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Daniel McEvoy #1
Plugged
Book by Colfer, Eoin
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
171 people are currently reading
2730 people want to read
About the author
Eoin Colfer
156 books11.8k followersEoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators.
He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 688 reviews
September 21, 2011
Bouncer Daniel McEvoy's life spins out of control when the girl he loves winds up dead, his friend turns up missing, thugs all over town are gunning for him, and his crazy neighbor may be in love with him. Worse yet, he's going bald...
I heard Eoin Colfer speak at BoucherCon 2011 and he was so hilarious I had to immediately snap this one up. I was not disappointed.
Plugged is a damn fine adult novel from Colfer, much better than the Hitchhiker's Guide sequel he wrote a couple years ago. Daniel McEvoy is a great lead character; funny without being a smart ass, not particularly handsome or bright, and more than a little worried about going bald, hence his hair transplant. See, the title has more than one meaning. Plugged as in shot or as in hair transplant. Get it? Nevermind.
The characters other than McEvoy aren't as well developed but are still an interesting bunch. There's Zeb, the unlicensed doctor, Mrs. Delano, Daniel's crazy neighbor, Detective Deacon, Vic, Irish Mike, the list goes on and on. For most of the book, the reader is as much in the dark as Daniel.
While Plugged is a good mystery with plenty of twists and turns, the humor is by far the draw. It's chock full of dark Irish wit and self-deprecating humor. I could easily see it being optioned for a movie starring Simon Pegg.
Plugged is an easy four star book. However, it wasn't without some rocky patches. The who killed Connie subplot seemed forgotten and the bit with Irish Mike wasn't quite firing on all cylinders.
Like I said, Plugged is an easy four. I'll be watching for more novels by Colfer in the future.
I heard Eoin Colfer speak at BoucherCon 2011 and he was so hilarious I had to immediately snap this one up. I was not disappointed.
Plugged is a damn fine adult novel from Colfer, much better than the Hitchhiker's Guide sequel he wrote a couple years ago. Daniel McEvoy is a great lead character; funny without being a smart ass, not particularly handsome or bright, and more than a little worried about going bald, hence his hair transplant. See, the title has more than one meaning. Plugged as in shot or as in hair transplant. Get it? Nevermind.
The characters other than McEvoy aren't as well developed but are still an interesting bunch. There's Zeb, the unlicensed doctor, Mrs. Delano, Daniel's crazy neighbor, Detective Deacon, Vic, Irish Mike, the list goes on and on. For most of the book, the reader is as much in the dark as Daniel.
While Plugged is a good mystery with plenty of twists and turns, the humor is by far the draw. It's chock full of dark Irish wit and self-deprecating humor. I could easily see it being optioned for a movie starring Simon Pegg.
Plugged is an easy four star book. However, it wasn't without some rocky patches. The who killed Connie subplot seemed forgotten and the bit with Irish Mike wasn't quite firing on all cylinders.
Like I said, Plugged is an easy four. I'll be watching for more novels by Colfer in the future.
September 18, 2021
I don’t write reviews.
This was a good story I think. I listened to it though, and chances are I wouldn’t have enjoyed reading it. Plugged is well-paced and the characters are developed nicely. It’s just that it’s really not my kind of thing. I don’t understand the world of the characters. Money and murder and military and loneliness.
Plugged is pretty much the best book it could have been. I took off one star since it became slightly too convoluted near the end. Also, some weird references to agenda-driven items as matter-of-course. Never sleep on propaganda.
This was a good story I think. I listened to it though, and chances are I wouldn’t have enjoyed reading it. Plugged is well-paced and the characters are developed nicely. It’s just that it’s really not my kind of thing. I don’t understand the world of the characters. Money and murder and military and loneliness.
Plugged is pretty much the best book it could have been. I took off one star since it became slightly too convoluted near the end. Also, some weird references to agenda-driven items as matter-of-course. Never sleep on propaganda.
October 2, 2011
A breezy, fast read without a single "50 cent word" in the book. I would almost say this is a hard boiled noir, certainly Colfer amasses a respectable body count, but despite Colfer's best efforts he is a nice guy and he had a hard time really convincing me that anything truly horrible was ever going to happen.
For me the strength in the book was in the characterizations. Daniel McEvoy is likable and certainly capable. He does get himself out of some seemingly impossible ways with a combination of brute strength, ingenuity, and luck. Zeb Kronski/Ghost Zeb is one of those guys that is always living on the edges of society providing those services for people looking for assistance at a discount that may or may not be exactly legal. One of those guys you want to know, but never want to acknowledge you know. Detective Deacon, is an over the top police detective of Amazon proportions and mind. She is the other half of the equation in the one true sexual situation in the book though Colfer steps aside from actually describing anything but the sketchiest details about the event. He does bashfully apologize afterwards for not giving us more titillation. Sofia Delano may be the most interesting sub-character. She lives upstairs from Daniel and entertains herself by yelling rude comments through the floor to McEvoy. He ends up endearing himself to her by fixing her window and suddenly he is manifested in her mind as her husband Carmine. He finds himself strangely attracted to her. Aren't we all from time to time attracted to crazy women? Though he does engage in a bit of heavy petting with Mrs. Delano, McEvoy avoids actually taking advantage of her. Another point were Colfer goes up to the line, but doesn't really score the points for a hard boiled novel.
I guess my conclusion is that this is really a soft boiled novel masquerading as a hard boiled novel. Yes there is some language, mostly in an Irish accent, so more endearing than truly unseemly. The body count climbs as the book progresses, but comes no where near Red Harvest. There is graphic violence, but not described in gruesome detail. There is cleverness, some humor, and some deftly placed twists to the plot. I vacillated between three and four stars and decided to give the push to four because ultimately I had a good time reading it.
