The Killing Joke (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Books |
The Killing Joke is a novel authored by Anthony Horowitz and released in 2004 through The Orion Publishing Group. This work is a comedic thriller focusing on Guy Fletcher, an actor who embarks on a quest to uncover the origins of a joke involving his mother, a renowned actress.
Plot summary
After overhearing a joke about his mother, Guy Fletcher begins an investigation to identify its source. Throughout his pursuit, he develops romantic feelings for Sally. A secretive faction led by Rupert Liddy attempts to obstruct his efforts and ultimately implicates him in the murder of his neighbor, compelling Guy to go into hiding.
Convinced that Sally represents his final chance, Guy enlists her assistance in tracing the joke’s beginnings. Their sole clue points to Sphinx, a company purportedly producing vacuum cleaners, where one lead concludes. Efforts to reach Sphinx are thwarted as their calls are continuously redirected following prolonged hold times.
Their search for the joke’s trail takes them to Suffolk’s coastline, particularly the village of Kelford, where locals exhibit an unusual lack of humor—connected to a nearby island. They commandeer a boat to explore further but are seized and confronted by Rupert Liddy. He discloses that Sphinx manufactures and disseminates jokes deliberately to prevent society from taking serious issues such as politics too gravely. The confidentiality of the company is crucial; revealing its operations would undermine the jokes’ impact.
Liddy subjects Guy to torture by tickling his foot with a feather to extract information before confining both Guy and Sally in a gas-filled chamber. As the gas reaches lethal levels, the safety indicator light dims; however, due to insufficient maintenance staffing, the bulb malfunctions and extinguishes the gas before any harm occurs. Liddy then delivers the punchline: "How many top-secret government technicians does it take to change a light bulb?"
The penultimate chapter awkwardly narrates Guy and Sally’s relocation to France, mimicking the style of a poorly delivered joke. The narrator concedes having spoiled the joke and restarts it. The concluding chapter repeats the opening seven words of the novel.
Critical reception
Denise Pickles from Reviewing the Evidence observed that although The Killing Joke may occasionally confuse readers, it remains an absorbing story.