. Will they solve the case?  Can a robot solve it more quickly and/or better?  Read this title to find out if you are a fan of the graphic novel and mysteries that are a bit tongue in cheek.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Hmm. This is a bit difficult.

I'm torn on how I feel about this one, because while everything I wrote in my review of Volume 1 still rang true in this second volume, especially the author's great portrayal of each of the authors and their particular approaches to crime fiction writing, I still feel like it all came together a bit too clumsily. By this I don't mean the mystery, which was appropriately "Clue"-like in its eventual simplicity, but rather the comic itself. The progression from one scene to the next at times didn't make sense to me, and this was most pronounced at the end of the comic, before the epilogue; that ending just didn't fit properly with the small reveal that preceded it. I had to reread those two pages a few times to see if I was missing something, but I don't think I was - the sequence of the panels (and events) just didn't gel, in my opinion.

Ending the comic on an epilogue about Agatha and Chesterton was a good touch, though, and I once again enjoyed their snarky yet sweet banter.

I'm rating this the same as the first one, as I decided to treat the two volumes as one (which would have made more sense), and I kept in mind the admiration I felt for the first installment while reading the second.

Thanks once again to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A quick wrap up to our mystery which was a little disappointing in it's bracing pace; I would happily linger with these amateur detectives through several volumes! Again, the artist's style is pleasing and the humor remains intact and a little inside baseball (although I'm not sure what non-Golden Age fan or reader at least familiar with these authors and their styles would be drawn to this). I'd only like it to be longer!

The final third of a really enjoyable old-fashioned detective story gets its own isolated existence, for little reason. But at least if you've come here you can take this as impetus to buy the whole thing – which was originally in French, complete in one suitably sized volume – as it's a light-hearted yet respectful nod back to the days of vintage crimes and crime authors of a certain vintage. A strong four stars for the whole thing – none at all for this on its own.

As I didn't get the pdf of this book I am sorry I can't review it. I hope you understand. Stay safe. ❤✌😊

What is wonderful about The Detection Club is that it is based on a real organisation founded in the 1930s that included some of the most important figures in literary crime fiction. Meeting on a regular basis in London, between them they discussed and formulated theories about writing, and considering the diverse range of authors taking part in this club, you could imagine they might have had a few disagreements. Jean Harambat's delightful graphic novel pulls these real-life figures together in a murder-mystery situation that proves to be as entertaining as you might imagine, but it's also genuinely in the spirit of classic crime fiction.

In Harambat's The Detection Club, G K Chesterton (the real first president of the club), Dorothy L Sayers, Agatha Christie, A E W Mason, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ronald Knox and the recently inducted American author John Dickson Carr are gathered to witness what appears to be the crime of the century, something more terrifying than even some of the most notable names in crime fiction could ever imagine. A scientist has created nothing less than a spoiler machine, so to speak; a robot that can deduce and solve any work of crime fiction just from a basic outline.

If you haven't read Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue or Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie then prepare for spoilers in the demonstration given by Professor Roderick Ghyll's latest invention, the crime-solving robot Eric. Invited to his island in Cornwall off the coast of Pentreath, the robot's demonstration invites discussion over dinner about the merits of science, technology, automation and philosophical considerations on whether they enhance or limit human freedom. After dinner there are drinks and a game of billiards and, as they retire to their rooms for the night, a crime will undoubtedly take place. It's one however that doesn't appear doesn't conform to the society's agreed ten commandments for detective fiction.

It's fortunate, perhaps even suspiciously convenient, that there's a robot in the mansion which is programmed to identify the name of the victim's murderer in a matter of seconds from the evidence presented to him. Of course with some of the greatest detective writers of the time in attendance, each with their on theories, they're not going to be satisfied with the deduction of a mere machine. That would go against everything they believe in and particularly their belief that humanity is far more complex than addition of numbers. It requires the application of logic, instinct, intuition, as well as the ability to take into account chance and mishap - things however than don't all necessarily allow for the application of "fair play" in giving a reader the chance to solve the mystery themselves.

Playing to classic conventions then there are any number of potential suspects in The Detection Club. Usually when you've a group of people trapped on an island and a killer among them, you don't need a robot or computer to calculate what happens next, but thankfully Agatha Christie's model of bumping off characters one by one isn't followed here. Since they are all famous crime fiction writers what happens instead is that each presents their own theory according to their own methodologies as to who the killer might be. So rather than just get a traditional detective investigating, you have a whole group with plenty of entertaining and conflicting hypotheses, as well as an interesting philosophical discussion on the subject of crime, murder and writing.

