The Clementine Complex

Comedian Mortimer’s quirky debut novel follows a hapless protagonist on the adventure of a lifetime. Gary Thorn is an awkward 30-year-old legal assistant at a London law firm. When Brandon Jones, a private investigator for the firm, invites Gary for a drink for the umpteenth time, he finally accepts, having run out of viable excuses. After a brief conversation, Brandon gets a phone call and leaves the pub. Gary is pleased and surprised when an attractive woman who had been watching the pair then walks over to him and strikes up a conversation. The two talk for hours, but the woman leaves without giving Gary her name. The following day, two detectives show up at his apartment and inform him that Brandon has been murdered. Gary sets out to find the mysterious woman from the bar, hoping she will provide him with an alibi. The author’s comedy chops translate well to Gary’s deadpan voice (“I’ve never been good at striking up conversations with the opposite sex. I knew what would work for me if the roles were reversed­—something like: ‘Do you prefer even or uneven surfaces?’ ”), and he never lets the frantic pace flag. Here’s hoping Mortimer has more mysteries up his sleeve. (Sept.)