Deadly Serious, by Maggie Gibson (Poolbeg, £4.99)

Never mind the title - this murderous romp is anything but serious, with Maggie Gibson giving the traditional mystery story an entertaining Irish spin. A dastardly serial killer is pursued by a wild bunch consisting of private investigator Grace de Rossa, her business partner, the languid ex hooker Phoebe Lamplighter, their assistant, a shaven headed living Ninja with a colourful line in colloquialisms, and a large, black Vietnam vet called Mungo. Add a few flat footed - if good hearted - guards and an eccentric Anglo Irish family, and you get a few hours of harmless fun, even if the story is rather too padded out with dialogue for its own good.