The Eighth Detective

A Novel

by Alex Pavesi

This intriguing mystery draws the reader in immediately. Right away, the reader encounters the story of Henry, Meghan and Bunny in the first chapter. There is a murder. Who did it? The characters tell their story only for the reader to learn that Henry and Meghan are characters in a story within a story. By the time the reader realizes this, they will most likely want to know why and to know more.

The book unfolds as the story of a mathematics professor who wrote a treatise on murder mysteries. He now, somewhat mysteriously himself, lives alone on an island. He is visited there by a young editor whose employer is interested in re-publishing the mathematician’s earlier book.

From this point, readers will feel instinctively that there will be many twists and unfoldings over the course of the remaining novel. Turning the pages will feel desirable as readers race toward the end of the title.

The author promises and provides a clever and original take on the crime novel in this title. I think that it will be enjoyed by many readers of the genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.