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HellCorp #1
Hellcorp
Sometimes even the Devil deserves a break!Life is hard for The Devil and he desperately wants to take a holiday. Growing weary from playing the cosmic bad guy, he resolves to set up a company that will do his job for him so the sins of the world will tick over while he takes a vacation. God tells him he can have his vacation just as soon as he solves an ancient crime.But nothing is ever easy and before long he is up to his pitchfork in solving murders, desperate to crack the case so he can finally take the holiday he so badly needs…This is a perfectly-pitched darkly comic crime novel that is ideal for fans of Christopher Fowler and Ben Aaranovitch.
360 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 18, 2019
It was a different read, I would say a devil of a read.
Devil had been handed a case to investigate a murder which occurred 40 years ago and it led to quite a few rigmaroles. The wry humor had me smirking quite a bit as I kept reading the prose. My first book by author Jonathan Whitelaw, I liked parts of it. Jill and the Devil worked well. I liked their banter most of the times. Alice seemed good. The Devil, what do I say about him, he was quite a delight in the human form.
My niggles, the prose rambled on quite a bit, the prose needed to be tighter. If it had been investigation filled with humor, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Overall, a good read.
Devil had been handed a case to investigate a murder which occurred 40 years ago and it led to quite a few rigmaroles. The wry humor had me smirking quite a bit as I kept reading the prose. My first book by author Jonathan Whitelaw, I liked parts of it. Jill and the Devil worked well. I liked their banter most of the times. Alice seemed good. The Devil, what do I say about him, he was quite a delight in the human form.
My niggles, the prose rambled on quite a bit, the prose needed to be tighter. If it had been investigation filled with humor, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Overall, a good read.
March 29, 2019
Oh, what do I love this dark sense of humor and thought provoking crime book! The funny tone combined with insightful ideas and lively descriptions about life and destiny made me laugh all the time.
The devil who outsources hell to have a vacation. It was such a great idea. Open Hellcorp, a new “Hell”at earth and let other people do your job while you as the devil have a nice holiday.
People are even more devilish than they assume so ready, steady go.. For having it his way the devil just had to promise “upstairs” to solve an old mystery. Easy piecy cake you would think, but at earthly things are different, and even, if he is the bad one, he has to face challenges to found his answers. Luck the devil has a marvelous assistant to help him and what better to “battle” him.
The book started very funny with the discussion between the pope and the devil. It ended that the devil won, because he may open Hellcorp without interfering from “upstairs”. The reality is a bit different and it is the question the hell or the heaven will get what they want.
The characters in this book are so good described that I can see them playing as in a film. Gideon is a woman with spunk and the devil is an arrogant, nasty and twisted personality. Alice, the devil’s secretary is lovely sarcastic. Some scenes are so hilarious and the sarcastic tone is incredibly enjoyable. The mystery is woven into this well-plotted book that at the end hits you with an unexpected twist. The author has worked in several domains as by politics, journalism and broadcasting. I think, between the lines, he sometimes shares his opinions or thoughts of our society and that gives the book an extra touch.
If you love a darkly funny book with vivid creatures and a fantastic tone, you have to read this one. I can’t wait to read the next one. I am very eager to know how the life of the devil and his “sidekick “ will develop further. Of course I would like to read more about the evolution of Hellcorp to, because I think this side line could be very intriguing to explore. In Hellcorp it was a pity, this isn’t more in the picture, but maybe this is a big surprise for the next book?
****and a half
https://indeboekenkast.wordpress.com/...
The devil who outsources hell to have a vacation. It was such a great idea. Open Hellcorp, a new “Hell”at earth and let other people do your job while you as the devil have a nice holiday.
People are even more devilish than they assume so ready, steady go.. For having it his way the devil just had to promise “upstairs” to solve an old mystery. Easy piecy cake you would think, but at earthly things are different, and even, if he is the bad one, he has to face challenges to found his answers. Luck the devil has a marvelous assistant to help him and what better to “battle” him.
The book started very funny with the discussion between the pope and the devil. It ended that the devil won, because he may open Hellcorp without interfering from “upstairs”. The reality is a bit different and it is the question the hell or the heaven will get what they want.
The characters in this book are so good described that I can see them playing as in a film. Gideon is a woman with spunk and the devil is an arrogant, nasty and twisted personality. Alice, the devil’s secretary is lovely sarcastic. Some scenes are so hilarious and the sarcastic tone is incredibly enjoyable. The mystery is woven into this well-plotted book that at the end hits you with an unexpected twist. The author has worked in several domains as by politics, journalism and broadcasting. I think, between the lines, he sometimes shares his opinions or thoughts of our society and that gives the book an extra touch.
If you love a darkly funny book with vivid creatures and a fantastic tone, you have to read this one. I can’t wait to read the next one. I am very eager to know how the life of the devil and his “sidekick “ will develop further. Of course I would like to read more about the evolution of Hellcorp to, because I think this side line could be very intriguing to explore. In Hellcorp it was a pity, this isn’t more in the picture, but maybe this is a big surprise for the next book?
****and a half
https://indeboekenkast.wordpress.com/...
July 14, 2018
The Devil is drowning in paperwork with a constant headache and he just wants a break.
So he goes to see the Pope, God’s supposed eyes and ears, telling him he wants Hell to become a legit business, a place for arts and culture. Of course when God hears about that he has other plans and proves He can be just as tricky as the Devil.
Thrust into a human body, with the help of Dr Jill Gideon he must uncover the murderer of Anton Baggio but it’s not going to be easy, especially when Hell wants to drag him back again.
