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The Next Right Thing
Southern California home builder extraordinaire Randy Chalmers has to admit he’d be dead or in prison were it not for his best friend, lawyer, and Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, Terry Elias. A former police officer, Randy narrowly escaped being an evening news highlight during years ravaged by anger and alcohol. Thanks to Terry’s coaching and an endless stream of caffeine-fueled AA meetings, Randy’s been off the booze for eight years, has a successful new career, and is thriving in a healthy relationship with his vegan yoga-instructor girlfriend. All is well . . . until sponsor Terry, himself supposedly sober for fifteen years, is found dead of a heroin overdose.
How could Terry, who had dragged so many others from the edge, jump off himself? Convinced that something (or someone) must have pushed him, Randy is soon off on a dry-drunk quest for answers—and possibly revenge. He discovers a trail of dirty secrets that lead to missing persons, shady real estate deals, hydroponic pot farms, and Internet pornography. When his suspicions ultimately connect Terry’s death to the activities of a recently appointed Superior Court judge—who just happens to be dating Randy’s ex-wife—Randy has to ask himself: Is he really on to something or just suffering from grief and paranoia? Will his increasingly frenzied behavior ruin his current relationship and his chances of regaining custody of his daughter? Will he destroy the life that he has worked so hard to achieve? Will he reach for a drink?
The Next Right Thing is a hilarious and harrowing combination of thriller and recovery tale, equal parts hard-earned wisdom and old-fashioned suspense.
How could Terry, who had dragged so many others from the edge, jump off himself? Convinced that something (or someone) must have pushed him, Randy is soon off on a dry-drunk quest for answers—and possibly revenge. He discovers a trail of dirty secrets that lead to missing persons, shady real estate deals, hydroponic pot farms, and Internet pornography. When his suspicions ultimately connect Terry’s death to the activities of a recently appointed Superior Court judge—who just happens to be dating Randy’s ex-wife—Randy has to ask himself: Is he really on to something or just suffering from grief and paranoia? Will his increasingly frenzied behavior ruin his current relationship and his chances of regaining custody of his daughter? Will he destroy the life that he has worked so hard to achieve? Will he reach for a drink?
The Next Right Thing is a hilarious and harrowing combination of thriller and recovery tale, equal parts hard-earned wisdom and old-fashioned suspense.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
26 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 16, 2012
I came across this novel at the LA Times Festival of Books. Dan Barden was on a crime fiction panel that I'd attended to see Denise Mina, and I was intrigued by his sense of humor and obvious dedication to the craft. He mentioned that as part of his preparation for writing, he typed up a number of his favorite crime novels to get them in his bones. One of these was The Long Goodbye, and the influence is neither disguised or overwhelming.
If you're looking for a whodunnit style thriller, where the payoff comes from implausible plot twists leading to gasping moments of revelation (that cost the author very little to write, in my opinion), then this is not your book. The Next Right Thing has more of a literary bent, and its core is wholly emotional. The stakes are high and there's never a lack of action, but what keeps you involved is the main character's huge love for the people he's lost, and the people he has left who he can't bear to lose.
Randy Chalmers is a recovered alcoholic ex-cop whose strongest ties come from a long history in AA. When you meet him, he's angry and impulsive after his sponsor and best friend of many years ODs in a seedy hotel room after over a decade of sobriety. At some point, you realize that Randy Chalmers may just be angry and impulsive all on his own. What substance abuse does to people, and whether they really change after becoming sober, are important questions posed throughout the book.
Barden is a great writer on both a sentence and story level, and The Next Right Thing was a pleasure to read. If you like crime fiction that packs some emotional heat, you should do yourself a favor and pick up this book.
If you're looking for a whodunnit style thriller, where the payoff comes from implausible plot twists leading to gasping moments of revelation (that cost the author very little to write, in my opinion), then this is not your book. The Next Right Thing has more of a literary bent, and its core is wholly emotional. The stakes are high and there's never a lack of action, but what keeps you involved is the main character's huge love for the people he's lost, and the people he has left who he can't bear to lose.
Randy Chalmers is a recovered alcoholic ex-cop whose strongest ties come from a long history in AA. When you meet him, he's angry and impulsive after his sponsor and best friend of many years ODs in a seedy hotel room after over a decade of sobriety. At some point, you realize that Randy Chalmers may just be angry and impulsive all on his own. What substance abuse does to people, and whether they really change after becoming sober, are important questions posed throughout the book.
Barden is a great writer on both a sentence and story level, and The Next Right Thing was a pleasure to read. If you like crime fiction that packs some emotional heat, you should do yourself a favor and pick up this book.
June 6, 2012
"Life for an alcoholic is often a process of discovering all the things that don't make a difference." So true, may sound grim to those of us not in the rooms, but this little nugget certainly struck a nerve with me.
It took me a while to get around to reading this book, let me explain: back in March I was killing time in a cool little book store, imagining what it would be like to see my own yet-unpublished debut novel sitting on the shelves. My head was in the clouds, and I knew I was only about three weeks out from hitting the return button that would put my own book out into the world, the alt. title for my book, "The Next Right Thing." So, you can imagine how quickly I plummeted back to earth when I came across Dan Barden's traditionally published novel with the same title. Would I dare open it? I read just enough to convince myself that it wasn't my book. I bought it later that night on Kindle with the intent of double checking that I wasn't about to release something too close to his, but until last week I hadn't been able to muster up the snuff to read it. While I was no longer worried about it being the same book, I still had issues with how close it might be, and frankly, had been concerned that he might be better than me. All natural concerns I think, fueled to crazy paranoid levels that probably only an alcoholic with a penchant for pessimism might understand.
