The Vesuvius Club – Mark Gatiss

This tale of derring-do is narrated by Lucifer Box – artist of repute, well known dandy about late Victorian / early Edwardian London, and less well known secret agent of HMG, reporting to head of service, one Joshua Reynolds RA.

His new assignment is to investigate the deaths on consecutive days of two eminent scientists in Naples, which were swiftly followed by the demise of the local British diplomat, Jocelyn Poop.

A trip to Naples for Box then, but before he can set off other distractions crop up: the delightful Miss Bella Pok who comes for art lessons but seems interested in more; the disappearance of Mrs Midsummer Knight in which a friend is implicated; and the strange goings-on at Tom Bowler & Co, purveyor of superior funerals, that involve unorthodox practices that threaten to provide additional custom.

Notwithstanding those distractions, Box finally gets to Naples and discovers, mainly through the obliging (in more ways than one) Charlie Jackpot, vital clues that lead to the mysterious and exclusive Vesuvius Club. The club resembles a circle within Dante’s vision of hell with all types of debauchery and excess on display but, behind and below this show, even worse is being planned, constructed and set in motion. Box’s ingenuity, cool head and strong thighs will be needed to prevent death and destruction.

Gatiss was of course instrumental in the creation of the cult TV series “The League of Gentlemen” and has put his talents to use in this self-confessed ‘bit of fluff’. It reads as a cross between Rider Haggard and Terry Pratchett – a fiendish plot with villains and heroes (equipped with outlandish names) peppered with witty asides and naughty nuances.

A diverting bit of fluff, just right for that flight or train journey.

The Eustace Diamonds – Anthony Trollope

In this, the third of the “Palliser” novels, the focus of attention is Lady Elizabeth Eustace, “Lizzie” to her friends, who are few and diminishing. She is young, clever and attractive, which helped her make the advantageous match with the hard-living Lord Eustace for whom she rapidly produced an heir before being predictably, and non-too sorrowfully, made a widow; thus adding rich and available to her already considerable charms.

As for the diamonds, they constitute a fabulous necklace in the possession of Lady Eustace – but are they hers or do they belong to the estate, held in trust for the heir? She claims her husband gave them to her to keep; the estate solicitor says prove it, and in the meantime hand them over. For Lizzie, possession is ten tenths of the law and she holds them close.

The dispute divides society opinion and provides complications for Lizzie as she casts her net for a fresh husband. First choice is her cousin Frank Greystock but, while he supports her claim to the necklace and could do with her money, he is otherwise engaged to the sweet but penniless Lucy Morris. Second choice, Lord Fawn, is initially keen but then unwilling to be compromised by the dispute. Others hover on the fringes, both fascinated and worried by the dangerously feisty widow.

Around the central bone of contention Trollope weaves his usual narrative of social niceties, gossip and innuendo, spiced up here and there with larceny as the criminal fraternity get wind that the diamonds are being hauled around the country in a strongbox as part of Lizzie’s entourage. Other side plots abound to give variety and light relief, particularly Lizzie’s relations with Mrs Carbuncle, symbiotic to begin but increasingly acrimonious.

Perhaps longer than necessary, it remains a pleasant read provided you have the time to enjoy the unhurried prose. What drive the reader on are the questions – who will end up with the diamonds and who will end up with Lizzie?