I have to say this has to be one of the quirkiest and funniest detective books I’ve ever read! The Devil playing detective is definitely an original concept or at least I’ve never read anything like this book.
I know this sounds a bit wrong but I think I’d like to meet The Devil, if he’s the way he’s portrayed in this book mind. He’s sarcastic, unintentionally funny although he does have the habit of getting himself and those around him into trouble. He also has a bit of a thing for his receptionist Alice, a larger lady (he likes a big bum) who’s in Hell for killing her husband.
Then we have Doctor Jill Gideon who is incredibly likeable. She’s tough but vulnerable at the same time and there were times that I just wanted to give her a hug! I loved the way she and the Devil bounce off each other, trying to show him that humans are just the animals he thinks they are, occasionally he listens to her.
I do wish though there had been a little bit more creepiness, just because he is the devil and all but that’s just me being a bit fussy.
Hellcorp is a very cleverly written book, with plenty of humour, perfect if you’re looking for something a bit different.
So he goes to see the Pope, God’s supposed eyes and ears, telling him he wants Hell to become a legit business, a place for arts and culture. Of course when God hears about that he has other plans and proves He can be just as tricky as the Devil.
Thrust into a human body, with the help of Dr Jill Gideon he must uncover the murderer of Anton Baggio but it’s not going to be easy, especially when Hell wants to drag him back again.
I have to say this has to be one of the quirkiest and funniest detective books I’ve ever read! The Devil playing detective is definitely an original concept or at least I’ve never read anything like this book.
I know this sounds a bit wrong but I think I’d like to meet The Devil, if he’s the way he’s portrayed in this book mind. He’s sarcastic, unintentionally funny although he does have the habit of getting himself and those around him into trouble. He also has a bit of a thing for his receptionist Alice, a larger lady (he likes a big bum) who’s in Hell for killing her husband.
Then we have Doctor Jill Gideon who is incredibly likeable. She’s tough but vulnerable at the same time and there were times that I just wanted to give her a hug! I loved the way she and the Devil bounce off each other, trying to show him that humans are just the animals he thinks they are, occasionally he listens to her.
I do wish though there had been a little bit more creepiness, just because he is the devil and all but that’s just me being a bit fussy.
Hellcorp is a very cleverly written book, with plenty of humour, perfect if you’re looking for something a bit different.
September 9, 2018
So the Devil needs a holiday!
His clever idea of making Hell a legitimate business seems perfect, an idea he puts to the Pope who he thinks is God’s holy snitch. When his plans come together, he is convinced he will get his business and his long awaited vacation, but God has other plans for the Devil.
Sending him back to Earth in a human body with the task of solving a murder isn’t as simple as it first seems.....
A very cleverly written book that’s as funny as it’s quirky, you’ll love the characters and revel in the Devil’s attempts to have a better ‘life’.
His clever idea of making Hell a legitimate business seems perfect, an idea he puts to the Pope who he thinks is God’s holy snitch. When his plans come together, he is convinced he will get his business and his long awaited vacation, but God has other plans for the Devil.
Sending him back to Earth in a human body with the task of solving a murder isn’t as simple as it first seems.....
A very cleverly written book that’s as funny as it’s quirky, you’ll love the characters and revel in the Devil’s attempts to have a better ‘life’.
February 15, 2019
I think this book had a lot of potential but the story line left me confused. There were also a lot of grammatical errors/outright mistakes that really bothered me - at first, I was wondering if I wasn't reading the final edition. It's definitely an amusing book if you're looking for something light to read.
March 23, 2020
I loved the light tone and the originality of the voice, it was just the plot that seemed to not play by it's own rules. Some lovely details and a lot of fun, but it changed its mind about direction.
December 21, 2018
Lot's of fun!
September 9, 2020
The premise of this sounded fun - the devil outsources hell so he can get a holiday. The opening scene with the pope is funny and then is all goes downhill pretty fast. This book seemed like a first draft - the main plot about the new 'hell' was barely mentioned after the first few chapters, instead we were treated to an irrelevant murder mystery. There were many instances of interesting plot points that were not developed or never mentioned again and the same could be said for the characters. The devil and his side kick were poorly fleshed out and the dialogue was stilted. I got annoyed at the number of times the author used "you don't want to know" or "i'll tell you later" to gloss over bits of the story he couldn't be bothered to write. Topped with all the typos and continuity errors it made for a shoddy read. To summarise - had potential, didn't deliver.
Maybe get a better editor next time round.
Maybe get a better editor next time round.
February 8, 2019
Fun enough story although expected more due to the title. Twist was unexpected and worked well in the overall story. Worth a read if you want something a little different.
March 12, 2019
From the use of the Mark Twain quote, “Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company”, followed by being introduced to a farting, smoking, whisky-loving Pope in the prologue, I knew this would be a very visual story, one which would have me laughing out loud. By the time I had finished it, my initial expectations had been exceeded and I even found myself wondering whether the story will soon find its way onto our television screens – if it does, I’m sure it will attract a large and enthusiastic audience!
At midnight the Pope, having just relieved his internal pressure, poured himself a glass of single malt and lit a cigarette, is suddenly confronted by the appearance of the Devil. Feeling both horrified and scared, he wonders if he is having either a heart attack or a psychotic breakdown – maybe he shouldn’t have had that drink? However, although unable to resist questioning the Pope’s long-held beliefs, the Devil mostly wants to talk business. He is weary of always being the “bad-guy”, is badly in need of a holiday (sipping cocktails on a beach appeals) so plans to make Hell a legitimate business by setting up “Hellcorp”, with its global headquarters based in Edinburgh, and further branches planned for other cities and countries. The company will do his job for him, keeping the sins of the world ticking over whilst he takes a well-earned holiday. To his later bewilderment, the Pope realises that he has agreed to fund the venture. However, when God hears of this plan, he summons the Devil “upstairs” and tells him that yes, he can have his vacation, but not until he has solved the mystery of a crime carried out in Glasgow, forty years ago.