For me the strength in the book was in the characterizations. Daniel McEvoy is likable and certainly capable. He does get himself out of some seemingly impossible ways with a combination of brute strength, ingenuity, and luck. Zeb Kronski/Ghost Zeb is one of those guys that is always living on the edges of society providing those services for people looking for assistance at a discount that may or may not be exactly legal. One of those guys you want to know, but never want to acknowledge you know. Detective Deacon, is an over the top police detective of Amazon proportions and mind. She is the other half of the equation in the one true sexual situation in the book though Colfer steps aside from actually describing anything but the sketchiest details about the event. He does bashfully apologize afterwards for not giving us more titillation. Sofia Delano may be the most interesting sub-character. She lives upstairs from Daniel and entertains herself by yelling rude comments through the floor to McEvoy. He ends up endearing himself to her by fixing her window and suddenly he is manifested in her mind as her husband Carmine. He finds himself strangely attracted to her. Aren't we all from time to time attracted to crazy women? Though he does engage in a bit of heavy petting with Mrs. Delano, McEvoy avoids actually taking advantage of her. Another point were Colfer goes up to the line, but doesn't really score the points for a hard boiled novel.
I guess my conclusion is that this is really a soft boiled novel masquerading as a hard boiled novel. Yes there is some language, mostly in an Irish accent, so more endearing than truly unseemly. The body count climbs as the book progresses, but comes no where near Red Harvest. There is graphic violence, but not described in gruesome detail. There is cleverness, some humor, and some deftly placed twists to the plot. I vacillated between three and four stars and decided to give the push to four because ultimately I had a good time reading it.
October 13, 2011
Daniel McEvoy is an Irish ex-soldier now living in New Jersey and working as a doorman at a seedy, low-rent casino. His only real friend is the off-beat doctor who's doing Daniel's hair transplant.
Then one night Daniel has to throw an egomaniacal lawyer out of the casino and things take a serious turn for the worse. Daniel soon finds himself in the middle of a series of murders and criminal schemes, none of which he understands and all of which pose a serious threat to his life and liberty. Fortunately, Daniel still has serious skills left over from his army days in Lebanon. He also has a gift for improvisation that keeps him alive and one step ahead of the bad guys, at least for a while.
Colfer is a talented writer, and I'd happily read another of his books. My only complaint about this one is that it started to wear a bit thin at the end. Colfer appears torn between wanting to write a serious crime novel or something fairly humorous along the lines of Carl Hiassen. But he doesn't quite succeed in pulling it off. There's enough fairly serious violence in the book as to make the more comedic parts seem not quite right. Also, there are one or two too many oddball characters in the book, and one or two too many scenes where the suspension of disbelief is just a bit too strained. There are a lot of good scenes in this book, but in the end, the sum of the parts may not be quite up to the level of some of the parts themselves.
Then one night Daniel has to throw an egomaniacal lawyer out of the casino and things take a serious turn for the worse. Daniel soon finds himself in the middle of a series of murders and criminal schemes, none of which he understands and all of which pose a serious threat to his life and liberty. Fortunately, Daniel still has serious skills left over from his army days in Lebanon. He also has a gift for improvisation that keeps him alive and one step ahead of the bad guys, at least for a while.
Colfer is a talented writer, and I'd happily read another of his books. My only complaint about this one is that it started to wear a bit thin at the end. Colfer appears torn between wanting to write a serious crime novel or something fairly humorous along the lines of Carl Hiassen. But he doesn't quite succeed in pulling it off. There's enough fairly serious violence in the book as to make the more comedic parts seem not quite right. Also, there are one or two too many oddball characters in the book, and one or two too many scenes where the suspension of disbelief is just a bit too strained. There are a lot of good scenes in this book, but in the end, the sum of the parts may not be quite up to the level of some of the parts themselves.
August 28, 2012
It proved impossible to take this book seriously, so I didn't even try. I'm too used to Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, and in a way, this hasn't grown up much from that -- just in the subject matter and the rating (for language and violence).
It doesn't touch Raymond Chandler in terms of the detective character, who isn't nearly as quick-thinking, slick-talking, smart-assing as Philip Marlowe. On the other hand, he's fun in himself, with his inner monologues and his stupid ideas.
To be honest, I didn't even try to follow the mystery, just sat back for the ride. And it was a fun one. I think I'd probably have more complaints if I'd gone into reading this with super-high expectations, but I was just ready for Eoin Colfer to make me smile and maybe giggle a little, and he did that. (I have the girliest giggle in the world, it's terrible.)
It doesn't touch Raymond Chandler in terms of the detective character, who isn't nearly as quick-thinking, slick-talking, smart-assing as Philip Marlowe. On the other hand, he's fun in himself, with his inner monologues and his stupid ideas.
To be honest, I didn't even try to follow the mystery, just sat back for the ride. And it was a fun one. I think I'd probably have more complaints if I'd gone into reading this with super-high expectations, but I was just ready for Eoin Colfer to make me smile and maybe giggle a little, and he did that. (I have the girliest giggle in the world, it's terrible.)
January 2, 2015
For some reason I thought Colfer was a YA novelist & put off listening to this book. I shouldn't have. It was an adult mystery full of humor & intrigue. McEvoy is a great character with a wonderful back story that's slowly filled in. All the characters are memorable & the situation is fluid. While this book stands well enough alone, there's certainly room for more. McEvoy is just that sort of character, an Irish Don Quixote in New Jersey. Just one little thing leads to another & ... well, it was a lot of fun. Very well read, too. Can't wait to get the next.
April 8, 2012
When I was a Middle School literature teacher I petitioned my Principal to change up the normal reading schedule, ditching Red Badge of Courage and bringing in a new series I found at the Scholastic warehouse: Artemis Fowl. My kids and I were in love from page one so I’ve been a fan of Eoin Colfer for years. This book is not Artemis Fowl. This book is piss, vinegar and vulgarity wrapped in laugh out loud funny.
