Hal Ackerman

I had this book floating around my Kindle for a couple of years, lost in the chaos of too many downloads. I was intrigued by the plot, so my lack of attention had nothing to do with disinterest. I mention this only because my copy shows as being published in 2010, whereas this Amazon copy (same cover) claims the publishing year as 2013. I noticed this because it's not showing up as a verified purchase. So it's possible the book has been edited since the first release, though I have to assume show more the major content remains the same.

The book started with promise. I liked Stein's character. He's an aging hippie, once the epitome of "pothead", who is now trying to raise his daughter responsibly. While I liked the premise and his character, the story quickly fell apart me for. One major problem area came with characterization. All the women in this book are spineless and/or crazy, acting like lunatics and willing to do anything for Stein, despite receiving little to nothing in return. Well, aside from his domineering and controlling ex-wife, who is the complete opposite of all the other women. Then we have the gay men, who are part of the major plot. Their characters are completely stereotypical. Rather than comical, as I think they are meant to be, it feels like a bad sitcom.

This brings us to the plot - or plots. There are really two storylines here. The major plot is about the theft of shampoo bottles. Having spent many years in the hair business, I know all about the importance of labels and name brands. But, even with that knowledge, this plot was over-the-top, bordering on silly. Also, the suspense and intended twists wind up an overly complicated mess. There is a murder, with graphic content that feels out of place in this otherwise kind of comic relief story. Without offering spoilers, I'll just say that Stein's part in this feels forced and his emotional investment unrealistic.

The secondary plot is about the missing pot, and that was initially far more interesting. Sadly, that storyline took a turn into the absurd. In both cases, Stein appears to be the only person able to solve the problems for these complete strangers.

While the story has moments that shine, and parts did make me laugh, overall it lacked depth and was too ridiculous to take seriously. show less

I thought this was just okay... as a mystery, it really didn't have me on the edge of my seat... as a book about drugs, I wasn't really impressed with the intricate descriptions of the fantastic stolen "orchids" (I mean, these were INTRICATE descriptions, but... snooze-fest!).... as an overall book, I was somewhat disappointed in the writing... There were a lot of errors (grammatical, spelling, other typos, etc.), and really, I just couldn't get into the flow of the story. It wasn't what I'd show more expected at all.
However, if I recall, it was a freebie download to my Kindle, so I'm not really wanting to complain too much. Not the worst thing I've ever written, and I did find some enjoyment in reading it. show less