Sent to earth in human form, but with no real understanding of the ways of humans, the Devil soon discovers that he needs help and local knowledge, help which comes in the form of Dr Jill Gideon, a junior doctor who understands human frailty all too well. As the reader soon discovers, she is also more than a match for the Devil as she attempts to keep him out of the endless trouble he creates wherever he goes. Their developing relationship and interactions were hugely enjoyable – I loved the fact that she was more than a match for him!
It’s a long time since I have read a story which has been so amusing from start to finish – there were so many moments when I found tears running down my cheeks and my sides aching as a result of laughing so much! I loved the humour, at times very black, which permeated the storytelling and the irreverent explorations of what influences our belief systems and our ways of interacting. There wasn’t one character who wasn’t drawn in vivid colour, who didn’t leap from the page and imprint himself/herself in my memory. From the Devil himself, Alice his long-term secretary (a “big girl with a big bottom”, the Devil’s preferred body shape), Dr Jill Gideon, a golf-playing God (sometimes Him, sometimes Her), St Peter (receptionist at the heavenly golf club) to a number of more minor characters, they all made an important contribution to the story.
Conversational interactions were full of wisecracks and sharp wit and, in addition to the wonderful Devil/Jill relationship, I loved the sparky love/hate relationship between the Devil and God – a delightful twist on sibling rivalry! The part of the story development which was about the solving of the forty-year-old crime also had some very satisfying, and unexpected, twists and turns.
In spite of his portrayal within the story as a menacing, tantrum-throwing, unscrupulous, narcissistic, character , accompanied by all those old warnings from teachings at Sunday School, I found myself caring for the Devil and what happened to him – perhaps I should be feeling worried about falling for such an anti-hero! However, he was also portrayed as being very witty, clever and charismatic and it is this acknowledgement of complexity, throughout the book, which underlies the rather more philosophical, thought-provoking aspects of the story-telling, as the author explores ideas of good and evil and challenges certain religious, moral and ethical certainties. I also appreciated the many references to literature, music and modern cultural interests.
This is a certainly a crime novel with a difference so I hope that my enthusiasm for it will encourage you to set aside a few hours to suspend disbelief and join these wonderfully drawn characters on their hilarious, but often thought-provoking journey of discovery.
With thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At midnight the Pope, having just relieved his internal pressure, poured himself a glass of single malt and lit a cigarette, is suddenly confronted by the appearance of the Devil. Feeling both horrified and scared, he wonders if he is having either a heart attack or a psychotic breakdown – maybe he shouldn’t have had that drink? However, although unable to resist questioning the Pope’s long-held beliefs, the Devil mostly wants to talk business. He is weary of always being the “bad-guy”, is badly in need of a holiday (sipping cocktails on a beach appeals) so plans to make Hell a legitimate business by setting up “Hellcorp”, with its global headquarters based in Edinburgh, and further branches planned for other cities and countries. The company will do his job for him, keeping the sins of the world ticking over whilst he takes a well-earned holiday. To his later bewilderment, the Pope realises that he has agreed to fund the venture. However, when God hears of this plan, he summons the Devil “upstairs” and tells him that yes, he can have his vacation, but not until he has solved the mystery of a crime carried out in Glasgow, forty years ago.
Sent to earth in human form, but with no real understanding of the ways of humans, the Devil soon discovers that he needs help and local knowledge, help which comes in the form of Dr Jill Gideon, a junior doctor who understands human frailty all too well. As the reader soon discovers, she is also more than a match for the Devil as she attempts to keep him out of the endless trouble he creates wherever he goes. Their developing relationship and interactions were hugely enjoyable – I loved the fact that she was more than a match for him!
It’s a long time since I have read a story which has been so amusing from start to finish – there were so many moments when I found tears running down my cheeks and my sides aching as a result of laughing so much! I loved the humour, at times very black, which permeated the storytelling and the irreverent explorations of what influences our belief systems and our ways of interacting. There wasn’t one character who wasn’t drawn in vivid colour, who didn’t leap from the page and imprint himself/herself in my memory. From the Devil himself, Alice his long-term secretary (a “big girl with a big bottom”, the Devil’s preferred body shape), Dr Jill Gideon, a golf-playing God (sometimes Him, sometimes Her), St Peter (receptionist at the heavenly golf club) to a number of more minor characters, they all made an important contribution to the story.
Conversational interactions were full of wisecracks and sharp wit and, in addition to the wonderful Devil/Jill relationship, I loved the sparky love/hate relationship between the Devil and God – a delightful twist on sibling rivalry! The part of the story development which was about the solving of the forty-year-old crime also had some very satisfying, and unexpected, twists and turns.
In spite of his portrayal within the story as a menacing, tantrum-throwing, unscrupulous, narcissistic, character , accompanied by all those old warnings from teachings at Sunday School, I found myself caring for the Devil and what happened to him – perhaps I should be feeling worried about falling for such an anti-hero! However, he was also portrayed as being very witty, clever and charismatic and it is this acknowledgement of complexity, throughout the book, which underlies the rather more philosophical, thought-provoking aspects of the story-telling, as the author explores ideas of good and evil and challenges certain religious, moral and ethical certainties. I also appreciated the many references to literature, music and modern cultural interests.