But, last week I finally committed to my own Pandora's Box - and I cracked it open (in the digital sense) and read it like my life depended on it. It's a great ride, well told, and I'm certain would be enjoyed by normies just as much as us drunks. I like my fiction fast and snappy with just enough details to let me fill in some character blanks on my own, and Barden did an awesome job of allowing me to do that while pushing me toward an ending that I could understand completely. I've seen a few reviewers take issues with the banter between recovering alcoholics, and certainly I can't speak to what it might be like to read it if you've never known or been an alcoholic. Great job, great book, and I look forward to the next mad dash Barden scripts.
It took me a while to get around to reading this book, let me explain: back in March I was killing time in a cool little book store, imagining what it would be like to see my own yet-unpublished debut novel sitting on the shelves. My head was in the clouds, and I knew I was only about three weeks out from hitting the return button that would put my own book out into the world, the alt. title for my book, "The Next Right Thing." So, you can imagine how quickly I plummeted back to earth when I came across Dan Barden's traditionally published novel with the same title. Would I dare open it? I read just enough to convince myself that it wasn't my book. I bought it later that night on Kindle with the intent of double checking that I wasn't about to release something too close to his, but until last week I hadn't been able to muster up the snuff to read it. While I was no longer worried about it being the same book, I still had issues with how close it might be, and frankly, had been concerned that he might be better than me. All natural concerns I think, fueled to crazy paranoid levels that probably only an alcoholic with a penchant for pessimism might understand.
But, last week I finally committed to my own Pandora's Box - and I cracked it open (in the digital sense) and read it like my life depended on it. It's a great ride, well told, and I'm certain would be enjoyed by normies just as much as us drunks. I like my fiction fast and snappy with just enough details to let me fill in some character blanks on my own, and Barden did an awesome job of allowing me to do that while pushing me toward an ending that I could understand completely. I've seen a few reviewers take issues with the banter between recovering alcoholics, and certainly I can't speak to what it might be like to read it if you've never known or been an alcoholic. Great job, great book, and I look forward to the next mad dash Barden scripts.
March 6, 2012
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I'm glad I did. The book's premise--combine a character in 12-step recovery with a hardboiled, LA police story--is a great idea. The author is not afraid to show his characters in their worst moments, which just makes them more human. And he's also not afraid to show the possibility of redemption. Definitely a worthwhile, entertaining book.
April 9, 2022
Like something I could have written for my high school creative writing class. I don’t have the words to describe how I felt about this book. Truly it was SO bad. However, did a great job of keeping me engaged & entertained trying to see what the author would do next.
June 3, 2015
PROTAGONIST: Randy Chalmers, home builder and recovering alcoholic
SETTING: California
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 3.5
THE NEXT RIGHT THING provides an insider view of Alcoholics Anonymous and the recovery process. The cast of characters consists of a group of people who are at various stages in conquering addiction through membership in AA. They range from Terry Elias, who has been sober for 15 years and served as a sponsor to many, to several folks who are nearer the beginning of going through the 12-step recovery process.
The least likely person to succumb to the siren call of drugs would seem to be Terry. He has been an inspiration to many and helped countless people to continue to work on their recovery. Yet he is found dead of a heroin overdose. He has served as best friend and confidant to Randy Chalmers, sober for a few years now, who feels that Terry never would have been tempted to shoot up after so many years of sobriety. He seeks answers to the questions he has around Terry’s death and is aided by several other recovering addicts, most notably a young man, Troy, who has just finished the fourth step of the program and wants Randy to be his sponsor. What they learn is surprising. There are various schemes involving hydroponic pot farming, shady real estate transactions and Web porn. It was heartening to learn that Terry’s long-held dream of fathering a child had been realized, but sad to think that he would never be a part of the family that he craved.
THE NEXT RIGHT THING is a debut novel; and as such, it has plusses and minuses. I found it hard to get a handle on the characters until midway through the book, and the plot relied too much on coincidences. The overall, writing, however, is strong; and Barden brings a lot of empathy and understanding to the ongoing struggles of the addict trying to stay straight.
Dan Barden is a recovering alcoholic, and he has provided an intimate view of how AA works. The focus on people in various stages of recovery was quite eye opening. We see their internal struggles and how difficult it is to conquer addiction, even years of being sober. THE NEXT RIGHT THING could easily have been a lament on lost lives, but instead it is really a story of hope and love.
SETTING: California
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 3.5
THE NEXT RIGHT THING provides an insider view of Alcoholics Anonymous and the recovery process. The cast of characters consists of a group of people who are at various stages in conquering addiction through membership in AA. They range from Terry Elias, who has been sober for 15 years and served as a sponsor to many, to several folks who are nearer the beginning of going through the 12-step recovery process.
The least likely person to succumb to the siren call of drugs would seem to be Terry. He has been an inspiration to many and helped countless people to continue to work on their recovery. Yet he is found dead of a heroin overdose. He has served as best friend and confidant to Randy Chalmers, sober for a few years now, who feels that Terry never would have been tempted to shoot up after so many years of sobriety. He seeks answers to the questions he has around Terry’s death and is aided by several other recovering addicts, most notably a young man, Troy, who has just finished the fourth step of the program and wants Randy to be his sponsor. What they learn is surprising. There are various schemes involving hydroponic pot farming, shady real estate transactions and Web porn. It was heartening to learn that Terry’s long-held dream of fathering a child had been realized, but sad to think that he would never be a part of the family that he craved.
THE NEXT RIGHT THING is a debut novel; and as such, it has plusses and minuses. I found it hard to get a handle on the characters until midway through the book, and the plot relied too much on coincidences. The overall, writing, however, is strong; and Barden brings a lot of empathy and understanding to the ongoing struggles of the addict trying to stay straight.
