Customer Reviews

Cracker: One Day a Lemming Will Fly

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Very intriguing book. A bit long at times; somewhat predictable at other times. However, the main character, Fitz is presented as a complex and fascinating person who really makes this novel very enjoyable. I've never seen the actual television series, but the book was definitely interesting.

This is well written, but the plot gets a bit wearisome at times. I am tired of the stock situation in which the police are portrayed as incompetent, sexist, distracted. prejudiced, etc. while an outsider, a fat wise-guy with poor personal habits, but a good line in patter, stands on the sidelines exuding charisma until (guess what) he solves everything. In this particular case, I was left wishing he'd done it about a hundred pages earlier

Did I mention that beautiful women find the fat guy irrestible?

I HATE novelizations. But these done for the great British TV mystery series starring Robbie Coltrane actually improve upon the teleplays, adding rich details and psychological insight to the already intense plots. These books could easily stand alone as a great series of psychological crime novels, unified in tone despite the fact that half a dozen different authors have been involved in their creation. Leave it to the Brits to once again do the impossible. First The Battle of Britain, now this...

The English police admire psychiatrist Edward Fitzgerald for his help in solving difficult cases, but most members of the force abhor the doctor's personal lifestyle. Fitz loves to gamble, drink and smoke cigarettes to excess, and cannot resist the women. Though he has returned to his beleaguered spouse, Fitz still finds himself attracted to police inspector Jane Penhaligon.

The police have asked for Fitz to help them on the investigation of the murder of a school boy. The circumstantial evidence points towards the lad's teacher as the killer. Even Fitz is convinced that the man is guilty. Still, to the credit of both the psychiatrist and the police, they continue their inquiries to insure the right person is charged with the murder.

Fans of the BBC series that this novel is extracted from will enjoy this novel that emphasizes Fitz's personal problems to include an interesting self analysis. However, the story line seems less than the plot of a novel and more like a script of an on-going TV series. Anyone who loves the TV series will want to read CRACKER: ONE DAY A LEMMING WILL FLY to learn more about the psychiatrist with numerous addictions and problems.

Harriet Klausner