Review of Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt

I feel incredibly neutral about this work. It didn't move me or inspire me the way that Fellowship of the Ring or The Witch of Portobello has recently, but I don't actively dislike it. It was mildly entertaining for what it was though, and I guess I am glad I read it, because it helped me think about flaws in my own writing work, and the importance of details and characterisation.

Spoilers Ahead!

The first half of the book was far more interesting than the second half. I left it at the halfway cliffhanger point for nearly a week, when Mr Olderglough tells Lucy that they are to find the Baron and make him presentable for the coming Baroness and those she invited to visit the castle. I think building that anticipation in my mind killed the story for me, because that cliffhanger was resolved quite quickly. In the beginning I was interpreting the book to be representative to the period between 1848 and WWI, that it was going to be commentary on the declining influence of these upper-class but in a comedic manner showcasing how their decadence and the extreme wealth disparity eventually brought the people against them. The decadence was explored later in the book, in a frankly bizarre scene that might have been to showcase the difference between the Baron and Baroness, Count and Countess, and Duke and Duchess, if only to justify Lucy’s murder of the Count.

The lack of description about most of the surroundings gives me no sense of place or time, which made the attempt at humour through manners more like reading the children’s book Mr. Tiger Goes Wild than Pride and Prejudice.

Most of the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. Klara was uninteresting as a love interest and it felt like she had no substance or impact on Lucy; I was surprised when Lucy left the Castle to go and find her because it didn’t seem like their relationship truly meant much to Lucy beyond her being beautiful. I don’t even know what to say about Mr Olderglough and Memee. It seemed like they were supposed to be father figures?

I give this book a 2 out of 5. I did finish it, and there were some moments that I was entertained, but the bizarre twists and turns felt out of place and like they had no payoff.