I received this as an Early Reviewer and it was okay. My initial rating was 3 stars, but in writing a review I thalked myself up to 4 stars. I do have some critiques about the book. Some of the dialogue is stilted, the way the characters speak doesn’t feel natural, and no it’s not because they’re Australian haha. Some of the gags go on a little too long, there’s one in the start about being black which was humorous at first, but like… we get it. If it was an actual secret and not revealed in the description, it wouldn’t have been overkill, but the book tries to drive it home a little too hard like it’s trying to convince the reader that the narrator is correct. There’s also a gag in the start and the punchline is poop, and it goes on and on, we know it’s poop, just say it already. That dragging on of the jokes does subside later on in the book, the timing for the reveal is much better by the end.

Other than that, it’s a really interesting premise and did leave me wanting to hear more about the world. I didn’t go back to verify, but I am pretty sure all the chapter titles are song names which was fun. There are supernatural aspects to the story, and it’s clear there’s more going on with some of the characters, or that they are headed down a path of discovery. The police are almost incompetent, but not in a frustrating way. You may spend time flipping between “are they on the right track?” and screaming at them for following red herrings. But show more the police did go on to surprise me, especially at the very end.

Part of me feels that the evidence isn’t really there for you to solve the murder before the characters, but at the same time, once I got to the end I realized the author was basically constantly pointing at the murderer before you even know they exist. It does all add up, and you can draw the conclusion before the characters, but not solidly if you ask me, it’s more of just a suspicion.

Overall a fun and silly mystery about a guy and his dog, I think I will be back for more. show less

If there’s one thing I love it’s stupid quippy humor, and this book is full of it. It did take me a few pages to sync up with Jason’s sense of humor, but once I did, it was chuckle after chuckle. Some of the things described are cartoonish, at least how I imagined them, but it’s also full of gory horror.

Reading this became a movie in my mind. The FMC, Charmaine, was obviously cast as John Early or Cole Escola. But rather than make them fight over Charmaine, the other actor is the real star of the show Mitzi (I chose Cole). Then Charmaine’s brief Jason Statham-like love interest Edgar, was initially Jason Statham, sort of like the only human in a muppet movie, but he quickly morphed into Aubrey Plaza in a suit and stubble. Mrs. Desmonds is obviously meant to be Amy Sedaris (to me anyway). Aubrey was pulling double duty as the very serious nanny Rochelle. Esmerelda could be anyone but Carla Jimenez would be great. Then Oona it tough, I got it in my head that she was Russian, so all I see is Katya, but she definitely wasn’t Russian. The only character I still haven’t cast is Sylvia, I wasn’t able to pin down the right person for her. But as you might guess from all that, this book has a kooky cast of characters.

Now, I will say, there were some writing choices I found potentially objectionable. There’s reference to “no” as “the n-word”, some of the commentary as women and coming from women was odd with the writer being a man, there’s a black show more poodle named Oprah, some of the accents are bordering on offensive, and most of the characters are white and wealthy. NOW, I fully admit I may just be being too woke right now, I had a bad experience with another book recently, so maybe I am just hyper sensitive. I am willing to give Jason the benefit of the doubt (for now) though.

Which is great, cause it ends with more story to come, and overall I had a really great time. Horror comedy is one of my favorite genres, so I will be back whenever Jason decides to continue! show less