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Poppe Culture
Venice Beach, California has a varied and unique history. Its Boardwalk is known throughout the world as a permanent freak show attracting more visitors each year than Disneyland. In its day it has been home to such personalities as Charlie Chaplin, Jack Kerouac and Dennis Hopper. Now, Venice Beach is the stomping grounds of Skids Poppe, ex-motorcycle gang member turned well-respected journalist.
Way too early on a Saturday morning, Skids is woken by a phone call from a friend, Bernie, who is on the run from the police. The charge? Murder.
While trying to get his friend off the hook, Skids will travel through all the storied neighborhoods of Southern California, from Venice to Santa Monica and even Beverly Hills. Part of the trail leads to Las Vegas, where Skids has family. Add into this mix a sidekick named Guantanamo Bey who's a demolitions expert and the dead guy's ex-girlfriend called August Everywhere and you'll begin to see Skids may be in a bit over his head. That won’t stop him.
Unless the bad guys kill him first...
Way too early on a Saturday morning, Skids is woken by a phone call from a friend, Bernie, who is on the run from the police. The charge? Murder.
While trying to get his friend off the hook, Skids will travel through all the storied neighborhoods of Southern California, from Venice to Santa Monica and even Beverly Hills. Part of the trail leads to Las Vegas, where Skids has family. Add into this mix a sidekick named Guantanamo Bey who's a demolitions expert and the dead guy's ex-girlfriend called August Everywhere and you'll begin to see Skids may be in a bit over his head. That won’t stop him.
Unless the bad guys kill him first...
Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 23, 2020
I have to admit, I lost the original review (yes, it happens even to the best of us, my fault, it's been 2 years :/) So, please treat this one more like an "impressionist" review. Also, I received this book for free and I know the author a bit. I probably said too much already, so here is the review...
I always thought Jaq as more of a sci-fi writer so it was very interesting to see him write detective fiction. The thing I loved the most was how well the setting of California was written. Places (restaurants, cafes), beaches, streets and etc. really come to life and even if I never been there it felt very "alive" - I would really go to Venice Beach today, seems like a nice place (+8C, and rain where I am today).
The main character is a biker turn detective. Seems like an unusual mix, but this, and constant bike rides around California somehow doesn't make it cheesy. The whole "vibe" (uhhh, what a hipster word!) is there. For me it reminded the 80s - the era when the hair were bigger, the music was louder and the people were more free. You can tell this book is written by a geek - it has quirky cultural references, remarks, little gems hidden everywhere for you to find. It's an easy, flowing detective that can be a great read if you are looking for something effortless and light.
I am not sure If I am allowed to say it, but I heard that the #2 is coming... Now I really said too much! :O
I always thought Jaq as more of a sci-fi writer so it was very interesting to see him write detective fiction. The thing I loved the most was how well the setting of California was written. Places (restaurants, cafes), beaches, streets and etc. really come to life and even if I never been there it felt very "alive" - I would really go to Venice Beach today, seems like a nice place (+8C, and rain where I am today).
The main character is a biker turn detective. Seems like an unusual mix, but this, and constant bike rides around California somehow doesn't make it cheesy. The whole "vibe" (uhhh, what a hipster word!) is there. For me it reminded the 80s - the era when the hair were bigger, the music was louder and the people were more free. You can tell this book is written by a geek - it has quirky cultural references, remarks, little gems hidden everywhere for you to find. It's an easy, flowing detective that can be a great read if you are looking for something effortless and light.
I am not sure If I am allowed to say it, but I heard that the #2 is coming... Now I really said too much! :O
December 21, 2024
I’m trying not to be biased while writing this review, but it doesn’t help that the author is my favorite professor. Poppe Culture is a fast-paced, 5 day murder mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the clever cultural references sprinkled throughout the book (at least the ones I caught!). Knowing the author’s love for pop culture, movies, and music, it was a delight to see his passion seamlessly woven into the story. The only downside? Reading it in the middle of winter… those sunny beach scenes had me longing for warmer days while staring at the gloomy weather outside my window.
