Quite Ugly One Evening: A Gripping Locked-Room Thriller

Rogue journalist Jack Parlabane returns in this ingenious locked-room mystery, Quite Ugly One Evening. Set aboard a cruise liner hosting a fan convention for a contentious Sixties TV series, Parlabane finds himself entangled in solving a decades-old murder. Already under pressure from his employer, Jack needs a win, but the situation escalates dramatically when he finds himself locked in a stateroom with a fresh dead body covered in his own blood. To escape the Atlantic voyage without handcuffs or a body bag, Jack must solve two murders.

Key Features & Plot Points

• Features the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane, thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning.
• A gripping locked-room mystery set on a cruise ship during a TV series fan convention.
• Jack Parlabane must solve two murders to clear his name.
• Praised by M. W. Craven as "Breathtaking, Succession-meets-The Traitors. Absolutely brilliant."
• Praised by The Times as "A hilarious mix of farce and fury."

Specifications

• Author: Chris Brookmyre
• Series: Jack Parlabane (Book 9 of 9)
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Publication Date: 7 May 2026
• ISBN-10: 0349145822
• ISBN-13: 978-0349145822
• Dimensions: 16.2 x 4.4 x 23.8 cm
• Item Weight: 600 g

Experience the latest thrilling installment from Chris Brookmyre, a master storyteller in the crime genre, as Jack Parlabane navigates family conflict, deadly secrets, and a high-stakes investigation at sea.