Dan Barden is a recovering alcoholic, and he has provided an intimate view of how AA works. The focus on people in various stages of recovery was quite eye opening. We see their internal struggles and how difficult it is to conquer addiction, even years of being sober. THE NEXT RIGHT THING could easily have been a lament on lost lives, but instead it is really a story of hope and love.
March 5, 2012
A Hard-boiled crew of A.A. members? After so many mysteries filled with booze-fueled characters on both sides of the law, The Next Right Thing was a great breath of fresh air! Yeah, these folks might have left the bottle or other addictions, but they certainly kept all of their other rough edges. The dialogue is biting, the suspense is pressing, and the characters are shockingly real with heart, all while still avoiding sentimentality. Getting to the bottom of an unexplained death, while battling through the steps of rehab worked wonderfully together.
June 30, 2023
Anyone who reads crime fiction is familiar with the alcoholic ex-cop private investigator character. Randy Chalmers is an ex-cop who gets sober and makes millions as an architect, but when his sponsor dies of an apparent overdose he steps into the role. He goes around town, roughing people up, shaking them down for information and trying to find out what happened and who was at fault. Deep down, Randy knows that it was his own fault - at least partially. Life got good for him in sobriety. He got busy and drifted away from AA and his sponsor. If he hadn’t been selfishly focused on his career and his personal life, he would have known that his old sponsor had been struggling.
Barden surrounds Randy with a cast of AA’s, all tailored to their Southern CA (Laguna Beach) context. I found the supporting cast to be caricatures, but most of them were interesting enough for me to care what happened to them.
The book is a thriller and Barden generates real suspense, although there aren’t any big plot twists or surprises. The suspense is character-driven. How badly is this guy going to screw up his life before he’s done with this quest? How much damage is this dry drunk going to do to everyone around him?
There is a ton of AA in the book. I haven’t researched Barden, but I assume he’s a friend of Bill’s. The jargon is explained well, so that you don’t have to be in recovery to understand what’s happening, but I can’t imagine a normie enjoying the book. Most of the action is beneath the skin. If you haven’t lived in that skin, I’m not sure you would relate or care.
I enjoyed the book, but I found it hard to root for Randy Chalmers. Barden does give him enough self awareness and empathy to make him interesting, but 300 pages of a tough guy who is a simmering volcano gets a little tedious. That said, Barden is a great writer and I love AA themes and sober characters, so this is at least a four-star book and I recommend it.
SPOILER ALERT: Randy goes around trying to do “the next right thing,” and failing about 90% of the time. He does help a few people, but he mostly hurts his family, friends and strangers in his self-righteous stupor. In my experience, this type of willful behavior leads to poor outcomes, but lady luck intervenes for Randy to solve a wide swath of his biggest problems. That part felt inauthentic.
Barden surrounds Randy with a cast of AA’s, all tailored to their Southern CA (Laguna Beach) context. I found the supporting cast to be caricatures, but most of them were interesting enough for me to care what happened to them.
The book is a thriller and Barden generates real suspense, although there aren’t any big plot twists or surprises. The suspense is character-driven. How badly is this guy going to screw up his life before he’s done with this quest? How much damage is this dry drunk going to do to everyone around him?
There is a ton of AA in the book. I haven’t researched Barden, but I assume he’s a friend of Bill’s. The jargon is explained well, so that you don’t have to be in recovery to understand what’s happening, but I can’t imagine a normie enjoying the book. Most of the action is beneath the skin. If you haven’t lived in that skin, I’m not sure you would relate or care.
I enjoyed the book, but I found it hard to root for Randy Chalmers. Barden does give him enough self awareness and empathy to make him interesting, but 300 pages of a tough guy who is a simmering volcano gets a little tedious. That said, Barden is a great writer and I love AA themes and sober characters, so this is at least a four-star book and I recommend it.
SPOILER ALERT: Randy goes around trying to do “the next right thing,” and failing about 90% of the time. He does help a few people, but he mostly hurts his family, friends and strangers in his self-righteous stupor. In my experience, this type of willful behavior leads to poor outcomes, but lady luck intervenes for Randy to solve a wide swath of his biggest problems. That part felt inauthentic.
July 23, 2018
In case someone is unaware, the title of the book is a line of AA jargon. If someone wants to read a novel about some crazy stuff that happened to some crazy people, some of whom attend AA meetings, this is it.
The main character likes to beat people up. Except for his ex-wife, people seem to have some respect for him. Um, sure. There is also the mafia, pornography, drug dealing and I forget what else. Oh, plenty of AA.
I think the it's possible the author might have some issues.
I am not opposed to books that are a little crazy, but the brand of crazy in this one did not work for me at all.
The main character likes to beat people up. Except for his ex-wife, people seem to have some respect for him. Um, sure. There is also the mafia, pornography, drug dealing and I forget what else. Oh, plenty of AA.
I think the it's possible the author might have some issues.
I am not opposed to books that are a little crazy, but the brand of crazy in this one did not work for me at all.
June 10, 2018
Hero of story has anger management issues....and is long time member of AA. The death by substance abuse of his sponsor in AA drives him to find the reason. What he ends up with is a whole lot of grief and learning the truth about his friend pushes all is buttons. Good use of the AA idea, but the characters involved with it sound more like they are in a half-way house vs. holding jobs (some do/some don't). But not enough is ever written about the people in it from a mystery angle. Some shows up in JA Jance's character JP Beaumont.
June 9, 2018
I love my AA groups and all my friends and most of all I love my sobriety. The stories of us doesn't always make fodder of a good fiction novel. It can, but the writer has to think differently. This wasn't a very well done book, but I appreciate his effort. We need to keep talking about sobriety. It's what helps people who are still struggling possibly achieve it. Whether we do in a fictional format or otherwise.
April 12, 2021
A positive read
I recommend this book to anyone in recovery who needs something positive to do with their brain. You might learn something about the long road. Short term recovery has a lot of lessons but if you’re trudging the long road there are more, different, and difficult lessons. Keep on trudging
I recommend this book to anyone in recovery who needs something positive to do with their brain. You might learn something about the long road. Short term recovery has a lot of lessons but if you’re trudging the long road there are more, different, and difficult lessons. Keep on trudging
December 20, 2017
Confused and almost unreadable
I persisted for two reasons - occasional well-written paragraphs and the need to understand why someone wrote this ridiculous book. I think it would scare someone away from the excellent organization AA really is, and it’s a terrible mystery story.
I persisted for two reasons - occasional well-written paragraphs and the need to understand why someone wrote this ridiculous book. I think it would scare someone away from the excellent organization AA really is, and it’s a terrible mystery story.
March 29, 2023
A recovering alcoholic wants to solve the mystery of his sponsor’s deadly overdose, which he believes involved foul play. It needed more initial interesting stuff about the main character, who I wasn’t rooting for much.
June 1, 2019
A mix of murder, mystery, and addiction recovery...what's not to love?
February 28, 2012
Randy Chalmers used to be a cop in the Los Angeles area. However, he lost his job for assaulting a Mexican civilian for no reason. He now is a wealthy home designer for the rich. Randy is also a recovering alcoholic and addict who is very much into Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the twelve-step program. He has seven years of sobriety. His sponsor and mentor, Terry, has just died and the police are calling it an overdose on heroin. Randy knows that Terry would never have taken any heroin after having been clean and sober for fifteen years. Randy believes that Terry was murdered and he is going to find the murderer. As he says, "Please don't tell me again how Terry's death makes sense. That he was a junkie and that's how junkies die. One day he was a poster boy for Southern California A.A. and the next day he was dead from a heroin overdose in a Santa Ana hotel. I know something happened, and I'm going to find out what."
As Randy starts to investigate this case, he has the feeling he is being followed and his house spied upon. He finds out things about Terry that trouble him. For instance, was Terry involved in the 13th step - inducting newbies in recovery houses into having sex and introducing them to pornography? Is this the Terry he knows? Randy learns that there are some weird things going on in the recovery houses such as pornography rings. "Somewhere in the middle of this was my sponsor, Terry, dead in that motel room in Santa Ana."
There is a good range of back-up characters in this novel, all fleshed out in a blunt, noirish fashion. A.A. sayings abound and the protagonists are almost all in recovery of some sort or another.
Terry is also dealing with a divorce and trying to get some legal custody of his daughter. He lost custody after he lost his job with the police force. He is trying to prove he's now a fit father. When he lost his job with the police force he was convicted of aggravated assault. Before he got into home designing he had no way to make a living. He tried to talk to Terry about his problems but "In my first year of talking to Terry, it often seemed like he was going out of his way to avoid discussing the most pressing problems in my life." However, "Terry wouldn't tolerate self-pity. Helping others was the only way to help yourself. I sometimes had a hard time keeping that in mind, but it always saved my life.
As Randy searches for Terry's killer, things become hairy and complex. Who is involved and what does the A.A. crowd have to do with it? This is a good novel that is in your face and takes you for a wild ride.
As Randy starts to investigate this case, he has the feeling he is being followed and his house spied upon. He finds out things about Terry that trouble him. For instance, was Terry involved in the 13th step - inducting newbies in recovery houses into having sex and introducing them to pornography? Is this the Terry he knows? Randy learns that there are some weird things going on in the recovery houses such as pornography rings. "Somewhere in the middle of this was my sponsor, Terry, dead in that motel room in Santa Ana."
There is a good range of back-up characters in this novel, all fleshed out in a blunt, noirish fashion. A.A. sayings abound and the protagonists are almost all in recovery of some sort or another.
Terry is also dealing with a divorce and trying to get some legal custody of his daughter. He lost custody after he lost his job with the police force. He is trying to prove he's now a fit father. When he lost his job with the police force he was convicted of aggravated assault. Before he got into home designing he had no way to make a living. He tried to talk to Terry about his problems but "In my first year of talking to Terry, it often seemed like he was going out of his way to avoid discussing the most pressing problems in my life." However, "Terry wouldn't tolerate self-pity. Helping others was the only way to help yourself. I sometimes had a hard time keeping that in mind, but it always saved my life.
As Randy searches for Terry's killer, things become hairy and complex. Who is involved and what does the A.A. crowd have to do with it? This is a good novel that is in your face and takes you for a wild ride.
April 8, 2012
From Punchnels.com:
If you’re not a heavy drinker or drug user, the prospect of spending nearly three hundred pages with a cast of characters comprised almost solely of alcoholics may seem depressing. The prospect of spending all those pages with mostly recovering alcoholics who made their acquaintances and forged their friendships in Alcoholics Anonymous–well, that may seem even more depressing. If the characters are reformed and all their self-destructive behavior takes place in the past, what fun is that?
Fortunately, we’ll never have to find out. Because in Dan Barden’s novel The Next Right Thing, there’s plenty of self-destructive behavior for everyone–including and especially our hero Randy Chalmers, who hasn’t had a drink in 15 years.
Randy is a SoCal ex-cop with a dark past who’s wracked with guilt and anger over the death of Terry Elias, his best friend and longtime AA sponsor. Terry apparently ODed on heroin after decades of sobriety. Randy’s not sure he believes it; Terry was AA royalty, a big, unrelenting son of a bitch whose foul-tempered brand of tough love saved more than one life, including Randy’s.
