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Garth Carson #1
[(Pipsqueak)] [by: Brian Wiprud]
New York City taxidermy collector Garth Carson was seconds away from snagging the greatest find of his career-the original Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut, stuffed-squirrel puppet star of his favorite 1950s kiddie TV show-until a biker, a brawny redhead, and a murder derailed his dreams and stole his squirrel. Now Garth would do anything to get Pipsqueak back. Unfortunately, so would someone else.When Garth and his gal, Angie, two of New York's most unlikely sleuths, enter a wacky, rollicking underworld of club-goers, jive cult members, and at least one very violent Pipsqueak aficionado, Garth's black-sheep crime-prone brother joins the fray, sure that there's more to this squirrel than old fur and a pair of glass eyes. Suddenly Garth is starting to get a The puppet star of one old-time TV show is leading him straight into the heart of a loopy cult, a retro rage, and a diabolical conspiracy to first control Pipsqueak-then the world.
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First published May 1, 2002
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152 people want to read
About the author
Brian M. Wiprud
20 books25 followersA New York City writer, Brian Wiprud is the award-winning and multiply nominated author of fifteen novels. His current series features the adventures of Boone Linsenbigler, dashing and jinxed pitchman for a multinational beverage company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 22, 2010
When I bought this book, I had dreams of Christopher Moore and Carl Hiaasen dancing through my head. The cover proclaims that Pipsqueak is "Demented and fun!" and "The flat-out coolest mystery I've read in years, not to mention the funniest." My verdict: not funny. Not at all. Other than the occasionally peculiar turn of phrase, this is a rather pedestrian mystery that, frankly, I just didn't give a shit about. The book reminds me of the run-of-the-mill comedies that everyone will rave about and when you watch it you can see the jokes coming from a mile away; you know the punchline long before the actors seem to. This is just a bland vanilla little book that is inoffensive and only marginally entertaining. I'll take absurd and vulgar any day over this. When it comes to comedy, I'll stick with Christopher Moore. I could tell you more, but I've already lost two days of my life to this book and really don't wish to lose another second.
December 23, 2020
A quick little tale about a man who gets wrapped up in the mystery behind the stuffed squirrel.
The characters were interesting... but they could have been given a better adventure. The writing was pleasant... I got lost in the conspiracy theory of it all..
Over all the book was a soild 3.5.. (I rounded up)
This book is a good "break" book! A saltine persay, a book to clease the palate for the next GRAND ADVENTURE.
The characters were interesting... but they could have been given a better adventure. The writing was pleasant... I got lost in the conspiracy theory of it all..
Over all the book was a soild 3.5.. (I rounded up)
This book is a good "break" book! A saltine persay, a book to clease the palate for the next GRAND ADVENTURE.
April 12, 2015
Cautiously opening the book with a cover that made my eyeballs swirl around in circles, I hoped to find something resembling a standard mystery in between its pages. Upon reading the Acknowledgements, which paid tribute to Ranger Howell and Oswald the Rabbit, Commander Retro and Dr. Strangedog and Cap’n Tugg and Fantail the Parrot, my sense of apprehension grew. What kind of weird book was this? What was I letting myself in for?
Well, what I was letting myself in for was a helluva lot of fun, good writing and a convoluted conspiracy tale involving a taxidermist by the name of Garth Carson. In addition to the actual preparation of dead animals, Garth rents his specimens to TV shows, movies and the like. While riding in his ’66 Lincoln convertible doing some prospecting at junk shops, Garth makes a stop that changes his life. There in a display case is the find of a lifetime, a specimen that speaks to him, that brings him back to the days of his youth and the hours spent watching the General Buster show. Yes, folks, right there before his eyes is Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut, a squirrel puppet that was the star of the show. Garth cannot believe his luck, as well he shouldn’t. Because before he can say “pistachio”, a man ends up dead before his eyes, and a woman who looks like Ellie May from Beverly Hillbillies has run off with the goods.
