Waiting for Godalming

Waiting for Godalming presents a supernatural murder mystery where God is found dead in a London alley. Detective Lazlo Woodbine takes on the investigation at the request of the victim's wife, Eartha. The story follows two parallel narratives: Woodbine's investigation into the divine homicide, and Icarus Smith's quest to understand why demons are appearing on Earth. The suspects include Colin, God's lesser-known son who was omitted from the Bible. Rankin combines elements of noir detective fiction, religious mythology, and British humor in this unconventional tale. The novel takes its title from Beckett's Waiting for Godot, reflecting similar themes of anticipation and uncertainty. This genre-bending work explores themes of family dynamics, divine fallibility, and the nature of faith through an absurdist lens. The story raises questions about power, belief, and the relationship between humans and their deities.

Readers found this book less engaging than Rankin's earlier works, with many noting it fails to deliver the same humor and creativity. Several reviews mention the plot feels unfocused and the jokes repetitive. Readers liked: - The Elvis-based humor - References to Rankin's other books - The interactions between God and Satan - British cultural references Readers disliked: - Overused running gags - Plot meandering without direction - Characters lacking depth compared to other Rankin novels - Too much reliance on previous books' material Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (789 ratings) Amazon UK: 3.5/5 (42 ratings) Amazon US: 3/5 (12 ratings) "The jokes feel forced and the story never quite comes together," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "Not Rankin's best - reads like a retread of earlier, funnier books." Multiple readers mentioned struggling to finish the book despite being fans of Rankin's other work.

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🔍 The book's title is a clever play on Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," echoing similar themes of existential uncertainty 🕵️ Lazlo Woodbine, a recurring character in Rankin's work, appears exclusively in scenes typical of noir fiction: bars, alleys, offices, and rooftops ⚡ Robert Rankin pioneered the "Far-Fetched Fiction" genre, blending humor with fantasy and science fiction elements since the 1980s 🌍 The story takes place in Brentford, London - a real location that serves as the setting for many of Rankin's novels, creating his own mythical version of the suburb 🎭 The novel incorporates elements of both hardboiled detective fiction and Christian mythology, a combination rarely seen in contemporary fantasy literature