Randy needs closure, and he doesn’t care who he has to punch to get it. His simmering anger is prone to sudden eruption. That helps keep things lively in a mystery where there’s always some new twist–and usually some new AA-connected character–around every corner.
That these characters are all so compelling is no minor feat. But that’s what Barden has accomplished. The action never lags, but it’s the complicated relationships among the addicts that keep The Next Right Thing interesting. They’re all living on, and ofttimes over, one edge or another: the edge of addiction, of violence, of the law, of compassion. The novel’s great strength is the way it makes us see the inherent unpredictability of people with addictive personalities and the necessity of AA. Addiction isn’t something you ever get over. If the addicts don’t watch out for each other, they’re doomed.
The story is told by Randy, who’s unsparing in his assessment of himself and everything in his life–even the things (his Eames chair) and the people (his friend Wade, his daughter Crash) he loves. It’s why Randy is so likable and believable–in spite of, even because of, being a crazy loose cannon.
It all adds up to a novel I couldn’t put down, almost literally; I found myself sneaking sentences at traffic lights, jonesing for it when I didn’t have the book in my hand. To say The Next Right Thing is addictive may be ironic. But it’s also true.
If you’re not a heavy drinker or drug user, the prospect of spending nearly three hundred pages with a cast of characters comprised almost solely of alcoholics may seem depressing. The prospect of spending all those pages with mostly recovering alcoholics who made their acquaintances and forged their friendships in Alcoholics Anonymous–well, that may seem even more depressing. If the characters are reformed and all their self-destructive behavior takes place in the past, what fun is that?
Fortunately, we’ll never have to find out. Because in Dan Barden’s novel The Next Right Thing, there’s plenty of self-destructive behavior for everyone–including and especially our hero Randy Chalmers, who hasn’t had a drink in 15 years.
Randy is a SoCal ex-cop with a dark past who’s wracked with guilt and anger over the death of Terry Elias, his best friend and longtime AA sponsor. Terry apparently ODed on heroin after decades of sobriety. Randy’s not sure he believes it; Terry was AA royalty, a big, unrelenting son of a bitch whose foul-tempered brand of tough love saved more than one life, including Randy’s.
Randy needs closure, and he doesn’t care who he has to punch to get it. His simmering anger is prone to sudden eruption. That helps keep things lively in a mystery where there’s always some new twist–and usually some new AA-connected character–around every corner.
That these characters are all so compelling is no minor feat. But that’s what Barden has accomplished. The action never lags, but it’s the complicated relationships among the addicts that keep The Next Right Thing interesting. They’re all living on, and ofttimes over, one edge or another: the edge of addiction, of violence, of the law, of compassion. The novel’s great strength is the way it makes us see the inherent unpredictability of people with addictive personalities and the necessity of AA. Addiction isn’t something you ever get over. If the addicts don’t watch out for each other, they’re doomed.
The story is told by Randy, who’s unsparing in his assessment of himself and everything in his life–even the things (his Eames chair) and the people (his friend Wade, his daughter Crash) he loves. It’s why Randy is so likable and believable–in spite of, even because of, being a crazy loose cannon.
It all adds up to a novel I couldn’t put down, almost literally; I found myself sneaking sentences at traffic lights, jonesing for it when I didn’t have the book in my hand. To say The Next Right Thing is addictive may be ironic. But it’s also true.
March 15, 2012
I really wanted to give the very beginning of this book two and one half stars, then 3 stars for a while, and fours stars about half way in through to the end. I settled with four since I cannnot give three and one-half but wanted to include an explanation. Just in case you pick up the book, read the first few chapters and wonder if you really want the work it'll take to figure out what the author is actually saying or why does this guy call his daughter 'Crash' when no one else does? Which is not so good since the first two sentences had you ready to fall right into the story. Well, keep reading and somewhere along the line you will realize it not only makes sense but you have fallen in, you were just too busy reading to notice.
Randy Chalmers is an ex-cop who never should have been a cop in the first place. Now he designs and builds homes often pop up in magazines. And he has been sober for eight years, about as long as the word 'retired' has been (generously) on his badge and his wife, adding 'ex' to that designation, took his daughter away from him when she was awarded sole custody. Terry, Randy's sponsor, had seven years of sobriety and a deep commitment to AA going when they first met. Terry demanded Randy pull himself up and get a life. He was none too gentle when he thought a fight was in order. Randy loved him for it, for saving his life and for their eight year friendship. Then Terry is found dead from a heroin overdose. To Randy, this makes absolutely no sense. His questions need answers. Why did Terry choose to shoot up in a Santa Ana motel room? Why was Terry left on the floor and why call 911 two days later to find the body? Who made the call? But the biggest question is whether or not a very angry Randy will find the answers before his impulse control issues land him in jail.
Filled with scumbags, druggies, dealers, alcoholics both on the wagon and those who have tumbled off, dead bodies, criminals and crooked lawyers, surprises and twists and turns, this is a good story. When you pick it up, if you find a little frustration early on, just keep going. It is well worth it.
I won this book on Goodreads.
Randy Chalmers is an ex-cop who never should have been a cop in the first place. Now he designs and builds homes often pop up in magazines. And he has been sober for eight years, about as long as the word 'retired' has been (generously) on his badge and his wife, adding 'ex' to that designation, took his daughter away from him when she was awarded sole custody. Terry, Randy's sponsor, had seven years of sobriety and a deep commitment to AA going when they first met. Terry demanded Randy pull himself up and get a life. He was none too gentle when he thought a fight was in order. Randy loved him for it, for saving his life and for their eight year friendship. Then Terry is found dead from a heroin overdose. To Randy, this makes absolutely no sense. His questions need answers. Why did Terry choose to shoot up in a Santa Ana motel room? Why was Terry left on the floor and why call 911 two days later to find the body? Who made the call? But the biggest question is whether or not a very angry Randy will find the answers before his impulse control issues land him in jail.
