Review: Boot Scoot Into a Bucket Full of Lies
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 16, 2013
A Bucket Full of Lies, by Robert Swisher, is a unique murder mystery. The book starts with this paragraph:"You had better boot scoot out of here, Roosevelt," my Guardian Angel warned me trying to look like he really cared. "If you don't, you are going to get trapped right in the middle of a murder, a multiple kidnapping, a gun and heroin smuggling ring, and to top it off everyone you meet will only lie to you. And if that is not enough, you are going to get hurt, maybe even killed."Bob’s Guardian Angel is a fourteenth century monk with a shaved head, sixties, and as round as he is tall. When Wright lived as a monk, he sold forgiveness and told women relations with him were a blessing from God. Although Wright has been a moderately successful Guardian Angel since Bob acquired him in Vietnam, he’s a pain in the behind.Bob is surprised when he’s approached by Sam Wrench. Although Bob has not seen Sam in forty-five years, Sam seems to have orchestrated the meeting. Sam knows Bob is a private investigator, and Sam’s in trouble. When Bob agrees to help him and Sam is gunned down a short time later, it appears the Guardian Angel may be right. And when Lisa, Sam’s widow, contradicts Sam’s statement about the children and distracts Bob from asking pointed questions with a gin and tonic, Bob should have known things were going downhill.A Bucket Full of Lies is an excellent mystery. The characters are quirky and believable. The descriptions are wonderfully on target. The story moves at a brisk pace. Mr. Swisher also does an excellent job offering cross sections of life in the nineteen sixties, when “frat boys were famous for beating hippies nearly to death and cutting their hair.” (Hint: the frat boys who tangled with Bob didn’t cut his hair. As Bob says: “War has a way of reminding one that peace is all well and good but all people have to embrace the idea before you throw your club away. Pity the world.”)This book is a fine treasure of humor, pop culture, and mystery. I highly recommend it.