Plugged
By Eoin Colfer
Read by John Keating
Overlook Hardcover & AudioGO
September 2011
Daniel McEvoy is a doorman at a zero star nightclub, Slotz, in New Jersey. Born in Ireland raised in the Army fighting in Lebanon, he is one tough bouncer. When his wanna-be girl Connie is found in the ally behind the club shot dead between the eyes, Daniel gets busy looking for the killer. Coincidentally, (or not,) Daniel earlier in the day had to kill a local mobster’s heavy at his doctor’s office on the way to getting more hair implants. Yes, “Plugged” refers to Daniel’s hair implants. It’s that kind of book.
Daniel struggles to find Connie’s killer, avoid the local mobster’s ire, and save the lives of those around him who couldn’t care less for him. His Doctor, Zeb, starts haunting Daniel’s thoughts in seemingly unhelpful ways. A detective tries to kill her partner and ends up shot herself. A local criminal lawyer needs his “product” picked up from local steroid dealers. All Daniel needs to do is find a way to live, save the lives of all those who can’t help themselves, find Zeb (alive, if possible,) and avoid jail. No big deal.
While you may read the quote on the cover – If you loved Artemis Fowl…It’s time to grow up! – you may be tempted not to take it seriously. You should. Because this book is way, way different!
Sure, Colfer’s humor and sarcasm is a huge part of this book, but what was unexpected was the vulgar language and topics. This isn’t noir so much as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels on crack and required to curse at least twice a sentence. Consider how Daniel is introduced: he and his fellow bouncer are spending time determining if females they can see have implants, then Daniel is taken to an altercation that happens between previously mentioned criminal lawyer who has just licked the bottom of one of the hostesses at Slotz. It only get’s more raunchy from there.
There aren’t any graphic descriptions of sexuality or murder, as the goal of this book seems to be raunchy comedy instead of shock violence. F-bombs and more drop like frogs from the sky at an Egyptian apocalypse – ominous and unwelcome. And funny this book is! Very funny! I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud so often. Unfortunately, I also can’t remember the last time I cringed so often reading a book either.
Colfer’s first “adult” book seems to be compensating for his “teen” and “children’s” novels and what he doesn’t realize is that he doesn’t need to. His children’s books are genius and he doesn’t have to prove anything. If Colfer intends to write books like this one going forward, then I’ll remember his previous books fondly and avoid his future work.
A note about the audio book: John Keating did a great job with accents and voice acting. It is so rare to get a good Irish accent, but this one was right on. Characters are well developed vocally. The audio book was actually more entertaining than reading the text!
Published at BookGateway.com
Plugged
By Eoin Colfer
Read by John Keating
Overlook Hardcover & AudioGO
September 2011
Daniel McEvoy is a doorman at a zero star nightclub, Slotz, in New Jersey. Born in Ireland raised in the Army fighting in Lebanon, he is one tough bouncer. When his wanna-be girl Connie is found in the ally behind the club shot dead between the eyes, Daniel gets busy looking for the killer. Coincidentally, (or not,) Daniel earlier in the day had to kill a local mobster’s heavy at his doctor’s office on the way to getting more hair implants. Yes, “Plugged” refers to Daniel’s hair implants. It’s that kind of book.
Daniel struggles to find Connie’s killer, avoid the local mobster’s ire, and save the lives of those around him who couldn’t care less for him. His Doctor, Zeb, starts haunting Daniel’s thoughts in seemingly unhelpful ways. A detective tries to kill her partner and ends up shot herself. A local criminal lawyer needs his “product” picked up from local steroid dealers. All Daniel needs to do is find a way to live, save the lives of all those who can’t help themselves, find Zeb (alive, if possible,) and avoid jail. No big deal.
While you may read the quote on the cover – If you loved Artemis Fowl…It’s time to grow up! – you may be tempted not to take it seriously. You should. Because this book is way, way different!
Sure, Colfer’s humor and sarcasm is a huge part of this book, but what was unexpected was the vulgar language and topics. This isn’t noir so much as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels on crack and required to curse at least twice a sentence. Consider how Daniel is introduced: he and his fellow bouncer are spending time determining if females they can see have implants, then Daniel is taken to an altercation that happens between previously mentioned criminal lawyer who has just licked the bottom of one of the hostesses at Slotz. It only get’s more raunchy from there.
There aren’t any graphic descriptions of sexuality or murder, as the goal of this book seems to be raunchy comedy instead of shock violence. F-bombs and more drop like frogs from the sky at an Egyptian apocalypse – ominous and unwelcome. And funny this book is! Very funny! I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud so often. Unfortunately, I also can’t remember the last time I cringed so often reading a book either.
Colfer’s first “adult” book seems to be compensating for his “teen” and “children’s” novels and what he doesn’t realize is that he doesn’t need to. His children’s books are genius and he doesn’t have to prove anything. If Colfer intends to write books like this one going forward, then I’ll remember his previous books fondly and avoid his future work.
A note about the audio book: John Keating did a great job with accents and voice acting. It is so rare to get a good Irish accent, but this one was right on. Characters are well developed vocally. The audio book was actually more entertaining than reading the text!
Published at BookGateway.com
August 17, 2015
Plugged sure was something different from the other books I've read by this author since this one is more for the adult crowd. And I'm really glad that I ended up liking it a lot, though it's not really surprising because it's Eoin Colfer. I would read anything by him.
This book is about the Irish Daniel McEvoy, who works as a bouncer at a crammy club in New Jersey. When the girl he likes, Connie, one of the clubs hostesses is killed is murdered and his good friend Zeb goes missing and possibily killed, Dan starts getting into all sorts of trouble.
I really enjoyed the main character's voice. I don't know what it was about him but I just liked reading about Dan. I couldn't really help but like him and feel bad for him with all the trouble that was transpiring since Connie got murdered.
The story was also pretty gritty, which again is so different from Colfer's usual work. I loved that. And as per usual with Colfers books, it also had a good couple of side characters that you can't help but like.
Overall, Plugged was a great book. The story was solid, the conversations were witty and the characters were all interesting to read about. Although this really isn't my usual genre, I did enjoy the story. I'm pretty much convinced that Eoin Colfer can write anything that I will like. I can't wait to read the second book!