This is a certainly a crime novel with a difference so I hope that my enthusiasm for it will encourage you to set aside a few hours to suspend disbelief and join these wonderfully drawn characters on their hilarious, but often thought-provoking journey of discovery.
With thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2019
If you are looking for a book that will have you thoroughly entertained from start to finish, with some original ideas and a lot of humour, then this is a book you need to pick up.
Having finished this, I immediately recommended it to friends and family for some easy reading fun. I loved the view of the Devil that the author has created, its fun, funny and just a little bit different to anything else I have come across previously. The storyline is amusing on its own, I mean, the Devil on earth,. trying to fit in with humans and getting stuck under mounds of paperwork whilst trying to solve a mystery. Only knowing that, you can immediately picture just how wrong this could go.
The writing style is wonderful, and the book starts in such a unique way that it hooks you from the start and gives the perfect indication of just where this story is going to go in terms of tone and pace. The laughs start from when you open the book, and they don't stop until you close the cover. I have previously only found one Author who has made me laugh until I cried, though the tone and style are wholly different, and that was Terry Pratchett. Interesting to note perhaps, that my favourite Character in that case was Death. Again, wholly different approach in every way, but it gives you some idea of just how much I enjoyed this story. I laughed from start to end, and I didn't even care that people were looking.
Now the character. I am often wary of stories which say they are based on Death or the Devil, because I automatically think of Pratchett and usually feel let down when the representation is different. In this case I actually found that I was glad of it in many ways. The Character was so different that it didn't feel as if he was trying to recreate something which had already been done and was a personal favourite of mine, in fact in an odd way I have come to love this new representation as much as Pratchetts, and a bit part of that is because of the differences. Another element to why I like him, is that he is oddly believable. His attitudes and reactions to the situations that he is given make sense, he is logical in he responses, but yet at the same time they just don't fit with the situation. He is endearingly ignorant of inflection in speech, and understandably ignorant of many social expectations when it comes to interaction and conversation.
I have seen reviews that comment on the element of the mystery, but I personally felt that this just gave an added element of interest to the story. It gave many more opportunities for humour, and gave a second strand to the plotline. I personally found that this made the story all the more interesting, because it meant there were a variety of situations for us to see the Devil try and navigate his way through.
If you are looking for a book that will entertain you, cheer you up and surprise you with just how ridiculously logical it all is, then you need to read this.
Having finished this, I immediately recommended it to friends and family for some easy reading fun. I loved the view of the Devil that the author has created, its fun, funny and just a little bit different to anything else I have come across previously. The storyline is amusing on its own, I mean, the Devil on earth,. trying to fit in with humans and getting stuck under mounds of paperwork whilst trying to solve a mystery. Only knowing that, you can immediately picture just how wrong this could go.
The writing style is wonderful, and the book starts in such a unique way that it hooks you from the start and gives the perfect indication of just where this story is going to go in terms of tone and pace. The laughs start from when you open the book, and they don't stop until you close the cover. I have previously only found one Author who has made me laugh until I cried, though the tone and style are wholly different, and that was Terry Pratchett. Interesting to note perhaps, that my favourite Character in that case was Death. Again, wholly different approach in every way, but it gives you some idea of just how much I enjoyed this story. I laughed from start to end, and I didn't even care that people were looking.
Now the character. I am often wary of stories which say they are based on Death or the Devil, because I automatically think of Pratchett and usually feel let down when the representation is different. In this case I actually found that I was glad of it in many ways. The Character was so different that it didn't feel as if he was trying to recreate something which had already been done and was a personal favourite of mine, in fact in an odd way I have come to love this new representation as much as Pratchetts, and a bit part of that is because of the differences. Another element to why I like him, is that he is oddly believable. His attitudes and reactions to the situations that he is given make sense, he is logical in he responses, but yet at the same time they just don't fit with the situation. He is endearingly ignorant of inflection in speech, and understandably ignorant of many social expectations when it comes to interaction and conversation.
I have seen reviews that comment on the element of the mystery, but I personally felt that this just gave an added element of interest to the story. It gave many more opportunities for humour, and gave a second strand to the plotline. I personally found that this made the story all the more interesting, because it meant there were a variety of situations for us to see the Devil try and navigate his way through.
If you are looking for a book that will entertain you, cheer you up and surprise you with just how ridiculously logical it all is, then you need to read this.
September 25, 2019
Life is hard when you’re The Devil. It’s all work, work, work. How is poor old Satan supposed to get a break?
The Devil is in desperate need of a holiday and he thinks he has the perfect plan to get some time off. He has decided to go legitimate and set up an earthly centre of operations in Edinburgh, using the catchy name Hellcorp.
Hellcorp will provide humankind with the ideal corporate-based opportunity to achieve their wildest hopes and dreams, without The Devil himself having to be around 24/7 - all for the bargain price of their souls! And he has managed to get The Vatican to pay for it too. Ingenious!
The only fly in the ointment is that Him upstairs requires Old Nick to perform a service for Him, before he is allowed some time off. The Devil must solve the murder of an elderly Glaswegian - except the man has only just died and the act that led to his death took place 40 years ago.
This is going to be a tough one to pull off, but our cosmic bad guy is nothing if not resourceful, and he really wants that holiday.
Hellcorp is a darkly comic crime tale that will keep you entertained from cover to cover.
The Devil finds himself at a bit of a loss as he tries to get the hang of controlling his less than ideal human body, while trying to investigate the death of an elderly man - with the assistance of a somewhat love-lorne female doctor, by the name of Gideon (pun intended), who has been selected as the ideal partner by Him Upstairs to aid The Devil in his adventure.
