Dirk Gently, self-styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza (Goodreads).
For the first ninety percent of the plot, Adams shines in a uproariously funny, eloquently dictated, and smartly constructed genre-bending novel full of dynamic characters, witty dialogue, and engaging mystery. Although it takes a while for the titular Gently to make an appearance, the buildup and payoff for his character and the subsequent detecting that unfolds is well worth the wait. As readers follow along with the strange detective and the exasperated Richard, there is also payoff in seeing the book's various strange elements come together in a very, well, holistic fashion. For the last ten percent, while it is about as enjoyable as the first portion, Adams crams in perhaps a bit too much, what with time travel and alien colonization threatening humanity all being introduced in the conclusion. This does little, however, to deter from the fact that Adams has crafted a masterful story here. 8.6/10
My review was pretty much the same! "The set-up is incredibly funny. The diverse and bizarre cast of characters and scenarios is wonderfully clever and hilarious, and there are certain moments of pure comic genius throughout the novel. The comedy wanes near the end, and the solving of the mystery doesn’t really compensate, but it never drags or stumbles."
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