A First Mystery in a New Series by Christopher Fowler

Christopher Fowler is an accomplished author, sarting in 1984 with his collection of short stories, The Collection of Lost Souls. Even though this new book written as the first in a series, that first title of Fowler's could also work for his new first in the A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery with the characters, Arthur Bryant and John May, the first detectives who started the Peculiar Crimes Unit during the World War II years. There are many unique characters in the novel, Full Dark House. We immediately meet John May in the present London, as there has been a terrorist attack on the Peculiar Crimes Unit, and Arthur Bryant is found dead at the scene. John May decides it must be tied in with their first case, at the London Theatre where a series of murders took place during the London Blitz. We are taken back in time and retrace the steps of these two detectives who are just learning how to work together. The play and the theatre contain the actors, the producer, the dancers, the stage hands and all the people who could be tied up with the Palace. It does become confusing, but I was drawn into the story by the historical details. This first of the series was awarded the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel . With the success of this first in the series, Fowler has been continuing the series since 2003, his latest is the 2010 release of Bryant & May off the Rails: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery. .