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Buck Schatz #1
Don't Ever Get Old
DON'T EVER GET OLD was one of mystery-publishing's biggest critical successes last year, earning starred reviews from every major trade publication, garnering nominations for the Edgar, Thriller, and Anthony awards, and winning the Macavity Award for Best First Novel. The producer of four Harry Potter films and the Sherlock Holmes sequel, Lionel Wigram, is writing the script for the movie and producing the film version.
When Buck Schatz, senior citizen and retired Memphis cop, learns that an old adversary may have escaped Germany with a fortune in stolen gold, Buck decides to hunt down the fugitive and claim the loot. But a lot of people want a piece of the stolen treasure, and Buck's investigation quickly attracts unfriendly attention from a very motley (and murderous) crew.
When Buck Schatz, senior citizen and retired Memphis cop, learns that an old adversary may have escaped Germany with a fortune in stolen gold, Buck decides to hunt down the fugitive and claim the loot. But a lot of people want a piece of the stolen treasure, and Buck's investigation quickly attracts unfriendly attention from a very motley (and murderous) crew.
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First published May 1, 2012
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April 2, 2019
Sometimes, age doesn't bring wisdom, and unfortunately, Buck Schatz (get it) is one of those cases. I started "Don't Ever Get Old" hoping for humor--say, Grandma Muzar from Evanovich's Plum series--or insight into aging, but unfortunately, I got neither.
Buck Schatz is an 87 year-old retired detective who gets drawn into a case looking for Nazi gold against his inclinations. His reluctance is compounded by painful memories from time as a prisoner in a German camp near the end of WW II.
Yes, you read that right. Nazi gold. Sigh. I feel like someone should have spent some time at Tvtropes while they were dreaming up the plot. I forgave it, a little, when I learned that Buck was Jewish, and his own memories of being a POW were shared during the case. But it's a thin plot, really more of a 'race to the treasure' scenario than a true mystery. The villainous twist really isn't twisty, as I saw it coming halfway through the book, and if I've said it once, if I can figure out your mystery, it's probably light on the actual mystery. The race for the gold quickly becomes complicated with a series of gory, absolutely pointlessly tortured deaths. The method of killing does not make any sense--as Poirot says, "the psychologie, Hastings"--and ended up being a deal-breaker for its quality as a mystery.
But I can live with a ridiculous plot--see aforementioned Stephanie Plum books--if the characters and tone are well done. But Buck really, really didn't work for me. It doesn't help that the former, aged cops I run into are generally interesting people that love to tell stories. There's probably some bitter, unreflective ones out there, but I doubt many made detective, which usually means some kind of problem-solving ability. But mostly, I felt like Friedman was doing a disservice to the 87 year-olds I meet. Frankly, Buck is unlikable. He's unable to express positive sentiment, insults people he's just met, and is generally irritable with the ones he knows. What was just redeemable for me where the interlude style pages taking from his memory journal that begin with "Something I don't want to forget." Those were touching and humanizing, but Buck was only able to translate those memories and thoughts into reaching out to his family once.
Honestly, the reviewers who say they laughed hysterically through this... I don't know. They must be young, or not talk very often to old people. I'm not sure what's supposed to be funny, the irony of a gun-toting 87 year-old unable to lift his gun? I found it just sad. There's a very sad scene leaving a casino where he tries to boss his grandson around:
"You let me do the thinking for us. I have the experience."
"I don't trust your thinking, Grandpa," he said, furrowing his eyebrows and leaning forward, forcing himself into my space. "Your thinking brought us out here, because your thinking was that you can tell this guy how things work in his own house. But your tough-guy bullshit was obsolete even when you could put some torque behind a punch."
"Listen to me," I began.
But he cut me off. "I'm through listening to you....what the hell kind of a plan was that?"
I recoiled a little from his outburst. "I may not know law books, but I know people," I stammered. "You don't understand the kind of man you're dealing with."
My professional assessment would be that Buck is struggling with the narrowing down of his world, his physical abilities and his cognitive ones, and is not adapting well. It makes the book painful to read. I'd say the character was done well--although I'd reiterate that I don't think I've met any geriatric-old cops like him (maybe the 60 year-old ones)--but he isn't likable. I may have chuckled once or twice, but if Friedman was going for humor, he should check in with Evanovich. The shortcomings of the mystery with the unlikable man in an unlikable situation mean a skim-n-skip read.
Buck Schatz is an 87 year-old retired detective who gets drawn into a case looking for Nazi gold against his inclinations. His reluctance is compounded by painful memories from time as a prisoner in a German camp near the end of WW II.
Yes, you read that right. Nazi gold. Sigh. I feel like someone should have spent some time at Tvtropes while they were dreaming up the plot. I forgave it, a little, when I learned that Buck was Jewish, and his own memories of being a POW were shared during the case. But it's a thin plot, really more of a 'race to the treasure' scenario than a true mystery. The villainous twist really isn't twisty, as I saw it coming halfway through the book, and if I've said it once, if I can figure out your mystery, it's probably light on the actual mystery. The race for the gold quickly becomes complicated with a series of gory, absolutely pointlessly tortured deaths. The method of killing does not make any sense--as Poirot says, "the psychologie, Hastings"--and ended up being a deal-breaker for its quality as a mystery.
But I can live with a ridiculous plot--see aforementioned Stephanie Plum books--if the characters and tone are well done. But Buck really, really didn't work for me. It doesn't help that the former, aged cops I run into are generally interesting people that love to tell stories. There's probably some bitter, unreflective ones out there, but I doubt many made detective, which usually means some kind of problem-solving ability. But mostly, I felt like Friedman was doing a disservice to the 87 year-olds I meet. Frankly, Buck is unlikable. He's unable to express positive sentiment, insults people he's just met, and is generally irritable with the ones he knows. What was just redeemable for me where the interlude style pages taking from his memory journal that begin with "Something I don't want to forget." Those were touching and humanizing, but Buck was only able to translate those memories and thoughts into reaching out to his family once.
Honestly, the reviewers who say they laughed hysterically through this... I don't know. They must be young, or not talk very often to old people. I'm not sure what's supposed to be funny, the irony of a gun-toting 87 year-old unable to lift his gun? I found it just sad. There's a very sad scene leaving a casino where he tries to boss his grandson around:
"You let me do the thinking for us. I have the experience."
"I don't trust your thinking, Grandpa," he said, furrowing his eyebrows and leaning forward, forcing himself into my space. "Your thinking brought us out here, because your thinking was that you can tell this guy how things work in his own house. But your tough-guy bullshit was obsolete even when you could put some torque behind a punch."
"Listen to me," I began.
But he cut me off. "I'm through listening to you....what the hell kind of a plan was that?"
I recoiled a little from his outburst. "I may not know law books, but I know people," I stammered. "You don't understand the kind of man you're dealing with."
My professional assessment would be that Buck is struggling with the narrowing down of his world, his physical abilities and his cognitive ones, and is not adapting well. It makes the book painful to read. I'd say the character was done well--although I'd reiterate that I don't think I've met any geriatric-old cops like him (maybe the 60 year-old ones)--but he isn't likable. I may have chuckled once or twice, but if Friedman was going for humor, he should check in with Evanovich. The shortcomings of the mystery with the unlikable man in an unlikable situation mean a skim-n-skip read.
September 18, 2019
"God, how'd we get so old?"
"If I'd seen it coming, I'd have got out of the way."
When a dying war buddy tells 87-year-old Buck Schatz that a Nazi prison guard escaped Germany alive with a car trunk full of gold bars, Schatz has no interest in recovering the loot. His motto has always been, "When you have the option to do nothing, you should always take it." However, his curiosity is piqued enough that he drops by Memphis police headquarters where he spent over 20 years on the job.
"Holy shit, man, you're a legend," exclaims one young officer. "I can't believe you're still alive."
I rolled my eyes. "Most days, neither can I."
Buck's a bit more self-effacing about his former career.
"...I worked homicide, and I retired thirty-five years ago. I was a mediocre detective in a department that was more concerned with spraying fire hoses at colored folks than it was with solving murders. Being a homicide detective isn't a hard job if you don't care a whole lot about being good at it."
He's just about given up on the whole get-rich-quick scheme when the 3-am phone calls start. Soon, there's a large Russian pounding at the door, and before you know it, a grisly murder has occurred.
Looks like Buck's going to have to solve this thing just so he can get some peace and quiet.
His wife is definitely NOT on board with the whole idea. "Nazis don't have gold, Buck. You're thinking of leprechauns." She cautions, "You can't run off to Europe or South America or Egypt chasing after a phantom. How are we going to keep track of your medications?"
The search gets much easier when Buck's grandson, "Tequila," arrives with his newfangled Internet, MapQuest and "the Googles."
Buck Schatz is not an "adorable" little old man. Though he admits to being grumpy more for sport than out of necessity , he also claims, "I care about people. I just don't like them." He's a geriatric ass-kicker who has always believed, "There are worse feelings than putting a couple of holes into a man who's got it coming to him." The author never forgets the age, and multiple infirmities of his main character. It's just that Buck fears "getting the sniffles" or tripping over the sidewalk and hitting his head a lot more than he fears bullets flying in his direction.
This was a fun read with a great mix of humor and criminal violence. The ending serves as a bittersweet reminder that getting old means outlasting things that ought to be permanent.
"If I'd seen it coming, I'd have got out of the way."
When a dying war buddy tells 87-year-old Buck Schatz that a Nazi prison guard escaped Germany alive with a car trunk full of gold bars, Schatz has no interest in recovering the loot. His motto has always been, "When you have the option to do nothing, you should always take it." However, his curiosity is piqued enough that he drops by Memphis police headquarters where he spent over 20 years on the job.
"Holy shit, man, you're a legend," exclaims one young officer. "I can't believe you're still alive."
I rolled my eyes. "Most days, neither can I."
Buck's a bit more self-effacing about his former career.
"...I worked homicide, and I retired thirty-five years ago. I was a mediocre detective in a department that was more concerned with spraying fire hoses at colored folks than it was with solving murders. Being a homicide detective isn't a hard job if you don't care a whole lot about being good at it."
He's just about given up on the whole get-rich-quick scheme when the 3-am phone calls start. Soon, there's a large Russian pounding at the door, and before you know it, a grisly murder has occurred.
Looks like Buck's going to have to solve this thing just so he can get some peace and quiet.
His wife is definitely NOT on board with the whole idea. "Nazis don't have gold, Buck. You're thinking of leprechauns." She cautions, "You can't run off to Europe or South America or Egypt chasing after a phantom. How are we going to keep track of your medications?"
The search gets much easier when Buck's grandson, "Tequila," arrives with his newfangled Internet, MapQuest and "the Googles."
