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The Victoria Vanishes

The Victoria Vanishes

CrimeMystery
Pages
336
Published
2009
Language
English

Synopsis

When a London pub vanishes overnight, taking its landlady with it, the case lands on the desks of the Peculiar Crimes Unit. Detectives Arthur Bryant and John May must solve an impossible crime that seems to defy all logic. Their investigation leads them through London's hidden history and into the path of a ruthless killer with a taste for the theatrical.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

TenseDarkAtmospheric
Mystery BoxLocked Room

Genres

Crime Mystery Police Procedural

About the author

C
Christopher Fowler

Christopher Fowler would make a good serial killer. He's charming and English and lives in a white penthouse with a view of St Paul’s Cathedral, and you'd think butter wouldn't melt in his mouth until you read his dark urban fiction — 17 novels and over 120 short stories so far. His œuvre divides into black comedy, horror, mystery, the odd revolting death and a set of novels unclassifiable enough to have publishers tearing their hair out. Emerging from a film industry background, he has come p...

Characters

John MayProtagonist
Arthur BryantProtagonist
The serial murdererAntagonist
All characters in The Victoria Vanishes

Frequently asked questions

  • Do I need to read the previous Bryant & May books before this one?

    While The Victoria Vanishes is part of a series, it functions well as a standalone mystery. The core case is self-contained, and the author provides enough context for new readers to understand the characters and their dynamics without feeling lost.

  • Does this book feature the Peculiar Crimes Unit prominently?

    The Peculiar Crimes Unit is central to the narrative, with detectives Arthur Bryant and John May leading the investigation into the vanishing pub. Readers can expect their unique methods and the unit's eccentric atmosphere to be key elements of the story.