Ten Dead Comedians

May 15, 2017
Comics author Van Lente (Action Philosophers!) makes his fiction debut with a high-concept riff on Agatha Christie’s classic Ten Little Indians. Dustin Walker, an actor who’s best known from an improv comedy TV series and a movie franchise that started with Help! I Married a Cat, has invited a variety of prominent comedians to an isolated island in the Caribbean, including Janet Kahn, an insult comic; Oliver Rees, the creator of the Orange Baby Man character (which he’s successfully franchised); and William Griffith, who performs in character as the redneck Billy the Contractor. The murders begin soon after everyone arrives, and their host accuses them, via a recording, of being guilty of crimes against comedy. Before long, the guests conclude that the killer is one of their own. Christie fans may enjoy seeing how Van Lente redoes Ten Little Indians for the digital age, and others will appreciate the entertainment industry satire, but the humor may be just too broad or tasteless in places for some. Agent: Jason Yarn, Jason Yarn Literary Agency.

May 1, 2017
In an homage to And Then There Were None, a group of comedians is picked off one by one as they try to out-personality one another.When a disparate collection of nine comedians receives the invitation to join in a collaborative enterprise organized by the famed Dustin Walker on his little Saint Martin island, it seems like the chance of a lifetime. Each of the invitees seems to fit in with a modern stand-up archetype. For example, Ruby Ng, the loudmouth lesbian, ditches her own wedding to hoof it down to paradise. When the group arrives, they're greeted by Meredith Ladipo, Dustin's assistant, who tells them that Dustin's indisposed but will meet with them soon, and the performers settle in the best way they know: one-upping each other with tales of fame, fortune, and funny. Some members of the group, like formerly famous Steve Gordon and feminist funnywoman Zoe Schwartz, pair up and get to know each other better, while others, like high-strung William Griffith, are more concerned with their connections back home and complain bitterly about the lack of Wi-Fi. Gathered to watch a video left by their host that's broadcast live via GoPro, the whole bunch bears witness to Dustin's death and wonders what's next. As their stay on the island continues, members of the group are picked off one by one, leaving the survivors to wonder how long each one can last and whether it's even worth figuring out who's behind the murders. Van Lente, a comic-book writer publishing his first mystery, focuses more closely on the big picture than its components. Even so, his plot requires so many moving parts that readers may feel he should have included a Cast of Characters, like all those Agatha Christie paperbacks he's emulating.

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May 1, 2017

DEBUT Van Lente's first foray into mystery is both a tribute to Agatha Christie and a dark showbiz satire. Nine comedians (recognizable archetypes) with varying levels of success are invited to the island retreat of renowned comic Dustin Walker. The motley group arrives to find the island deserted and that they are cut off from all communication. And soon they are murdered one by one in brutal traps cleverly related to their individual lives and style of comedy. VERDICT A nifty twist at the end completes this black-humored and cutting-edge homage to Christie's And Then There Were None. Humor is subjective and not everyone will be amused, but the grisly plotting is strong, as is some of the language.--ACT

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory meets Lost in this well-written romp starring has-been comedians trying for their big break. The stand-ups are unexpectedly invited to the private island of Dustin Walker, an old-time comedian who lately acts in a string of embarrassing cat movies. But it turns out that they're not there to stage professional comebacks. In fact, the plan is that they'll never come back from the island, period. At first, Dusty is nowhere to be found, and when the comics find what looks like his body, things turn macabre. One by one the comedians die in gruesome ways, leaving the remaining few to figure out who's killing them and how to escape a grisly end themselves. Bookending each chapter are excerpts from each guest's stand-up routine, which give readers clues as to why these particular comedians have been chosen for Dusty's dubious honor. Van Lente's look at the selfishness and misery of show business is sure to be a hit with mystery lovers who savor unusual setups; the side of snark provided by the bitter islanders adds to the atmosphere.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)