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Ruddy McCann #1
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man
“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.
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.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2014
189 people are currently reading
3379 people want to read
About the author
W. Bruce Cameron
96 books4,504 followersI’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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 783 reviews
October 17, 2014
4.5 stars
This book is so much fun.
Ruddy McCann was an all star football player destined for greatness in the big leagues..then a bad thing happened and he ended up as a repo man and part time bouncer in his co-owner bar.
The man has some crap luck..between getting his arse kicked during a repo by a goose named Doris.
He starts hearing what at first he thinks is the stuffed bear in the bar's voice..........
As it turns out somehow a dead realtor named Alan has ended up in his head. Alan wants Ruddy to find out who and why he was killed.
With a cast of..well weird characters this book doesn't slow down for a minute. I loved it.
Ruddy isn't a perfect guy, but to me he is frigging awesome. He has a sidekick of the world's laziest Bassett Hound for crying out loud. He is going on to my list of book boyfriends.
This book is first person narrative but it is actually perfect for this book. The dialogue between Ruddy and Alan in his head is done perfectly. I actually hope for a sequel on this one.
I've got to quit reading good books and rating them highly..People won't know who I am.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is so much fun.
Ruddy McCann was an all star football player destined for greatness in the big leagues..then a bad thing happened and he ended up as a repo man and part time bouncer in his co-owner bar.
The man has some crap luck..between getting his arse kicked during a repo by a goose named Doris.
He starts hearing what at first he thinks is the stuffed bear in the bar's voice..........
As it turns out somehow a dead realtor named Alan has ended up in his head. Alan wants Ruddy to find out who and why he was killed.
With a cast of..well weird characters this book doesn't slow down for a minute. I loved it.
Ruddy isn't a perfect guy, but to me he is frigging awesome. He has a sidekick of the world's laziest Bassett Hound for crying out loud. He is going on to my list of book boyfriends.
"So you punch the guy out a couple of days after his father died," Alan translated for me after we left Milt's office.
"Well I didn't know that at the time," I replied peevishly. "Otherwise I would have let him shoot me."
This book is first person narrative but it is actually perfect for this book. The dialogue between Ruddy and Alan in his head is done perfectly. I actually hope for a sequel on this one.
I've got to quit reading good books and rating them highly..People won't know who I am.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2015
Ruddy McCann's life was pretty sucky even before he started hearing a voice in his head. Since that career in the NFL thing didn't pan out, he's been working as a repo man and bouncer in his sister's bar. He didn't think it was possible, but things are going to get a whole lot worse.
The voice - who is it? What does it want?
Turns out, the voice has a name - Alan, and he's not any happier about the situation than Ruddy. As he astutely observes, "I'm a man trapped in a man's body."
This, of course, turns out to be something akin to having Felix Unger and Oscar Madison try to inhabit the same brain, and translates into pages and pages of merriment for the reader.
There are a lot of things going on here. Ruddy's suddenly trying to solve a murder, while figuring out who's sending bad checks to his feeble-minded buddy AND dealing with his sister's new beau's shady credit card scheme. The author manages to keep all plates deftly spinning, so three cheers for that.
My favorite bits were the repos and even more, the attempted repos. As Ruddy puts it, being a repo man requires "nerves of stupidity", and that is well demonstrated here. One repo turns into a repeated gag which had one of THE BEST conclusions EVER. It also provided the BEST LAUGH I've had in ages!
Oh, yeah - there's also a lovable elderly dog
Paws down, this is a winner.
April 27, 2015
Thank you Pamela for the recommendation. I loved the quirks of this story. Different than any book I can recall reading before. Kept me interested from start to the finish! So far this my favorite book that I read in 2015. Took me longer than normal to read,because I only could get in small print and my tired,old eyes need bright light which I don't have at home! I highly recommend this book if you have a quirky sense of humor!
January 6, 2025
Ruddy McCann steals cars “legitimately” for a living. He is a “repo man.” And, one night he has a dream in which he believes he sees himself dead. But what actually happens is that suddenly he is hearing in his head the voice of Alan Lottner, the actual dead man.
So, is Ruddy going crazy?
And of course, as readers we are curious about how these two characters could possibly have ended up together. One person alive. And, one person a “dead man’s voice” in the alive person’s body.
So, what do we as readers think or want to happen?
