Bob Mortimer might be better known to Australian audiences as a comedian (think Would I Lie To You?). He has a plethora of stories, all with quirks and weird names. Those two things grace this excellent mystery.
Matt Giles is feeling flat. He’s been made redundant. His partner, Harriet, has left a note saying she needs a few days away. She’s secretly concerned he’s having an affair with their flirty neighbour, Carol. (He isn’t.) The lease on their flat is coming up, and he’s not found anything yet (nor another job). So, when he’s contacted by Kiara, an agent for Satsuma Heights, an upmarket apartment complex near London Bridge, offering him an apartment at half-price rent, he’s keen. All he has to do is spy on his neighbours for the developer, Laurence. Matt knows it’s unethical, but the offer is too tempting to refuse. He tries to let Harriet know, but she’s not answering her phone. Harriet, meanwhile, is held captive by a mysterious person in an unknown location. Matt’s cat, Goodmonson (see names and WILTY again), with whom Matt has conversations, is trapped in his old flat. Matt’s shady neighbour, Bill, tries to help. The other neighbour, Julian, is a hypocritical yoga teacher.
While studying the secret camera feeds from each flat, Matt spots who he thinks is Harriet. All the characters are caught in a web of deceit, where Matt and Harriet are victims. Matt must find hidden courage to rescue her. The titular long shoe plays an integral role. A wild, quirky read.
Reviewed by Bob Moore
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Mortimer was born in Middlesbrough in 1959, the youngest of four sons. He trained as a solicitor before a chance encounter with Vic Reeves in the 1980s led to a successful career in comedy as half of duo Reeves and Mortimer. His screen credits include Shooting Stars, Big Night Out, Catterick and most recently BBC2’s Gone Fishing. His memoir, And Away…, published in 2021. It became the bestselling memoir of the year and was named Times and Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year.
His first novel, The Satsuma Complex, was published in 2022 and won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for Comic Fiction. The sequel, The Hotel Avocado, was an immediate number one bestseller on release in 2024.
His books have now sold over 2 million copies.
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