Buck Schatz is not an "adorable" little old man. Though he admits to being grumpy more for sport than out of necessity , he also claims, "I care about people. I just don't like them." He's a geriatric ass-kicker who has always believed, "There are worse feelings than putting a couple of holes into a man who's got it coming to him." The author never forgets the age, and multiple infirmities of his main character. It's just that Buck fears "getting the sniffles" or tripping over the sidewalk and hitting his head a lot more than he fears bullets flying in his direction.
This was a fun read with a great mix of humor and criminal violence. The ending serves as a bittersweet reminder that getting old means outlasting things that ought to be permanent.
March 9, 2021
First half better than the ending which becomes too serious for the overall story. The early wit is good and gone missing in the second half. 5 of 10 stars
August 7, 2012
Listen, if you like hardboiled mysteries with quirky characters and an offbeat plot you should really just stop reading and go pick up Daniel Friedman’s debut novel Don’t Ever Get Old. In a bizarre twist Don’t Ever Get Old is one of two novels this summer to feature a geriatric protagonist (the other being Barry Fantoni’s Harry Lipkin, Private Eye) but don’t let Buck Schatz’s eighty-odd years fool you he is as mean and as tough as he was back when he was policing the streets, even if his memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be. The novel open’s with the deathbed confession of one of Buck’s former army buddies. The Nazi officer who tortured Buck during their internment at a POW camp survived the war and apparently escaped with car load of gold. This revelation nags at Buck and while he is initially reluctant to search for the offending Nazi a cavalcade to criminals, spies, and troubled individuals seemingly force him, and his grandson “Tequila,” into tracking down the gold.
While providing an often humorous mystery and a consistently clever cast of characters Don’t Ever Get Old really shines in that it so convincingly display’s Buck’s hidden terror of growing old. Cantankerous and flippant Buck’s attitude hides his fear from the people around him and only revealed to readers, particularly through interlude chapters entitled “Something I don’t want to forget.” Buck’s voice is darkly comic and his constant advice on life and aging is always entertaining. We offered such wonderful gems as “Visiting people in the hospital was a pain in the ass; I knew going in that they wouldn’t let me smoke, and I was always a little worried they wouldn’t let me leave.” Or his advice on long car rides: “Five hours is a long time to spend alone in a car with somebody you don’t have much in common with. Eventually they try to talk to you, and that never ends well.” Though, for all the humor of Buck’s wit there is an underlying sadness glimpsed in his words. As Buck himself puts it “It was getting hard to remember where things were and how they fit together, so my world had become a gradually shrinking circle, with the house in the middle of it.”
I find it difficult to believe that this is Friedman’s first novel. Buck is such a complete and honest character that it is something I’d expect out of a veteran writer. To create such a memorable character right out the gate is the sort of accomplishment that many other writers can only dream about. While this is a novel that ostensibly features a mystery it is by and large about Buck’s journey; about his unfinished business with the past. Unlike many detective stories Don’t Ever Get Old keeps you guessing until the end or close to the end. Friedman was adept at presenting numerous red herrings over the course of novel but when the final reveal did occur it made absolute sense even if I never saw it coming.
Violent without being gritty, humorous while still being insightful Don’t Ever Get Old hits all the right notes in its madcap journey. It is a novel steeped in Judaica as Buck’s Jewish identity is intrinsically tied not only to his past treatment during his wartime imprisonment but also to his current daily life and sense of community. It manages to touch on weighty issues without ever actually feeling heavy but is never so light as to feel irreverent. If you are looking for something new to read you could be hard pressed to find a novel as entertaining as Friedman’s debut Don’t Ever Get Old.
While providing an often humorous mystery and a consistently clever cast of characters Don’t Ever Get Old really shines in that it so convincingly display’s Buck’s hidden terror of growing old. Cantankerous and flippant Buck’s attitude hides his fear from the people around him and only revealed to readers, particularly through interlude chapters entitled “Something I don’t want to forget.” Buck’s voice is darkly comic and his constant advice on life and aging is always entertaining. We offered such wonderful gems as “Visiting people in the hospital was a pain in the ass; I knew going in that they wouldn’t let me smoke, and I was always a little worried they wouldn’t let me leave.” Or his advice on long car rides: “Five hours is a long time to spend alone in a car with somebody you don’t have much in common with. Eventually they try to talk to you, and that never ends well.” Though, for all the humor of Buck’s wit there is an underlying sadness glimpsed in his words. As Buck himself puts it “It was getting hard to remember where things were and how they fit together, so my world had become a gradually shrinking circle, with the house in the middle of it.”
I find it difficult to believe that this is Friedman’s first novel. Buck is such a complete and honest character that it is something I’d expect out of a veteran writer. To create such a memorable character right out the gate is the sort of accomplishment that many other writers can only dream about. While this is a novel that ostensibly features a mystery it is by and large about Buck’s journey; about his unfinished business with the past. Unlike many detective stories Don’t Ever Get Old keeps you guessing until the end or close to the end. Friedman was adept at presenting numerous red herrings over the course of novel but when the final reveal did occur it made absolute sense even if I never saw it coming.