Well, once we suspend disbelief, readers will most likely want Ruddy to find out, was there really a person named Alan Lottner, who was murdered? Sounds logical, right?
And, of course, if Alan Lottner was murdered, who murdered him and why? And, maybe while he was at it, could someone explain how his voice ended up in Ruddy’s head? Because, as long as his voice was going to be in his head, he might as well make himself useful and help solve his murder.
Not too complicated, right?!
This is not a typical Cameron novel. If you have read Cameron before, readers have been treated to stories from a dog’s point of view. So, having a repo man as an unlikely hero, in a small town, seems a rather interesting direction for this author. We can still count on a dog in the story. In this case, it is Ruddy’s dog, Jake, even if he plays a lesser role. A rather easy-going dog that doesn’t like to go on walks.
This story also features a kooky cast of characters in Cameron’s first mystery outing. With, definitely an odd-pairing of Ruddy and Alan. For anyone who enjoys a sense of humor, likes a different quirky take on a murder mystery, with a dash of romance, this might be a fun, quick read.
So, is Ruddy going crazy?
And of course, as readers we are curious about how these two characters could possibly have ended up together. One person alive. And, one person a “dead man’s voice” in the alive person’s body.
So, what do we as readers think or want to happen?
Well, once we suspend disbelief, readers will most likely want Ruddy to find out, was there really a person named Alan Lottner, who was murdered? Sounds logical, right?
And, of course, if Alan Lottner was murdered, who murdered him and why? And, maybe while he was at it, could someone explain how his voice ended up in Ruddy’s head? Because, as long as his voice was going to be in his head, he might as well make himself useful and help solve his murder.
Not too complicated, right?!
This is not a typical Cameron novel. If you have read Cameron before, readers have been treated to stories from a dog’s point of view. So, having a repo man as an unlikely hero, in a small town, seems a rather interesting direction for this author. We can still count on a dog in the story. In this case, it is Ruddy’s dog, Jake, even if he plays a lesser role. A rather easy-going dog that doesn’t like to go on walks.
This story also features a kooky cast of characters in Cameron’s first mystery outing. With, definitely an odd-pairing of Ruddy and Alan. For anyone who enjoys a sense of humor, likes a different quirky take on a murder mystery, with a dash of romance, this might be a fun, quick read.
November 7, 2015
Murder, mystery, romance and throw in a lovable lazy dog and a stuffed bear and you have The Midnight Plan of The Repo Man! I especially enjoyed the small town setting and local characters! I really hope there is a sequel and definitely look forward to reading more from W. Bruce Cameron!
August 24, 2015
How fun to find a recreational read that grabs the best elements from Carl Hiaasen for his nutty socially challenged characters; Michael Connelly for his down-on-his-prospects persona-as-protagonist; Garth Stein for giving a dog a porthole view of our self-deprecating character (albeit not in dog-speak); and even Tom Robbins for back/foreground characters like a stuffed bear, a guard goose and not least of all, a central character who is only alive in someone's head.
If you enjoy any of those authors for sleek, smart style with a good dash of frivolity to tell a tale of mystery and mayhem with a crime-solving agenda by a flawed yet compassionate character, read this book.
I'm out to scout more of Mr W Bruce Cameron's works which historically seem to have a dog in the title. I'm assured they promise to be anything but.
If you enjoy any of those authors for sleek, smart style with a good dash of frivolity to tell a tale of mystery and mayhem with a crime-solving agenda by a flawed yet compassionate character, read this book.
I'm out to scout more of Mr W Bruce Cameron's works which historically seem to have a dog in the title. I'm assured they promise to be anything but.
December 27, 2014
I absolutely loved this book, which came as a total surprise to me. It was up there as one of the best books I read this year. The plot is pretty odd: our main character, Ruddy, is a repo man who deals with some unsavory characters. He gives a lot of his earnings to the family bar that he and his sister Becky inherited after their parents passed away. One night, while in said bar, he begins to hear a voice in his head. The voice of a man named Alan who claims he was murdered. Ruddy decides to figure out who killed Alan and to try to bring this crime to justice. We are treated in this novel to a plethora of fun and lovable side characters. Almost every character is memorable and brought to live expertly by the author. In particular, I enjoyed the characters of Jimmy, as well as Katie. This is a good, solid read that I would recommend to anyone!
