Review: This is supposed to be funny?
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 09 26, 2012
I have not read any of the other Jack Russo mysteries, nor will I ever read another one. The plot is almost exactly the same as Murder by Death but far less well-developed. The characters are bizarre, especially Jack's sidekick Gary. He seems addled; his comments rarely make sense, and then, out of character, he'll say something lucid. None of the other characters seem to think this is odd.If Gary was the only nonsensical character, it might have made some sense. However, the police are equally inane, going on about a bear attack in the house when Jack tries to report a murder. Jack's editor goes to Florida to meet with Jack, who is snowbound somewhere in Wisconsin or Minnesota or some place like that. For some reason, Jack doesn't want to tell his editor that he's not in Florida and makes up an outrageous explanation of why he can't meet his editor. Jack elaborates this excuse more ludicrously each time his editor calls. The most unbelievable part of this subplot is that the editor buys Jack's excuses and spends several days waiting around in Florida for Jack to show up.While there is some mild humor, such as the radio show Herenomore being obviously based on the real radio show A Prairie Home Companion, it took half the book for me to realize this was supposed to be a comedy. Perhaps it was a satire or meant to be tongue in cheek, but I didn't laugh at all.