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tabatha_shipley's review against another edition
3.0
What I Did Like:
-The spin on the alternate reality was not one I was expecting. It worked and it was well thought out.
-Weird, in a good way. Like Carl Hiaasen, who I love, this book doesn’t take itself seriously and isn’t afraid to try something totally off the wall. That’s pretty cool.
-Epilogue. I know some people are opinionated about epilogues and whether we need them or whatever. I’m not weighing in on that. I’m just saying, don’t skip this one. It delves into character development a bit more, gives you some answers, and sets up (I assume) book 2.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans interested in the silly and absurd side of alternate dimensions crashing with a detective novel.
-Readers who like tongue in cheek sort of humor.
My Rating: 3 Stars. Not everyone will love this one, but if you like dark humor give it a try.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/ctaZ_PCNkD4
-The spin on the alternate reality was not one I was expecting. It worked and it was well thought out.
-Weird, in a good way. Like Carl Hiaasen, who I love, this book doesn’t take itself seriously and isn’t afraid to try something totally off the wall. That’s pretty cool.
-Epilogue. I know some people are opinionated about epilogues and whether we need them or whatever. I’m not weighing in on that. I’m just saying, don’t skip this one. It delves into character development a bit more, gives you some answers, and sets up (I assume) book 2.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans interested in the silly and absurd side of alternate dimensions crashing with a detective novel.
-Readers who like tongue in cheek sort of humor.
My Rating: 3 Stars. Not everyone will love this one, but if you like dark humor give it a try.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/ctaZ_PCNkD4
blfrankwriter's review against another edition
4.0
I will be the first to admit that I was not very excited about reading this book. However, I was more than surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. It starts with a guy named Michael Duckett who is struggling just to get by. He loses his job, has broken his phone, is about to be evicted from his crappy apartment and the last thing he needs is more chaos in his life. His roommate Stephanie Dyer, who's main hobbies are video games and freeloading, isn't much help to his plight. However, when mysterious advertisements of a mystery solving duo surfaces Michael is more than surprised to see both his and Stephanie's name on it. Stephanie jumps head first into their first case, to find a missing person, and drags Michael along every step of the way. But throughout the city others are going missing. This dynamic duo somehow find their way falling through the multiverse with nothing but a ring and a mysterious list of names. Can they solve the case of all the missing persons before it is too late? Can they even make it back to their own universe in one piece?
Despite starting off slow and having to wade through pages until the plot finally picks up it is definitely worth it. The descriptions of this book are vivid and assist greatly to help the reader picture what is going on in their mind. Sentence structures are natural and flow well, the dialogue is realistic. The characters are all unique, consistent, and believable. The subplot of the police detective hunting down the mysterious criminal, while confusing at times, does make a full circle with the rest of the plot. This is an adorable crime solving comedy that is great if you are looking for something fun to read. This book would make for a great comic book with the amount on imagination that was poured into it by G.M. Nair. I would rate this book at 4 out of 5.
Despite starting off slow and having to wade through pages until the plot finally picks up it is definitely worth it. The descriptions of this book are vivid and assist greatly to help the reader picture what is going on in their mind. Sentence structures are natural and flow well, the dialogue is realistic. The characters are all unique, consistent, and believable. The subplot of the police detective hunting down the mysterious criminal, while confusing at times, does make a full circle with the rest of the plot. This is an adorable crime solving comedy that is great if you are looking for something fun to read. This book would make for a great comic book with the amount on imagination that was poured into it by G.M. Nair. I would rate this book at 4 out of 5.
theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
3.0
I can see why people really like this. It’s well written with smooth prose and a lot of humor. Sadly, humor often just isn’t quite for me in most books so a lot of this just wasn’t for me. It also gets a bit more weird than I was expecting. I found the characters too unlikable for my taste but can see how their fit the story and weirdness well. So overall, I see why people would like this but it just wasn’t to my own personal tastes.
whiskyrob's review against another edition
2.0
The plot was too chaotic and confusing, I had no idea what was going on through most of it. I didn't like the characters, they seemed to passive, only reacting to things happening to them instead of making decisions and doing things.
bethtabler's review against another edition
5.0
Oh good lord, where do I start?
If you think you know where this story is going after 50 pages, you don’t. You just don’t. This is like taking your seemingly innocent brain, smashing it against a frying pan while simultaneously reciting Shakespeare and doing calculus.
It is pants-on-your-head-crazy and works perfectly.
“She turned back to the doorman, and everything fell out of Michael’s hands, “Hello. My name is Jackie Steele,” Stephanie said, clearly having put a lot of thought into a ridiculous alias. She continued, adopting the velvety, sultry voice a woman named Jackie Steele would possess. “And this is my associate . . .” Stephanie paused and looked at Michael. Her wide eyes implied that she had wasted all her time imagining the intricacies of Jackie Steele and hadn’t come up with a suitable name for Michael. Michael crossed his arms, forcing her to grasp for straws to continue this chosen charade “Maurice . . . Sendak.”
Firstly, let’s address the buddy comedy that is the duo of Duckett and Dyer. 30 pages into the story I found myself remarking to Jodie (witty and sarcastic book club) how I knew this girl who was Stephanie down to the dirty feet. She had the same conclusion. I think most people have met a “Stephanie” in their lives. A loveable and complete fuck-up who is just this side of nuts but brings that perfect and endearing crazy into your life. Someone who makes life just that little bit more interesting. It is a great bit of writing on Nair’s part because it allows us, readers, to be able to empathize with Mikester and all the headaches that he has to endure. Mike is a perfect foil to Stephanie’s batshit tendencies. Mike reminds me of a tea kettle. Fine with water in it, occasionally makes a lot of noise but quiets down pretty quickly. Don’t let it overheat though or it bends and twist and is never right again.
