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Quite Ugly One Evening

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Quite Ugly One Evening

By: Chris Brookmyre
Narrated by: Angus King
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An Atlantic voyage. A family at war. A secret worth killing over.

Reporter Jack Parlabane thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places, and where could be less likely than a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series? But unlike the media family exploiting their show's renewed relevance, he's not there to stoke controversy: he's there to solve a murder.

Already in deep water with his employer, Jack desperately needs a win, and solving this decades-old mystery could be it. Problem is, he's in the middle of the Atlantic, and someone onboard has already killed once to keep their secret.

And that's not even the tricky part. No, the tricky part is definitely the dead body locked in a stateroom with him, covered in his blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he's getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.

Quite Ugly One Evening is a zeitgesty locked-room mystery that sees the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning.

Praise for Chris Brookmyre:

'Chris Brookmyre is a genius' Richard Osman

'In the pantheon of great crime writers' Elly Griffiths

'There's nothing he can't do' Mick Herron

'Chris Brookmyre is a storytelling mastermind' Chris Whitaker©2026 W.F. Howes Crime Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Psychological Thriller & Suspense Crime Murder
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So happy to have Jack back again ☺️ Absolutely loved this, Angus is perfect with his narration, and Chris, as always keeps you on the edge of your seat with so many twists and turns. Just asking for a friend, when is your next book out 😁

He has done it again!!

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Chris Brookmyre is always a pleasure to read & Parlabane is his best creation.

Angus King is a favourite narrator & he’s excellent her.

Another great Parlabane.

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It was nice to find out the back story to Jack. Well written and well narrated. A lot of characters to remember and slowed a little halfway through before the plot picked up again . Always a joy to read Chris Brookmyre. Very perceptive and on point as usual

Enjoyable listen

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Just when you think you've heard the last of Jack Parlabane, up he pops again in a superb book. As always Parlabane is his own worst enemy and starts the book on the back foot, which is a situation entirely of his own making. He ends up being "persuaded" by MI5 to jion the cruise liner to do some investigating, but he was really avoiding the fallout from his latest his Broadwave debacle.
The story is basically a "locked room" mystery as it all takes place on the liner. Jack is getting older and more reflective about his life choices, but yu can't keep a dyed in the wool investigative journalist down! The plot is a typical CB masterpiece with lots of twists, turns and the odd corpse thrown in. It keeps you listening avidly, wondering what is going to happen next, right to the end.
Angus King is his usual brilliant self and will now always be the voice of Jack Parlabane in my head.
If you like Christopher Brookmyre, then you will love this latest instalment of the life and times of the irrepressible Jack Parlabame.

Brookmyre Does it Again

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As per usual Chris does not disappoint, tight storyline, human emotion, superb plot, another study of the very human nature and condition wrapped up in the life of Jack.
Highly recommended, listen to this book!

Another superb outing for Jack

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