Humorous Fiction Review: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency  (Dirk Gently #1)
by Douglas Adams 

Description:
What do a dead cat, a computer whiz-kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over 200 years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet), and pizza have in common? Apparently not much; until 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 – not to mention saving the entire human race from extinction along the way (at no extra charge). To find out more, read this book (better still, buy it, then read it) – or contact Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. ‘A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy epic.’ The author

My Review:
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is a delightful romp through the impossible.

A misfit clairvoyant who insists he isn’t, a computer programmer who can’t understand how his couch got stuck in the stairwell, and a ghost who just wants to finish his phone call, those are just a few of the quirky cast members in this hilariously odd murder mystery.

That being said, I loved it and will most likely read it again. It didn’t disappoint. In fact, I loved it more than I did Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which went a little more odd than funny after the 3rd installment, if I remember correctly. Anyhow, it takes a while for Dirk to even show up in the story, but the lead up is exactly what it needs to be. Everything ties together in a delightfully unpredictable, but altogether logical way, and it’s not so obtuse that I couldn’t pick up on important (but seemingly unimportant) details along the way.

If you’re worried that this might spoil the next season of the BBC TV series of the same name, fear not. It really has nothing in common but the style, the humor, and, of course, the main character, Dirk Gently.

I would highly recommend this to folks who love a quirky, funny read. I had a blast with it.

I purchased the paperback edition of this at Barnes & Noble.