This book is about the Irish Daniel McEvoy, who works as a bouncer at a crammy club in New Jersey. When the girl he likes, Connie, one of the clubs hostesses is killed is murdered and his good friend Zeb goes missing and possibily killed, Dan starts getting into all sorts of trouble.
I really enjoyed the main character's voice. I don't know what it was about him but I just liked reading about Dan. I couldn't really help but like him and feel bad for him with all the trouble that was transpiring since Connie got murdered.
The story was also pretty gritty, which again is so different from Colfer's usual work. I loved that. And as per usual with Colfers books, it also had a good couple of side characters that you can't help but like.
Overall, Plugged was a great book. The story was solid, the conversations were witty and the characters were all interesting to read about. Although this really isn't my usual genre, I did enjoy the story. I'm pretty much convinced that Eoin Colfer can write anything that I will like. I can't wait to read the second book!
July 5, 2015
And finally I get round to reading the first book of Daniel McEvoy and I wasnt disappointed and as I expected (though no surprised) it did explain a lot about how the events and characters came to be in its sequel (Screwed) - along with an suitable explanation for the title, all I can say is follicle transplants.
But the book itself is a wonderful mix of action, dry dialogue and situations which seem to be driven out of sheer bad luck, poor assumptions and just generally being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The book has a great way of weaving a story which honestly Daniel had no plan for let alone intention of getting embroiled in
Eoin Colfer has made a name for himself from everything from YA stories to official Hitch-hikers guide sequels but this is a total departure to any of those and he pulls it off so easily. I will admit when I read Screwed I was going purely on the name knowing next to nothing about the story. it was so different it was wonderful and that pleasure is not lost on this book either - I hope in time Mr Colfer does decide to return to Daniel I think there are many more adventures and scrapes out there waiting for him to get involved in.
But the book itself is a wonderful mix of action, dry dialogue and situations which seem to be driven out of sheer bad luck, poor assumptions and just generally being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The book has a great way of weaving a story which honestly Daniel had no plan for let alone intention of getting embroiled in
Eoin Colfer has made a name for himself from everything from YA stories to official Hitch-hikers guide sequels but this is a total departure to any of those and he pulls it off so easily. I will admit when I read Screwed I was going purely on the name knowing next to nothing about the story. it was so different it was wonderful and that pleasure is not lost on this book either - I hope in time Mr Colfer does decide to return to Daniel I think there are many more adventures and scrapes out there waiting for him to get involved in.
December 29, 2025
Il primo libro scritto da Eoin Colfer che mi ha deluso, sembra solo una pallida imitazione del suo solito stile brioso ed intelligente. È come se, per l'intero libro, cercasse di raccontare una storia in modo simpatico, divertente e irriverente, senza mai riuscirci...anche la trama è confusa, fin troppi flashback che, probabilmente, avrebbero dovuto dare corpo ai personaggi e dare motivazione alle loro azioni, ma che in realtà annoiano e basta. Un pò migliore la parte conclusiva, ma non abbastanza da fargli prendere una stella in più.
***
This is the first Eoin Colfer's book that disappointed me, it seems only a pale imitation of his usual witty and intelligent style. It's as if, for the entire book, he tries to tell a story in a nice, funny and irreverent way, without ever succeeding...even the plot is confused, too many flashbacks which, probably, should have given body to the characters and motivated their actions, but which in reality are just boring. The final part is a little better, but not enough to give it an extra star.
***
This is the first Eoin Colfer's book that disappointed me, it seems only a pale imitation of his usual witty and intelligent style. It's as if, for the entire book, he tries to tell a story in a nice, funny and irreverent way, without ever succeeding...even the plot is confused, too many flashbacks which, probably, should have given body to the characters and motivated their actions, but which in reality are just boring. The final part is a little better, but not enough to give it an extra star.
October 21, 2017
I really did not know what to expect from this one. I saw an ad for "Screwed" in my copy of "Viva La Madness" & decided to request both "Plugged" & Screwed" from my local library. I liked that it was a quick read, especially due to the dialogue that many mention. The plot was fast-moving & easy to follow. I just never connected with the protagonist to the point that I really felt invested in the outcome. On to "Screwed".
November 7, 2015
The narration for this audiobook by John Keating was fantastic, unfortunately it could not elevate what was simply an okay book.
April 26, 2019
Trotz der Gewalt
July 7, 2012
Plugged is a story about an ex-military man who had served the Irish Army Daniel McEvoy and is now just a doorman at a casino in a fictitious New Jersey town, Cloisters. Apparently he has no problems, with only tonsorial concerns, as he looks like a seventy year old due to his baldness; until one day when he picks a fight with a certain influential lawyer. Since then, his colleague and girlfriend, Connie is found dead, his former employer and friend, Doctor Zeb Kronski goes missing, presumably dead, his house is ransacked and the worst part is that he is the prime suspect is Connie's murder case. He is being chased by a very dangerous drug dealer and the certain lawyer whom he had insulted at the casino. The only person on Dan’s side is a female police detective, a sort of ally who’d make you prefer your enemy. But Dan himself is a very dangerous fellow, who has undergone rigid military training but at the same time, has some psychological problems, such as, his missing friend’s personality was in his mind, created out of his imagination and had conversations with him.
While Colfer is to be appreciated for trying to display his versatility and that his probably the only reason for which he needs to be appreciated as well. I felt that the plot was bad, and the sequence of events occasionally made me wonder whether there was a plot at all. The writing was dull and I guess the author thinks that if he uses a couple of swear words in every page, he has successfully written a novel for adults. When I read a couple of pages from Ian Rankin’s ‘Strip Jack’, I felt, ‘this is the way in which a crime / thriller novel ought to be written. What Colfer has written is absolute nonsense’.
