The Man from the Diogenes Club by Kim Newman

[snugglekitty]

I read some reviews of this book and thought I would really enjoy it. The reviews led me to believe that it would be a bit like Austin Powers as a ghost-hunter. I was reassured by the author, Kim Newman, since I've enjoyed his work before (Anno Dracula is my favorite). I was disappointed. Rather than being one book, as I expected (for no good reason, I suppose) it is actually a collection of novellas in chronological order. In the first novella, titled something like "Down on the Pier," a dour undercover policeman has a horrifying experience and is subsequently assigned to work with two strange individuals to get to the bottom of things. The individuals are Richard Jeperson, a sensitive ghost-hunter with a flair for truly awful clothing, and Vanessa, a gorgeous and talented young woman. I enjoyed the first novella but after that it all went downhill. I felt like I was wasting my time. The only other story in the book I truly enjoyed was "The Man Who Got Off the Ghost Train." If you think this sounds interesting, just read the first novella - after that, I suggest you put it down. Two stars only.