November 26, 2018
Holy cow! What a great book! This is the first book I have read by this author and now I’m hooked. I love a book that makes me laugh out loud and has me biting my nails and staying up late to finish it even though I have to get up early for work. The idea of having a dead guy in your body talking to you ~ where did he get this idea?? And the dead guy’s name was Alan. My husband Alan, died last year and I kept thinking, “Why can’t this happen to me??” Anyway... I absolutely LOVED this book. Very unique. Very funny. A+ with extra gold stars for using the name Alan.
June 17, 2015
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/a-re...
The hero’s journey is one of the oldest stories that we tell. There have been endless variations on that theme; a multitude of takes on the idea. And yet, so many storytellers find ways to keep that seemingly ageless idea fresh.
Introducing a flawed hero into the equation is one way to do it. Finding a way to put a kink in the paths usually traveled is another. And if you can do both, well…then you’ve got something interesting.
That’s what W. Bruce Cameron has done with his new novel “The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man”.
Ruddy McCann is a classic example of a small-town might-have-been. A high school and college football star, Ruddy’s life instantly came unraveled following the events of a single tragic night. His NFL dreams crushed, Ruddy makes his living as a repo man in his tiny hometown of Kalkaska, Michigan; he’s also the part-time bouncer at the local bar that his parents owned and his sister runs. It’s not a great life, but it’s a life with which Ruddy has come to terms.
Everything changes, however, when the voices start.
One voice, actually - a voice that introduces itself as Alan Lottner and claims to be a real (albeit dead) person, a realtor from a nearby town. Alan also believes that he was murdered and demands that Ruddy track down his killers.
Meanwhile, there’s a new girl – and potential love interest - that has entered the picture. Additionally, Ruddy is having some issues at work; he’s training the boss’s nephew in the business and dealing with a particularly elusive target. He’s even feeling some friction between himself and his sister. And all the while, there’s a voice in his head telling to clean up his act, deal with his issues and, oh yeah, solve a murder.
But hey – at least he’s got his dog.
There’s a wonderful sense of expansiveness that permeates this book, despite its small scale. On paper, the distance traveled is fairly minimal - the action takes place in a relatively tiny chunk of central Michigan. But that small-town feel is a large part of what makes this book tick; anyone who has lived in a small town – especially an isolated small town – understands how that sense of isolation can steadily elongate the miles and warp one’s perception and perspective.
Ultimately, “The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man” belongs to Ruddy McCann. He’s an unconventional hero to say the least; he’s quick to anger and prone to rash decisions. Following the death of his singular dream, he has been content to simply float along in life’s current and travel the path of least resistance. He’s also smarter than he lets on, kinder than he’d ever admit and a hell of a lot of fun to get to know – but since he’s shut himself off from the world, no one ever meets the real Ruddy.
But when Alan Lottner moves in and a buddy comedy breaks out in his cerebral cortex, the interactions between the two of them bring out the best in Ruddy. The repo man is firmly pushed toward becoming the man he should be, despite his efforts to remain stagnant and static. Alan’s presence pushes and prods Ruddy toward a new life – a life he never would have considered without outside (or inside) intervention.
The cast that orbits Ruddy is made up of a wonderfully vivid assortment of oddballs; small-town weirdos who somehow manage to turn provincialism into kindness. So many of them are possessed of a gentle lunacy and/or an utter guilelessness that makes them all quite charming - the dim-witted ladies’ man; the goofy get-rich-quick scheming couple; the tack-sharp local lawman; you name it. More than anything, Kalkaska and its surrounding towns feel like a slightly skewed Lake Woebegone, populated with delightfully-tweaked archetypes and colorful characters.
All of this comes alive thanks to Cameron. His quirky characters bounce back and forth across the rural Michigan landscape with abandon, brought into vivid detail thanks to crispness of prose and clarity of voice – Ruddy sports a wonderfully idiosyncratic tone throughout. Cameron also shows a particular knack for capturing the nuance of interpersonal relationships, along with a keen sense of the absurd.
“A Midnight Plan for the Repo Man” is a lot of things. It’s a ghost story and a love story, a mystery and a comedy. It’s sharp and sweet and, ultimately, a very good read.
The hero’s journey is one of the oldest stories that we tell. There have been endless variations on that theme; a multitude of takes on the idea. And yet, so many storytellers find ways to keep that seemingly ageless idea fresh.
Introducing a flawed hero into the equation is one way to do it. Finding a way to put a kink in the paths usually traveled is another. And if you can do both, well…then you’ve got something interesting.