I couldn’t differentiate between the plot and the sub-plot, probably there were two plots but they had one thing in common, both were lousy. I guess this is the first time Colfer has thought of setting his story somewhere outside the British Isles but, it wouldn’t have made a difference whether he had it in US or anywhere else since in any case, it is taking place at a fictitious suburb and I could hardly see anything American in the characters who were in the novel.
The bottom-line is that Plugged is just an overpriced novel which I shan’t recommend to anyone and the current thriller writers have nothing to fear from Colfer.
While some might say that I’m being too harsh on Colfer since this is his first novel for adults, personally, I’ve very high expectations on Eoin Colfer. His Artemis Fowl series was the work that triggered the reading interest in me, who till then had been very sceptical about the particular hobby and it could be said that Astute is there today only because of Colfer. While I read several reviews before reading any novel, I had promised myself that I shall not read any reviews and the review I write for Plugged would be completely my own.
I have very high expectations on the upcoming last Artemis Fowl novel, that is due to come in another three days, 10th July, 2012 that is. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be as disappointing as Plugged.
I’d give this novel a rating of 3/10 and I could perhaps say that I’m being a little generous while I’m doing so. Nevertheless, I shall not write Colfer off completely as his first Artemis Fowl novel by itself wasn’t all that impressive but he could pick up in the upcoming novels and I hope he manages to lodge a strong comeback in his next thriller novel if at all he decides to write one again.
While Colfer is to be appreciated for trying to display his versatility and that his probably the only reason for which he needs to be appreciated as well. I felt that the plot was bad, and the sequence of events occasionally made me wonder whether there was a plot at all. The writing was dull and I guess the author thinks that if he uses a couple of swear words in every page, he has successfully written a novel for adults. When I read a couple of pages from Ian Rankin’s ‘Strip Jack’, I felt, ‘this is the way in which a crime / thriller novel ought to be written. What Colfer has written is absolute nonsense’.
I couldn’t differentiate between the plot and the sub-plot, probably there were two plots but they had one thing in common, both were lousy. I guess this is the first time Colfer has thought of setting his story somewhere outside the British Isles but, it wouldn’t have made a difference whether he had it in US or anywhere else since in any case, it is taking place at a fictitious suburb and I could hardly see anything American in the characters who were in the novel.
The bottom-line is that Plugged is just an overpriced novel which I shan’t recommend to anyone and the current thriller writers have nothing to fear from Colfer.
While some might say that I’m being too harsh on Colfer since this is his first novel for adults, personally, I’ve very high expectations on Eoin Colfer. His Artemis Fowl series was the work that triggered the reading interest in me, who till then had been very sceptical about the particular hobby and it could be said that Astute is there today only because of Colfer. While I read several reviews before reading any novel, I had promised myself that I shall not read any reviews and the review I write for Plugged would be completely my own.
I have very high expectations on the upcoming last Artemis Fowl novel, that is due to come in another three days, 10th July, 2012 that is. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be as disappointing as Plugged.
I’d give this novel a rating of 3/10 and I could perhaps say that I’m being a little generous while I’m doing so. Nevertheless, I shall not write Colfer off completely as his first Artemis Fowl novel by itself wasn’t all that impressive but he could pick up in the upcoming novels and I hope he manages to lodge a strong comeback in his next thriller novel if at all he decides to write one again.
May 17, 2011
I admit it, even if they are children’s books, I absolutely adore the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. They are always light hearted and thoroughly entertaining reads – and Artemis, for me, is one of the most fascinating fictional teenage characters. The quality of writing always transcends their classification of children’s books and, if you do enjoy imaginative stories, they come highly recommend. So, with that said, I will continue to give you my verdict on Eoin´s first step into adult fiction.
Synopsis
Dan, an Irishman who’s ended up in New Jersey, finds himself embroiled in a world of murder, kidnapping and corrupt cops.
Dan works as a bouncer in a seedy club, half in love with hostess Connie. When Connie is murdered on the premises, a vengeful Dan finds himself embroiled in an increasingly deadly sequence of events in which his doctor friend Zeb goes mysteriously missing, a cop-killing female cop becomes his only ally, and he makes an enemy of ruthless drug-dealer Mike Madden. Written with the warmth and wit that make the Artemis Fowl novels so irresistible, though with additional torture and violence, PLUGGED is a brilliant crime debut from a naturally gifted writer with a huge fanbase.
Verdict
Plugged represents a definite department for acclaimed author Eoin Colfer. There is a familiarity of style and, whilst they are definitely targeted at the adult market, they have lost none of their imaginative humorous style. Its a crime novel with wit and plenty of style.
Plugged is narrated by Dan, a former Irish soldier who joined the army because he figured that it was ”better dying overseas than living at home”. He murky past and war experiences have left him with a litany of mental health problems and an aura that according to one gypsy he met looks like “shark-infested water” and a set of hair plugs that have yet to take. Pretty soon into the book all hell breaks lose for him.
No further spoilers are coming from me but I will tell you the wit of this book is so sharp I have paper cuts. Its inventive, fast paced and downright hilarious. I have always considered Eoin to be an inventive and intelligent storyteller who writes beautifully, only now his books have grown up.
Highly recommended reading and, if you arent afraid of reading childrens books or consider yourself “above them” check our the Artemis Fowl novels for some light hearted and fun reads too.
Synopsis
Dan, an Irishman who’s ended up in New Jersey, finds himself embroiled in a world of murder, kidnapping and corrupt cops.
Dan works as a bouncer in a seedy club, half in love with hostess Connie. When Connie is murdered on the premises, a vengeful Dan finds himself embroiled in an increasingly deadly sequence of events in which his doctor friend Zeb goes mysteriously missing, a cop-killing female cop becomes his only ally, and he makes an enemy of ruthless drug-dealer Mike Madden. Written with the warmth and wit that make the Artemis Fowl novels so irresistible, though with additional torture and violence, PLUGGED is a brilliant crime debut from a naturally gifted writer with a huge fanbase.