Filled with scumbags, druggies, dealers, alcoholics both on the wagon and those who have tumbled off, dead bodies, criminals and crooked lawyers, surprises and twists and turns, this is a good story. When you pick it up, if you find a little frustration early on, just keep going. It is well worth it.
I won this book on Goodreads.
June 7, 2012
The character Randy Chalmers in The Next Right Thing has anger issues. He was angry when he was a cop. He was angry when he was sent to AA. He was still angry when he became a contractor. He was always angry until Terry, his AA sponsor died. Randy was obsessed in finding why Terry decided to killed himself with an drug overdose. The more he inquired about Terry's death, the more suspicious characters are showing up. He was followed by someone he doesn't know. People he doesn't know are suddenly showing up.
Everything that Randy knows about Terry doesn't add up. Terry was obsessed with being a father. Terry wanted more than anything to have a child. So why would he killed himself with an overdose? Why is someone trying to frame him for a crime he didn't do? Randy does have anger management issues but he hasn't crossed the line of killing anyone yet. The ending to the story is not what it seemed. It is a revelation of all the suspicious activities that were happening to Randy, the readers would think it would end a certain way.
The funny thing about the story is that no matter how much Randy tried to push his AA associated away, they keep coming back and hanging around him.
The excerpt said and summarized it all about The Next Right Thing. If you think you have issues, you need to read this book.
Everything that Randy knows about Terry doesn't add up. Terry was obsessed with being a father. Terry wanted more than anything to have a child. So why would he killed himself with an overdose? Why is someone trying to frame him for a crime he didn't do? Randy does have anger management issues but he hasn't crossed the line of killing anyone yet. The ending to the story is not what it seemed. It is a revelation of all the suspicious activities that were happening to Randy, the readers would think it would end a certain way.
The funny thing about the story is that no matter how much Randy tried to push his AA associated away, they keep coming back and hanging around him.
The excerpt said and summarized it all about The Next Right Thing. If you think you have issues, you need to read this book.
May 4, 2012
Is there any true recovery from addiction or do we just replace one addiction with another? The answer to this is at the root of Dan Barden's latest novel THE NEXT RIGHT THING. His protagonist, Randy Chalmers is an ex-cop and recovering alcoholic with an "untempered temper" whose best friend and AA sponsor Terry has been discovered dead from a drug overdose in a room at a less than reputable Laguna Beach hotel.
Randy appears to be driven to prove that Terry's death was a homicide in order to reassure himself that he has not been seduced into believing fabrications and half truths and that his life is not based upon lies. His quest for the truth leads him down a convoluted road to unsettling discoveries about not only Terry and other AA members, but most disturbingly, truths about himself.
What the reader learns is that Randy's obsession with discovery is almost as destructive as his alcohol addiction. Could the reality be that trying to help your fellow man is just another form of co-dependence that we all suffer from in one form or another? There are plenty of questions to ponder here.
In the final analysis THE NEXT RIGHT THING is only masquerading as a crime novel. In reality it is a depressing journey into the inner workings of destructive behavior and the definitely devastating and often fatal outcome of that behavior. 2 1/2 stars.
Randy appears to be driven to prove that Terry's death was a homicide in order to reassure himself that he has not been seduced into believing fabrications and half truths and that his life is not based upon lies. His quest for the truth leads him down a convoluted road to unsettling discoveries about not only Terry and other AA members, but most disturbingly, truths about himself.
What the reader learns is that Randy's obsession with discovery is almost as destructive as his alcohol addiction. Could the reality be that trying to help your fellow man is just another form of co-dependence that we all suffer from in one form or another? There are plenty of questions to ponder here.
In the final analysis THE NEXT RIGHT THING is only masquerading as a crime novel. In reality it is a depressing journey into the inner workings of destructive behavior and the definitely devastating and often fatal outcome of that behavior. 2 1/2 stars.
March 13, 2012
I won a copy of this book from First Reads on Goodreads.
First of all I have to say that it wasn't bad or good...more of an okay read. There was action & drama. There was a whole host of characters, but the downside to that in my opinion is that none of them were all that well developed with the exception of Randy the main character. His girlfriend MP, seemed important at the beginning of the book, but then she pretty much disappeared. I cound Troy & Emma to be the most fascinating characters, but they weren't developed to the extent that they could've been.
The book tells the story of ex-cop Randy Chalmers, who is now a highly in demand home builder & recovering alcoholic. One day his mentor Terry turns up long dead in a hotel room of an apparent heroin overdose in a seedy motel room. The catch is, Terry had been clean upwards of 15 years. So the former detective in Randy takes over when he begins to doubt that a simple O.D. is how he best friend died. In the course of his not so under the radar investigation, he stumbles across something much bigger & finds that his friend is smack in the middle of it.
The story was a promising idea that wasn't brought to it's fullest potential. It was a fast, okay read, but not one that I find myself dying to share with someone.
First of all I have to say that it wasn't bad or good...more of an okay read. There was action & drama. There was a whole host of characters, but the downside to that in my opinion is that none of them were all that well developed with the exception of Randy the main character. His girlfriend MP, seemed important at the beginning of the book, but then she pretty much disappeared. I cound Troy & Emma to be the most fascinating characters, but they weren't developed to the extent that they could've been.
The book tells the story of ex-cop Randy Chalmers, who is now a highly in demand home builder & recovering alcoholic. One day his mentor Terry turns up long dead in a hotel room of an apparent heroin overdose in a seedy motel room. The catch is, Terry had been clean upwards of 15 years. So the former detective in Randy takes over when he begins to doubt that a simple O.D. is how he best friend died. In the course of his not so under the radar investigation, he stumbles across something much bigger & finds that his friend is smack in the middle of it.