Overall, it was a fun and engaging read, and I can’t wait for the author to release more books!
Overall, it was a fun and engaging read, and I can’t wait for the author to release more books!
September 26, 2020
Skids Poppe is what I'd call an accidental detective. Someone who has the job foisted on him by a panicky friend who thinks Poppe's rough and tumble background combined with some no nonsense journalistic chops more than qualify him to investigate a murder. Luckily for the friend, Skids is up for the challenge. Author Greenspon has an "easy as a walk on Venice Beach" writing style that keeps the reader engaged with interesting characters and detailed descriptions of local Southern California hangouts and neighborhoods. Recommended!
September 25, 2020
Skids Poppe makes me want to throw out any preconceived notions of how to live and live on my own terms! I had so much fun touring Venice, Santa Monica and Vegas with the insider's perspective. I wanted to hate Skids but I just couldn't. There is something about him that just makes you love him, even when you want to kill him. I also loved the cultural references and fun little inside jokes that only certain groups of folks will get. We need a sequel!
August 20, 2022
The most perfect way to enjoy this book is to take it with you to the beach! Take your time and enjoy this magnificent tale about murder, movies and all the mayhem in between!
October 5, 2022
Skids Poppe, an eccentric biker/newspaper columnist gets forced into being an unlicensed private eye when a movie director gets murdered. He ends up investigating across strange, exotic Southern California, Hollywood, the beaches, meeting strange characters, and beautiful women, and has to flee to Las Vegas. Poppe's world, and worldview, are fascinating, I find myself wondering if that SoCal still exists. When I was recently in Vegas, it has just gotten weirder. Just the sort of read to get you through crazy days. A vacation with occasional corpses, attacks, and chases.
July 10, 2021
Alright full disclosure, I know the author, so even if this book sucked I'd give it a good review. Fortunately IT DOES NOT SUCK. Not by any stretch. It's a great page-turner of a whodunit, and even though of course I figured out the killer pretty quickly, your mileage may vary.
Jaq has a distinctive voice, and I can really hear him saying virtually every line in the first person text. His enthusiasm for the character is palpable, and his dialogue rings true in every instance. So-Cal locals will love the vivid descriptions of mid-2000's Santa Monica and Venice (the work isn't dated per se but mentions of CDs and answering machines put it in place).
If anything the 350+ pages flew by once I got about halfway through and I could have used another 100 pages or so.
Enjoy the heck out of this!
Jaq has a distinctive voice, and I can really hear him saying virtually every line in the first person text. His enthusiasm for the character is palpable, and his dialogue rings true in every instance. So-Cal locals will love the vivid descriptions of mid-2000's Santa Monica and Venice (the work isn't dated per se but mentions of CDs and answering machines put it in place).
If anything the 350+ pages flew by once I got about halfway through and I could have used another 100 pages or so.
Enjoy the heck out of this!
July 6, 2024
Crazy Story; good book
To be honest... as Skids Popped would be....I picked this book up not really expecting to like it all that much, the style and genre not my usual thing at all. I read a few pages, and then I couldn't put the damned thing down. It's still not in my wheelhouse, but I found myself rooting for Skids' sketchy ways, and wanting to find Guantanamo a bed and more beer, and NEEDING to finish it to find out how the mystery ended. There was just something engaging about Jaq's irreverent style of writing and his off beat humor. I might be willing to read more (if Bernie is still buying breakfast).
To be honest... as Skids Popped would be....I picked this book up not really expecting to like it all that much, the style and genre not my usual thing at all. I read a few pages, and then I couldn't put the damned thing down. It's still not in my wheelhouse, but I found myself rooting for Skids' sketchy ways, and wanting to find Guantanamo a bed and more beer, and NEEDING to finish it to find out how the mystery ended. There was just something engaging about Jaq's irreverent style of writing and his off beat humor. I might be willing to read more (if Bernie is still buying breakfast).
July 23, 2022
A wonderful debut! Gives me Fletch vibes! Love the authentic sense of place. I'm definitely on board for more from Greenspon.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews