For those unfamiliar with the British Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery series, the police department here investigates very unusual criminal cases, and none are as odd and perplexing as this one that begins when the body of a London cab driver is found hanging upside down in a forest, his throat fatally pierced by a sharp object, and the ground around it scattered with weird dolls and candles. Initially thought to be a one-off revenge killing, it turns out to be the first of a series of murders using the same weapon and each occurring at 4 am. How are the victims chosen and what, if anything, connects them? What follows is a complex mystery that immediately captured my interest and maintained it for the full 433 pages.

Heading up the investigation are Detective Chief Inspectors Arthur Bryant and John May. Bryant is one of the most interesting characters in British detective fiction, a unique combination of Sherlock Holmes and W.C. Fields. He sees clues that no one else does, and he’s a loud, boisterous social misfit who somehow manages to endear himself to most of his subordinates as he seemingly bumbles his way through to successful conclusions. His partner and best friend, May, is almost the complete opposite: neat, low-key, and effective.

Breaking up the mounting suspense is the comedic interplay between Bryant and most of his associates, particularly his “boss” (in name only), Raymond Land, a pencil pusher over whom he runs roughshod, as well as the dregs of London’s criminal society, many of whom he knows from his long tenure on the police force and who prove helpful in solving the mystery.

The ending is both surprising and shocking, and I can’t wait for the next entry in this series to answer some of the important questions about the health of John May and that of the unique organization itself.