After a chance encounter with eccentric author George Burgess on a train, Tom Winscombe learns that he has been murdered. Tom thinks that the murder must be linked to Burgess’s work on the mysterious mathematician twins Archimedes and Pythagoras Vavasor, who died some years ago in suspicious circumstances. Their deaths and their unfinished work are the subject of almost cultish speculation.

Tom decides to investigate Burgess’ murder, not least because he has time on his hands. He has just sabotaged his own career via an unfortunate outburst on social media and his girlfriend’s attention seems to be elsewhere.

What follows is a fun, entertaining caper which takes Tom through internet forums, catnapping, maths-themed mutilations and a burgeoning interest in Belarus.

I enjoyed the mathematical elements of the story, but don’t be put off if you find the idea daunting. Tom doesn’t know anything at the start so the reader learns as he does. And if you’re not up for equations, there are plenty of odd characters, fun set pieces and Tom’s unerring knack for walking into trouble.

This is the third novel from the Farrago imprint which I’ve read and enjoyed. They have quite a distinctive list of ‘fiction to make you smile’ – and right now we can all do with a bit of that.

This was such a funny book! My mind keeps trying to go to similar books, and I know I've read some, but I can't remember any for the life of me right now. But once you start reading it, you'll know the kind I mean. It's fast, it's hilarious, it's got a ridiculously incompetent main character who is still quite likeable, despite being either a major dick, or just a big doofus - interchangeably (think of a main character from an urban fantasy, for example.) It's good evening entertainment, nothing short of watching a spy or con men movie, and it will deliver.

One more thing - little mathematical details are sprinkled all over the plot - but they're not as difficult as to go over your head, they are explained and they certainly set a nice tone to the story. If you've ever been a maths dork (like me!), this will be an added bonus.

Despite the mystery the main character is chasing in this book, there's still a hanging thread that remains after everything seems to be solved - which makes me happy because that means there's will be a part two. Can't wait to read it!

I thank Farrago and Prelude for the review copy in exchange to my honest opinion. This has not affected my review.

I enjoyed The Truth About Archie And Pie. It’s a comic mystery which is actually funny and which has some genuine content to it as well.

Be warned, the plot is bonkers. Tom Winscome, a rather smug pillock in PR (who narrates the book) comes into possession of some mathematical manuscripts, and as his life then comes apart he finds himself in the middle of murder plots, possibly being threatened by the Belarusian mafia and so on while having to solve some mathematically-based mysteries to find out what is going on and save himself and his friends. Put like that, it sounds pretty terrible, but it’s well written, witty enough to make me laugh out loud several times, the maths elements are enjoyable and simply explained, and it has a plot which is just (just!) coherent enough to make a decent mystery.

Jonathan Pinnock has an easy, readable style with neatly-painted (if sometimes absurdly extreme) characters, like the vicar who “had a plummy, earnest voice that managed to sound sympathetic and judgemental at the same time,” and he gets Tom’s hopeless lack of self-awareness very well. I liked this little line after he has been a pain to his girlfriend who has left him a note saying that she has gone out with Samantha to discuss man problems: “Samantha’s boyfriend was an arse, so I wasn’t a bit surprised by this.” Tom does develop a little during the book, which is also a good aspect.

Pinnock also takes some neat, humorous swipes at a lot of modern idiocies, like
‘What if he’s got a gun?’
‘We’re in Hoxton, Tom. If anyone found a gun in Hoxton, they’d use it in some kind of post-ironic artwork.’
OK, it’s an easy target, but it’s nicely done and there’s plenty of enjoyable stuff in the same vein about internet behaviour, conspiracy theories, absurd corporate language and so on.

This isn’t a comedy classic for me; I couldn’t quite give it five stars because I felt it could do with a little tightening up in places, but it’s a very enjoyable read and I will be looking out for the sequel.

(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Tom is a PR guy who's had a terrible day. On his way home, he meets a stranger on the train who has some crazy theories about a pair of deaths that took place a decade ago.
From that moment on, Tom's life will change for ever in ways noone could imagine.
I loved the story, the mystery and the math!
This story does not disappoint!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book!

A mathematical murder mystery that took me back to my student days of learning and understanding complex equations!! Disillusioned and just about to be sacked PR executive Tom Winscombe finds himself sat on the train next to a very strange character. George Burgess has been recruited as biographer of the famous mathematical twins Archimedes and Pythagoras Vavasor who both died in mysterious circumstances ten years ago. Then Burgess himself is murdered leaving Tom with a securely locked case and a whole load of problems. Inside a week Tom's life has been turned upside down as he is reluctantly thrown into a murky world of wonderful bizarre characters including a fair amount of input from the Belarusian mafia. Rumours and conspiracy theories abound in the Vavasorology forums and just in time he receives much needed help from an old school friend. m, p, e and i all add up to a wickedly clever story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Glad to see that further adventures are on the way!

This book is very funny, paradoxal, entertaining and well written.
That means it's a very enjoyable read and I hope this is a series so there's going to be another instalment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC

Very clever. Tom did not expect to find himself trying to solve the mystery of the death of George Burgess- who he's just met- much less the death of the Vavasor twins. For those who are mathphobes- don't worry- this is not intimidating and actually quite fun. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is probably one of the funniest and unique mystery books I've read in a long time.

The mixture of mystery, mathematical concepts and humour is a perfect combination to get anyone, of any age, to enjoy this book. Even for children who are always saying that 'math is boring', this may give them a funny approach to it, albeit in a fictional and pretty incredible plot.

I'm very interested in reading the next book in this series.


Disclaimer: I was provided this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

#TheTruthAboutArchieAndPye #NetGalley