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branch_c's review
4.0
An enjoyable read, with quirky characters and a fast-paced plot that gets faster as you go. The premise was clever, but more than that, it was well executed. The Alan Lottner character and the absurdity of his situation was enough to capture my interest in an otherwise mainstream story, but the back and forth between him and McCann was what really kept things going. The convoluted details of the central mystery get more and more tangled toward the end, with a number of unexpected twists and subplots, and it all leads up to a satisfying resolution. Amidst the various murders and serious back stories, the abundance of humor keeps the tone light. Polished writing and a well-crafted story, I'd give this a solid recommendation and maybe check out something else by Cameron.
kaylielongley's review
5.0
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man is the perfect rainy day book. It’s filled with an odd cast of characters, dry humor, irony, cute romance, and packed with action. In my two sittings of reading, I burst out laughing multiple times.
Ruddy McCann’s the star of the show. A former football player with high hopes for NFL fame, his life comes crashing down after an accident. His dreams of stardom evaporate, and he’s stuck in the middle of nowhere, Michigan, as a repo man/bouncer for his sister Becky’s bar. I related to his feelings of isolation as I’m from suburbia, Wisconsin. His life has made him cynical, until he begins hearing a voice who he begrudgingly befriends. The voice promptly tells Ruddy he’s not psychotic, contrary to popular belief. The voice says he’s really a person stuck inside him, a dead realtor named Alan who’s seeking revenge.
Thus begins a whirlwind adventure. The first person narration works perfectly here, as Ruddy learns to let the past go while Alan clings on. As Alan and Ruddy banter throughout the book, so much happens, but W. Bruce Cameron balances his hefty plot with humor and heart. Ruddy attempts to train his boss’s nephew Kermit the ways of getting people back on their feet (literally) through repossession, and the scenes between Katie and Ruddy as their friendship blossoms are thoughtful. Plus, dull-witted yet wise Jimmy and Ruddy’s lazy but loyal dog Jake round out the cast.
Ruddy’s not perfect. He angers easily, his filter is limited. Each character is flawed and therefore achingly real. I rooted for Ruddy, Katie, Jimmy, and Becky and thus could not put the book down. These oddball characters, along with the expansive yet sequestered setting and sometimes dark humor, reminded me of Fargo.
Life pushes Ruddy out of complacency, and he’s one of the most complex characters I've read all year, making The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man one of my favorite books of 2015! Ultimately, we learn that heroes aren't always knights in shining armor. Sometimes, they take the form of the repo man.
Ruddy McCann’s the star of the show. A former football player with high hopes for NFL fame, his life comes crashing down after an accident. His dreams of stardom evaporate, and he’s stuck in the middle of nowhere, Michigan, as a repo man/bouncer for his sister Becky’s bar. I related to his feelings of isolation as I’m from suburbia, Wisconsin. His life has made him cynical, until he begins hearing a voice who he begrudgingly befriends. The voice promptly tells Ruddy he’s not psychotic, contrary to popular belief. The voice says he’s really a person stuck inside him, a dead realtor named Alan who’s seeking revenge.
Thus begins a whirlwind adventure. The first person narration works perfectly here, as Ruddy learns to let the past go while Alan clings on. As Alan and Ruddy banter throughout the book, so much happens, but W. Bruce Cameron balances his hefty plot with humor and heart. Ruddy attempts to train his boss’s nephew Kermit the ways of getting people back on their feet (literally) through repossession, and the scenes between Katie and Ruddy as their friendship blossoms are thoughtful. Plus, dull-witted yet wise Jimmy and Ruddy’s lazy but loyal dog Jake round out the cast.
Ruddy’s not perfect. He angers easily, his filter is limited. Each character is flawed and therefore achingly real. I rooted for Ruddy, Katie, Jimmy, and Becky and thus could not put the book down. These oddball characters, along with the expansive yet sequestered setting and sometimes dark humor, reminded me of Fargo.
Life pushes Ruddy out of complacency, and he’s one of the most complex characters I've read all year, making The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man one of my favorite books of 2015! Ultimately, we learn that heroes aren't always knights in shining armor. Sometimes, they take the form of the repo man.
amn028's review
4.0
A fun read with good characters, a unique plot and funny dialogue. I'm not sure how it will be a series, but I am looking forward to enjoying the next book to see where it goes.
bofrazer's review
5.0
Amazingly good, my favorite kind of book -- plenty of laugh out loud pounding the steering wheel, and an underlying sweetness that causes some misting up. Def looking out for more from this excellent writer. Do not be fooled by the silliness of the genre!
jfr_wi's review
5.0
Very enjoyable read: witty humor, likable characters, enough mystery/suspense to keep the story moving along. So glad I stumbled upon this gem.
author_d_r_oestreicher's review
4.0
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man by W Bruce Cameron is a mixture of zany mysteries (Carl Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey) and cozy mysteries (Janet Evanovich or Alexander McCall Smith) and supernatural mysteries (I don't usual read any these).
This combination should be a fun light read. I found it mostly confusing.
For more: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-midnight-plan-of-repo-man-by-w.html
This combination should be a fun light read. I found it mostly confusing.
For more: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-midnight-plan-of-repo-man-by-w.html
sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
This book is so much fun.
Ruddy McCann was an all star football player destined for greatness in the big leagues..then a bad thing happened and he ended up as a repo man and part time bouncer in his co-owner bar.
The man has some crap luck..between getting his arse kicked during a repo by a goose named Doris.
He starts hearing what at first he thinks is the stuffed bear in the bar's voice..........
As it turns out somehow a dead realtor named Alan has ended up in his head. Alan wants Ruddy to find out who and why he was killed.
With a cast of..well weird characters this book doesn't slow down for a minute. I loved it.
Ruddy isn't a perfect guy, but to me he is frigging awesome. He has a sidekick of the world's laziest Bassett Hound for crying out loud. He is going on to my list of book boyfriends.
This book is first person narrative but it is actually perfect for this book. The dialogue between Ruddy and Alan in his head is done perfectly. I actually hope for a sequel on this one.
I've got to quit reading good books and rating them highly..People won't know who I am.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is so much fun.
Ruddy McCann was an all star football player destined for greatness in the big leagues..then a bad thing happened and he ended up as a repo man and part time bouncer in his co-owner bar.
The man has some crap luck..between getting his arse kicked during a repo by a goose named Doris.
He starts hearing what at first he thinks is the stuffed bear in the bar's voice..........
As it turns out somehow a dead realtor named Alan has ended up in his head. Alan wants Ruddy to find out who and why he was killed.
With a cast of..well weird characters this book doesn't slow down for a minute. I loved it.
Ruddy isn't a perfect guy, but to me he is frigging awesome. He has a sidekick of the world's laziest Bassett Hound for crying out loud. He is going on to my list of book boyfriends.
"So you punch the guy out a couple of days after his father died," Alan translated for me after we left Milt's office.
"Well I didn't know that at the time," I replied peevishly. "Otherwise I would have let him shoot me."
This book is first person narrative but it is actually perfect for this book. The dialogue between Ruddy and Alan in his head is done perfectly. I actually hope for a sequel on this one.
I've got to quit reading good books and rating them highly..People won't know who I am.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
bluesav10's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5