Violent without being gritty, humorous while still being insightful Don’t Ever Get Old hits all the right notes in its madcap journey. It is a novel steeped in Judaica as Buck’s Jewish identity is intrinsically tied not only to his past treatment during his wartime imprisonment but also to his current daily life and sense of community. It manages to touch on weighty issues without ever actually feeling heavy but is never so light as to feel irreverent. If you are looking for something new to read you could be hard pressed to find a novel as entertaining as Friedman’s debut Don’t Ever Get Old.
will-avoid-forever
September 26, 2022This author made a deliberately misleading Twitter thread that accused me (and several other readers) of being anti-Semitic. However, the truth is that the issue at hand was about Nic Stone, who is a widely popular author and self-identifying Christian woman (aka not Jewish!), living in illegally occupied land and recently posting selfies taken in front of a bombed hospital with quirky captions about self-discovery. Since Daniel Friedman’s thread, I’ve been repeatedly harassed online on Twitter and Instagram.
For that reason, you’ll never catch me picking up any of his works. Frankly, fuck him.
For that reason, you’ll never catch me picking up any of his works. Frankly, fuck him.
July 26, 2012
3.5 Love Buck Schwartz, the 87 yr old octogenarian who had been a police detective for thirty years, and becomes in broiled in a mystery and a hunt for an SS officer who abused him in a concentration camp. Love his sarcastic comments and his ironic outlook on the life of the elderly as well as the grim outlook for his own future. Although the concentration camp subject matter was disturbing and serious, the book is full of humor, interesting characters and many many witticisms.
September 16, 2014
Baruch (Buck) Schatz is a dinosaur, a retired cop in his mid eighties, who fondly remembers the days when the phone book was a reliable interrogation tool. This unusual choice enables Friedman to enjoy the legacy of hard-boiled detective novels while residing in the present. Buck takes an abrasive pleasure in smoking, rebuffing pity, and asserting his independence. Try to tempt him into the realm of past regrets? “Regrets were for suckers. The world was full of used-up men, sitting glassy-eyed on park benches staring at nothing or sinking into upholstered chairs in retirement home lobbies, and every one of them was mulling his irrevocable missteps. Wasted chances. Bungled opportunities. Busted romances with fickle women and pear-shaped business deals with crooked partners.” That said, it's inevitable that Buck becomes sucked up into events from the past.
Buck is surprised to be summoned to the deathbed of a World War II comrade he hasn't spoken to in years. Jim Wallace is eager to cleanse his conscience and admits he colluded in the escape of a brutal Nazi prison guard at the end of the war. The guard escaped with a car laden with gold bars and Wallace urges Buck to track down both the guard and the treasure. Unfortunately, Wallace has been unloading his conscience to others besides Buck. There is his fretful son-in-law Norris, and suspiciously solicitous clergyman Lawrence Kind. With their greed operating on overdrive, who knows what kinds of dangerous forces have been set into motion.
Friedman avoids the trap of sentimentality. Buck's social calendar seems to revolve around funerals. A cruel prank at the local police department reminds Buck of his obsolescence in a field where he once excelled. We accompany a trip to Buck's doctor who hints at a bleak future when Buck will need the services of assisted living. Buck is accompanied by his grandson Billy, who goes by the nickname Tequila. Buck carefully masks his affection for Tequila with a barrage of criticism. Deep down he is proud that Billy is a law student, but to himself, he will only admit: “I was glad he was there. Maybe because he was family, I disliked him less than most people.” Buck's memory isn't what it used to be, and the narrative is interspersed with journal entries entitled “Something I don't want to forget.” The entries fill in some of Buck's emotion laden memories — things he would never talk about to anyone.
Unfortunately, the book is marred by a thin plot. While the trail is littered with several savage murders, because we never get much of a view of the victims, or any kind of three dimensional character development, the solution to the crimes lacks intensity. The exception is when the danger spreads to Buck and his grandson. For the most part, however, the book felt light-weight, a disappointing story built around a promising character.
NOTE:
Interview with author.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by...
Buck is surprised to be summoned to the deathbed of a World War II comrade he hasn't spoken to in years. Jim Wallace is eager to cleanse his conscience and admits he colluded in the escape of a brutal Nazi prison guard at the end of the war. The guard escaped with a car laden with gold bars and Wallace urges Buck to track down both the guard and the treasure. Unfortunately, Wallace has been unloading his conscience to others besides Buck. There is his fretful son-in-law Norris, and suspiciously solicitous clergyman Lawrence Kind. With their greed operating on overdrive, who knows what kinds of dangerous forces have been set into motion.
Friedman avoids the trap of sentimentality. Buck's social calendar seems to revolve around funerals. A cruel prank at the local police department reminds Buck of his obsolescence in a field where he once excelled. We accompany a trip to Buck's doctor who hints at a bleak future when Buck will need the services of assisted living. Buck is accompanied by his grandson Billy, who goes by the nickname Tequila. Buck carefully masks his affection for Tequila with a barrage of criticism. Deep down he is proud that Billy is a law student, but to himself, he will only admit: “I was glad he was there. Maybe because he was family, I disliked him less than most people.” Buck's memory isn't what it used to be, and the narrative is interspersed with journal entries entitled “Something I don't want to forget.” The entries fill in some of Buck's emotion laden memories — things he would never talk about to anyone.
Unfortunately, the book is marred by a thin plot. While the trail is littered with several savage murders, because we never get much of a view of the victims, or any kind of three dimensional character development, the solution to the crimes lacks intensity. The exception is when the danger spreads to Buck and his grandson. For the most part, however, the book felt light-weight, a disappointing story built around a promising character.
NOTE:
Interview with author.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by...
February 17, 2014
Very enjoyable.
