The Sinister Booksellers Of Bath (The Left Handed Booksellers Of London book 2) by Garth Nix (book review).
‘The Sinister Booksellers Of Bath’ is book two in ‘The Left Handed Booksellers Of London’ series by Garth Nix.
This time, Sulis Minerva, the ruler of Bath, is posing a more mythical threat to the booksellers. This time, it’s not Sulis who is causing havoc, although she does turn up during the book. An unknown magician traps Merlin in a map, forcing his sister, Vivien, and their new friend, Susan, to attempt a rescue. This then leads them into a mystery of disappearing people and murder, which they must, of course, solve. Essentially, they must identify the mysterious serial killer who is attempting to murder them through the use of magically animated stone creatures.
This book is full of action from the very first page, but, given the danger, it is still quite a lighthearted romp throughout. Despite this, I found the pace somewhat peculiar at certain points, as the initial chapters thrust us into a challenging situation where we must complete tasks within a set timeframe to prevent fatalities. The book then decelerates, with extensive research taking place during the middle section, which moves at a leisurely pace. Then it all picks right up again for the last few chapters, which have a more traditional pacing. Personally, I liked the research bit in the middle, but it might be a little long and boring for people who wanted the excitement from the first few chapters to carry on throughout.
I love almost all the characters in this book, but, for some reason, Susan really annoys me. I’m uncertain if her writing style contributes to her annoyance or if she simply irritates me, but be prepared for her potential irritation. Of course, my favourite character is Merlin, with their fabulous wardrobe and ability to get into trouble at the drop of a hat—probably a perfectly chosen hat. I also love his need to protect; given his role as a left-handed bookseller, it just made him extra loveable. I also enjoyed the new characters, including Sulis Minerva and others.
Although it pains me to admit it, this book falls under the category of historical urban fantasy because it takes place in the 1980s! Given that the 1980s were not that long ago, I’m not sure how that came about. I do enjoy all the references to things from that time. But for some reason, author Gareth Nix has a bit of an obsession with describing the different guns everyone uses. Every time we meet someone, they appear to be carrying a weapon, and it seems necessary for us to learn more about the weapon than them!
OK, I feel I need to step in and defend Sally Lunn’s Buns. I honestly never thought I’d say that, but here we are. It appears that Nix has taken action against them in some way, and I understand they are overhyped, and you will probably stand in a queue for a long time only to find they’re basically a giant burger bun. However, my distaste for Nix remains somewhat intense. If you ever happen to visit, I highly recommend the Welsh rarebit version.
Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can’t wait to read the next one to find out what trouble they get into next. However, if you’ve reached your limit, you could easily conclude here, as there’s a neat and tidy ending.
Sarah Bruch
June 2024
pub: Gollancz/Orion, 2023. 330 page hardback. Price: £20.00 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-39960-630-1)
check out website: www.gollancz.com