The book begins at a manic pace and gently settles into its story, and what a story it is. Garth and his significant other, Angie, live in an apartment in New York City. At times, they share their quarters with a Soviet émigré by the name of Otto who serves as a loyal friend and pit bull. Garth really wants Pipsqueak back, but unbeknownst to him, the puppet is a central element in a plot to manage people’s minds. As it turns out, there’s something in Pipsqueak’s cranium other than a brain-ium, something that leads to several deaths.
Out of the blue, Garth’s younger brother, Nicholas turns up. Even as a child, Nicholas was the kind of kid that was always cutting a deal. They’ve been estranged for many years, so Garth finds it odd that Nicholas would show up now. As it turns out, he has an interest in Pipsqueak too, and they work more or less together.
Wiprud has done a wonderful job of pulling together a lot of wacky situations and some great characters. I loved Otto, the Soviet émigré; his fractured language made me laugh, particularly as he sang “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf. Garth ends up with Meat’s guitar, and it turns out to be a kind of good-luck talisman. Let’s see, there are also a bunch of “retro” nuts who dress like they are in the ’50s, a sonopuncturist who doesn’t puncture but uses tuning forks instead of needles and a group of conspirators in plaid Cummerbunds who use sound to perform mass brainwashing.
Imagine trying to write a cohesive plot summary involving all of these elements! You’ll have to trust me when I say that Wiprud succeeded in making all the pieces fit together in a cohesive way. I’m rather alarmed to admit that the book made sense to me since this makes me wonder if possibly I’m as demented as the author. Wiprud has a tremendously vivid imagination and has created a book that is well written, fast paced and very enjoyable. And just a tad quirky.
Well, what I was letting myself in for was a helluva lot of fun, good writing and a convoluted conspiracy tale involving a taxidermist by the name of Garth Carson. In addition to the actual preparation of dead animals, Garth rents his specimens to TV shows, movies and the like. While riding in his ’66 Lincoln convertible doing some prospecting at junk shops, Garth makes a stop that changes his life. There in a display case is the find of a lifetime, a specimen that speaks to him, that brings him back to the days of his youth and the hours spent watching the General Buster show. Yes, folks, right there before his eyes is Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut, a squirrel puppet that was the star of the show. Garth cannot believe his luck, as well he shouldn’t. Because before he can say “pistachio”, a man ends up dead before his eyes, and a woman who looks like Ellie May from Beverly Hillbillies has run off with the goods.
The book begins at a manic pace and gently settles into its story, and what a story it is. Garth and his significant other, Angie, live in an apartment in New York City. At times, they share their quarters with a Soviet émigré by the name of Otto who serves as a loyal friend and pit bull. Garth really wants Pipsqueak back, but unbeknownst to him, the puppet is a central element in a plot to manage people’s minds. As it turns out, there’s something in Pipsqueak’s cranium other than a brain-ium, something that leads to several deaths.
Out of the blue, Garth’s younger brother, Nicholas turns up. Even as a child, Nicholas was the kind of kid that was always cutting a deal. They’ve been estranged for many years, so Garth finds it odd that Nicholas would show up now. As it turns out, he has an interest in Pipsqueak too, and they work more or less together.
Wiprud has done a wonderful job of pulling together a lot of wacky situations and some great characters. I loved Otto, the Soviet émigré; his fractured language made me laugh, particularly as he sang “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf. Garth ends up with Meat’s guitar, and it turns out to be a kind of good-luck talisman. Let’s see, there are also a bunch of “retro” nuts who dress like they are in the ’50s, a sonopuncturist who doesn’t puncture but uses tuning forks instead of needles and a group of conspirators in plaid Cummerbunds who use sound to perform mass brainwashing.