Have you seen the movie “Dirty Harry” with Clint Eastwood? This book’s main character (Buck) is Dirty Harry when he gets old. He’s growly, grumpy, and insults others. He doesn’t play nice with authority. Yet he still has his moral compass against those who do harm. (The Dirty Harry comparison is my interpretation, but I believe the author was inspired by him. The character’s name in the book is Buck Schatz.)
I was surprised at how often I was chuckling. A sample of the kind of humor follows. There might be a treasure of Nazi gold bars. Buck has nothing to do with it and wants nothing to do with it. But people keep coming to him because they think he’ll be able to find it. He doesn’t care.
I think the best stories start with unusual and intriguing characters. This book has that. It’s a treasure hunt, mystery, and murder. And it has an excellent ending for the good guys.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
The narrator Nick Sullivan was good. But I was iffy about a couple of his voices. I would have preferred Clint Eastwood narrating because he is Dirty Harry - and he’s in his 80s - or a narrator who sounds like Clint Eastwood. I was thinking of Dirty Harry throughout the book.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Buck. Unabridged audiobook length: 8 hr and 2 mins. Swearing language: strong but not too frequent. Sexual content: none. Setting: around 2010 Memphis Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri. Book copyright: 2012. Genre: mystery suspense.
Have you seen the movie “Dirty Harry” with Clint Eastwood? This book’s main character (Buck) is Dirty Harry when he gets old. He’s growly, grumpy, and insults others. He doesn’t play nice with authority. Yet he still has his moral compass against those who do harm. (The Dirty Harry comparison is my interpretation, but I believe the author was inspired by him. The character’s name in the book is Buck Schatz.)
I was surprised at how often I was chuckling. A sample of the kind of humor follows. There might be a treasure of Nazi gold bars. Buck has nothing to do with it and wants nothing to do with it. But people keep coming to him because they think he’ll be able to find it. He doesn’t care.
I think the best stories start with unusual and intriguing characters. This book has that. It’s a treasure hunt, mystery, and murder. And it has an excellent ending for the good guys.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
The narrator Nick Sullivan was good. But I was iffy about a couple of his voices. I would have preferred Clint Eastwood narrating because he is Dirty Harry - and he’s in his 80s - or a narrator who sounds like Clint Eastwood. I was thinking of Dirty Harry throughout the book.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Buck. Unabridged audiobook length: 8 hr and 2 mins. Swearing language: strong but not too frequent. Sexual content: none. Setting: around 2010 Memphis Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri. Book copyright: 2012. Genre: mystery suspense.
July 20, 2012
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if the main character, Buck Schatz, wasn't so off-putting. He's an 87 year old retired detective who smokes too much, swears too much, and says the least sensitive things at the worst times on purpose. As I read the book, I alternated between being totally offended by things Buck said and did and being mildly amused. Underneath Buck's character there is a genuine concern for his family and a sincere fear of death, senility, and the infirmities of old age. Having been a much-feared detective in his day, Buck is still a force to be reckoned with in this novel - despite his many handicaps. While I can say I would have liked the book even better if I'd liked Buck better, I also have to say that Friedman is a genius in crafting the character of Buck. Because even if I could change him, there's no way to change his personality and have him remain the same. And I would hasten to argue that anyone with a curmudgeonly old gentleman in their life or family will recognize a little of Buck in him. While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd have liked, I will watch for the next book in the series just to see what Buck is up to next and who he offends along the way.
March 2, 2015
I had higher hopes for this book. Both my parents read it and thought it was good but the more I read, the less I liked it.
The character of Buck Schatz was funny for the first few chapters but line after line of his abrasive, sarcastic wit exhausted me. I was waiting for a real, well-rounded human to emerge but it never really did. The moments when he did show a little heart I felt were forced because he's so miserable throughout the entire book. The relationships in the book seemed hollow throughout.
I also thought the wife was barely visible which seemed like a missed oppurtunity. Not to mention I didn't think the story itself was solid enough to be a real good mystery. The murders themselves bothered me too. They were really bloody, too bloody for a good cop gone bad to believably commit. It was just...overkill.
The character of Buck Schatz was funny for the first few chapters but line after line of his abrasive, sarcastic wit exhausted me. I was waiting for a real, well-rounded human to emerge but it never really did. The moments when he did show a little heart I felt were forced because he's so miserable throughout the entire book. The relationships in the book seemed hollow throughout.
I also thought the wife was barely visible which seemed like a missed oppurtunity. Not to mention I didn't think the story itself was solid enough to be a real good mystery. The murders themselves bothered me too. They were really bloody, too bloody for a good cop gone bad to believably commit. It was just...overkill.
April 9, 2014
At 88 years old, Buck Schatz is a mean, colorful curmudgeon who swears, smokes cigarettes and keeps his service revolver cleaned and ready for action. He is learning to deal with his aging body and those annoying memory lapses.
But the retired Memphis cop's sedentary life changes when he learns that the Nazi who tortured him in a World War II POW camp is alive and might have a stash of stolen gold. Buck and his grandson “Tequila’’ decide to go after the old Nazi, and run into a lot of trouble and dead bodies.
Daniel Friedman has created an entertaining character in Buck, whose observations made me laugh out loud, such as, "I care about people. I just don't like them." Buck gives us hope that life in your 80s can still offer adventures.
But the retired Memphis cop's sedentary life changes when he learns that the Nazi who tortured him in a World War II POW camp is alive and might have a stash of stolen gold. Buck and his grandson “Tequila’’ decide to go after the old Nazi, and run into a lot of trouble and dead bodies.