The Devil would most certainly disagree with His assessment, but beggars can't be choosers and Gideon definitely proves useful for all those pesky injuries a human body can accrue in a city like Glasgow - especially when the occupant of this particular human body doesn't know when to apply the adage "discretion is the better part of valour".
As it turns out, Gideon is much more involved in this story than she realises, and her past is about to come back and hit her most unexpectedly in the mush - much to the surprise of both her and Satan.
It is hard to talk much about this story without giving away spoliers, but surfice to say that this story proves to be a completely comic caper of two seemingly unsuitable investigators who constantly rub each other up the wrong way, through the streets of Glasgow - and a very interesting look into the habits of both The Devil and Him Upstairs!
This book is pitched at fans of Christopher Fowler and Ben Aranovitch, but I have sadly not read any of their books (yet!), so cannot confirm the similarities. However, I am a firm fan of Neil Gaiman and can definitely say that if you like his brand of humour then Jonathan Whitelaw will certainly be for you too.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hellcorp, and am looking forward hugely to the next installment of The Devil's adventures in The Man In The Dark.
The Devil is in desperate need of a holiday and he thinks he has the perfect plan to get some time off. He has decided to go legitimate and set up an earthly centre of operations in Edinburgh, using the catchy name Hellcorp.
Hellcorp will provide humankind with the ideal corporate-based opportunity to achieve their wildest hopes and dreams, without The Devil himself having to be around 24/7 - all for the bargain price of their souls! And he has managed to get The Vatican to pay for it too. Ingenious!
The only fly in the ointment is that Him upstairs requires Old Nick to perform a service for Him, before he is allowed some time off. The Devil must solve the murder of an elderly Glaswegian - except the man has only just died and the act that led to his death took place 40 years ago.
This is going to be a tough one to pull off, but our cosmic bad guy is nothing if not resourceful, and he really wants that holiday.
Hellcorp is a darkly comic crime tale that will keep you entertained from cover to cover.
The Devil finds himself at a bit of a loss as he tries to get the hang of controlling his less than ideal human body, while trying to investigate the death of an elderly man - with the assistance of a somewhat love-lorne female doctor, by the name of Gideon (pun intended), who has been selected as the ideal partner by Him Upstairs to aid The Devil in his adventure.
The Devil would most certainly disagree with His assessment, but beggars can't be choosers and Gideon definitely proves useful for all those pesky injuries a human body can accrue in a city like Glasgow - especially when the occupant of this particular human body doesn't know when to apply the adage "discretion is the better part of valour".
As it turns out, Gideon is much more involved in this story than she realises, and her past is about to come back and hit her most unexpectedly in the mush - much to the surprise of both her and Satan.
It is hard to talk much about this story without giving away spoliers, but surfice to say that this story proves to be a completely comic caper of two seemingly unsuitable investigators who constantly rub each other up the wrong way, through the streets of Glasgow - and a very interesting look into the habits of both The Devil and Him Upstairs!
This book is pitched at fans of Christopher Fowler and Ben Aranovitch, but I have sadly not read any of their books (yet!), so cannot confirm the similarities. However, I am a firm fan of Neil Gaiman and can definitely say that if you like his brand of humour then Jonathan Whitelaw will certainly be for you too.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hellcorp, and am looking forward hugely to the next installment of The Devil's adventures in The Man In The Dark.
July 14, 2018
The Devil has decided to make Hell a legitimate business - Hellcorp will be a 'one-stop shop for anybody and everybody who wants to get on in life.' And once it's up and running, he believes he can finally take a well-earned holiday. However, though he may be the boss of Hell, he still has to answer to Him, and so before he can have his break, God tells him he has to solve a murder. Antonio Baggio has just died but was murdered forty years ago. It turns out that God isn't always omnipresent and he wants the Devil to answer the puzzle as to who killed Antonio.
Sent to Earth and limited by his human form, the Devil must try and fathom out what happened decades ago if he wants to have his holiday. Hellcorp reminded me of one of those 80s buddy movies in which a mismatched duo must pair up to solve a crime. Though not cops, just as Riggs had Murtaugh and Turner had Hooch, so the Devil has Dr Jill Gideon. He lies, insults people, starts fights and could best be described as a cross between a temperamental child and a contrary teenager. Despite this there's something rather endearing about him; he is the original anti-hero perhaps and though Jill finds him utterly infuriating, she cannot help to be drawn to him.
Set in Glasgow, there are a few affectionate digs at the Scots, 'Give the Scots sunlight, booze and a bit of music and they were anybody's.' but it also provides the backdrop for a darkly comic crime novel where Jill has the benefit of local knowledge. In some ways she understands what drives these people better that the Devil; she knows many of them have no futures and she sees the results through her job as a hospital doctor - the alcoholics, drug overdoses and knife fights. Hellcorp turns out to be a journey of discovery for both of them as they eventually find themselves in the Gorbals facing something even more dangerous than a knife-wielding gang.
Hellcorp is a sharply witty, insightful book that examines our perceptions of good and evil, and how perhaps nobody is quite what they seem. The relationship between the Devil and Gideon fizzles with energy and the wisecracking exchanges between the Devil and Him (or Her!) are also a highlight. There are some surprisingly touching moments too as our characters learn to open up, take chances and trust others. I really enjoyed this quirky, irreverent and fresh crime novel and I have my fingers crossed that this isn't the last will see of the Devil as a sleuth. I'll certainly be looking out for more of Jonathan Whitelaw's books in the future.