What matters most however is that Jean Harambat's graphic storytelling is absolutely delightful and entertaining. And of course it's a little bit tongue-in-cheek in its consideration of these larger-than-real-life figures and their charming oath not to not place reliance on nor make use of "Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, Coincidence, or Act of God", by throwing all these features in. It does so in a way however that is amusing and literate with a terrific murder-mystery that is truly in the spirit of classic crime fiction.

The artwork might look a little basic and sketchy but in reality it's perfectly suited to the subject with a classic pulp feel that reminds me a little of the retro stylings of the contemporary American pulp horror artist and cartoonist Richard Sala (Peculia, The Chuckling Whatsit, Black Cat Crossing). The story is well-paced and perfectly balanced, although somewhat unevenly spread across two volumes of 85 pages in Part 1, and 48 pages in Part 2. Since the revelations and resolutions come in the second part however with Volume 1 setting the scene, it actually balances out quite well. Respectful (mostly) to the spirit of the golden age of crime fiction, The Detection Club manages to be an amusing, entertaining, literate and suspenseful crime fiction in its own right.

This is a fine end to the story started in Part 1. I enjoyed seeing all the theories presented by the authors, and how they were shot down. Then the conclusion was appropriately ridiculous and enjoyable. If you're a fan of detective mysteries, I would recommend this comic.

And so we have the second part of our murder mystery, where all questions are answered. Quite satisfactory, I have to say, although it feels weird how what amounts to a third act is published in its own volume. Even with the tacked on (and inconsequential) epilogue, this volume is about a third shorter than the first.

The art is delightful, as ever.

The story begins with John Dickson Carr taking oath to the club following the full disclosure of rules and Ten Commandments of Detective Novels (yes, you read it right)! And just then a mysterious invitation promising ‘challenges and enchantments’ from Mr. Ghyll arrives for the club to visit his island. When the club visits the island, they are introduced to a robot who can predict the culprit any mystery presented or proposed. Will the members of the club defeat the robot in a game of wits while an actual murder occurs?
It gives me jitters to think that seven real-life writers, of mystery novels, at their prime had actually formed this club. Writer-artist Jean Harambat has created an unique tale about the very best story-tellers of all time. decgWhat I like most is that the story really compliments the reader, lets the reader think and deduce on his/her own. For example, one of the Commandments state that, “No person of Chinese descent may figure in the story” just before a suspicious person of Chinese descent is introduced. It brings back the old school subtle comedy with a very very self-conscious keen sense of humor. The pages are a bit dialogue-heavy but every word has its own reason for being there. The artwork is eye-soothing and the story feels such a wonderful homage. Mr. Harambat has studied head over heels for the script and it shows in every conversations.
It is a gem to read and a treasure to keep for any mystery lover.
This is a joint review of both the parts.
Disclaimer: I received these books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I say that I read both of the parts in one sitting, but that makes it sound like the herculean task it was not. These are bite-sized stories with the famous detective writers that most people (if not all) are familiar with. Since I only recently started acclimatizing myself with the other names mentioned in this book, I had at least the smallest knowledge of them or their methods. That added to my relishing the comic nature of the narrative. 

In the second instalment, the investigation continues with each author playing to their strengths (or being caricatured for what they were famous for- it amounts to the same thing in this narrative). Each is given a chance to test their theory and see if it bears any fruit. Since these are authors, fallible human beings with a skill with words, it provides a chaotic and exciting picture. There are a lot of dialogues, some of which I think were real things they had said and some even to each other. The police do arrive, and they all eventually find the satisfying explanation as to what the actual occurrences of the night were. Overall it was a fun read and had me chuckling in between and even slowing myself down on purpose to enjoy it. I wanted more, though! That is probably the only reason I am not giving the book a full five stars.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based solely on my reading experience

Part two of the mystery introduced in book 1, here we have some adventures and some theories to who the killer is or was it suicide? When the police arrive, all comes to a satisfactory solution after some false trails.
There is also a charming love interest and a wedding feast at the end from the Detection Club.

A satisfying ending. Finally the police shows up and every member of the Detection Club sets out their theory of what happened.

I have to say, I think Baroness Orczy might have been my favourite character. She didn't say much, but I agree with most of what she said.

By the end, I had almost gotten used to the horrible text font.