Griffin Reads – Snuff

Title: Deep Storm

Author: Terry Pratchett

Genre: Fantasy, Satire, Mystery

Summary:

In Snuff, the 39th Discworld novel and the eighth in the City Watch subseries, Commander Sam Vimes takes a much-needed vacation to the countryside—only to discover that crime exists even in the most pastoral settings. What starts as a reluctant holiday quickly spirals into a murder investigation, exposing a dark and deeply unjust secret hiding beneath the surface of rural life.

As Vimes navigates unfamiliar territory, both literally and figuratively, he is forced to confront questions of morality, power, and justice in a way that only Terry Pratchett can deliver—with equal parts humor and biting social commentary.

Content Guide:

• Some violence, including murder and discussions of historical atrocities
• Social themes involving oppression, prejudice, and justice
• Some crude humor and mild language

My Thoughts:

First, let me assure anyone reading this—you don’t need to know anything about Discworld or Terry Pratchett to enjoy this book. I’ve read some of his early novels in the past, but I jumped into this one cold, without any background on Commander Vimes or the cast of characters. And honestly, I’m kind of glad I did. The characters are broad enough that I never felt like I needed seven books’ worth of context to follow the story. This book works as a standalone, and that’s how I suggest approaching it.

I’d describe the tone as a cozy British police procedural set in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The worldbuilding is fast and loose, almost a fantasy skin over a traditional low-stakes murder mystery—except for the serious social themes cushioned in palatable fantasy tropes. It’s not meant to be an intense thrill ride. This is a story about a holiday gone wrong, best read while on holiday—or, in my case, while driving multiple days to and from book-selling events.

One of the best things about this book is how Pratchett balances humor with serious themes. Having some background with Pratchett already, I expected something as ridiculous as Douglas Adams or Monty Python. Instead, I got something more subtle, more intriguing. While it wasn’t necessarily gripping, it was relaxing—which isn’t always easy to find in fantasy.

Overall, Snuff is a breezy, fantasy-themed murder mystery with some gentle social commentary and pleasant characters. If you enjoy Pratchett’s mix of satire, philosophy, and dry humor, this is well worth the read.