Dennis Bisskit and the Basset Hound from Beacon's Bottom
by Stephen Ainley
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Pub Date 30 Jan 2020 | Archive Date 28 Aug 2020
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Description
He’s dangling from the rooftop of a Birmingham department store.
He’s wedged inside a baby’s pram, floating down a canal.
He’s being chased half-naked down Dudley High Street.
It can only mean one thing.
BISSKIT IS BACK.
It’s 1969 and Dudley’s premier private investigators, Bisskit and Blackshaw, are at the top of their game.
After they foil a gang of shoplifters and save Christmas for the children of Birmingham, their fame spreads far and wide. Lady Ophelia Babbington-Perch hires them to safeguard her Crufts dog show favourite, Bertie.
It all seems straightforward enough, but is there more to it?
What if it all went wrong?
Could this be the end of the road for Dennis Bisskit and Stinky Blackshaw?
Advance Praise
***** STARS
Mayhem, Chaos – and So Funny!
I have relished having this in my tbr list, anticipating many giggles and the feel good factor which comes with every Dennis Bisskit novel – and I was not disappointed!
In this third novel, Dennis and Stinky are still going strong with their detective agency; their record in solving cases is beginning to get them noticed in some very high places! As they work out one case, it attracts attention from the aristocracy and they land the plum job of protecting one of their number – a pedigree dog. How much trouble can Bisskit and Blackshaw get into this time? Trust me, you’d never guess . . .
For those who have followed my reviews of this series, you’ll be happy to know I forced myself to lay the book aside after ten minutes reading in bed. Truth is, I couldn’t stop myself laughing out loud and didn’t want to rouse my husband from his slumbers yet again. Even so, he knew exactly what I’d been reading! This is every bit as funny as the preceding two books; Dennis may have grown up in theory, but mayhem and chaos are still his middle names – and if you’ve ever wondered where Stinky got his nickname, then this is where we find out! It’s very hard to describe these tales to anyone who hasn’t read them, but think a cross between the old Jerry Lewis films and Just William. There are some words which will always remind me of this novel .. Crufts will never be the same again! And then there’s the visuals .. I suspect I may be laughing in my sleep tonight! Absolutely a five star read, and I really hope that author Stephen Ainley has more capers of Dennis Bisskit up his sleeve.
My thanks to the author for my copy of this novel; of course this is my honest, original and unbiased review.
"Another hilarious tale from Stephen Ainley with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Aside from the madcap disasters that befall the inimitable Dennis Bisskit, there is plenty more to smile about, not least the exchanges between him and Stinky Blackshaw.
In part one of the book, the hapless detectives are approached by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham no less, to solve a case of theft in Lewis’s dept store; this involves working undercover in Santa’s Grotto. Needless to say, it is Dennis who assumes the role of Santa with Stinky, dressed as an elf, his little helper.
We then move onto their next case and the pair are in their element when hired by a member of the aristocracy to protect their prize Basset Hound, Bertie – official pedigree name Lord Wilberforce, the 14th of Western Samoa! This follows a threat to his life in the run up to the prestigious Cruft’s dog show. Amazed to find Bertie living in a style that’s fit for a king, Stinky is only too happy to taste his food, on the pretext it could be poisoned.
It soon becomes apparent that the Dudley detectives have made an enemy, someone with an axe to grind from a previous job who leads the pair on a merry chase.
I love Mr. Ainley’s (often ludicrous) sense of humour which is reflected in the names of his characters; these alone are a source of great amusement. To name but a few... Lady Ophelia Babington-Perch, her daughter, Lady Epiphany Beatrice Babington-Perch (try saying that after too much wine!), Snork the chauffeur and not forgetting Pickles, head butler at Babington House.
If you are looking for something to lift your spirits and take you away from the cares of the world, this author’s books are for you. Thank you, Mr. Ainley, for another entertaining read."
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781528978088 |
| PRICE | $3.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Jan T, Reviewer
private-investigators, spoof, verbal-humor, situational-humor, England
WARNING! Do not attempt to drink hot beverage whilst reading this book!
Dennis and Stinky are up to tricks on this assignment and the whole thing is absolutely hilarious! I've never read the other books, but I really need to! It's all too much fun and an absolute cure for the blahs or feeling down! Of course there is a plot, and all the characters certainly are, but the laughs are the most memorable.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you!
Kaye T, Reviewer
Dennis and Stinky are PIs in the early 70s. Fun book overall, and the first I've read in the series. While funny, I started to feel a little bit like I was on a treadmill after awhile. Felt the same, and cost a star in my rating. overall though, it was fun and I would recommend it if you want a light spoof to read.
Mystica V, Reviewer
This was a fun read and what both Dennis and Stinky do so well is that they are good detectives and now they are getting a bit of notice and action. The chance to protect an aristocratic dog at the best dog show in town is a plum assignment but have they bitten more than what they could chew.
Hilariously funny and a good read for all ages.
Annie B, Reviewer
Dennis Bisskit and the Basset Hound from Beacon's Bottom is a farcical spoof of those action PI pulp mysteries of the 60s-70s. Released 30th January 2020 by Austin Macauley, it's 196 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a silly book in a silly series full of slapstick and groanworthy puns. It's peppered with the setup catchphrase "What could possibly go wrong" and about 75% of the narrative is the subsequent enumeration of what went wrong and how. Despite the author's inability to pass up a cheap joke, there are a number of genuinely funny scenes which surprised a bark of laughter from me.
The humor is slapstick, lowbrow, and goofy - think Austin Powers meets Jerry Lewis with a couple of Three Stooges crossovers. There are nonstop non-sequiturs which are never resolved or further referenced. There are jokes about bodily functions that will thrill anyone who still thinks fart jokes are funny. Negatives aside, there is *something* innocently charming about the characters and I enjoyed reading it (despite myself). The author is a decent writer and there's nothing bad about the nuts-and-bolts technical storytelling craft.
Short version: this is one for people who think slapstick comedy is funny. Three stars for me, likely four for lovers of punny humorous PI sendups (Austin Powers, etc). I'm rounding up to four stars because I knew what it was like going in.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Librarian 431790
This book made me laugh and it found it really funny and entertaining.
It's well written, the characters are interesting and it's full of humour.
I hope this is part of series because I want to read other books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Beate L, Reviewer
great book, fun to read about two PIs trying to solve a case concerning a dog. You get to know the two funy characters real well in the book. I look forward for their next case.
mark r, Reviewer
Oh dear, I cried with laughter at parts of this book. I'm now going to have to seek out the earlier books in the series.
This is apparently the third book in the series but the fact that I'd not read the earlier ones mattered not one jot. I just fell into the world of Bisskit and Blackshaw, whom I warmed to straight away: I felt as though I'd known them all my life, which considering I did spend time around Birmingham as an investigator, I might well have.
The writing style reminded me of the early days of the late lamented Tom Sharpe, which I read as a student more days ago than I care to remember. Sharpe had a rather wicked way of naming his characters too.
If you like your humour being slightly exaggerated, ludicrous even, then you might just enjoy this.
Jazzy L, Reviewer
THE Perfect book for a feel good read and lots of fun. Be prepared for some odd looks whilst laughing out loud on public transport!
Reviewer 266180
From Disaster To Catastrophe....
Bisskit is back in this amusing spoof. Join Bisskit and Blackshaw as the PI’s go from disaster to catastrophe whilst stopping shoplifters in their tracks and even saving Christmas. This time it’s a Crufts favourite that needs their attention. What could possibly go wrong? Entertaining, escapism.
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