The story was a promising idea that wasn't brought to it's fullest potential. It was a fast, okay read, but not one that I find myself dying to share with someone.
April 29, 2012
The book jacket bills this as a mystery starring Randy Chalmers, who investigates the shady circumstances surrounding his AA sponsor Terry’s death and uncovers a ring of pot dealers, shady recovery houses, pornography and love children. Sounds like a standard fun mystery/thriller about an ex-cop seeking justice, right? Only sort of. This book was not quite as advertised – it reads like a story primarily about recovery, with a mystery B plot.
Randy works his network of friends and acquaintances (and enemies) made through AA to slowly figure out the truth about Terry’s life, and death. By using AA as Randy’s exclusive support network, Barden tells some really affecting stories about the recovery process. Each person in Randy’s network recovered (or didn’t) in their own way. New member Troy, son of a famous mobster, needs constant watching and guidance while Emma, the former reality TV star, needs to work through her issues on her own – with someone there to protect her as needed. Some people turned their recovery into a new, profitable line of business; while others found that recovery could only do so much in salvaging their sad lives.
Read more at http://hellokatieo.wordpress.com/2012...
Randy works his network of friends and acquaintances (and enemies) made through AA to slowly figure out the truth about Terry’s life, and death. By using AA as Randy’s exclusive support network, Barden tells some really affecting stories about the recovery process. Each person in Randy’s network recovered (or didn’t) in their own way. New member Troy, son of a famous mobster, needs constant watching and guidance while Emma, the former reality TV star, needs to work through her issues on her own – with someone there to protect her as needed. Some people turned their recovery into a new, profitable line of business; while others found that recovery could only do so much in salvaging their sad lives.
Read more at http://hellokatieo.wordpress.com/2012...
February 21, 2012
I won this book as part of a goodreads giveaway (Thank you Ashley!), but that in no way shape or form affected my rating or review of this book.
I wanted to like this book! I tried really hard to like this book...I set it down to allow another chance to like this book...but for me it fell just short. I appreciate the authors attempts to present AA (Alcoholics Annonymous) in a realistic light, as well as to bring a socially needed awarenees of AA and those who suffer from alcohol addictions (as well as other addictions that are frequently mentioned). My feeling was if you want to do that combining it with the mystery in this story it just didn't resonate with me. There was an interesting premise, and a decent mystery.....however with the constant AA propaganda, turmoil, relationships and drama the story itself was relegated to the background and never become an intrical part of the story. The characters were largely unlikeable and although some of them were believable...i found myself struggeling to care what happened to them.
A shame this could have been a very interesting story to me....but the story got lost in the message, as noble as that message is!
I wanted to like this book! I tried really hard to like this book...I set it down to allow another chance to like this book...but for me it fell just short. I appreciate the authors attempts to present AA (Alcoholics Annonymous) in a realistic light, as well as to bring a socially needed awarenees of AA and those who suffer from alcohol addictions (as well as other addictions that are frequently mentioned). My feeling was if you want to do that combining it with the mystery in this story it just didn't resonate with me. There was an interesting premise, and a decent mystery.....however with the constant AA propaganda, turmoil, relationships and drama the story itself was relegated to the background and never become an intrical part of the story. The characters were largely unlikeable and although some of them were believable...i found myself struggeling to care what happened to them.
A shame this could have been a very interesting story to me....but the story got lost in the message, as noble as that message is!
August 6, 2012
As they say "write about what you know" and that is what author Dan Barden did. He was an addict now recovering and knows all about 12 stepping. The story starts out with: Randy Chalmers, the main character finding out that his friend, and sponsor Terry Elias (a lawyer) died. It was thought he died of an overdose but Randy felt otherwise and he needed to find out the truth, was he murdered?.
This story is mesmerizing and has more twists that a pretzel. He finds his good friend may have been involved in internet pornography, he was also involved in growing marijuana.
This story is well written and may be a help for anyone who has or is now going through the 12 step program of AA. The author incorporates this into the story in a way that showcases the program.
Although this thriller kept me on the edge it sometimes got away from me getting too involved with the underworld of addiction. It was so real I could hardly believe it, the ending will remain for you to read, but I felt myself still thinking about this book days later, to me a sign of a good book. A feeling I usually only get when reading my favorite Author Pearl S. Buck.
This story is mesmerizing and has more twists that a pretzel. He finds his good friend may have been involved in internet pornography, he was also involved in growing marijuana.
This story is well written and may be a help for anyone who has or is now going through the 12 step program of AA. The author incorporates this into the story in a way that showcases the program.
Although this thriller kept me on the edge it sometimes got away from me getting too involved with the underworld of addiction. It was so real I could hardly believe it, the ending will remain for you to read, but I felt myself still thinking about this book days later, to me a sign of a good book. A feeling I usually only get when reading my favorite Author Pearl S. Buck.
July 8, 2012
Even though it's billed as a mystery, this book isn't really one, not in the cops and robbers sense. But if you want to talk about the mystery of human behavior, this is the book for you. Set squarely among the culture of AA, the book chronicles the quest of protagonist Randy Chalmers,as he tries to figure out how his dearly loved sponsor of over 8 years, a man who had been sober for 15 years, could have died of a heroin overdose. In Randy's mind it's just not possible that his idol could have slipped and so he works very hard to prove himself right. Considering that I have some very personal experience with AA I am always receptive to a story that talks about the slogans, the steps, the heart wrenching stories of redemption and this book has all of that and then some. But I have to wonder if it would appeal to the average layperson-think it would get old fairly quickly.
The book has been billed as funny and one review even termed it hilarious. Huh? People killing themselves with self disruptive behavior hilarious? Not by me.