Daniel Friedman has created an entertaining character in Buck, whose observations made me laugh out loud, such as, "I care about people. I just don't like them." Buck gives us hope that life in your 80s can still offer adventures.
February 11, 2014
Very fun mystery starring an 87 year old protagonist. Buck is an ex POW from WWII and an ex cop gets tangled up in a bunch of murders and a hunt for Nazi gold. He is helped by his grandson and the two are kind of oil and water. Buck is a great character. He deals with his age and his infirmity and has trouble accepting that he is not as able as he used to be. There are a lot of themes here besides the mystery. The book touches on love and loss and what it means to grow old. Buck is grumpy and snarky and honest and caring, not as sharp as he used to be but still plenty smart. This is the start of a series evidently and sign me on to read more of them.
October 12, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Anyone who likes a good story
Disclosure: I received a free eGalley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: When Buck Schatz, senior citizen and retired Memphis cop, learns that an old adversary may have escaped Germany with a fortune in stolen gold, Buck decides to hunt down the fugitive and claim the loot. But a lot of people want a piece of the stolen treasure, and Buck’s investigation quickly attracts unfriendly attention from a very motley (and murderous) crew in Daniel Friedman's Don’t Ever get Old.
My Thoughts: So, I just finished a YA fantasy based on an ancient legend and jumped straight into a book about an elder retired cop involved in a mystery – what a jump!
And this book was hilarious! Buck Schatz is a real hoot – after returning from the hospital, afraid of catching something from the trip: “I went into the kitchen, scrubbed my hands with hot water, and washed down a multivitamin with a glass of orange juice and a cigarette.” His grandson is nicknamed Tequila by his frat brothers, so is known as Tequila Schatz. I was sitting outside reading for awhile and probably most of my neighbors wondered what was going on over here, because I kept shrieking with laughter as I was reading this.
Not to say it is all fun and games – Buck and his group in WWII were taken to a German POW camp and when the man in charge, named Zeigler, realized Buck was Jewish… things got ugly. Buck deals with his memories with humor and a sardonic nature, but you can sense how deeply these things affected him. Additionally, it seems that everyone and his brother has been convinced that Buck will be going after Nazi gold (“Nazis don’t have gold, Buck, you’re thinking of leprechauns.”) and they want a slice of it. Additionally Buck is 87 and then 88 in the book, so he’s having to face old age, infirmity, the loss of his independence – the story actually covers a multitude of themes.
But mostly – it was incredibly funny. Buck is a grumpy old man, cantankerous and bad-tempered, but deep inside he has a heart of gold. I can’t think of anyone who would not enjoy reading this terrific story. Check it out.
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Anyone who likes a good story
Disclosure: I received a free eGalley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: When Buck Schatz, senior citizen and retired Memphis cop, learns that an old adversary may have escaped Germany with a fortune in stolen gold, Buck decides to hunt down the fugitive and claim the loot. But a lot of people want a piece of the stolen treasure, and Buck’s investigation quickly attracts unfriendly attention from a very motley (and murderous) crew in Daniel Friedman's Don’t Ever get Old.
My Thoughts: So, I just finished a YA fantasy based on an ancient legend and jumped straight into a book about an elder retired cop involved in a mystery – what a jump!
And this book was hilarious! Buck Schatz is a real hoot – after returning from the hospital, afraid of catching something from the trip: “I went into the kitchen, scrubbed my hands with hot water, and washed down a multivitamin with a glass of orange juice and a cigarette.” His grandson is nicknamed Tequila by his frat brothers, so is known as Tequila Schatz. I was sitting outside reading for awhile and probably most of my neighbors wondered what was going on over here, because I kept shrieking with laughter as I was reading this.
Not to say it is all fun and games – Buck and his group in WWII were taken to a German POW camp and when the man in charge, named Zeigler, realized Buck was Jewish… things got ugly. Buck deals with his memories with humor and a sardonic nature, but you can sense how deeply these things affected him. Additionally, it seems that everyone and his brother has been convinced that Buck will be going after Nazi gold (“Nazis don’t have gold, Buck, you’re thinking of leprechauns.”) and they want a slice of it. Additionally Buck is 87 and then 88 in the book, so he’s having to face old age, infirmity, the loss of his independence – the story actually covers a multitude of themes.
But mostly – it was incredibly funny. Buck is a grumpy old man, cantankerous and bad-tempered, but deep inside he has a heart of gold. I can’t think of anyone who would not enjoy reading this terrific story. Check it out.
August 19, 2012
DON’T EVER GET OLD
Daniel Friedman
This delightful, original debut novel is an absolute treasure and not to be missed.
DON’T EVER GET OLD is the portrait of Butch Schatz an 88 year old retired cop who is a crusty, gun toting, politically incorrect living legend. He is also a death camp survivor who learns that the sadistic guard who brutalized him is still alive and has stole a huge amount of Nazi gold. Buck and his very vocal frat grandson join together to find the fiend and hopefully, the gold. This is a funny, fast paced journey crammed full of a cast of colorful, oddball characters.
This wonderfully original pitch perfect novel is an engrossing mystery with amusing crackling dialogue, humor and at the same time is still very poignant.
Highly Recommended
Daniel Friedman
This delightful, original debut novel is an absolute treasure and not to be missed.