Plot-wise, I am giving nothing away because it would take away from the pure titillation of discovery that is this wacky story. But, I can surmise it by saying it is a wacky relative or bastard lovechild of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and something by Terry Pratchett. Weirdness, clever characters, smugness, and the perfect amount of snark.
The setting of the story varies depending on the ‘verse they were traveling through. Although I loved the, albeit brief, romp through the universe with the giant bunny rabbit and humongous man-eating hamburgers bent of Duckett and Dyer’s destruction. That particular scene was pure poetry.
Overall, this is a must-read. It is fun with a capital ‘FU’. Made me laugh, guffaw, and chuckle at the relationship between these two “investigators.”
“Maybe God loves us.” “No, that can’t be it,”
This was a particularly fun book to do as a buddy read with Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub. The ridiculous nature of it lent itself to a lot of guffaws between us. Thank you so much for doing the read with me.
Solid Five Star Read
If you think you know where this story is going after 50 pages, you don’t. You just don’t. This is like taking your seemingly innocent brain, smashing it against a frying pan while simultaneously reciting Shakespeare and doing calculus.
It is pants-on-your-head-crazy and works perfectly.
“She turned back to the doorman, and everything fell out of Michael’s hands, “Hello. My name is Jackie Steele,” Stephanie said, clearly having put a lot of thought into a ridiculous alias. She continued, adopting the velvety, sultry voice a woman named Jackie Steele would possess. “And this is my associate . . .” Stephanie paused and looked at Michael. Her wide eyes implied that she had wasted all her time imagining the intricacies of Jackie Steele and hadn’t come up with a suitable name for Michael. Michael crossed his arms, forcing her to grasp for straws to continue this chosen charade “Maurice . . . Sendak.”
Firstly, let’s address the buddy comedy that is the duo of Duckett and Dyer. 30 pages into the story I found myself remarking to Jodie (witty and sarcastic book club) how I knew this girl who was Stephanie down to the dirty feet. She had the same conclusion. I think most people have met a “Stephanie” in their lives. A loveable and complete fuck-up who is just this side of nuts but brings that perfect and endearing crazy into your life. Someone who makes life just that little bit more interesting. It is a great bit of writing on Nair’s part because it allows us, readers, to be able to empathize with Mikester and all the headaches that he has to endure. Mike is a perfect foil to Stephanie’s batshit tendencies. Mike reminds me of a tea kettle. Fine with water in it, occasionally makes a lot of noise but quiets down pretty quickly. Don’t let it overheat though or it bends and twist and is never right again.
Plot-wise, I am giving nothing away because it would take away from the pure titillation of discovery that is this wacky story. But, I can surmise it by saying it is a wacky relative or bastard lovechild of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and something by Terry Pratchett. Weirdness, clever characters, smugness, and the perfect amount of snark.
The setting of the story varies depending on the ‘verse they were traveling through. Although I loved the, albeit brief, romp through the universe with the giant bunny rabbit and humongous man-eating hamburgers bent of Duckett and Dyer’s destruction. That particular scene was pure poetry.
Overall, this is a must-read. It is fun with a capital ‘FU’. Made me laugh, guffaw, and chuckle at the relationship between these two “investigators.”
“Maybe God loves us.” “No, that can’t be it,”
This was a particularly fun book to do as a buddy read with Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub. The ridiculous nature of it lent itself to a lot of guffaws between us. Thank you so much for doing the read with me.
Solid Five Star Read
lavenderlazarus's review against another edition
5.0
Duckett and Dyer are an oddly matched pair, and that's what this book so entertaining. While Michael overthinks his every move, Stephanie furiously marches past without a thought. I wasn't quite sure what I would find in this story, but there were so many delightful surprises. It was hilarious, some parts even made me chuckle. It is bizarre in a good way. It reminded me a lot of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. There is a case to be solved and there are detectives - incompetent ones, but detectives nevertheless - determined to solve it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery and doesn't mind not knowing where it is going to take you.
clacksee's review against another edition
5.0
Michael Duckett is a shy, socially awkward guy who just can't seem to catch a break. Stephanie Dyer is a disaster bi who's fully committed to living in the moment. Someone has started a private investigator company in their names and placed ads all over town.
Neither Michael nor Stephanie are especially likeable characters. They're the kinds of people you'll find yourself constantly shouting 'DO BETTER' at. And I love them for that.
This far-fetched and utterly ridiculous time travel / parallel worlds novel delivers flawed characters bumbling through life, making one bad choice after the next, who eventually learn to accept themselves and each other and to – maybe, just maybe – learn to do better.
Neither Michael nor Stephanie are especially likeable characters. They're the kinds of people you'll find yourself constantly shouting 'DO BETTER' at. And I love them for that.
This far-fetched and utterly ridiculous time travel / parallel worlds novel delivers flawed characters bumbling through life, making one bad choice after the next, who eventually learn to accept themselves and each other and to – maybe, just maybe – learn to do better.
connorjdaley's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
FYI / full disclosure never read the others… but I bought based off needing some Santa shenanigans in my life. And it does work kind of as its own standalone story anyway.
This was fun, unexpected, and absolutely unhinged. The story features a blizzard, amateur sleuths turned Santas-for-hire, a police sanctioned Santa Claus Killer investigation, the multiverse, oh, and THE Santa Claus. It’s like a holiday scifi mystery action explosion. And quick!
Enjoyable and a bit crazy. Personally a 3.5/5* for me.
catsy2022's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, and Violence
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