Lies and Dolls by Nev Fountain

A pacy, laugh-out-loud funny whodunnit set in the world of cult sci-fi fandom, this novel sees the return of neurodiverse sleuth Kit Pelham as she investigates the destruction of rare vintage action figures and an actual murder at a rare toy museum. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, J. M. Hall, Ian Moore and Andrew Cartmel.

Professional cult sci-fi fan Kit Pelham returns in this laugh-out-loud-funny follow-up to The Fan Who Knew Too Much.

When Kit and her best friend Binfire head to a stately home in Lincolnshire to view five ultra-rare Vixens from the Void action figures - the main exhibit at the opening of a new toy museum - they come across more than just nerds and toy-collectors. The figures are stolen from their glass case and, just as Kit and Binfire begin to get their heads around this mystery, they start to reappear, broken into pieces, left for their distraught owners to discover.

And that's when the real killings start.

Nev Fountain, born Steven John Fountain, is an English writer, best known for his work as a staff writer on Private Eye magazine, and his comedy work with writing partner Tom Jamieson on the radio and television programme Dead Ringers. Fountain and Jamieson have contributed to many radio and television comedy programmes, including Have I Got News for You, 2DTV, The News Quiz, Huddlines Loose Ends, Big Impression, Newzoids, Strictly Come Dancing and Rory Bremner - Who Else? Their most notable work, however, has been for Dead Ringers in which Fountain occasionally made cameo appearances. The pair are also responsible for the historical comedy Elephants to Catch Eels and wrote "Txt Mssg Rcvd", a 2005 episode of the BBC Three anthology series Twisted Tales. Fountain has written several audio dramas including several stories for Dr Who.

Praise for The Fan Who Knew Too Much...

"Laugh-out-loud-on-the-bus funny." - Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London series

"One of the funniest writers in Britain." - John Lawton, author of the Inspector Troy and Joe Wilderness series

"A dark, funny look at fandom from someone who really knows." - Jenny Colgan, bestselling author of Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe and Do You Remember the First Time?, and writer of six Doctor Who novels

"This is a delight. Nev Fountain's genre savviness, his sardonic humour and his skill at storytelling come together in a perfect storm of crime-fiction fun." - Andrew Cartmel, author of the Vinyl Detective and Paperback Sleuth series

"Funny, acerbic, ingenious. Nev Fountain's The Fan Who Knew Too Much is a witty, twisty murder mystery set amid the egos and eccentrics of sci-fi fandom. Podcasting, conventions, professional fans and unprofessional stars... it's all here. Shrewdly observed, it's at once very familiar and yet constantly surprising." - Simon Guerrier, author of David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television

"Nev Fountain... revels in sci-fi nerdism, spoofing it and extolling it simultaneously, outrageously... Out of these 21st century oddballs and freaks comes a murder classic." - John Lawton, author of the Inspector Troy and Joe Wilderness series

"I'm really annoyed with Nev Fountain for writing this book before I had the chance to think of it. People like him, who happen to be hugely talented and funny writers, think they can come up with original and clever ideas just because no-one else has thought of them before. Yes, I admit it's a brilliant, genre-spanning novel that's hard to put down, but is that enough?" - Peter Davison, Doctor Who 1981-1984

"I loved this funny, intriguing, moving, bonkers story. It's a world I recognise and a must read for any fan of science fiction and beyond." - Sophie Aldred, Ace in Doctor Who, 1987-1989

"Nev Fountain is a very funny writer. The Fan Who Knew Too Much is a very funny book." - Simon Brett, author of the Mrs Pargeter, Fethering Village and The Decluttering mysteries