That’s what W. Bruce Cameron has done with his new novel “The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man”.
Ruddy McCann is a classic example of a small-town might-have-been. A high school and college football star, Ruddy’s life instantly came unraveled following the events of a single tragic night. His NFL dreams crushed, Ruddy makes his living as a repo man in his tiny hometown of Kalkaska, Michigan; he’s also the part-time bouncer at the local bar that his parents owned and his sister runs. It’s not a great life, but it’s a life with which Ruddy has come to terms.
Everything changes, however, when the voices start.
One voice, actually - a voice that introduces itself as Alan Lottner and claims to be a real (albeit dead) person, a realtor from a nearby town. Alan also believes that he was murdered and demands that Ruddy track down his killers.
Meanwhile, there’s a new girl – and potential love interest - that has entered the picture. Additionally, Ruddy is having some issues at work; he’s training the boss’s nephew in the business and dealing with a particularly elusive target. He’s even feeling some friction between himself and his sister. And all the while, there’s a voice in his head telling to clean up his act, deal with his issues and, oh yeah, solve a murder.
But hey – at least he’s got his dog.
There’s a wonderful sense of expansiveness that permeates this book, despite its small scale. On paper, the distance traveled is fairly minimal - the action takes place in a relatively tiny chunk of central Michigan. But that small-town feel is a large part of what makes this book tick; anyone who has lived in a small town – especially an isolated small town – understands how that sense of isolation can steadily elongate the miles and warp one’s perception and perspective.
Ultimately, “The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man” belongs to Ruddy McCann. He’s an unconventional hero to say the least; he’s quick to anger and prone to rash decisions. Following the death of his singular dream, he has been content to simply float along in life’s current and travel the path of least resistance. He’s also smarter than he lets on, kinder than he’d ever admit and a hell of a lot of fun to get to know – but since he’s shut himself off from the world, no one ever meets the real Ruddy.
But when Alan Lottner moves in and a buddy comedy breaks out in his cerebral cortex, the interactions between the two of them bring out the best in Ruddy. The repo man is firmly pushed toward becoming the man he should be, despite his efforts to remain stagnant and static. Alan’s presence pushes and prods Ruddy toward a new life – a life he never would have considered without outside (or inside) intervention.
The cast that orbits Ruddy is made up of a wonderfully vivid assortment of oddballs; small-town weirdos who somehow manage to turn provincialism into kindness. So many of them are possessed of a gentle lunacy and/or an utter guilelessness that makes them all quite charming - the dim-witted ladies’ man; the goofy get-rich-quick scheming couple; the tack-sharp local lawman; you name it. More than anything, Kalkaska and its surrounding towns feel like a slightly skewed Lake Woebegone, populated with delightfully-tweaked archetypes and colorful characters.
All of this comes alive thanks to Cameron. His quirky characters bounce back and forth across the rural Michigan landscape with abandon, brought into vivid detail thanks to crispness of prose and clarity of voice – Ruddy sports a wonderfully idiosyncratic tone throughout. Cameron also shows a particular knack for capturing the nuance of interpersonal relationships, along with a keen sense of the absurd.
“A Midnight Plan for the Repo Man” is a lot of things. It’s a ghost story and a love story, a mystery and a comedy. It’s sharp and sweet and, ultimately, a very good read.
October 18, 2025
DNF. could not really read a book about a Repo Man who felt he had another person living inside his body and that the person was talking to him.
October 24, 2014
Five stars for absolute fun. Ruddy McCann, fallen football star, disappointment to his family and not real proud of himself, is eking out a living towing away bank repos. Unsurprisingly, he has to be quite creative in his tactics, since people who possess cars they quit paying for tend to be less than cooperative about giving them back. As if things are bleak enough for Ruddy, he starts hearing voices in his head. No, make that just one voice. And the voice has a name. Alan. Alan claims to have been a murder victim and wants Ruddy to find out who did it and bring them to justice. Well, isn't that just peachy? What unfolds from this unlikely scenario (I know, that's an understatement of the large kind) is nothing short of hysterical, but against all odds it's not silly. It's very funny, and at times even very touching. You'll just have to read it to find out what I mean.
September 18, 2017
I bought this book based on title alone. I just had a feeling about it. I wish I was as lucky with lotto tickets.