Sent to Earth and limited by his human form, the Devil must try and fathom out what happened decades ago if he wants to have his holiday. Hellcorp reminded me of one of those 80s buddy movies in which a mismatched duo must pair up to solve a crime. Though not cops, just as Riggs had Murtaugh and Turner had Hooch, so the Devil has Dr Jill Gideon. He lies, insults people, starts fights and could best be described as a cross between a temperamental child and a contrary teenager. Despite this there's something rather endearing about him; he is the original anti-hero perhaps and though Jill finds him utterly infuriating, she cannot help to be drawn to him.
Set in Glasgow, there are a few affectionate digs at the Scots, 'Give the Scots sunlight, booze and a bit of music and they were anybody's.' but it also provides the backdrop for a darkly comic crime novel where Jill has the benefit of local knowledge. In some ways she understands what drives these people better that the Devil; she knows many of them have no futures and she sees the results through her job as a hospital doctor - the alcoholics, drug overdoses and knife fights. Hellcorp turns out to be a journey of discovery for both of them as they eventually find themselves in the Gorbals facing something even more dangerous than a knife-wielding gang.
Hellcorp is a sharply witty, insightful book that examines our perceptions of good and evil, and how perhaps nobody is quite what they seem. The relationship between the Devil and Gideon fizzles with energy and the wisecracking exchanges between the Devil and Him (or Her!) are also a highlight. There are some surprisingly touching moments too as our characters learn to open up, take chances and trust others. I really enjoyed this quirky, irreverent and fresh crime novel and I have my fingers crossed that this isn't the last will see of the Devil as a sleuth. I'll certainly be looking out for more of Jonathan Whitelaw's books in the future.
July 11, 2018
From the opening scenes of this book with the Pope farting in his private room in the Vatican you knew you would be on to a winner! Set in Scotland, The devil wants to make Hell legitimate and HE (being The big man upstairs) will only let him if he solves a murder. What follows is such a fun journey that the devil has, with his human companion Gideon, a beautiful 20 something doctor. He needs her more than he cares to admit!
There is so much I want to say about the book, but I can’t because it would give away a big twist at the beginning, but what I will say is the Devil is NOT happy, but then when is he!
What I love and adore about this book is the way the author has depicted the Devil. His bad temper and outbursts, acting like a petulant child at the best of times, to me are how I would have envisioned the Devil. He also wanted to be a bit of a player with his receptionist Alice, it was particularly amusing when he was thinking of her in the company of HIM and he could hear the Devils thoughts! Embarrassed much! Alice, I love her and her sass! She was great to read about.
I did find it funny when the Devil was with Gideon at the beginning and she kept saying things like Christ, God etc and it was quite frankly pissing him off. (Made me think how much I must say these things too as it seems second nature to blaspheme like that) HE gets all the thanks and the Devil gets shouted at and called a crazy man, easy to see why he would get upset!
Gideon being a doctor was a great take too, someone who is scientific, partnering with a religious deity. The relationship these two had was fascinating to watch unfold. The banter between the two was funny and on point, and realistic. I wouldn’t mess with Gideon that is for sure!
The story itself is fresh, with the Devil being a ‘good’ guy solving a murder, albeit to meet his own end game but it’s the bargain that was made with HIM
This book is fresh and funny, and I laughed throughout the story. You are made to care about the big bad and you cheer him along for a change! I love when books turn things on their head and this book does that, changes your mind about The Devil. Although you care about him, you are reminded constantly that he is The Devil.
There is so much I want to say about the book, but I can’t because it would give away a big twist at the beginning, but what I will say is the Devil is NOT happy, but then when is he!
What I love and adore about this book is the way the author has depicted the Devil. His bad temper and outbursts, acting like a petulant child at the best of times, to me are how I would have envisioned the Devil. He also wanted to be a bit of a player with his receptionist Alice, it was particularly amusing when he was thinking of her in the company of HIM and he could hear the Devils thoughts! Embarrassed much! Alice, I love her and her sass! She was great to read about.
I did find it funny when the Devil was with Gideon at the beginning and she kept saying things like Christ, God etc and it was quite frankly pissing him off. (Made me think how much I must say these things too as it seems second nature to blaspheme like that) HE gets all the thanks and the Devil gets shouted at and called a crazy man, easy to see why he would get upset!
Gideon being a doctor was a great take too, someone who is scientific, partnering with a religious deity. The relationship these two had was fascinating to watch unfold. The banter between the two was funny and on point, and realistic. I wouldn’t mess with Gideon that is for sure!
The story itself is fresh, with the Devil being a ‘good’ guy solving a murder, albeit to meet his own end game but it’s the bargain that was made with HIM
This book is fresh and funny, and I laughed throughout the story. You are made to care about the big bad and you cheer him along for a change! I love when books turn things on their head and this book does that, changes your mind about The Devil. Although you care about him, you are reminded constantly that he is The Devil.
November 15, 2018
Hellcorp has been on my radar for quite a while now. As Halloween fast approached I knew it was the perfect time to pick this up and immerse myself in the world of the Devil and the afterlife. I loved every word.
This is a novel with rich darkly comic undertones that suited my reading style perfectly. It was the perfect pick me up read, with engaging characters, action packed scenes and a murder mystery to boot. This book really does have it all.
The main attraction for me was the Devil, and to be honest he was completely different to the impression that I had in my mind before I started reading this book. He's a much better version. He is charming and offensive all rolled into one. He made me laugh, he made me cringe, but ultimately he was honest and this was why I found myself drawn to him. i even fell a little bit in love with him, which took me completely by surprise. It's not just the Devil who gets to have fun though, as so does Jill Gideon, a doctor who he meets on earth, who has her own private battle to face.
As the book blurb states, even the Devil needs a holiday, and that is why he has been asked to solve a 40 year old murder. Doing so will grant him this wish, and what results is a breathtaking sequence of events as he tries to unravel the mysteries of the past.
