The Satsuma Complex

The Satsuma Complex

First edition paperback cover of The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer
Author	Bob Mortimer
Language	English
Genre	Romantic comedy, Mystery fiction
Publisher	Simon & Schuster (UK) Gallery/Scout Press (US)
Publication date	October 27, 2022 (UK) September 5, 2023 (US)
Publication place	United Kingdom
Pages	304
Award	Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize
ISBN	978-1-398-52364-7
Followed by	The Hotel Avocado

The Satsuma Complex, or released in the US under the name The Clementine Complex, is a 2022 novel by British comedian Bob Mortimer. Writing his autobiography And Away... in 2020 inspired him to write fiction and aimed to emulate a writing style similar to Japanese author Haruki Murakami. ^[1] The Satsuma Complex won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic fiction in 2023. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} In celebration of the prize, Oakland Farms in East Sussex had a pig named after the novel. ^{[2] [4] [5]} It is followed by the novel The Hotel Avocado. ^{[6] [3]}

Mortimer writes that he imbued himself into the protagonist. Stating that the novel is about lonely people pulled out of their old life, Mortimer states "I was a very shy lad, so I got that little gift and became a completely different person." ^[7]

Plot

Gary Thorn, what he calls himself as an unremarkable legal assistant, meets with a colleague Brendan in a bar. When there, Gary spots a woman sitting by herself at a booth reading a book called The Satsuma Complex. After Brendan leaves, Gary makes conversation with her but did not get her name before she left. The following day he is told Brendan has been found dead and he had been the last to see him. Now, Gary sets out on finding the unknown woman which he has dubbed Satsuma not only for his own interest but as an alibi and to figure out what happened to Brendan that night.

References

1. Mortimer, Bob (2023-12-22). "Bob Mortimer: 'I wanted to write like Murakami but soon realised I didn't have the talent'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-05-01.
2. Creamer, Ella (2023-11-20). "Bob Mortimer wins Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for his 'mischievous' debut novel". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-05-01.
3. Fox, Killian (2024-08-25). "The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer review – a not so smashing follow-up". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-05-01.
4. "Mortimer wins Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction with The Satsuma Complex". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
5. "Bob Mortimer 'chuffed' to celebrate win of 'most unexpected' prize | Virgin Radio UK". virginradio.co.uk. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
6. Risbridger, Ella (2024-08-23). "The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer review – more affable nonsense". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-05-01.
7. "Mortimer wins Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction with The Satsuma Complex". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-05-01.