Ruddy is a repo man in a small town. His sister owns the local bar & grill where he also works as a bouncer. After a very vivid dream, Ruddy discovers he has a voice in his head. Not an inner dialogue but the voice of a murder victim. This voice ultimately gets him to discover what happened and who killed him.
It sounds far fetched when I tell it but it worked perfectly in the story. I torn through it in a day and was a bit sad that it ended. Ruddy is a good guy who's had some bad things happen to him. The cast of characters were a joy to get to know. What a crazy little town.
Ruddy is a repo man in a small town. His sister owns the local bar & grill where he also works as a bouncer. After a very vivid dream, Ruddy discovers he has a voice in his head. Not an inner dialogue but the voice of a murder victim. This voice ultimately gets him to discover what happened and who killed him.
It sounds far fetched when I tell it but it worked perfectly in the story. I torn through it in a day and was a bit sad that it ended. Ruddy is a good guy who's had some bad things happen to him. The cast of characters were a joy to get to know. What a crazy little town.
February 6, 2017
GO GET THIS BOOK! I loved it. A likeable, funny hero, heart pounding action, and surprisingly tender romance. One very unusual element (no spoilers) adds to a well plotted and multi faceted mystery. Just a highly enjoyable book by a great writer. I had picked up a second unrelated book by this author (the Dog Master) and began it the minute I finished this one...and ended up staying up waaay too late reading. Apparently I have found a new favorite author. And the movie based on his book A Dog's Purpose is coming to theatres soon. Don't miss out on this author! Five enthusiastic stars.
February 11, 2016
This book was extremely hard to get into. The narrative kept getting ahead of the plot, creating tensions that couldn't have existed quite yet, which just made it confusing. For example, Ruddy would pull really strange pranks on Alan, but Alan hadn't been around long enough to be either a nuisance or be missed when he initially was "asleep".
There was too much put into subpar characters and the whole book just didn't feel believable. I don't feel the ending was satisfactory and Alan's death (second) hurt it. Death itself already created loose ends; why did it need to tack on a second set?
The main plot kept getting pushed aside by subplots for characters who were just annoying and frankly foolish. Jimmy made repetitive stupid decisions and even after knowing it was stupid he continued doing it. Wilma and Claude were just a meaningless distraction and she should have left him the second he thought this scheme of theirs would allow him to stray. And lastly the entire Becky and Kermit thing was just so far from being believable that I found myself wanting someone to put some sense into Becky ' s character. I could understand one of these moronic characters (Jimmy and his subplot could stay), but with more than half of them being this way it was just hair - pullingly bad.
Ruddy is the worst Repo Man probably ever. He didn't successfully get one car without it getting damaged in one way or another, so why would Milt then give him money with all of his screw-ups?
The best part about this book was the Prologue. It was for the most part downhill from there. Alan at least had an interesting voice and was for the most part concise and thought out. Ruddy was probably meant to be the complete opposite, but then you have a narrative that is clashing with the POV of the main character, who often tries to be funny, but he just isn't.
I wish there had been more unraveling of the mystery to Alan's death and that Ruddy didn't have to keep worrying about all of the subplot elements rather than the main plot. The answer in the end just was far too simple for a puzzle that really doesn't add up in the end. I wanted more from this novel. It wrapped up too fast when it didn't spend enough time building the main plot's foundation.
There was too much put into subpar characters and the whole book just didn't feel believable. I don't feel the ending was satisfactory and Alan's death (second) hurt it. Death itself already created loose ends; why did it need to tack on a second set?
The main plot kept getting pushed aside by subplots for characters who were just annoying and frankly foolish. Jimmy made repetitive stupid decisions and even after knowing it was stupid he continued doing it. Wilma and Claude were just a meaningless distraction and she should have left him the second he thought this scheme of theirs would allow him to stray. And lastly the entire Becky and Kermit thing was just so far from being believable that I found myself wanting someone to put some sense into Becky ' s character. I could understand one of these moronic characters (Jimmy and his subplot could stay), but with more than half of them being this way it was just hair - pullingly bad.
Ruddy is the worst Repo Man probably ever. He didn't successfully get one car without it getting damaged in one way or another, so why would Milt then give him money with all of his screw-ups?
The best part about this book was the Prologue. It was for the most part downhill from there. Alan at least had an interesting voice and was for the most part concise and thought out. Ruddy was probably meant to be the complete opposite, but then you have a narrative that is clashing with the POV of the main character, who often tries to be funny, but he just isn't.