DON’T EVER GET OLD is the portrait of Butch Schatz an 88 year old retired cop who is a crusty, gun toting, politically incorrect living legend. He is also a death camp survivor who learns that the sadistic guard who brutalized him is still alive and has stole a huge amount of Nazi gold. Buck and his very vocal frat grandson join together to find the fiend and hopefully, the gold. This is a funny, fast paced journey crammed full of a cast of colorful, oddball characters.
This wonderfully original pitch perfect novel is an engrossing mystery with amusing crackling dialogue, humor and at the same time is still very poignant.
Highly Recommended
May 24, 2016
Abandoning this one. The main character, a grumpy retired detective, is a bit too mean-spirited for me. The Nazi gold plot seems a bit unrealistic, too. Just not for me.
November 6, 2019
Can't remember the last time I laughed so much in a novel. At 87 years old and ornery as all get-out, Buck Schatz is a wildly entertaining character.
May 25, 2025
Die Figur des Buck Schatz, ein 87-jähriger Ex-Polizist mit abgeklärten Sprüchen, der auf seine alten Tage noch einmal in ein Abenteuer rutscht, macht das Buch zu einer unterhaltsamen Lektüre. Nach dem ersten Drittel, das sehr witzig ist, kommt ein ernster Unterton hinzu. Buck ist sich bewusst, dass Demenz und Tod ihn jederzeit ereilen könnten. Ohne große Sentimentalität, aber dennoch nicht weniger bewegend. Seine vielschichtige Beziehung zu seinem Enkel Tequila macht einen weiteren Reiz des Buches aus. Geradlinige, aber nicht billige Sprache. Nicht gebraucht hätte ich die expliziten Mordszenen. Insgesamt ein Buch, bei dem man sich oft eine Verfilmung mit Kirk Douglas dazu vorstellen kann. 3,5/5 Punkte
December 8, 2021
I saw this series on the library shelves many months ago and vowed to read the first book just to see if I liked it. The main character is a former police detective from Memphis. He is 87 years old, Jewish, and hilariously sardonic. In spite of his age and his frailty, he still manages to solve some crimes. I’m not sure it was a very realistic story, but I enjoyed it and plan to read the second in the series.
August 30, 2012
Sometimes you are lucky enough to find a book in which a character captures you and invites you to enjoy the ride with him and such is the case with Daniel Friedman’s Buck Schatz a feisty ex homicide detective who is an expressive eighty something. Buck is called to the death bed of a comrade from World War II. His friend, Jim Wallace informs him that Ziegler a German officer in the prisoner of war camp in which Buck spent part of WWII is not only alive but extremely wealthy as he was able to haul a trunk load of gold bars out of Germany.
And this is where the fun begins as everyone seems to want a piece of it. Buck recruits his grandson nicknamed Tequila to assist him in his search for Ziegler. It is exciting and fun, requiring the reader to have the ability to suspend reality just a tiny bit. It is most of all funny and laugh at loud at that. The dialogue is wonderful as Buck although an old coot is quite a kick:
“You haven’t met my grandson, Manischewitz,”I said to the Russian. “He’s a real mensch. So proud of this one. I got buttons bursting off my shirt, and nachas oozing out of every orifice. “
Steinblatts’s bushy eyebrows knit together with confusion.
"Manischewitz? Like the kosher wine?” he asked.
“People call me Tequila,” said Tequila. “It’s a fraternity thing. My name is Will.”
“Ah, I understand,” said Steinblatt. He couldn’t fully hide his disapproval; growing up in Soviet austerity and fighting for survival on a tiny strip of Middle Eastern turf were probably not experiences that instilled much appreciation for the American college fraternity lifestyle.
This book was a joy to read and I fell in love with Buck Schatz. I hope to be able to read more about him in the future. Congratulations to Daniel Friedman for such an excellent debut novel.
And this is where the fun begins as everyone seems to want a piece of it. Buck recruits his grandson nicknamed Tequila to assist him in his search for Ziegler. It is exciting and fun, requiring the reader to have the ability to suspend reality just a tiny bit. It is most of all funny and laugh at loud at that. The dialogue is wonderful as Buck although an old coot is quite a kick:
“You haven’t met my grandson, Manischewitz,”I said to the Russian. “He’s a real mensch. So proud of this one. I got buttons bursting off my shirt, and nachas oozing out of every orifice. “
Steinblatts’s bushy eyebrows knit together with confusion.
"Manischewitz? Like the kosher wine?” he asked.
“People call me Tequila,” said Tequila. “It’s a fraternity thing. My name is Will.”
“Ah, I understand,” said Steinblatt. He couldn’t fully hide his disapproval; growing up in Soviet austerity and fighting for survival on a tiny strip of Middle Eastern turf were probably not experiences that instilled much appreciation for the American college fraternity lifestyle.
This book was a joy to read and I fell in love with Buck Schatz. I hope to be able to read more about him in the future. Congratulations to Daniel Friedman for such an excellent debut novel.
April 12, 2014
I first thought I clung to DON'T EVER GET OLD so hard because I have a soft spot for old people. That's part of the answer, but I can't recognize a standout novel when I read one. Daniel Friedman's sensational debut deal with an impressive number of issues ranging from elderly abusive to cultural fascination with nazis, and, of course, doesn't forsake the usual themes every novel desperately attempts to tackle, such as beliefs.
Thing is that Daniel Frieman does it extremely well, in the booming voice of his character Buck Schatz, a retired cop plenty of loose ends to tie up before shuffling off his mortal coil. DON'T EVER GET OLD also happens to be a fantastic, layered mystery that should get book clubs' amateur sletuh to debate for hours. DON'T EVER GET OLD is a book that does everything well. Daniel Friedman, consider yourself on my radar.
