Felix in the Underworld (Windsor Selections) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

John Clifford Mortimer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Windsor Selections | Publication Date: June 1997

Felix Morsom, once described as the Chekhov of Coldsands-on-Sea, finds himself in big trouble when he tr ies to help a father struggling to pay child maintenance. Fe lix is accused of being the child''s real father, and then of murder. '

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Be careful what you wish for--it just might come true. John Mortimer, author of more than 20 Rumpole of the Bailey books, introduces us to novelist Felix Morsom. Known as the "Chekhov of Coldsands-on-Sea," Morsom leads a very sedate and predictable life, writing genteel little novels about the middle class. His wife left him for a Welsh college professor but returned after she developed a terminal illness. His days of writing are interrupted by the occasional book tour, rather dull and unpleasant affairs where nothing really happens. Morsom longs for a little drama in his life, just a touch of spice to keep thing interesting. His wish comes true in spades when he is confronted by a blackmailer waiting in the autograph line, wielding a paternity suit. To top it off, he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect in a rather brutal murder. John Mortimer is a master of ingenious plot twists, and he leaves plenty of red herrings for us in this hilarious and clever novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Poor Felix. Once a best-selling novelist, now merely a literary success, he's hit with a paternity suit that leads to murder.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 301 pages
• Publisher: G K Hall & Co; Lrg edition (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754010759
• ISBN-13: 978-0754010753
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, charming, and exciting mystery, January 31, 2000

By 

AP (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Felix in the Underworld (Hardcover)

I first fell in love with the stories of John Mortimer through Rumpole of the Bailey and Summer's Lease. His talent for writing charming, intelligent characters continues in this book. The main character, Felix Morsom, is an author of rather unexciting books. It is, however, the criticism of this aspect of his stories that begins his adventures. When a mysterious tape, a forgotten acquaintance, and a small child all come tumbling into his life, Felix has no idea that he will go from comfortable home looking at the sea to wandering the streets to reading bestselling sports-themed romance novels in jail. The plot does not disappoint, and holds its own very well. Some events, such as Felix' foray into sleeping on the street could ring false, Felix (and Mortimer), though, pull it off in the end, making even the wildest adventures believable for this mild-mannered author. However, the real gem in this novel is not the well-written plot, but the way the reader gets to know Felix Morsom. His slightly blundering attempts at seducing his publicist as well as his dogged determination and amusing observations make him an entirely sympathetic character. All in all, 'Felix in the Underworld' is an enjoyable read, again and again.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Rumpole, you'll like Felix., March 23, 2000

By 

Leonard Fleisig "Len" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Felix in the Underworld (Paperback)

In his book The Joys of Yiddish, Leo Rosten sets out the distinction betwen a schlemiel (a fool) and a schlimazel (one prone to misfortune)thusly: A schlemiel is the waiter that trips while carrying a large bowl of soup to a table. The schlimazel is the person that ends up with the soup on his lap. Felx Morsom, the ptoagonist of Felix in the Underworld is the quintessential English schlimazel. Though not a fool, Felix plays an altogether passive role as misfortune falls upon him. The strength of Mortimer's book lies in his ability to portrary Felix in a charming, almost winsome manner while at the same time moving the story ahead in a plesant fashion. Mortimer has a keen eye for detail. The book is easy to read, amusing, and charming.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and Filled With Surprises, November 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Felix in the Underworld (Paperback)

John Mortimer is the writer of many charming and wonderful books, although he is no doubt best known for his stories of Horace Rumpole, the irascible British barrister. In Felix in the Underworld, Mortimer showcases his comic and satirical talents most admirably.

Mortimer reminds me a little of bestselling Japanese novelist, Haruki Murakami, in that his characters in this book are quite ordinary people who live quite ordinary lives but have the absurdly bad fortune of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The protagonist of Felix in the Underworld, Felix Morsom, is a moderately successful, quiet, sensitive novelist at Llama Books who manages to become involved, much against his will, with a man named Gavin Piercey.

Soon after meeting Piercey, Felix notices the man everywhere in his life: at book signings, during radio talk shows and, most especially, at one fateful meeting where Piercey introduces Felix to a woman named Miriam. This meeting will have serious, but hilarious, repercussions on Felix's life.

From the moment Felix meets Miriam, his life becomes one of turmoil and wild, unbelievable events. He receives a letter from an agency calling itself PROD; he is accused of a brutal murder; he becomes involved with London's homeless population.

Mortimer's handling of the plot is superb, his writing as smooth as silk and the characters, although slightly cliched, are still polished and hilarious. One of the funniest is the lawyer, Septimus Roache, the man Felix turns to in desperation when he attempts to prove his innocence in the murder. Roache is an obtuse and self-satisfied man who has little to no interest in his clients and really doesn't listen to a word Felix is telling him.

Mortimer, who himself was a successful barrister before becoming a writer, knows how to create a rollicking good murder mystery and this is part of why Felix in the Underworld works as well as it does. Another large part is Felix, himself, an engaging character we can't help but like; a man who maintains his dignity and poise even in the face of adversity of the highest, and most unexpected, order.

Mortimer calls himself a "Champagne socialist," and is a champion of the poor and the downtrodden. In this book he manages to take us on a trip through contemporary British society, especially homeless society. The book is fun, though, above all, and never sounds like polemic. We can credit Mortimer's superb writing skills for that.

The snobbish character of Simon Tubal-Smith, Felix's boss at Llama Books is contrasted wonderfully with Esmond, a homeless man who was, at one time, a manager in a supermarket. Esmond left his job and home for a life in the streets when tragedy struck. Felix, himself, spends some time as a member of London's homeless population and is reminiscent of George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London.

The dialogue is pure Mortimer and always fun. When Felix is temporarily residing in jail, his cellmate is a man named Dumbarton who allegedly beat another man to death. "You killed him?" Felix asks. "Thoroughly," Dumbarton replies, quite satisfied with what he did.

Felix is both self-effacing and hilarious as he attempts to cope with unhelpful lawyers who do just as much to convict as help him, as he tries to sort out the mystery behind PROD, as well as develop his budding relationship with Brenda Bodkin, his publisher's publicity agent.

Although this book is a little formulaic at times, the formula works and works well. Maybe that is because Mortimer is a master who never lets us down. Felix in the Underworld is a first-rate murder mystery, a comedy of errors and a satire of the British class system. It is always delightful and filled with surprises up until the very last page.