The Place That Didn't Exist

I think I have now read all of Mark Watson's printed fiction some of which (Bullet Points; Eleven; Contacts...) have left me gasping on the floor, almost literally, which is no mean feat considering the first of these was written when he was 24 and the last when he was 40 (still short pants territory from where I am sitting but much older than he was....)This one was not so much my cup of tea, largely because the subject matter was hugely out of my comfort zone, but even so...he still displays that something that shows he is the absolute master of his craft. What a ridiculous thing to say...might as well say that he shows he can spell, but I really don't know how else to put it. I am no Mark Watson.What raised it up imho was the chapter near to the end where the narrator changes temporarily and, for me, gives a whole new slant on the book...even justifies it really, together with the whole premise which has been beautifully set up in the opening chapter and is briefly alluded to later on.I do hope the next one is in the pipeline.

Tim, the narrator of this book, is a junior advertising creative who is thrilled to get a week in Dubai working on an advertising campaign for a charity. But something doesn't seem quite right about the project, not that poor Tim can work out what it is. Then one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances, and the problems multiply from there.It's an interesting plot and Watson's style is always very easy to read. Tim is a likeable character and there are plenty of other decent supporting characters. However, because Tim is so out-of-the-loop when it comes to the underlying mystery, and not really in a position to solve it, the reader is also frustratingly kept away from the action. I kept waiting for Tim to get more into the centre of events and to start to unpick the mystery, but that didn't transpire. A lot was left unexplained and the eventual conclusion wasn't very satisfying.So whilst I liked Tim, he possibly wasn't the best narrator - or the best sole narrator at least. There is one chapter narrated by another character, but it's too little too late. The book does well generally as a piece of writing - it's easy to read and keeps the attention. But as a mystery/whodunit novel it doesn't fare so well. I know it's intended more as a literary novel than a 'mystery' as such but the death is such an integral part of the plot it's hard not to see it as attempted mystery, and expect it to satisfy as one.Overall, it's a well written book and I liked reading it, so I'd still recommend it. Watson is a good writer and I've enjoyed all of his other books so far. Just don't expect it to be a 'murder mystery' as such because it's not really presented that way.

3.75*“You are in Dubai, things are a little strange”If you have ever visited Dubai, then this book will transport you back to the city, with all its glitz and foibles. It is absolutely what TripFiction is about, a way to connect with a place through fiction.Tim is flown out on location to Dubai to oversee the filming of an advert for a big charity, and you can sense his awe and wonderment at the sights he encounters. It is clear the author is familiar with the city and with the process of filming a commercial.This is a slow burning murder mystery, that radiates from the fictional hotel ‘The Village’, where the guests reside in chalets. The rooms are spotless, the electronics to regulate air conditioning and lights are at first baffling. Each chalet is just a little hub, each a microcosm of the bigger, eye-boggling Dubai, the mirage city that is all light-suffused modernity and pulsing energy. But the absurd is never far from the visitor experience, whether it is pressing one’s nose to the big windows of the snow globe that is Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, where it is permanently Winter; or the multitude of retail experience that are integral to any visit, Gucci, Fendi, Prada – rip-offs thereof are ubiquitous. The edgy and fragile co-existence of the Western tourist, alongside the traditional values of the Emirati, is never far from the surface.Tim’s team get into filming, however soon one of the team is found dead…. but under what circumstances? Was it murder most foul or an accidental death? The book is divided in 3 sections, it is the last part where the mystery is unfurled. A readable mystery set in Dubai.

I really rate Mark Watson, Every book so far has been well written with an intriguing and emotionally compelling story lines. However I felt, 'The Place That Didn't Exist' was almost 'the book that didn't exist'.It is still exceptionally well written, this is a writer who is very adept at his craft and the characters are all exceptionally well drawn, but on this occasion I felt the story line was way to flimsy and although the pay off was somewhat unexpected, when it came I didn't care.If you want to try a Mark Watson book then go for Alpha Hotel, Eleven or The Knot which are exceptional - seriously good stories. This one - it's well written but didn't engage as his others have

Hard to believe this is Mark Watson's writing. Most unlike his warm style in Hotel Alpha, etc. The characters are weak, yet the surreal story holds, and the moral tells.

Bought as gift. Good for Mark Watson fans.

Bit of a hard read

It's good but it's not his best work.