Verdict
Plugged represents a definite department for acclaimed author Eoin Colfer. There is a familiarity of style and, whilst they are definitely targeted at the adult market, they have lost none of their imaginative humorous style. Its a crime novel with wit and plenty of style.
Plugged is narrated by Dan, a former Irish soldier who joined the army because he figured that it was ”better dying overseas than living at home”. He murky past and war experiences have left him with a litany of mental health problems and an aura that according to one gypsy he met looks like “shark-infested water” and a set of hair plugs that have yet to take. Pretty soon into the book all hell breaks lose for him.
No further spoilers are coming from me but I will tell you the wit of this book is so sharp I have paper cuts. Its inventive, fast paced and downright hilarious. I have always considered Eoin to be an inventive and intelligent storyteller who writes beautifully, only now his books have grown up.
Highly recommended reading and, if you arent afraid of reading childrens books or consider yourself “above them” check our the Artemis Fowl novels for some light hearted and fun reads too.
February 8, 2012
Plugged started off so promising, in my opinion, and I wonder if that's why I'm a bit more let down than I might otherwise have been. I read the sample of the book offered by Barnes and Noble, and when I got to the end of the free part, going ahead with the purchase was a no brainer. I liked the way the main character talked: sarcastic, bitter, old before his time but not so long before that he hadn't earned his fatigue. I liked the setting: a dive casino in an otherwise affluent New Jersey bedroom community, gritty and dirty a seamy and all those other things so perfect for a crime novel. I liked where the plot was going: used-up ex-army doorman's one-time fling gets a hole in her head, and he needs to know why. Clichés, all, but this is why we read genre fiction sometimes
But then it got silly. And maybe if I had known it was going to be silly, I would have been ready for it, and accepted it. I like a good farce. But this doesn’t read like satire at all: it reads like someone who read a satire, didn’t realize it was satire, and decided to write something “just as good.” It’s like all of the cliché’s that were acceptable in the first few chapters gave the writer license to keep adding in more and more nonsense. Yes, I said that’s why we read genre fiction, sometimes. But we really are hoping that the writer takes all of those tired old ideas and does something unique with them.
I almost said “unique or clever,” but I think I’m getting a little tired of clever. To his credit, Eoin Colfer maintains all of the tropes from the first few chapters throughout the novel, so it’s still readable. But I feel like “original” was sacrificed for “clever,” and the result may be readable, but hardly memorable.
I know that sometimes writers write just to find out what happens. They’re as much slaves to the plot as the readers are. Maybe Colfer just kept writing himself into corners, so he took the goofy way out. But he’s allegedly an experienced writer—he wrote the Artemis Fowl novels, after all, and was commissioned to write the 6th Hitchhiker’s book. So I don’t know what his excuse is. Maybe it’s all my fault, going in with high expectations. Maybe genre fiction is just genre fiction sometimes. Oh well.
But then it got silly. And maybe if I had known it was going to be silly, I would have been ready for it, and accepted it. I like a good farce. But this doesn’t read like satire at all: it reads like someone who read a satire, didn’t realize it was satire, and decided to write something “just as good.” It’s like all of the cliché’s that were acceptable in the first few chapters gave the writer license to keep adding in more and more nonsense. Yes, I said that’s why we read genre fiction, sometimes. But we really are hoping that the writer takes all of those tired old ideas and does something unique with them.
I almost said “unique or clever,” but I think I’m getting a little tired of clever. To his credit, Eoin Colfer maintains all of the tropes from the first few chapters throughout the novel, so it’s still readable. But I feel like “original” was sacrificed for “clever,” and the result may be readable, but hardly memorable.
I know that sometimes writers write just to find out what happens. They’re as much slaves to the plot as the readers are. Maybe Colfer just kept writing himself into corners, so he took the goofy way out. But he’s allegedly an experienced writer—he wrote the Artemis Fowl novels, after all, and was commissioned to write the 6th Hitchhiker’s book. So I don’t know what his excuse is. Maybe it’s all my fault, going in with high expectations. Maybe genre fiction is just genre fiction sometimes. Oh well.
March 20, 2016
5/5 Stars
A great read! The audiobook version is better because the reader is so spot-on with the different voices (particularly Zeb, an amoral unlicensed Jewish doctor), but the print version deserves 5 stars also. Funny and surprisingly deep with many layers that induces a lot of thoughtful introspection. If laugh out loud mysteries is your thing, then Plugged definitely deserves its prime location on your bookshelf.
This is Colfer's second adult book and I believe his best (yep, read the YA Artemis Fowls). Colfer tells the story in first person and the story zips from the present to past and back to the present in such a way that it never breaks the flow of the story. As an avid reader for a lot of decades I can say I have never read a book where the flashbacks were done with more skill.
The plot is a mystery where the hero/detective is an Irish expat who is the bouncer at a Jersey titty bar/casino when several people around him start dying (only one is his fault). The humor is pervasive throughout the book but subtle. This is a book I keep relistening to every year and have enjoyed it as much or more each time. Can there be better praise than that?
While I read the book first, I greatly favor the audiobook version for the excellent narration. The production is flawless and the voices for the various characters, from Irish psycharists to corporals in the Irish Army to low-level Jersey gangsters, is simply inspired genius. Definitely one of the Top 10 professional and enjoyable narration performances in my 450+ audiobook library.
A great read! The audiobook version is better because the reader is so spot-on with the different voices (particularly Zeb, an amoral unlicensed Jewish doctor), but the print version deserves 5 stars also. Funny and surprisingly deep with many layers that induces a lot of thoughtful introspection. If laugh out loud mysteries is your thing, then Plugged definitely deserves its prime location on your bookshelf.
This is Colfer's second adult book and I believe his best (yep, read the YA Artemis Fowls). Colfer tells the story in first person and the story zips from the present to past and back to the present in such a way that it never breaks the flow of the story. As an avid reader for a lot of decades I can say I have never read a book where the flashbacks were done with more skill.
