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  • Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

  • Dirk Gently, Book 1
  • By: Douglas Adams
  • Narrated by: Stephen Mangan
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (522 ratings)

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Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Stephen Mangan
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Summary

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is a much loved cult classic, that has spawned radio dramas, television, theatre and comic book adaptations across the globe. This new audio edition is hilariously narrated by Stephen Mangan – star of Green Wing, Episodes, and the original Dirk Gently series on the BBC.

What do a dead cat, a computer whiz kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over two hundred years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet), and pizza have in common?

Apparently not much; until Dirk Gently, self styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza – not to mention saving the entire human race from extinction along the way (at no extra charge).

To find out more, listen to this book (better still, buy it then listen to it) – or contact Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

'A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-who dunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy-epic' - Douglas Adams.

Continue this surreal series with The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul and the unfinished The Salmon of Doubt.

©2009 Douglas Adams (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
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Critic reviews

An astonishing comic writer (Neil Gaiman)
Rich and endlessly entertaining (Stephen Mangan)
Few recent writers have had such an infectious prose style as Adams. With his fondness for paradox, his galactic perspective on things and his wonderful way with meaningful nonsense his are the books which have launched a trillion quips (Robert McFarlane)

What listeners say about Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The comedy

Douglas Adams writes with superb absurdity that can capture anyone's imagination. The story takes many twists and turns and is at times hard to follow but comes together brilliantly at the end.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A kooky offbeat sci-fi romp! Unusual but enjoyable.

I enjoyed this story, it’s got Douglas Adams humour in it, Is expertly narrated, and is staffed with enjoyable characters.

However, I felt like it was setting up for something bigger and grander than it’s actual ending, and felt some of the structural leaps the narrative took were clumsy, leaving a few loose ends but it was enjoyable none the less.

Perhaps more will be revealed in the sequel? I will now try it to find out!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Confusing

If you don’t mind being confused it’s a good book. I like Hitchhikers guide more though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Certainly different, probably very good

Very enjoyable and with the same mind bending plots as Hitch-Hickers Guide to the Galaxy. not to be confused with the TV series, this is totally different and much more enjoyable.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this not as funny as I hoped, still good.

I quite enjoyed this, the style is very "hitch hikers guide to the galaxy" and the humour is of a similar vain. I got a bit confused at the ending and could not follow what actually happened but all ends well, I think....

The performance was very good the Narration had some nice voices without being OTT. Will almost certainly follow this series at some time soon.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional.

Exquisitely absurd. Can’t recommend hard enough. Does not need nine more words to praise it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and Funny

Brilliantly read and performed by Stephen Mangan. I totally enjoyed it and so funny in places. I can’t wait to listen to the next book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

Loved everything about this book! Was not what I expected but very enjoyable. Now on to book 2

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beyond description - brilliant

The best I've listened to on Audible. A highly engaging, amusing, fanciful story, read brilliantly by Stephen Mangan. Great accents, perfect intonation and timing for the dry wit. I can't recommend it enough, if you're looking for something utterly diverting and linguistically marvellous

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great writer and excellent narration

Recommended for fans and newcomers.Great writer and excellent narration . Looking forward to the next instalment.

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