Bookworms: The Devil in Amber (2006) by Mark Gatiss

Lucifer Box is a painter, writer, dandy and His Majesty’s most daring and dashing secret agent. Now in his later years he is assigned to observe the activities of Olympus Mons, leader of a group of satanic fascists, but finds himself framed for murder. Using all his cunning, Box sets out to clear his name and stop the fanatical Amber Shirts from summoning the Devil himself in an adventure containing locations as diverse as Manhattan, Switzerland and the coast of Norfolk.

This is the second outing for Lucifer Box, but like most good spy novels the order in which they are read is unimportant. Author Mark Gatiss (screenwriter, actor and novelist whose credits include Doctor Who, Sherlock and The League of Gentleman) likes to manipulate genres and The Devil In Amber is no exception. Gatiss manages to straddle horror, comedy and spy novels somewhere between a parody and a pastiche. This is a good thing, and adds to the entertainment of the book even though it might sound confusing.

The action comes thick and fast and it begins with Lucifer Box in the middle of a bungled assassination attempt – “For reasons too dreary to dwell on, I found myself clinging to the running board of a motor car, wind whipping at my face, positively pelting through the choked streets of Manhattan” Box casually mentions in his narration. The world weary style and matter-of-fact descriptions of extraordinary events continues throughout the book as Box uses phrases such as “one chaste kiss isn’t the bally be-all and end-all” and “should be a doddle”. The use of language adds to the feel of an old spy novel.

If you pause to look at the fake adverts for novels including “Dead Man’s Sock” and “The Corpse That Wouldn’t Die” you know you are in for something dark and amusing (for the sake of politeness, I will avoid telling you what Jeeves has just been told to do in the fake advert for his latest novel, but it is not nice). Be warned that there is some very occasional and very brief sexual content and bad language – a fact I draw attention to because Gatiss’s Doctor Who links might attract some readers who are a little too young. Lucifer Box travels on the number 38 bus as well as the 19 and is not too discreet about it, if you see what I mean…

If that bus euphemism made no sense, perhaps it is not the ideal book for you. The Devil in Amber is an enjoyable read and should have something for everyone and provides an accessible route to those unfamiliar with Gatiss’s idiosyncratic and occasionally disturbing writing. Current fans of his work will love it.