The plot is a mystery where the hero/detective is an Irish expat who is the bouncer at a Jersey titty bar/casino when several people around him start dying (only one is his fault). The humor is pervasive throughout the book but subtle. This is a book I keep relistening to every year and have enjoyed it as much or more each time. Can there be better praise than that?
While I read the book first, I greatly favor the audiobook version for the excellent narration. The production is flawless and the voices for the various characters, from Irish psycharists to corporals in the Irish Army to low-level Jersey gangsters, is simply inspired genius. Definitely one of the Top 10 professional and enjoyable narration performances in my 450+ audiobook library.
February 1, 2017
Funny, well-paced. Not too gory. I like how many of the fringe characters are live wires (the upstairs neighbor, the gay bouncer, the Irish army psychiatrist).
Good clues offered up throughout to help the reader guess-along.
The one quibble is that I'm tired of reading first-person stories ... although this is one of the better ones.
It doesn't take itself too seriously and you shouldn't either. It's a good yarn, well told.
Good clues offered up throughout to help the reader guess-along.
The one quibble is that I'm tired of reading first-person stories ... although this is one of the better ones.
It doesn't take itself too seriously and you shouldn't either. It's a good yarn, well told.
September 12, 2020
Dan is an ex-Irish army solider now doorman for a club. Not a high class one but a sleazy one.
Dan is also very insecure and is doing hair transplant to cover bald spots.
Zeb is his doctor who did his hair. And when Zeb is in trouble, he tried to help. By helping, he got himself tangled with the local gangsters.
He is tired of New York, so he is now living in a small town when there is few problems. Violence is not really something he actively thinking he would do, it is just just his default go to problem solving move.
Ronelle is a cop and she was in trouble. So he saved her. She is too straight to a cop to allow him to get away with too much.
It is an action small town story of a guy who tried to get some hairs and stay sane.
Dan is also very insecure and is doing hair transplant to cover bald spots.
Zeb is his doctor who did his hair. And when Zeb is in trouble, he tried to help. By helping, he got himself tangled with the local gangsters.
He is tired of New York, so he is now living in a small town when there is few problems. Violence is not really something he actively thinking he would do, it is just just his default go to problem solving move.
Ronelle is a cop and she was in trouble. So he saved her. She is too straight to a cop to allow him to get away with too much.
It is an action small town story of a guy who tried to get some hairs and stay sane.
March 7, 2024
Very unique voice, a lot of humor, and well paced. A bit too scattershot to really hit that sweet spot though 3.5 stars. Would recommend Colfer’s Highfire over this if you want to really enjoy his off the wall adult titles.
March 11, 2020
I read this when it first came out in, and re-reading it again almost ten years later hasn't dimmed my enthusiasm for this rollicking, gritty, hilarious crime thriller.
February 9, 2020
Great narration, and several swear laden Irish insult zingers so clever you wish you could use them in real life. Story line was just ok, and certainly not worthy of kicking off an entire series.
May 25, 2011
This was my first book by Eoin Colfer. My daughter has read and loved all the Artemis Fowl books though, I've met the author at a book signing and liked him and his sense of humour and I am a fan of the crime genre, so this book seemed a save bet. And I wasn't wrong.
This is a action packed book, but not to be taken too seriously with a story that has so much happening in it that I'm not quite sure how to summarize it.
Daniel McEvoy is an ex Irish army sergeant working as a doorman in a low-grade New Jersey casino. His biggest worry is growing bold and he has recently had a hair transplant in the firm believe that all will be fine in his life if only he can get a full head of hair. During the week or so in which this story takes place, his hair will be the least of his worries, although it's never far from his thoughts.
It all starts when his friend and doctor Zeb Kronski disappears and McEvoy ends up killing a known gangster in the man's waiting room. From there things go downhill when a waitress in the casino where he works gets herself killed and McEvoy finds himself being framed for the murder. Soon McEvoy finds himself trying to clear his name for that murder, and trying to find Kronski, with a cop-killing cop as his ony ally and gangsters desperate to kill him. And while you might think that this would be enough to bring any man down, it turns out that his army training hasn't been wasted on McEvoy and that the Irish gift-of-the-gab can come in handy in New Jersey.
There is quite a bit of violence in this story which should have made it very dark, but Colfer throws in enough light relief to make this a fun read. Yes there are deaths and blood and fights but there is also the voice of Zeb Kronski talking in McEvoy's head, the obsession with hairloss and a mad neighbour to keep the reader entertained. And McEvoy is a hard man with a heart of gold, who can't help wanting to do the right thing even if it is against his better judgment, which makes him an easy character to like.
I wonder if this is a stand-alone title or the first book in a series. If it is a series I think Mr. Colfer will need to be careful and not allow the stories to turn into a farce. However, if he manages to keep on getting the balance between violence and humour right, I'd love to read more books staring Daniel McEvoy.
This is a action packed book, but not to be taken too seriously with a story that has so much happening in it that I'm not quite sure how to summarize it.
Daniel McEvoy is an ex Irish army sergeant working as a doorman in a low-grade New Jersey casino. His biggest worry is growing bold and he has recently had a hair transplant in the firm believe that all will be fine in his life if only he can get a full head of hair. During the week or so in which this story takes place, his hair will be the least of his worries, although it's never far from his thoughts.
It all starts when his friend and doctor Zeb Kronski disappears and McEvoy ends up killing a known gangster in the man's waiting room. From there things go downhill when a waitress in the casino where he works gets herself killed and McEvoy finds himself being framed for the murder. Soon McEvoy finds himself trying to clear his name for that murder, and trying to find Kronski, with a cop-killing cop as his ony ally and gangsters desperate to kill him. And while you might think that this would be enough to bring any man down, it turns out that his army training hasn't been wasted on McEvoy and that the Irish gift-of-the-gab can come in handy in New Jersey.