Hellcorp is a truly unique read. The Devil is a striking protagonist that allows Jill Gideon to share his limelight. It's hugely entertaining, has lashings of razer sharp wit and a plot that will keep you guessing. I absolutely loved it.
This is a novel with rich darkly comic undertones that suited my reading style perfectly. It was the perfect pick me up read, with engaging characters, action packed scenes and a murder mystery to boot. This book really does have it all.
The main attraction for me was the Devil, and to be honest he was completely different to the impression that I had in my mind before I started reading this book. He's a much better version. He is charming and offensive all rolled into one. He made me laugh, he made me cringe, but ultimately he was honest and this was why I found myself drawn to him. i even fell a little bit in love with him, which took me completely by surprise. It's not just the Devil who gets to have fun though, as so does Jill Gideon, a doctor who he meets on earth, who has her own private battle to face.
As the book blurb states, even the Devil needs a holiday, and that is why he has been asked to solve a 40 year old murder. Doing so will grant him this wish, and what results is a breathtaking sequence of events as he tries to unravel the mysteries of the past.
Hellcorp is a truly unique read. The Devil is a striking protagonist that allows Jill Gideon to share his limelight. It's hugely entertaining, has lashings of razer sharp wit and a plot that will keep you guessing. I absolutely loved it.
September 13, 2018
The poor Devil is burnt out! It has been thousands of years since he last took a holiday and everything went a bit wrong last time he took off, so this time he actually comes up with a plan so that he can go and take a much-needed break while HellCorp carries on his duties. Unfortunately, he has to get approval from Him. After an audience with the Pope, he gets summoned Upstairs, but He is not just going to let him skip off into the sunset. He says he can have his holiday, once he solves one small murder case. Unceremoniously dumped on earth, in a human body and without his powers he sets out to try to solve the murder as quick as he can with the help of Dr Jill Gideon who feels compelled to help, but doesn't know why. He might have a human body, but he is still the Devil and doesn't play nice with others. Dr Gideon helps to smooth his path and acts as his Devil-Human interpreter!
This is a very funny, quirky read. Driven by some excellent characters in Devil, Jill and Him (or Her!!) it is a very refreshing read and, to be fair, any book that has the Pope farting within the first few pages is bound to grab people's attention! I will definitely be looking out for more from Jonathan.
This is a very funny, quirky read. Driven by some excellent characters in Devil, Jill and Him (or Her!!) it is a very refreshing read and, to be fair, any book that has the Pope farting within the first few pages is bound to grab people's attention! I will definitely be looking out for more from Jonathan.
March 29, 2019
HELLCORP was to me an hilarious read from Johnathan Whitelaw. The Devil is in desperate need of a much needed holiday so he decides to make Hell an legitimate business setting up it's headquarters in the Scottish capital Edinburgh, in order to take a break.
This doesn't go down too well Him upstairs so He sets the Devil a little task - if he finds out who murdered someone then he can get a holiday.
Sounds easy enough for The Devil right? I mean he knows all the evil about anyone, but finding out the killer in a human body is a whole other kettle of fish!He meets a Dr called Jill Gideon and he embarks on a fast paced journey with her that sees The Devil have a whole new appreciation for humans. Jill doesn't believe he is The Devil at first but she begins to discover an renewed faith by the end of the story.
For all it is about God the Devil and everything in between this is most definitely not a religious book, and I think that is why I loved it. It appealed to my sense of humour, and have me a humorous approach to heaven and hell.
So does The Devil get a holiday? Well maybe but not for long ... He is The Devil after all, and you know what they say - no rest for the wicked!
This doesn't go down too well Him upstairs so He sets the Devil a little task - if he finds out who murdered someone then he can get a holiday.
Sounds easy enough for The Devil right? I mean he knows all the evil about anyone, but finding out the killer in a human body is a whole other kettle of fish!He meets a Dr called Jill Gideon and he embarks on a fast paced journey with her that sees The Devil have a whole new appreciation for humans. Jill doesn't believe he is The Devil at first but she begins to discover an renewed faith by the end of the story.
For all it is about God the Devil and everything in between this is most definitely not a religious book, and I think that is why I loved it. It appealed to my sense of humour, and have me a humorous approach to heaven and hell.
So does The Devil get a holiday? Well maybe but not for long ... He is The Devil after all, and you know what they say - no rest for the wicked!
May 16, 2022
To give himself a break, the Devil has decided to go legitimate. He establishes Hellcorp, a business to help Humans achieve anything from their new headquarters in Scotland. But this attracts the attention of God.
In exchange for The Devil solving a mysterious murder, God agrees to give him the time off he craves. The Devil is sent to Earth in human form where he meets Jill and the two embark on God's challenge.
The first fifty pages cover everything that's referenced in the synopsis and the book improves massively after that point. The set-up is meandering but once Jill is introduced, The Devil's snide wit comes into play. It's the dynamic between these two that makes this story entertaining. So, no, the plot is not faultless, nor does everything make sense but it's a really fun read.
However, this book is in need of better editing, or at least a decent proofreader. Throughout, there are numerous punctuation omissions and the occasional incoherent sentence that impacted the reading.
In exchange for The Devil solving a mysterious murder, God agrees to give him the time off he craves. The Devil is sent to Earth in human form where he meets Jill and the two embark on God's challenge.
The first fifty pages cover everything that's referenced in the synopsis and the book improves massively after that point. The set-up is meandering but once Jill is introduced, The Devil's snide wit comes into play. It's the dynamic between these two that makes this story entertaining. So, no, the plot is not faultless, nor does everything make sense but it's a really fun read.
