Lemony Snicket is most often recognized for his popular sequence of books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” but the author returns to pen a new novel: “Who Could That Be At This Hour?” With bizarre characters, an ambiguous plot line and general oddity throughout, his newest novel follows the archetypal style the author created in his first series and certainly does not disappoint.
This series opener is the peculiar account of a young Lemony Snicket’s adventures in the failing town of Stain’d-by-the-Sea. As an apprentice for a mysterious unnamed organization, Lemony and his chaperone S. Theodora Markson are brought to Stain’d-by-the-Sea to recover a valuable stolen item: a small statue of the town’s famous Bombinating Beast, a mythical sea creature that’s part seahorse, shark, bear and alligator.
As Lemony investigates further, however, he begins to realize he’s been caught in a web of conspiracy he is only beginning to understand. For the duration of the novel, Lemony desperately attempts to discover what is really going on in Stain’d-by-the-Sea, and encounters countless mysteries and eccentric people along the way.
The crowning achievement of “Who Could That Be At This Hour?” is the brilliant characterization. There’s Lemony Snicket, an almost 13 year old who reads constantly and happens to have received a rather “unusual education” as a member of a secretive association; Moxie Mallahan, a young would-be journalist who knows everything there is to know about Stain’d-by-the-Sea; and Ellington Feint, a devious but captivating girl attempting to rescue her father from an enigmatic villain named Hangfire. Each of Snicket’s characters convey their own odd yet lovable qualities, adding interest and quirkiness to every instance of dialogue.
What’s more, Snicket skillfully depicts the contrast between adults and adolescents through his characterization. While the younger characters are – mostly – portrayed positively, every adult character is flawed in more ways than one. Lemony’s chaperone, Theodora, believes she is wonderful at her job, when in reality she is absolutely horrid at playing the role of a chaperone. Throughout the novel, she underestimates Lemony and ignores important details that he is able to notice when she is not.
Furthermore, Stain’d-by-the-Sea’s police force – comprised of husband and wife duo Officers Mitchum – are blundering idiots who mistakenly believe their bully of a son is a perfect angel. By illustrating the adults of the novel in such a negative manner, Snicket champions the virtues of youth.
Snicket’s plot, though, is not to be outdone by his characterization. The storyline is witty, thoughtful, bizarre and, most of all, perplexing. As the novel proceeds, more questions can be found than answers, but this is the beauty of Snicket’s writing – the clandestine writing style keeps readers engrossed from beginning to end. Even the setting of the novel is peculiar: a town where the sea has been drained away, yet treacherous seaweed forests and ink-producing octopi still remain. What results is a mixture of elements that continuously captivates readers.
Lovers of Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” will be also delighted to find allusions to the series hidden throughout the novel, as well as many references to other famous literary works. Snicket’s writing, however, takes on a slightly different tone in this novel – one that hints of the hard-boiled nature of noir fiction. With the plot he’s provided, the style of noir works beautifully and enhances the novel.
Overall, Snicket lives up to his reputation with “Who Could That Be At This Hour?” With quirky characters, a curious plot and a touch of the absurdity his readers have grown to know and love, this series opener is begging to be read. As Lemony Snicket would write, this novel is brilliant – a word which here means absolutely sensational.