I wish there had been more unraveling of the mystery to Alan's death and that Ruddy didn't have to keep worrying about all of the subplot elements rather than the main plot. The answer in the end just was far too simple for a puzzle that really doesn't add up in the end. I wanted more from this novel. It wrapped up too fast when it didn't spend enough time building the main plot's foundation.
November 12, 2014
Since I read two of Cameron's other books, (A Dog's Journey, A Dog's Purpose), and liked both, I thought I would read this one. I certainly am glad I did. I really like the story line, the characters, and the some what humorous tale of the Repo Man. It starts out simple enough with Ruddy McCann trying to make a living stealing other peoples vehicles in the middle of the night. He strictly works on commission to the lien holders of said vehicles. Some repos give him more trouble than others. Take the one involving a goose named Doris.
One night Ruddy has a very disturbing dream where he witnesses a murder of a Real Estate Agent. He shakes it off as having eaten something that didn't agree with him, but a few days later the disembodied voice of said agent is now talking to him in his head. Said voice, Alan, wants Ruddy to help him find his killers. Alan has no idea who they are, only what they look like. Then there is Ruddy's sister Becky who owns a bar that Ruddy works part time as a bouncer. There is a cast of characters that visit the bar and cause their own brand of mayhem. Last but not least it wouldn't be a Cameron book if it didn't have a dog. Ruddy's dog Jake is a basset hound who's favorite thing is to lay around and sleep.
One night Ruddy has a very disturbing dream where he witnesses a murder of a Real Estate Agent. He shakes it off as having eaten something that didn't agree with him, but a few days later the disembodied voice of said agent is now talking to him in his head. Said voice, Alan, wants Ruddy to help him find his killers. Alan has no idea who they are, only what they look like. Then there is Ruddy's sister Becky who owns a bar that Ruddy works part time as a bouncer. There is a cast of characters that visit the bar and cause their own brand of mayhem. Last but not least it wouldn't be a Cameron book if it didn't have a dog. Ruddy's dog Jake is a basset hound who's favorite thing is to lay around and sleep.
December 26, 2014
Full review at Smoke & Mirrors: http://books-n-music.blogspot.com/201.... Excellent book! Great mystery! Nice little romance! Like Bruce, I will use as many exclamation points as I wish!! (From the acknowledgements section... :)) Ooh, the bad guys were really bad! There is a sequel in the works, too! I like Ruddy. I really liked Alan. Albert Einstein Croft and Doris! That was something similar to what I might find in a Stephanie Plum novel! :)
Cameron's humor appears throughout and really heightens the enjoyment of this book. Though there are many tense and suspenseful moments, it ends up okay in the end! Katie is quite the hero. I was glad I had read the introductory e-short story, The Midnight Dog of the Repo Man, so I knew a bit more about Ruddy and Jake. Very anxious to see where Katie, Jake, Ruddy, Becky, Kermit (no, NOT a frog!), and Jimmy all end up in the next novel! Fun stuff! Good read!
Cameron's humor appears throughout and really heightens the enjoyment of this book. Though there are many tense and suspenseful moments, it ends up okay in the end! Katie is quite the hero. I was glad I had read the introductory e-short story, The Midnight Dog of the Repo Man, so I knew a bit more about Ruddy and Jake. Very anxious to see where Katie, Jake, Ruddy, Becky, Kermit (no, NOT a frog!), and Jimmy all end up in the next novel! Fun stuff! Good read!
November 11, 2014
LOVED this book. So funny and a true page turner. The characters seemed so real, and though it made me laugh out loud, I also found it deeply touching, especially the part where the father gets to hold his daughter. I won't plot spoil and say more than that but it was just beautiful. I love this writer and I love that he's in a new genre. There's a dog, so I was happy. It's perfect! Can't wait for this to be a series! This replaces Carl Hiassen for me, whom I loved, until he kept writing the same book over and over again.
November 15, 2014
Man I loved this book. I heard it was funny but people always say that and then I never laugh out loud even once. I laughed a TON at this, and was totally caught up in the story and the characters. Totally recommend this one and I'm in for the series, because I like to read that way. Jack Reacher is my favorite hero of these kinds of books, but I have to say, Ruddy McCann the Repo Man might give Jack a run for his money, because Jack isn't funny, and Ruddy is!
