A Very Persistent Illusion by L. C. Tyler

by L.C. Tyler, Unknown Author

Inventor of the Sorensen-Birtwistle Revised Scale of Girl-Rage, Chris has a beautiful girlfriend (Virginia), two likeable potential parents-in-law (Hugh and Daphne) and a classic sports car with a leather-covered gear stick. Impending matrimony and the car’s leaking roof seem to be the only clouds on the horizon. But his apparently comfortable world is turned upside down when Hugh dies suddenly and Daphne (after one Irish Cream too many) reveals some shocking information. Meanwhile... In an inn, in the Danube Valley, in the seventeenth century, a certain cantankerous philosopher seems to have some words of guidance for our modern-day hero. We join Virginia and Chris (and René) as they seek to uncover the truth about Hugh, themselves and the meaning of life. A Very Persistent Illusion is a hilarious, hugely inventive and thought-provoking novel about love, madness and reality. ‘Compelling and clever, I really couldn’t put it down. A deceptively light read. I laughed out loud’ - Alison Joseph, author of the Sister Agnes Mysteries

Genres: Humor, Fiction

Paperback

First published March 6, 2009

About the author

L. C. Tyler grew up in Essex and studied geography at Jesus College Oxford University and systems analysis at City University in London. During a career with the British Council he lived in Malaysia, Sudan, Thailand and Denmark. More recently he has been based in Islington and West Sussex and is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, of which he was previously Chief Executive. He is married and has two children and one dog.

Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery

Reviews

[Dave Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crikey, I don't know whether it was personal resonances or just bloody good writing, but this had me welling up. And I am not one who is usually emotionally affected by books. This was especially unexpected because I am used to this author's "Ethelred and Elsie" series of detective novels being light-hearted fun. That's not to say this was without humour - there were plenty of witty bits - but the central psychological and existential rollercoaster of our hero Chris was quite powerful.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable. Very funny, and clever in a non-ostentatious way, but also much more serious than it initially lets on.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, sad and very touching. Clever and thoughtful without being pretentious.

[Fiona Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wonderful - quirky, original and hilarious. Will be looking out for future works from this author.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I thought
Know much more about philosophy than I did.
A really bittersweet tale, funny in parts but with real sadness throughout.

[Soozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this author's writing style, but sadly his quirky humour doesn't come through in this book. The book started well, with Chris a middle aged lothario who is failing to grow up, messing up his love life and his career. Chapter 2 we suddenly find ourselves in 17th century Germany - I was so bemused I wondered if the printer had added a chapter from another book. We move back into the past occasionally as the author airs his knowledge of philosophers, but I really did not see the point of that, as it took the reader away from the actual story.

Eventually we are embroiled in Chris's life, his romance with Virginia (and Lucy) and the sudden death of her father, which sparks a mystery that they are keen to resolve.

Overall it is vaguely entertaining, but it could be sharper with less philosophy. I get it that we are charting a breakdown and a man not coping with life, but for me it just didn't work terribly well.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of L C Tyler's books are fun and well written, but this is a bit out of the ordinary. The dialogue sparkles. He really does have a tremendous ear and the jokes throughout made me laugh. The theme however gets darker - it's not so much a crime novel as a psychological one, all written with the deftest touch.

[Éowyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have read some of the Ethelred & Elsie mysteries by this writer and you can see in the style it's the same writer, but rather a different sort of story. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. Some of it funny, some that made me cry, which I didn't quite expect!

I enjoyed it.

If I exist......

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual but very interesting novel.