One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night is a novel by Christopher Brookmyre. [Here are my other Brookmyre reviews.]
Finished on 27.04.2015

Plot:
A group of mercenaries are planning a big coup. One that was short notice and has to be carried out by a teamt hat it less working together and more trying to kill each other, which can only lead to disaster – or at least that’s what retired cop Hector McGregor assumes from the evidence he finds by chance. Not that anybdoy believes him.
At the same time and not far away, Gavin Hutchinson is building the ultimate ressort on an old oil rig: all of the holidays away from home, none of the foreigners trying to screw up your life with their food and culture. It is not quite finished yet, but Hutchinson still organized a school reunion to take place on the reunion. If you can’t show off your success, what’s it even for. So a colorful mix of people who mostly haven’t seen each other in years come together for a night, all for their very own reason.

One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night was the first Brookmyre book I read, about 15 years ago. Since I absolutely fell in love with it then, it is probably no surprise that I still remembered a whole lot about it. More surprising is that I’m just as much in love with it as I was 15 years ago. If you ever wanted to read a good action film, I can only recommend it.

OFDitMotN is one of those books that not only make me grin, it actually makes me laugh. Out loud. Even in public. It starts with the seriously macabre and gory sens of humor (disembodied arms knocking people out or Hector’s crusade of trying to hitch a ride with said disembodied arm), but I also loved Ally’s jokes and the wonderful metaness that comes with his obsession with action movies. But it is also one of those books that make me grin like I’ve just won a year’s supply of my favorite ice cream and a heatwave is coming. Mostly at the absolute cute couples that are in it. Ally and his girlfriend for one, but also [SPOILER] Matt and Simone. [/SPOILER].

I feel the plot can best be summed up by the word “romp”. Writing a good romp is hard, especially the pacing and Brookmyre hit’s every note that is needed, drawing you through the book in no time at all (which is also one of the big drawbacks: it’s just over too quickly). The pacing in this one is almost as perfect as his transcription of Scottish, which he captures so well, I can hear it in my head as if I was from Scotland.

If you don’t mind a little gore and if you like action movies, you have to read this. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of either of those things, I stille recommend it heavily.

Summarizing: I did mention I was in love with this book, didn’t I?