April 30, 2015
I work in a public library and books I want and hope to read someday are always coming across my desk. On a whim I took this one home and, boy oh boy, what a find. This book was great...an easy and quick read, I wasn't ready for it to end. A refreshing mystery with a little family and romance thrown in...oh and don't forget Jake the dog!
November 2, 2015
Want to read a funny suspense novel full of quirky, on the edge, good people characters, full of twists and turns,and you can't put it down? Read this! What a joy to read and so different from The Dog Master, which I also loved. Apparently, a sequel is planned, which is great news.
May 25, 2015
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man is the perfect rainy day book. It’s filled with an odd cast of characters, dry humor, irony, cute romance, and packed with action. In my two sittings of reading, I burst out laughing multiple times.
Ruddy McCann’s the star of the show. A former football player with high hopes for NFL fame, his life comes crashing down after an accident. His dreams of stardom evaporate, and he’s stuck in the middle of nowhere, Michigan, as a repo man/bouncer for his sister Becky’s bar. I related to his feelings of isolation as I’m from suburbia, Wisconsin. His life has made him cynical, until he begins hearing a voice who he begrudgingly befriends. The voice promptly tells Ruddy he’s not psychotic, contrary to popular belief. The voice says he’s really a person stuck inside him, a dead realtor named Alan who’s seeking revenge.
Thus begins a whirlwind adventure. The first person narration works perfectly here, as Ruddy learns to let the past go while Alan clings on. As Alan and Ruddy banter throughout the book, so much happens, but W. Bruce Cameron balances his hefty plot with humor and heart. Ruddy attempts to train his boss’s nephew Kermit the ways of getting people back on their feet (literally) through repossession, and the scenes between Katie and Ruddy as their friendship blossoms are thoughtful. Plus, dull-witted yet wise Jimmy and Ruddy’s lazy but loyal dog Jake round out the cast.
Ruddy’s not perfect. He angers easily, his filter is limited. Each character is flawed and therefore achingly real. I rooted for Ruddy, Katie, Jimmy, and Becky and thus could not put the book down. These oddball characters, along with the expansive yet sequestered setting and sometimes dark humor, reminded me of Fargo.
Life pushes Ruddy out of complacency, and he’s one of the most complex characters I've read all year, making The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man one of my favorite books of 2015! Ultimately, we learn that heroes aren't always knights in shining armor. Sometimes, they take the form of the repo man.
Ruddy McCann’s the star of the show. A former football player with high hopes for NFL fame, his life comes crashing down after an accident. His dreams of stardom evaporate, and he’s stuck in the middle of nowhere, Michigan, as a repo man/bouncer for his sister Becky’s bar. I related to his feelings of isolation as I’m from suburbia, Wisconsin. His life has made him cynical, until he begins hearing a voice who he begrudgingly befriends. The voice promptly tells Ruddy he’s not psychotic, contrary to popular belief. The voice says he’s really a person stuck inside him, a dead realtor named Alan who’s seeking revenge.
Thus begins a whirlwind adventure. The first person narration works perfectly here, as Ruddy learns to let the past go while Alan clings on. As Alan and Ruddy banter throughout the book, so much happens, but W. Bruce Cameron balances his hefty plot with humor and heart. Ruddy attempts to train his boss’s nephew Kermit the ways of getting people back on their feet (literally) through repossession, and the scenes between Katie and Ruddy as their friendship blossoms are thoughtful. Plus, dull-witted yet wise Jimmy and Ruddy’s lazy but loyal dog Jake round out the cast.
Ruddy’s not perfect. He angers easily, his filter is limited. Each character is flawed and therefore achingly real. I rooted for Ruddy, Katie, Jimmy, and Becky and thus could not put the book down. These oddball characters, along with the expansive yet sequestered setting and sometimes dark humor, reminded me of Fargo.
Life pushes Ruddy out of complacency, and he’s one of the most complex characters I've read all year, making The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man one of my favorite books of 2015! Ultimately, we learn that heroes aren't always knights in shining armor. Sometimes, they take the form of the repo man.