There is quite a bit of violence in this story which should have made it very dark, but Colfer throws in enough light relief to make this a fun read. Yes there are deaths and blood and fights but there is also the voice of Zeb Kronski talking in McEvoy's head, the obsession with hairloss and a mad neighbour to keep the reader entertained. And McEvoy is a hard man with a heart of gold, who can't help wanting to do the right thing even if it is against his better judgment, which makes him an easy character to like.
I wonder if this is a stand-alone title or the first book in a series. If it is a series I think Mr. Colfer will need to be careful and not allow the stories to turn into a farce. However, if he manages to keep on getting the balance between violence and humour right, I'd love to read more books staring Daniel McEvoy.
May 9, 2012
I liked Plugged a lot. There’s plenty to like - a zip along plot; lots of action; plenty of twists and turns; some very funny scenes; a healthy dose of witty one liners; and a load of colourful characters. It reads like a movie script for a Jason Statham or Vin Diesel vehicle. In many ways, it kind of reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series and Chris Grabenstein’s John Ceepak series. And like the Plum and Ceepak novels, it’s set in New Jersey. After Florida, New Jersey is clearly the place for comic crime capers, especially those involving the Mob. Where I had some difficulties was with the main character, Danny McEvoy. McEvoy is clearly meant to be hiding from the past, drifting along in a dead end job, living in a crappy apartment below a psychotic neighbour, in a nothing town, with no love life beyond the occasional tumble with a hostess, and no friends beyond a very dodgy doctor. And yet Danny does not come across as being the kind of guy who has no friends, barely any love life, and puts up with living in a crappy unit with mad neighbours – he’s too together, too self-reflexive, too resourceful and too nice. Something didn’t quite add up, despite his history with an army therapist. Clearly as a comic crime caper the plot is hardly believable, and its choched full of larger-than-life characters and cliches, but there has to be some ring of truth. Danny's backstory in Lebanon has that, but not quite the frontstory. This is not a deal breaker, just a niggle; as noted above there is plenty to like about the book. Indeed, Plugged is a very assured move into adult crime fiction by an author who has sold a bazillion kids books and is recommended to all those who like their comic crime capers with a healthy dose of violence and mayhem.
August 4, 2011
This is not a book for the kiddies. Nothing horribly descriptive in it but lots of foul language and general situations that would arise from an ex-Irish military turned bouncer working at a sleazy New Jersey casino who gets wrapped up in the local criminal element. The result is a decent but not staggering body count.
It sometimes feels like Eoin is trying to intentionally write something completely different from his normal youth fiction. Kind of like when a young teen star known for their role in Disney-like movies, grows up and intentionally takes a role as a drugged out stripper in an effort to break out of the typecasting.
If you like Eoin Colfer's writting style in the Artemis Fowl series but want something with zero fantasy/scifi and a grown up murder mystery plot, then this is the book for you.
It sometimes feels like Eoin is trying to intentionally write something completely different from his normal youth fiction. Kind of like when a young teen star known for their role in Disney-like movies, grows up and intentionally takes a role as a drugged out stripper in an effort to break out of the typecasting.
If you like Eoin Colfer's writting style in the Artemis Fowl series but want something with zero fantasy/scifi and a grown up murder mystery plot, then this is the book for you.
March 12, 2012
This book's biggest strength -- its narrative voice -- is also, at points, its biggest weakness. The voice of Daniel McEvoy, the middle-aged Irish bouncer protagonist, is humorous, neurotic, and rings true. But on a few occasions, Colfer tries a bit too hard to be funny, like making fun of descriptions he just gave, or with the banter between the narrative voice and the second voice the narrator hears in his head (that will make sense if you read the book, I promise).
February 19, 2018
Plugged 💇♂️
4/5 ⭐️
One word to describe this book:
This book is so funny, the plot twist was simply amazing, the characters were so badass and funny, I couldn't put it down.
I loved this book from star to finish. The story was very unique, and has everything : HUMOR, action, suspense, a really good writing and a crazy best friend.
This book is one of an kind, oh and how I adored it 💘
4/5 ⭐️
One word to describe this book:
HAIR
This book is so funny, the plot twist was simply amazing, the characters were so badass and funny, I couldn't put it down.
I loved this book from star to finish. The story was very unique, and has everything : HUMOR, action, suspense, a really good writing and a crazy best friend.
This book is one of an kind, oh and how I adored it 💘
November 28, 2013
I found this story interesting, moving and with bits of humor. Overall, 7 of 10 stars
October 5, 2019
Plugged is a gritty crime book which feels all over the place, this seems to work though.
We follow Dan in this ‘hair raising’ thriller. His best friend has gone missing, he's killed a gang member and then his on/off girlfriend is found dead outside the club they work at. He’s not having a good week. He then gets involved with a cop after saving her from being killed by another cop and they end up having one crazy day! See what I mean by being all over the place?
It’s hard not to like Dan, he had a good heart despite the killing.
This wasn’t bad but it did feel like their were two plots in one book. It kept me entertained but wasn’t anything special.
We follow Dan in this ‘hair raising’ thriller. His best friend has gone missing, he's killed a gang member and then his on/off girlfriend is found dead outside the club they work at. He’s not having a good week. He then gets involved with a cop after saving her from being killed by another cop and they end up having one crazy day! See what I mean by being all over the place?
It’s hard not to like Dan, he had a good heart despite the killing.
This wasn’t bad but it did feel like their were two plots in one book. It kept me entertained but wasn’t anything special.
Read
August 3, 2022Another DNF. The front cover of at least one edition of this book says, "If you loved Artemis Fowl...it's time to grow up."
I think that sums up the entire point of this book. Eoin Colfer clearly just didn't want his career defined by a YA series or something (even if it is really great), and this book was his overcorrection. Honestly just felt like he half-baked a character and story to give him an excuse to write mature content.
I think that sums up the entire point of this book. Eoin Colfer clearly just didn't want his career defined by a YA series or something (even if it is really great), and this book was his overcorrection. Honestly just felt like he half-baked a character and story to give him an excuse to write mature content.
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