The Code of the Vavasors is the sixth book in the Mathematical Mystery series by Jonathan Pinnock. Released 25th April 2024 by Duckworth on their Farrago imprint, it's 304 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

This installment sees Tom and Dorothy still chasing the code to cracking the secrets of the Vavasours, this time at a retreat for geniuses at an isolated country house; the perfect limited suspect pool mystery setting.

The setup and humor remind me very much of other British SF(ish) classics: Fforde, Holt, Fowler, Grant/Naylor, Moore, Stross, Aaronovitch, et.al. It's not derivative, not really, the author has a slightly different humorous slant and oh, good heavens, the puns flow like a mighty river. Readers will definitely feel like the aforementioned authors are being channeled though...

There are genuinely funny moments and the pacing is frenetic and relentless. The bad guys are boo-worthy, the good guys are plucky and funny and brave (if often quite hapless) and the end result is enjoyably readable. This is precisely the type of mystery/speculative fiction fans adore and it's honestly captivating from the first page. The author is adept at writing in the necessary backstory, so it works well enough as a standalone, but it's a consistently high quality series, and definitely worth a binge read.

Four and a half stars, rounded up for the writing. People who loathe puns (or intelligent humour) will likely not enjoy this one. Fans of Laundry Files, Red Dwarf, HHGttG, and the others will find a lot to like until the next Shadow Police novel hits the stands (if it ever does... yes, we're lookin' at you, Paul Cornell). For North American readers, the spellings and vernacular are British English. Nothing which should prove frustrating in context.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Tom and Dorothy's continuing quest to crack the Vavasor's mathematical formula/code takes them to a mathematics contest in a country house on a remote island. Chaos and murder ensue, as they often do with Tom and Dorothy. I enjoy this series because each book provides a balance of fresh plot with characters and a general feeling of knowing what you're going to get and you don't mind getting it. Tom and Dorothy's witty repartee still brings a smile to one's face, and unlike a couple of the earlier books, no mathematical knowledge is required to follow the plot. This is a very enjoyable series and I look forward to the next installment.

The Code of the Vavasors
by Jonathan Pinnock

To be honest, I didn’t know that #TheCodeoftheVavasors is actually the book 6 in the series. But it didn’t stop me from reading. I had to look up short recaps on each book to get into this story and it didn’t disappoint me. And most important thing, despite of the title, you don’t need to be a math nerd for this book. Well, the story is about Tom and Dorothy who are after llama, not really llama but kinda llama. And it’s all what I going to say, because I don’t want to spoil any laughs that expect every reader. The writing is so good, and with the story together it gets you hooked right away.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To quickly recap, former PR executive Tom Winscombe and his software developer girlfriend Dorothy Chan, who runs Dot Chan with partner Ali, got reacquainted in book 1. Tom accidentally found himself caught in the battle for the famous Vavasor mathematical papers, written by the late twins Archimedes and Pythagoras. All the hilarious details are in books 1 to 5, involving death by magi mix, the sinking of an artificial island, a murdering monk, the Belarussian mafia and further near misses in Las Vegas. After falling out after Tom accidentally burnt the last remaining copy of the Vavasor papers, he and Dorothy are now on better terms again. Many of the old familiar faces are back, including Ali, Patrice (pregnant with Tom’s donation), Margot, Benjamin and of course alpacas Dolores and Steven who the couple believe have computer chips implanted in them that will lead to the Vavasors’ lost mathematical secrets. In a mission to access these chips and crack their code, the trail takes them to the ugliest of pottery pieces in the hands of a tech giant on a private Scottish island where the latest Vavasports weekend is being held. Aside from a spot of housebreaking, a psychotic rabbit, fiendishly clever maths problems and some very suspicious deaths, what can possibly go wrong this time?
Although this story is hilarious in its own right, I really would suggest reading all the earlier books to get a grip on the wild and wacky world of Archie and Pye and their rather quirky followers. As with the previous five books in what is one of my favourite series, this is brimming with wonderful eccentric characters and humour to chuckle at on virtually every page (there’s a cat called µ, for example). The story is beautifully told and the pages fair turn themselves as it’s so easy to become immersed in this strange and crazy world that poor Tom found himself in one day and never quite seems to escape from. Wickedly clever and I can’t recommend it enough.

Jonathan Pinnock's mysteries are always fun and entertaining. This one didn't disappoint and kept me guessing and having fun.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Jonathan Pinnock's latest addition to the Mathematical Mysteries, The Code of the Vavasors, is an absolute delight! From alpacas to castles, from math-sports to the eccentric Vavasor twins' (Archie and Pye) legacy, and not forgetting Tom Winscombe's quirky antics, I found myself utterly engrossed in the story, unable to put it down until the very end.

This witty thriller, immersed in a world of murder, mystery, complex equations, and endearing alpacas, is a captivating addition to the series. Its quirky, dark humor and entertaining plot make it a must-read thriller of the year.

You need not be a math aficionado to enjoy this series, although enthusiasts will relish the challenges posed by equations ranging from Euclid's to Euler's. Tom's idiosyncrasies, particularly his disdain for the inverted 'y' and exclamation mark in Poisson's distribution formula, add an amusing layer to the narrative.

From start to finish, the book kept me entertained, alternating between the edge of my seat and fits of laughter at Tom's cheeky antics. The angora rabbit and alpacas further elevate the charm of the story with their delightful furry presence.

My only query is: why hasn't this series been adapted into a TV show yet? Or perhaps it has, and I simply missed the memo?

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a maths whizz to enjoy this book. Tom Winscombe and on off girlfriend Dorothy Chan are in pursuit of a llama. Well, not an actual llama. It’s all to do with a code and, well, it’s kind of complicated…More than anything else though, it’s a thrill to read and completely bonkers. In this particular outing, Tom and Dorothy find themselves competing for something that could take them one step closer to the ultimate bounty. To understand what that is, you’d be best reading this series from the beginning but if you’re after some belly laughs and a narrative that doesn’t let you take a breath, dive right in. Oh, and don’t forget your compass and your set square.