Imagine trying to write a cohesive plot summary involving all of these elements! You’ll have to trust me when I say that Wiprud succeeded in making all the pieces fit together in a cohesive way. I’m rather alarmed to admit that the book made sense to me since this makes me wonder if possibly I’m as demented as the author. Wiprud has a tremendously vivid imagination and has created a book that is well written, fast paced and very enjoyable. And just a tad quirky.
May 10, 2019
What a strange book. The blurb on the back promised a wacky adventure and it certainly delivered. This book was interesting but struggled because it did not define the time in which it was set. It was obviously meant to be contemporary to when the book was written but because the main character eschewed all things technology, it was easy to slip in to thinking the book was set in a previous time. This obviously caused issues with the "retro" characters and would cause me to fall out of the story.
Ultimately, not forgettable because it was so odd, bit not compelling enough to seek out more books by the author.
Ultimately, not forgettable because it was so odd, bit not compelling enough to seek out more books by the author.
July 4, 2017
A cute little quick-read mystery. I liked the main character. It just was a little unsure of what it wanted to be: more mystery or more funny adventure. However, don't get me wrong. I am looking forward to reading Wiprud's next Garth Carson book. I just think this suffers a bit from first bookness. I bet he gets better with the next one. I only gave it a three - but I also couldn't put it down. [I confess to being a bit prejudiced towards wanting to like it - I get the feeling the author, and his taxidermist, grew up a few miles from me, and probably within a year or two of me]
February 23, 2024
Very entertaining
This was entertaining and fun, but sometimes the author got a bit too smart for himself. He tried to make humorous turns of phrases that ended up being less funny and slowing the plot. Also, the Kindle version was not uploaded correctly and the first paragraph or so of every chapter is missing. When you swipe back and forth on that first page, you are often placed in different lines, but never within the first paragraph.
This was entertaining and fun, but sometimes the author got a bit too smart for himself. He tried to make humorous turns of phrases that ended up being less funny and slowing the plot. Also, the Kindle version was not uploaded correctly and the first paragraph or so of every chapter is missing. When you swipe back and forth on that first page, you are often placed in different lines, but never within the first paragraph.
November 18, 2016
An engaging, if more than slightly outlandish, story
with enough surprises and wit to carry the reader along from one improbable situation to another. Certainly not a conventional suspense story, but one well worth reading. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, this is it.
with enough surprises and wit to carry the reader along from one improbable situation to another. Certainly not a conventional suspense story, but one well worth reading. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, this is it.
November 29, 2018
This was a demented, humorous mystery...and that's a good thing. I mean, why not have an amateur sleuth (who happens to be a taxidermist) and his girlfriend, to help solve the mystery. One of the best blurbs on the back jacket - "The Nick and Nora of taxidermy meet the Maltese Falcon...er...Squirrel. "
Some laugh out loud moments. 3.5 stars
Some laugh out loud moments. 3.5 stars
January 13, 2019
Reading this book was similar to reading Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry, Tim Dorsey, and Elmore Leonard to name a few authors with the same creative minds. When you look at the cover, you think: what am I getting myself into with this book? It is a fast fun read, and definitely not what I expected taking place in NYC.
February 9, 2020
Fun little story that has a nice offbeat slant to the writing. Characters are a little odd and colorful. There's a good amount of retro things the author drags up to add to the goofy characters and story line.
May 27, 2024
Wonderfully weird and demented. Garth Carson collects taxidermy and makes a living renting them out. He and his girlfriend, jewelry designer Angie, get pulled into Cold War era conspiracies as he pursues a stuffed squirrel from a 1950s TV show.
August 8, 2017
Dare I say it? Have to. This book was a pip! Well-written, oddball story with an array of entertaining and memorable characters. As Otto would say, "Lookink, Brian!" Will read his others.
June 7, 2018
Great characters. Interesting plot, but mostly great characters.
July 31, 2018
2.5 stars. I liked this book's quirkiness, but the story was a bit disappointing.
