Reviews

The Sacred Art of Stealing by Christopher Brookmyre

yavanna_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

stevecrm's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious slow-paced

3.5

shaileshnandwana's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

sharondblk's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I love Christopher Brookmyre. This book is a romp from start to finish. Even the bad guy is fun, rather than a scary psychopath.
my only criticism, and I'm not sure it is a criticism, is that some of the middle bits read more like a romance than a comedy/suspence/detective novel, or whatever genre this is supposed to be. But i love romance, so that's not much of a criticism!

pezski's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

 Even better than the first Angelique de Xavier book, showing that while Brookmyre can write a great action-packed thriller he is even better back on his usual territory of a a crime novel, although far from a straight forward one.


This intricately plotted novel is built around a bizarre bank heist in Glasgow city centre but keeps on layering. The author lays all the clues out there and, if you're paying attention, you work them out just before he reveals each one - well, mostly. He keeps some twists firmly up his sleeve.


As always, superbly written with great characters and action and Brookmyre's trademark Glaswegian humour.


I switched between audio and paperback. I have to say that while I generally enjoyed Caroline Guthrie's reading, her American accents were... not great. 

tartancrusader's review against another edition

Go to review page

I don't remember much about this one except that I enjoyed it immensely and that it was extremely funny. Oh and the clowns. Bank robbers dressed as clowns.

rhonaea's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

He just never disappoints

rhonaea's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

He just never disappoints

myyorkshirelitmosphere's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I will admit I didn’t know what to expect when my friend Emily suggested this as my August book. The synopsis didn’t give much away but I was intrigued none the less.

If you haven’t read it, I recommend the audiobook. The narrator has the thickest Scottish accent and it is amusing listening to her try and do an American accent.

If you, like me, like all things Scottish, this will have you giggling and confused all in one go. Its heavy on the Scottish cultural references but you will find yourself enjoying it immensely. Plus who doesn’t like a “who done it” that you just dont see coming!

nigelbrown's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I, simply put, am a big fan of this man. An amusing, sometimes funny but always original and perhaps a little wacky storyteller.