25. The Manual of Detection

TBR #25.  The Manual of Detection by Jedidiah Berry.

First sentence: “Lest details be mistaken for clues, note that Mr. Charles Unwin, lifetime resident of this city, rode his bicycle to work every day, even when it was raining.”

Charles Unwin is the clerk of the great detective Travis Sivart until the detective goes missing and Unwin is promoted to take his place.  This throws the mild-mannered, bicycle-riding Unwin into a world of clandestine reconnaissance and raises some disturbing questions about the true solutions to some of Sivart’s oldest and most famous cases.  As Unwin investigates Sivart’s disappearance–just so he can have his old job back, of course–he uncovers a vast conspiracy by some of Sivart’s former nemeses to take over the unnamed rainy city.  Through people’s dreams.

Equipped only with The Manual of Detection and his umbrella, Unwin tackles the case as methodically as possible, but it quickly spirals out of his (and, sometimes, the reader’s) understanding.  Comparisons between Berry’s first novel and Kafka, Borges, and Calvino lacquer the book’s covers, but, truthfully, aren’t off-base as Unwin travels into dreams within dreams.  This is a book for those who enjoy both a good mystery and a strong helping of the bizarre.