November 13, 2023
Call me an unusual wit. I loved all of Brian Wiprud's books. I wish he would/could write more.
An unusual prediliction for taxidermy is featured in Pipsqueak.
An unusual prediliction for taxidermy is featured in Pipsqueak.
December 2, 2023
Irreverent, unusual and a hilarious ride, all surrounding a mysterious stuffed squirrel from a kids' TV show, Wiprud has created an entire underworld of oddball characters with a pseudo-noir spin.
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September 28, 2016Funny mystery about a childhood TV show puppet, the retro trend and grand conspiracy plans.
August 20, 2016
This was a book that has so much going for it and it squandered it all by throwing it away on a premise that the protagonist himself says is too idiotic to be real.
Pros: The principal characters are a lot of fun, engaging and a couple I enjoyed reading about. The same for the supporting characters. The background of taxidermy and jewelry was interesting and original. I'm open to a bit of leeway with probability and reality for the sake of humor and a good story.
The cons: Idiotic science for no reason. Convoluted conspiracy storyline that ultimately is(n't) resolved. Was there one or was it just promoting a product? It is so convoluted that by the end I honestly didn't care. And ultimately the hero had pointed out earlier in the story that both the conspiracy was unrealistic and the science was false. This is a wink to the reader I suppose but it just doesn't work for me. I just felt like he was letting the characters down.
Pros: The principal characters are a lot of fun, engaging and a couple I enjoyed reading about. The same for the supporting characters. The background of taxidermy and jewelry was interesting and original. I'm open to a bit of leeway with probability and reality for the sake of humor and a good story.
The cons: Idiotic science for no reason. Convoluted conspiracy storyline that ultimately is(n't) resolved. Was there one or was it just promoting a product? It is so convoluted that by the end I honestly didn't care. And ultimately the hero had pointed out earlier in the story that both the conspiracy was unrealistic and the science was false. This is a wink to the reader I suppose but it just doesn't work for me. I just felt like he was letting the characters down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2009
Conspiracy theorists of the world unite! What started out as a basic mystery about a taxidermist and a squirrel, became a multinational conspiracy involving television, flashing colors, sounds, a cancelled children's television show, and the Church of Jive.
Garth seeks taxidermy specimens from local thrift stores, and stumbles across Pipaqueak the Nutty Nut, a squirrel puppet (made from an actual squirrel) from the cancelled General Buster show of his young childhood. As he's negotiating the acquisition of the squirrel, the shop owner is murdered, and the squirrel disappears. What ensues is pure hilarity as Garth encounters the retro's, Russians, the police, and his long lost brother.
I can't wait to find the prequel "Flip"
Garth seeks taxidermy specimens from local thrift stores, and stumbles across Pipaqueak the Nutty Nut, a squirrel puppet (made from an actual squirrel) from the cancelled General Buster show of his young childhood. As he's negotiating the acquisition of the squirrel, the shop owner is murdered, and the squirrel disappears. What ensues is pure hilarity as Garth encounters the retro's, Russians, the police, and his long lost brother.
I can't wait to find the prequel "Flip"
September 13, 2010
It's one of those 'funny' mysteries. Obsessive, quirky, full of cool adjectives and heretofor uncombined adverbs/verbs combos...but it completely falls apart in the second half.
Silliness is one thing, but physical impossibilities are another. ** POTENTIAL SPOILERS** Metalicized hydrogen can't exist on planet earth -- and if it could it would probably not have hypnotic powers that can be transmitted via TV. 'Kay? It starts out funny but just desintegrates in front of your eyes.
It would really take some amazingly bulletproof reviews, and maybe a National Book Award nomination, of another Wiprud book before I plunk down another $7.00 for anything by him. However, I wouldn't say that it is impossible that I would read him again.
Silliness is one thing, but physical impossibilities are another. ** POTENTIAL SPOILERS** Metalicized hydrogen can't exist on planet earth -- and if it could it would probably not have hypnotic powers that can be transmitted via TV. 'Kay? It starts out funny but just desintegrates in front of your eyes.