However, this book is in need of better editing, or at least a decent proofreader. Throughout, there are numerous punctuation omissions and the occasional incoherent sentence that impacted the reading.
November 3, 2018
Quirky, funny and different from anything else I have read, this one follows the journey of The devil when he is sent back to earth as a human, to solve a murder.
That's if he wants a break from his duties as he asked Him.
The humour and irreverence shine through as the Devil navigates earth with the help of Dr Jill Gideon who matches him step for step.
His task isn't as easy as he thought though and he learns a lot more about humans and the world they inhabit before he is done.
I liked Jill a lot .. Passionate, opinionated, but yet vulnerable with secrets of her own.
And of course the Devil is characterised as we would imagine him to be.. But with more humour.
That's if he wants a break from his duties as he asked Him.
The humour and irreverence shine through as the Devil navigates earth with the help of Dr Jill Gideon who matches him step for step.
His task isn't as easy as he thought though and he learns a lot more about humans and the world they inhabit before he is done.
I liked Jill a lot .. Passionate, opinionated, but yet vulnerable with secrets of her own.
And of course the Devil is characterised as we would imagine him to be.. But with more humour.
August 24, 2018
Even the devil needs a break!
The Devil has decided to run with technology and has built HellCorp providing courses that help them move closer to hell!
Him decides to offer him a break as long as he solves a 40 year old murder case, being turned human he meets up with Jillian a doctor and they begin investigating this. The Devil is shown to be all he's portrayed as and gives you a chuckle. A good entertaining read.
The Devil has decided to run with technology and has built HellCorp providing courses that help them move closer to hell!
Him decides to offer him a break as long as he solves a 40 year old murder case, being turned human he meets up with Jillian a doctor and they begin investigating this. The Devil is shown to be all he's portrayed as and gives you a chuckle. A good entertaining read.
September 16, 2018
So, I really liked the premise: the Devil wanting a vacation so he makes Hell a legit company. And I thought that The Devil was really well written. (In my head, I heard his voice like The Devil in Rick and Morty
https://youtu.be/UtwqUO_oljI). But it fell flat for me. The plot kinda went all over the place with an unnecessary "mystery" and Gideon was just about useless until the end, where she had some serious character development. It had tons of promise but fell short.
https://youtu.be/UtwqUO_oljI). But it fell flat for me. The plot kinda went all over the place with an unnecessary "mystery" and Gideon was just about useless until the end, where she had some serious character development. It had tons of promise but fell short.
September 18, 2018
What a fabulous thing it is to read something utterly different. The devil has featured in many a story over the centuries, but I believe never before has He been so brilliantly evoked in such a fun and clever story that was inventive, gripping throughout and truly hilariously funny. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and desperately want to see what else Mr Whitelaw can give the world because I will be there with my pennies!!
October 2, 2018
I’d had a little break from reading recently and am so glad I found this. It’s renewed my reading fancy and tickled my evil sense of humour all at the same time. I loved the concept and it kept me enthralled throughout. Heck, only the devil could get sent to Glasgow to solve crimes, no one else would want the job. Light, refreshing and a real treat
November 23, 2019
Absolutely brilliant :) Fast paced, easy read and laugh out loud. I've been reading quite a bit of fantasy lately which has been fairly heavy going so finding this gem has been a welcome relief.
Great plot line, explores some interesting ideas and a decent twist to boot. The devil just can't get a break, quite literally. Possibly one of my favourite reads this year.
Great plot line, explores some interesting ideas and a decent twist to boot. The devil just can't get a break, quite literally. Possibly one of my favourite reads this year.
September 25, 2021
Terrible writer and journalist. Even a recent Sun tabloid article. He Headlines - "Massive Oil tanker crashes.."When in fact it was a small 6 wheel rigid vehicle and not massive in any way. Much like his novels, Jonathan writes with alot of emotion and a trying tone. Gave up on this after 2 chapters. Avoid like plague. Tabloid writer who should be writing for Ceebeebies
March 3, 2022
I liked this and kept seeing Matt Berry as The Devil. It was a good read and moved along nicely with lots of dark comedy. The one small thing that did annoy me was how nothing was really explained because as humans it was beyond our grasp to get a handle on it all which just frustrated me. Maybe it was meant to though.
May 27, 2023
HellCorp was so much fun! I read it a couple of weeks ago and it's still stuck in my mind. I love the angle and it was a super easy read. This is another one of those books that I sat on for way too long and now I need to read the rest. If you want a quirky subversive read that'll make you laugh, this may do it for you.
July 9, 2018
The Devil wants a holiday but is given one task to earn it. One that gets him closer to Human than he'd ever like to be.
I read this in 2 days on holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's clever and witty and with some cracking one-liners. Bravo to the author for making you care about the Devil.
I read this in 2 days on holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's clever and witty and with some cracking one-liners. Bravo to the author for making you care about the Devil.
April 10, 2020
A devilishly funny read
A lovely but of light humour and a nice easy light read. The book leaves you wanting to read the next chapter straight away and they are nice and short, so you can nip through them.
A lovely but of light humour and a nice easy light read. The book leaves you wanting to read the next chapter straight away and they are nice and short, so you can nip through them.
July 17, 2022
3.25/3.5
fun story but the editing could be a lot better. a lot of grammatical mistakes and repeated descriptions of the characters in the exact same way. a woman was described as severe three times in the same chapter, over about two pages.
fun story but the editing could be a lot better. a lot of grammatical mistakes and repeated descriptions of the characters in the exact same way. a woman was described as severe three times in the same chapter, over about two pages.
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