Review: A Delightfully Funny Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
At first I thought "The Quest for Juice" was a dark, strange and simple story about a paranoid man,Oscar Well who vexed by an obsessive delusion kills a stranger and is sent to the Maple Ridge Psychiatric Hospital for treatment. But this novel goes beyond a simple, straightforward story, it slowly and deliberately draws the reader under its spell as Oscar Well uncovers a sinister plot by a terrorist organization whose leader is head of the psychiatric sanatorium.The story unfolds as Oscar's paranoia escalates;obsessing about the brand of orange juice he drinks, about the bus schedule, his house keys not fitting his lock and men with the name Ron. In this state he's imprisoned for murder and still thinking he's innocent is instead sent to the psychiatric hospital for treatment. Unable to hide from his guilt, and the pain of his headaches, Oscar finally consents to taking Psylocybin after discussions with his beautiful nurse Penelope Hope. When Oscar's life begins to get back to some kind of normalcy his adventures begin with a strange new job, a romantic liaison and a puzzle surrounding the identity of the man he killed.The plot is well-written and the events flow in a natural progression from Oscar's incarceration and his supposed cure to his struggle for normalcy when he finally discovers all is not what it seems. I loved the humorous anecdotes, Oscar's insight into things like "the micromanagement of bodily functions" at Microsoft, the proper treatment of a paper cut or the misleading use of the word "butterfly." And then there are those amusing incidents like the cameras in Oscar's house, Penelope's alternate escape route from her apartment, and the big possum that wrecked his father's office and ate his peanuts.One of my favorite characters was Mr. Hodge, Jim's friend the hedgehog who can hotwire a car and who takes an aversion to Dr. Boggs. Oscar 's very perceptive and brave in his attempt to release his friends from the doctor's clutches, but underlying his best virtues is his deeply suspicious nature and fear. Penelope Hope is Oscar's love interest, although professional in her nursing capacity, she has just as complicated a personality, succumbing to her paranoia about his new job. All the main characters in the story have intriguing and unforgettable personalities including Oscar's friend Wilson, protective but distant, and the sensitive and suicidal Jim.I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating novel so unlike any other mystery that I've read, and I will look forward to reading the next book.