The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man: A Novel

Ruddy McCann #0.5

by W. Bruce Cameron

From W. Bruce Cameron, the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel A Dog's Purpose , which is now a major motion picture! "The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man introduces my favorite kind of flawed cynical protagonist in Ruddy McCann, former football star, now Repo Man in a small town full of memorable weirdos. It's suspenseful, action-packed, romantic, and above all, truly funny. I loved it."--Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author Ruddy McCann, former college football star, has experienced a seismic drop in popularity; he is now Kalkaska, Michigan's full-time repo man and part-time bar bouncer. His best friend is his low-energy Basset hound Jake, with whom he shares a simple life of stealing cars. Simple, that is, until Ruddy starts hearing a voice in his head. The voice introduces himself as Alan Lottner, a dead realtor. Ruddy isn't sure if Alan is real, or if he's losing his mind. To complicate matters, it turns out Katie, the girl he's fallen for, is Alan's daughter . When Alan demands Ruddy find his murderers, Ruddy decides a voice in your head seeking vengeance is best ignored. When Alan also demands he clean up his act, and apartment, Ruddy tells him to back off, but where can a voice in your head go? With a sweet romance, a murder mystery, a lazy but loyal dog and a town full of cabin-fevered characters you can't help but love, New York Times bestselling novelist W. Bruce Cameron's The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man is yet another laugh-out-loud, keep-you-up-late, irresistible read. A Dog's Purpose Series
#1 A Dog's Purpose
#2 A Dog's Journey
#3 A Dog's Promise (forthcoming) Books for Young Readers
Ellie's A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Bailey's A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Molly's A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Max's A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Toby's A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale (forthcoming)
Shelby's A Dog's Way Home Novel The Rudy McCann Series
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man
Repo Madness

Other Novels
A Dog's Way Home
The Dog Master
The Dogs of Christmas
Emory's Gift

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Humor, Short Stories, Animals, Dogs

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

I’ve always loved dogs, which puts me in a unique category along with what, maybe two or three billion people?

What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?

I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.

We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.

Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.

She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.

And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?

I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?

I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.

I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light short story about how the main character, a repo man, comes to live with Jake, a basset hound. There’s a laid back, gentle humour to the story that I liked.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous story to listen to! I can’t wait to get into this series. It was really funny to the point where I found myself actually laughing out loud. Also the description of the basset hound, how he acts and what he’s supposedly thinking are spot on. That made it so much better. Great story!

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This very short story is all about how Ruddy acquires his beloved dog Jake, from a very very bad man. It’s adorable, and quite short.

George K. Wilson is again the narrator for the audiobook version of this short story.

3 stars

[Gloria Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man and is a short story. I read it because I loved the novel and wanted to hear more about the fascinating characters. I enjoyed hearing the story of how Jake became Ruddy's dog - if there was a complaint about this book, it would be that it was way too short. I would love to see more books about the repo man!

[Markelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok what is up with saying this is book 3 in the series? And then on Goodreads it is listed as book .05?? Goodreads has it right-This book should be read first! It’s got the original great narrator and it is a great introduction to the story and doesn’t give away any spoilers for the future!! And it is only an hour long listen!! I kept thinking ok this is interesting, after this chapter we will jump back into the future...nope. It was one chapter (to be complete accurate I listened and so there may have been some chapter breaks but it was only an hour long, so...?) and done!
Would have been an awesome way to BEGIN the series!!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novella of how the Basset Hound Jake came to live with the repo-man

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved all of W. Bruce Cameron's novels and especially A Dog's Purpose. I get a tear in my eye just thinking about that one. So, I'm pretty elated every time he releases something new. His latest, The Midnight Dog of the Repo Man, is a really short story and was not to the level I expect from Mr Cameron. It's likable enough, but it was over before it started getting good. There is not enough story to engage in. Ah, well, I'm still a fan, but I'm sadly disappointed in this book.

Final Rating: 2.5 stars.

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow I totally spaced Cameron had a new book recently released! This eshort-story introduces the protagonist and his dog! I already love Ruddy! Anxious to read the full book now! Full review at Smoke & Mirrors: http://books-n-music.blogspot.com/201....

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short and a fun read/listen.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Review of the Audiobook

Published by Macmillan Audio in 2014.
Read by George K. Wilson.
Duration: 1 hour, 4 minutes.
Unabridged.

This short audiobook is a prequel to the book The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man , a book by W. Bruce Cameron. Cameron is most famous for his book A Dog's Life .

This book is also about a dog, at least it sort of is. Really, it is the story of how Ruddy McCann got his basset hound. Ruddy is a decent man with a checkered past and a grinding sense of shame for what he did in the past. He is also a bar bouncer at his sister's bar at night and a repo man by day. A repo man repossesses cars when people stop making their payments.

Good story, but definitely not a stand-alone story.

I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.

[Brenda Paull · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read most of Bruce Cameron's books and have enjoyed many. This book is a prequel to his other repo books. Although I liked them I felt that this one just didn't live up to Bruce Cameron's standards. The first couple of pages were funny but it ended too early before anything interesting happened. Also, the characters are unbelievably dumb to the point of being ridiculous. The events were only repeats of what happened in the other ones. I feel bad rating one of Bruce Cameron's books 2 stars but throughout it gives the impression that is was written in a hurry just to satiate his fans.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fun read. I read Book 1 of the series first, then discovered this short intro, so I decided to read it too (it was also fun to read a story set close to my house). This is a great introduction to the Ruddy McCann Repo Man series -- fun characters and silly (but potentially dangerous) situations. Entertaining.

If you enjoy Carl Hiaasen, I'd recommend this series.

Rated PG/PG-13 for language.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved, Midnight Plan of the Repo Man. I wanted to read whatever there was that had to do with the characters. Found this short story and loved it. This is a story about how he gets his dog. Fun story.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a prequel, or that it was so short... that said, it was still pretty fun, and actually the perfect length to get me to my meeting and back. So now I need to go find the sequel.

[Marilyn J. Hansohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a quick read that can be done in a day or day and a half. It has a bit of an annoying start that involves grown men who speak, reason, and behave like 11 year olds. But, stick with it because it comes together and has a great ending. Oh, yes, it’s a dog lovers book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story. I was disappointed bc I thought this was a full-length book. I also thought this was the third book, but it was written third (weird, huh) and is supposed to be a prequel. It’s funny like the others, but there’s not really enough space to develop any real villains.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plan was not to be a repo man but life does not always go the way you plan it, A few mistakes and here we are the repo man, along the way you learn a few life lessons and make some new friends even if they ae in your head.

[aloverofstories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short and funny. I love any good dog story, and I can always count on W. Bruce Cameron for that! I feel sad for Jake and how he was treated by his previous owner, but I'm really glad he and Ruddy found each other!

[Jenntleh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Dog of the Repo Man by W. Bruce Cameron is a cute, quick, and heartwarming story about how a man takes a robbery and his repo job and turns them into something meaningful—rehabilitation for youth and a rescue for a dog.

[Tammy Flanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous narrator.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story on how Jake arrived into Ruddy's life.

[Traci Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a short story when I started it, but I found it charming and it was enough to make me want to read the rest of the series!

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A super short prequel to the series. There are some funny parts but generally Ruddy doesn't sound very intelligent or likable.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging short story about a man and his dog.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much for short stories but I liked this one. It is the story of how Ruddy got Jake. I was hoping Jake would be in the book more.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little short prequel.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um, wow, that was really boring...

[Etienne Desormeaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to an Amazing Couple Books