It would really take some amazingly bulletproof reviews, and maybe a National Book Award nomination, of another Wiprud book before I plunk down another $7.00 for anything by him. However, I wouldn't say that it is impossible that I would read him again.
May 15, 2011
How do a rate this book? In the context of what I normally love, its hard to give it the same number of stars as a something more quote un quote literally. But for an airplane read, I can't think of much better. Fun, strange, surreal, and surprisingly gentle, Pipsqueak is one I'd recommend. Centering around a bizarre conspiracy theory which involves television, rockabilly, and mind control; our main character, a taxidermist who happens upon a childhood puppet, solves a strange mystery with his live in partner and good friends. It is written with much heart which I highly respect and is basically just a fun book sprinkled with enough brain candy to make it highly memorable.
March 3, 2014
When Garth Carson finds a squirrel puppet from a favorite childhood show, he thinks he's found a nostalgic goldmine. Instead, he soon finds a body and a conspiracy that seems too hard to believe. In fact, that was one problem I had with the book, I just couldn't believe it. The characters were also too thin. And the "comic" part of the comic caper? Not really that funny. I did find the climax over the top yet fun, however.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 24, 2015
Good mystery story.
This book had quite a few cool surprises. I could tell after a bit of reading that one of the author's inspirations was Chuck Palahniuk and I think he dedicated a character to Chuck (maybe) since the name given to him was Nick Palahnic...
I liked the sometimes corny, punny, quippy humor seeded in the story and the fun factoids about ways to get around certain day to day annoyances.
This book, to me, proved the whole "You can't judge a book by it's cover" saying.
This book had quite a few cool surprises. I could tell after a bit of reading that one of the author's inspirations was Chuck Palahniuk and I think he dedicated a character to Chuck (maybe) since the name given to him was Nick Palahnic...
I liked the sometimes corny, punny, quippy humor seeded in the story and the fun factoids about ways to get around certain day to day annoyances.
This book, to me, proved the whole "You can't judge a book by it's cover" saying.
February 20, 2008
Rather silly though a quick,fun read with retro-rockabilly-swing folk as the evil doers. I bought it on a Sunday afternoon when I had run out of things to read and didn't want to drive to the store, so I walked to my local Safeway. It was the only book without an airbrushed Fabio on it. Ok...and it has a squirrel driving a convertable on the front. Right up my ally.
October 10, 2013
Taxidermy collector Garth Carson had a chance to snag a puppet from a television show from his youth—a tattered looking squirrel named Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut. But it was stolen from him, and Garth and his girlfriend Angie set off to recover the purloined rodent. A cast of misfits—both the thieves and the sleuths—battle each other for custody of the furry cult icon.
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September 20, 2008I love the zany characters Brian has in his books. I'm currently rereading this mystery novel that keeps me laughing so hard I can't finish as quickly as other mysteries.If you want same laughs, crazy characters (some like real life ones) read this and all the other Wiprud novels.
Read
November 4, 2010A whacky mystery involving a missing TV-idol squirrel puppet, named Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut, a taxidermy collector, named Garth Carson, and a murderous gang of Retro-Rockabilly-types that want to take over the world.
April 12, 2016
The plotline seemed a little silly, but as far as quirky mysteries go, this one's a winner. There's lots of fun taxidermy and jewelry fabrication details also. Some might be offended by the broadly drawn Russian character.
I'm amused enough to go hunt down the others in the series, anyhow.
I'm amused enough to go hunt down the others in the series, anyhow.
Want to read
November 19, 2007I found it at Powell's Books. And I fall in love at the first sight of its yellow jacket...Want to hunt the book down!
September 3, 2010
I enjoyed this book with it's oddball characters. The premise was a little farfetched, but it was well written and the characters were fun enough that I enjoyed the ride.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews