A new crime novel from the author and world of the Vinyl Detective – and there's plenty that fans will find comfortable and familiar. The protagonist, Cordelia, is a great deal more nefarious and a great deal less likeable than the unnamed detective, but that didn't bother me as much as it seems to have bothered some other reviewers; in fact, I thought she was quite fun.

Perhaps because it's the first in the series, there's a lot of time spent on establishing the world and its characters (to the extent that, on more than one occasion, the narrator has to reassure you there will be deaths), but it's a nice place to be and they're largely interesting people. If it's gentle and slight, it is enjoyably so, and I had a very pleasant time in Cordelia's nefarious company.

Oh, and before you buy it for your mum, be warned: it's also a very horny book.

As a Doctor Who fan, and a fan of Ben Aaronovitch fan the name Andrew Cartmel is one I look forward to on anything, whether it’s the Rivers of London comic books or Cartmel’s own Vinyl Detective series.
I love Cartmel’s Vinyl Detective series and the first of a new series was intriguing. The Paperback Sleuth is a spin off from the Vinyl Detective series and features the sister of one of the side characters from the previous series. I got hold of the audiobook so it was perfect to have a listen to as I worked.

Cordelia knows books. An addict-turned-dealer of classic paperbacks, when she's not spending her days combing the charity shops and jumble sales of suburban London for valuable collector's items, she's pining for the woman of her dreams and nimbly avoiding her landlord's demands for rent.
The most elusive prize of all, her white whale, has surfaced—a set of magnificent, vintage Sleuth Hound crime novels. Gorgeous, and as rare as they come. Just one problem. They're not for sale. Still, that won't stop a resourceful woman like Cordelia… One burglary later, the books are hers. Unfortunately, the man she's just robbed turns out be one of London's most dangerous gangsters, and now he's on her trail and out for blood.
Cordelia's best laid plans to pay the rent and woo the object of her affections start to fall apart, and she realises she may have placed herself in the crosshairs of a villain torn straight from the pages of her treasured novels.

Cordelia is the sister of Stinky Stanmer, and although she thinks of herself as a much nicer character but she’s not. Whereas the Vinyl Detective is in many ways characterised and defined primarily by the people that they work with, Cordelia is a very specific character. The story comes from the main characters obsession and desire for certain books and the fact that they will do anything to fulfil that even break the law, she’s very much an anti-hero, and not above forging signatures and theft for monetary gain.
The writing style is different to his other series and I’ll start with the negatives, there are two things I didn’t like so much about the new series, but it could just be finding his feet. The author does seem to have a bit of an obsession with her sexual thoughts and desires that at times feels uncomfortable and doesn’t quite seem to fit into the story, it feels unnecessary and I think it might put off some people. The second is the crossover with the Vinyl Detective Series, I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that some of the characters appear as side characters here, and it feels like the new story could have run completely separately initially. I love the other series but the characters in this feel so different it just seems strange to have them running so strongly alongside. I would have enjoyed it more if we’d had the references like the artist and the book she collected so many of which were all things referenced in previous Vinyl Detective books and that would have been enough without the main characters themselves being a part of it.
There was lots I enjoyed in this, I did enjoy Cordelia and her hectic lifestyle and in many ways she was a far more interesting character than the vinyl detective, who as I mentioned is defined by the situations he find himself in and the people he meets and interacts with, whereas we never even know the name of the Vinyl Detective, Cornelia is more of, if you’ll excuse the pun, an open book. She’s not particularly likeable and her adventures are more hectic, and more fantastical. Whilst the Vinyl Detective relies heavily on his friends, she doesn’t really have any, and it means the story is much more centered on her, so I think we get to know her much more. As a book fan I enjoyed the conceit of the Paperback Sleuth and at the moment I am intrigued to find where it will go, if the next adventure will be like this of her own making or if it’ll be more like the Vinyl Detective where people hire her.
Conclusion
The audiobook is read by Olivia Dowd, who makes a great narrator and I really enjoyed this format for this book. Andrew Cartmel is a great writer and plotter so there is much to enjoy in this, but it didn’t have the appeal and likeable characters that the Vinyl Detective has, and whilst it’s obvious Cartmel loves books, it did slightly feel it lacked the incredible passion that shines through in the Vinyl Detective series. The thing that might count against this, and I know I have done it throughout this review, is that it will be compared to his earlier series and it should be judged separately as it is different. I enjoyed the story but it hasn’t captured me as much as his previous work so far, but it’s certainly interesting enough that I’ll be really keen to read the next one. The characters are fun and are pretty unlikeable but I do want to see where they go next, I am drawn to stories about people who are passionate about collecting and things and this appeals. If you enjoyed the Vinyl Detective I would recommend it, but don’t expect it to be the same, the only request is I don’t think we need so much about her sexual fantasies etc as it’s arguably the least interesting thing about her.

This started very slow, I enjoy the really end of the book and I really get annoyed when this happens in books. I didn’t like or connect with Cordelia. I normally enter the ARCs with a very open mind but this book literally never convince me. I will read the vinyl detective books since is the same universe and probably read again this one after that and my review may change or many not change. Is a well written book, with a good building of characters is just probably I don’t like all the actions happened in the end of the book. Big shout out to NetGalley and titan books for the opportunity of access this book early. I just reviewed Death in Fine Condition by Andrew Cartmel. #DeathinFineCondition #NetGalley

For me? This didn't work. It had all the pieces to make a book I'd love- much like Eight Pwrfect Murders.

However, I found it dull, dry and slow. I end up DNFing at 30%. Maybe it picks up at that point, and I think a lot of people will like the MC and won't mind the slow burn.

But for me, it could not hold my attention.

This was my first Andrew Cartmel book and overall it was an enjoyable read. There are several references to his other character The Vinyl Detective in here which may appeal if you’re a fan of that series. The premise is interesting and the story flows well but the protagonist for me wasn’t relatable. Not just the amount of ‘bath time’ she had which, as a concept wore thin after the first couple of mentions but more in her lack of appealing qualities. I just wasn’t rooting for her. I did however like the characters of her dealer and of her landlord, he’s full of surprises!
This was a NetGalley read so thanks to them, the author and his publishers for the copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh dear. This really was not for me. As a rare books professional for nearly 30 years there were far too many inaccuracies that I could only listen to the first 25 percent before getting bogged down in the (wrong) details and having to give up.

I would *strongly* advise making it clear in the blurb that the protagonist, Cordelia, is a criminal, because in the rare books trade someone who fakes association copies is not a "lovable rogue" they are, quite frankly, scum, who rip off genuine collectors and give the trade a bad name.

I've given the book 3 stars, because I believe the author has achieved their own aims, and I suspect that people who know nothing about book collecting would not fine the inaccuracies and criminal activity so distracting. They might actually be able to take it in the spirit the author clearly intends it, as a good rip roaring tale.

I'm really sorry that I found this book unbearable because of my professional background. I truly wanted to love it - booksellers are generally my favourite sleuths after librarians. Just all that nonsense about fountain pens, and the characterization of book dealers and collectors in such a pejorative way made it really not for me.