Life always seems to be more complicated than it should be for Charlie Mortdecai: degenerate aristocrat, amoral art dealer, seasoned epicurean, unwilling assassin, and confirmed coward.
Something Nasty in the Woodshed finds Charlie exiled from London due to his growing unpopularity on account of some shady art deals. Taking refuge in a country estate on the Channel Island of Jersey, he embarks on a well-intended hedonistic interlude. But his vacation soon morphs into a macabre manhunt, as Charlie seeks to expose a local rapist whose modus operandi bears a striking resemblance to that of a warlock from ancient British mythology known as “The Beast of Jersey.”
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"Very entertaining and witty. Much enjoyed. The third in the trilogy."
— Sophie (4 out of 5 stars)
“Sticks in the mind long after you’ve quoted all the funny bits to your friends.”
— New Yorker“Splendidly enjoyable…the jokes are excellent, but the most horrible things keep happening.”
— Sunday Telegraph (London)“We’re seduced by Charlie’s wit, wordplay, and disarming candor about his vanity and many appetites…he moves from one malicious witticism or fine meal to another as he ingests vast amounts of booze and exhales bon mots.”
— Dallas Morning News“A comic masterpiece.”
— Spectator (UK)“At least of Hammett-Chandler weight, and in many ways surpasses them.”
— Times Literary Supplement (London)“Wickedly entertaining…a sure-fire, acid-tongued winner.”
— Publishers Weekly" I loved listening to the reader of this book and the sort of aside comments he made throughout more than I loved the story of who is raping the ladies of the town. "
— Jody, 7/5/2012" Another Charlie Mordecai story with that great British humor. "
— Judith, 12/11/2011" Yeah, this one got a little crazy with the devil worship ceremony, but it still was a lot of fun. Bonfiglioli's style is very unique and likable. "
— Sarah, 2/19/2008" A wonderful farce and a fine ending. When is the movie coming out? "
— Christopher, 8/8/2007" More from the nefarious - and hilarious - Charlie Mortdecai. If the "Ripley" books were written as farce, this would be the result. "
— Sherry, 10/30/2006" The Cold Comfort Farm reference drew me in. I've just started it, like the cheeky tone, but the misogyny, oh dearie me, if it persists, I'm outa there. "
— Linera, 5/26/2006Kyril Bonfiglioli (1928–1985) was an art dealer, accomplished fencer, a fair shot with most weapons, and a serial marrier of beautiful women. He claimed to be “abstemious in all things except drink, food, tobacco, and talking” and “loved and respected by all who knew him slightly.”
N. T. Wright, former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England, now serves as chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. He is the award-winning author of such books as Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, After You Believe, Simply Jesus, How God Became King, and the series Christian Origins and the Question of God, and he is the translator of The Kingdom New Testament.