The book has been billed as funny and one review even termed it hilarious. Huh? People killing themselves with self disruptive behavior hilarious? Not by me.
September 12, 2012
This powerful novel deals with the ravages of addiction, and focuses on the degree with which AA is effective in aiding recovery. Anyone who has experienced addiction personally or observed it in a family member should read this book. It is a very honest look at what AA can do and more importantly cannot do. Also, it gets to the heart of the problem of addiction, which is that it is a lifelong disease for which there is no cure. Most addiction memoirs have happy endings or else they are not written! This novel is more realistic in that it has a mixed ending. The main character, Randy Chalmers, spends the entire book searching for reasons behind his sponsor's death. He meets some interesting characters along the way, some of which are not quite believable. The book is at its best when discussing the ins and outs of AA while the plot is contrived and not terribly convincing. Nevertheless it was an interesting take on addiction and its fallout.
August 9, 2012
This who-done-it is set in Orange County and I liked seeing familiar places and stock characters in the book, but that wasn't enough to save it. The book has the makings of an exciting drama: an ex-cop recovering alcoholic who now designs houses is searching for a killer in the death of his friend, an ex-attorney, recovering alcoholic who over-dosed on heroin in a seedy Santa Ana motel. The problem is that the gruff exterior hides a philosopher who is constantly digressing to philosophize about nonsense. To wit:
" 'It's a fucking miracle my mother still talks to me. But she doesn't have any money.' I thought about that. When I realized where I was headed, I took a deep breath. You go through life thinking that the moment of greatest danger will look like the moment of greatest danger, but that isn't it at all. The moment of greatest danger mostly looks like the moment of greatest understanding. That's so true they should teach it in school. "
Yeah, right.
" 'It's a fucking miracle my mother still talks to me. But she doesn't have any money.' I thought about that. When I realized where I was headed, I took a deep breath. You go through life thinking that the moment of greatest danger will look like the moment of greatest danger, but that isn't it at all. The moment of greatest danger mostly looks like the moment of greatest understanding. That's so true they should teach it in school. "
Yeah, right.
March 17, 2012
Jonathan Lethem called it “The Long Goodbye in rehab.” It strikes me more as Elinor Lipman’s The Family Man on a dry-drunk. Like Barden’s first novel, John Wayne: A Novel, it’s full of heart and wit. And there’s a kid named Danny. Lethem says it’s about the American heart, but I see it as a portrait of divine grace.
Okay, if I didn’t know the author, I might give it just 4 stars. Maybe. The structure is flawless, plot cinematic, and characters beautifully and believably drawn. So yeah. 5 stars, on its own merit. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it. Since I read the copy signed for my friend in SoCal, I guess I'll have to buy my own now for my shelves. It's that good.
Note to Random House: Jonathan Davis to narrate. He’s the perfect blend of hard-boiled and tender. Like the author. http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/gvpa...
Okay, if I didn’t know the author, I might give it just 4 stars. Maybe. The structure is flawless, plot cinematic, and characters beautifully and believably drawn. So yeah. 5 stars, on its own merit. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it. Since I read the copy signed for my friend in SoCal, I guess I'll have to buy my own now for my shelves. It's that good.
Note to Random House: Jonathan Davis to narrate. He’s the perfect blend of hard-boiled and tender. Like the author. http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/gvpa...
March 25, 2012
Dan Barden’s The Next Right Thing is a page-turner, but not for the sake of plot. Randy Chalmers makes one bad decision after another—fully aware that he is destroying himself. The novel is about awareness—the disasters of addiction, of violence, of trying to make everything right. The novel is a quest to understand his mentor’s death from a heroin overdose; and the more he understands, the angrier he gets—at Terry (his AA mentor), at himself, at the corrupt world they inhabit. Chalmers in the end finds a measure of meaning in getting past Terry’s death, renewing the bond with his daughter, finding people to care about. He wishes Terry had come to the place he has at last come to: He hopes “he saw himself as a fool who had squandered a great gift. I want him miserable, fighting himself, and ashamed of his failure.”
July 13, 2012
The Next Right Thing is a whodunit with the added layer of the protagonist dealing with the ebb and flow of addiction and rehabilitation. Randy Chalmers is investigating the mysterious death of his A.A. sponsor, and the novel becomes the classic story of the man who goes on a journey to find out something about an external event only to find that the journey ultimately tells him something about himself; he finds what he is looking for, but it is not what he was looking for.
I liked the fact that the book had enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Although I would classify it as a mystery novel, it did not feel like a mystery novel. It was an enjoyable and quick read. The novel would make a good movie, something gritty in the same vein as The Departed or The Town.
I liked the fact that the book had enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Although I would classify it as a mystery novel, it did not feel like a mystery novel. It was an enjoyable and quick read. The novel would make a good movie, something gritty in the same vein as The Departed or The Town.
September 26, 2012
I really enjoyed this surprisingly soulful page turner. It read like a cross between Elmore Leonard and Pema Chedron with the barest whiff of Carl Hiassen. Anti-hero Randy is sober but gets drunk on his own anger. Randy is trying to find out why his best friend and AA sponsor ODd on heroin. He suspects nefarious dealings and sets out to find them. Meanwhile the whole episode causes his anger management issues to flare out of control, jeopardizing his access to his beloved daughter. The whole anger thing got a bit tiresome towards the end, though I did feel there was some pretty accurate insight into the male psyche. :)
I also looooved the peep into AA culture. It was totally fascinating. I probably won't read this book a second time but you'd better believe I will seek out anything and everything by this author.
I also looooved the peep into AA culture. It was totally fascinating. I probably won't read this book a second time but you'd better believe I will seek out anything and everything by this author.
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