Thing is that Daniel Frieman does it extremely well, in the booming voice of his character Buck Schatz, a retired cop plenty of loose ends to tie up before shuffling off his mortal coil. DON'T EVER GET OLD also happens to be a fantastic, layered mystery that should get book clubs' amateur sletuh to debate for hours. DON'T EVER GET OLD is a book that does everything well. Daniel Friedman, consider yourself on my radar.
June 19, 2014
What a blast. Buck is one of the most original characters I have had the pleasure of knowing in a long time. The story was a ton of fun and the Buck was hilarious. It was a ton of fun turning the pages just to hear what was going to come out of his mouth next. Being Jewish, a lot of the family stuff I immediately recognized and related to. Highly recommended.
November 10, 2014
88-year old Buck Schatz goes to listen to the deathbed confession of a fellow soldier that their concentration camp tormentor escaped justice with a horde of Nazi gold. Apparently, the dying man told others and Buck and his grandson "Tequila" are bullied into investigating. Buck is pretty funny, but is definitely feeling his own age and his wife's too, as the bodies start piling up.
May 7, 2016
This gets 4 because Buck is an 87 year old, concentration camp survivor/retired Memphis cop bad ass, who loves his wife and his law student grandson, who just happens to go by the name Tequila. Clever, surprisingly touching, and very funny mystery.
April 19, 2020
Daniel Friedman's grandfather must be a real pip. Friedman couldn't have made up all of this. So I figure there has to be some tough old bird from the greatest generation out there telling this young guy just the hell how it was why it was when it was. And that tough old bird became Buck Schatz, the hero of this terrific 1st novel.
Friedman's 80-something retired homicide detective is the funniest lethal weapon since Betty White fed cows and husbands to a giant crocodile. Suffice it that old Buck is going to make you laugh, even when you know he's going to dissect a bad guy with his .357.
So, next time you are tempted to park in that handicapped spot, or sit in the old people seats on the bus, don't. Look for the sweet old funny guy, older than dirt, who is probably packing. Buck Schatz.
One tiny problem. Memphis. America's Graceland. Where Buck's lethal reputation was made and he has retired to watch the grass grow and the Guatemalans cut it. A Jewish cop for 35 years in the same town where MLK, Jr. was murdered? And none of that rubbed off on a detective whose justified shooting total tied with automobile fatalities? Not even a little jot of anti-Semitism in the buckle of the Bible Belt? Not believable. Friedman never once mentions jazz, BBQ, or Elvis, so I really doubt he ever lived there. No problem really. It's a much better place to visit than to live.
So put down the remote, get off the couch, go down to Memphis, and visit grandpa Buck. He'll have you (and maybe him) in stitches. Don't hide his Lucky Strikes. Or the Smith & Wesson.
Friedman's 80-something retired homicide detective is the funniest lethal weapon since Betty White fed cows and husbands to a giant crocodile. Suffice it that old Buck is going to make you laugh, even when you know he's going to dissect a bad guy with his .357.
So, next time you are tempted to park in that handicapped spot, or sit in the old people seats on the bus, don't. Look for the sweet old funny guy, older than dirt, who is probably packing. Buck Schatz.
One tiny problem. Memphis. America's Graceland. Where Buck's lethal reputation was made and he has retired to watch the grass grow and the Guatemalans cut it. A Jewish cop for 35 years in the same town where MLK, Jr. was murdered? And none of that rubbed off on a detective whose justified shooting total tied with automobile fatalities? Not even a little jot of anti-Semitism in the buckle of the Bible Belt? Not believable. Friedman never once mentions jazz, BBQ, or Elvis, so I really doubt he ever lived there. No problem really. It's a much better place to visit than to live.
So put down the remote, get off the couch, go down to Memphis, and visit grandpa Buck. He'll have you (and maybe him) in stitches. Don't hide his Lucky Strikes. Or the Smith & Wesson.
July 12, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I realized that I rarely, if ever, read from the perspective of a senior citizen. The struggle to accept the limitations of old age and wrestling with the realization that death is quickly approaching was something I haven't read before. I love the main character Buck, he is so crotchety and begrudging. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
October 24, 2022
An entertaining piece of fiction that’s written from the geriatric view of Buck Schatz, a wizened cantankerous retired gum-shoe detective and former POW from WW II. Buck learns that a former Nazi soldier who was reportedly dead had faked his death and escaped Germany with gold bars worth millions. This after that Nazi had supervised the killing of hundreds of Jews.
Nothing in here about the Holocaust etc. however. A who dun-nit in a cynical style.
Nothing in here about the Holocaust etc. however. A who dun-nit in a cynical style.
Want to read
November 13, 2019Synopsis: Buck Schatz, retired Memphis cop, is hunting down a German fugitive with a fortune in stolen gold. He draws unfriendly attention.
June 4, 2025
Ein sehr kurzweiliges Buch! Das hat richtig Spass gemacht. Die Story war gut und die Akteure authentisch. Mal sehen, ob es da noch was ähnliches gibt…das hat Lust auf mehr gemacht.
March 3, 2021
2 1/2 stars. Not a great book but there's enough here for me to read at least one more from the series to give it one more shot. I like the old man humor.
November 6, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed Don't Ever Get Old. He used such descriptive prose that you could easily picture everything he was talking about. I found myself laughing out loud on a few times. And there were a couple of very poignant moments talking about aging.
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