March 23, 2017
This is the warmest and most engaging and laugh-out-loud-funny books I've read since I don't know when. Main character Ruddy (short for Ruddick) is a former college football player who was on the verge of a Heismann Trophy before fortune flopped on him and he winds up being a bouncer in his sister's bar when he's not skulking about the woods looking for ways to earn bucks by towing away vehicles for the finance company. When he begins to hear a voice in his head, and that voice introduces himself as "Alan," I dropped my Kindle, I was laughing so hard. It's serious business, though, these brushes with people with guns while Ruddy deals with "Alan." Cameron skillfully manages this off-the-wall premise and weaves it into a delightful tale.
March 6, 2022
I'm afraid.
This book was a "blind date with a book" from my local library. The book was wrapped in brown paper with only a few things about it written on the front. Supernatural, mystery, funny, off-beat, banter-filled. Well, my mind immediately went to Darynda Jones. I was wrong and almost didn't read the book because the cover did not speak to me. I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
Ruddick "Ruddy" McCann was an all star football player slated to wow the NFL. A single slip of judgment destroyed that dream. Now he works part time as a repo man and as a bartender/bouncer in the bar his parents left to his sister. He suddenly starts hearing a voice in his head and thinks he is losing his mind. The voice turns out to be a former realtor, Alan Lottner who tries to convince Ruddy he was murdered.
This book had so many great moments. Rudy is not the best repo man. He gets attacked by a duck named Doris, he is saddled with his employer's nephew, Kermit, and he has feelings for a woman he just met who happens to be Alan's daughter. Alan's reaction when he sees his baby girl all grown up is heart wrenching.
The interaction between Ruddy and Alan is great. Alan often tries to be the voice of reason and Ruddy just barrels through situations without a lot of thought. Ruddy is a true and loyal friend to jimmy. Jimmy is a handsome, lovable screw up that you can't help but like. Ruddy's dog Jake is great. I love how he hates to do anything that doesn't involve food or sleep.
Ruddy becomes a prime suspect in Alan's death after he goes to the police. The workings of small town law enforcement is not ready to hear about crazy dreams let alone voices.
The mystery was very well done. The culprits are revealed fairly early but the reason behind the murder takes time.
This book is well worth the read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book was a "blind date with a book" from my local library. The book was wrapped in brown paper with only a few things about it written on the front. Supernatural, mystery, funny, off-beat, banter-filled. Well, my mind immediately went to Darynda Jones. I was wrong and almost didn't read the book because the cover did not speak to me. I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
Ruddick "Ruddy" McCann was an all star football player slated to wow the NFL. A single slip of judgment destroyed that dream. Now he works part time as a repo man and as a bartender/bouncer in the bar his parents left to his sister. He suddenly starts hearing a voice in his head and thinks he is losing his mind. The voice turns out to be a former realtor, Alan Lottner who tries to convince Ruddy he was murdered.
This book had so many great moments. Rudy is not the best repo man. He gets attacked by a duck named Doris, he is saddled with his employer's nephew, Kermit, and he has feelings for a woman he just met who happens to be Alan's daughter. Alan's reaction when he sees his baby girl all grown up is heart wrenching.
The interaction between Ruddy and Alan is great. Alan often tries to be the voice of reason and Ruddy just barrels through situations without a lot of thought. Ruddy is a true and loyal friend to jimmy. Jimmy is a handsome, lovable screw up that you can't help but like. Ruddy's dog Jake is great. I love how he hates to do anything that doesn't involve food or sleep.
Ruddy becomes a prime suspect in Alan's death after he goes to the police. The workings of small town law enforcement is not ready to hear about crazy dreams let alone voices.
The mystery was very well done. The culprits are revealed fairly early but the reason behind the murder takes time.
This book is well worth the read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 13, 2021
Ruddy McCann is named the Repo man with the heart of gold by one of the characters in this light, humourous crime story. It's fairly appropriate assessment of the character, despite some of his need to control things around him.
At the start of this story, Ruddy has a dream of being murdered, then later starts hearing a voice in his head, who it turns out, is a murdered man, Alan Lottner. The two develop an amusing and somewhat argumentative relationship as Alan forces Ruddy to investigate his death.
Ruddy and his sister Becky also have a few financial concerns, with their being at risk of losing the family’s bar, and Rudy’s recent repo assignments going south, partially due to his repo “assistant” Kermit being almost completely useless. Kermit ingratiates himself with Becky, meanwhile, while convincing her to try out a somewhat dubious plan to make money for the bar.
There’s a lot going on, between the repo assignments, murder investigation, and money-making efforts. We see Ruddy struggle with all the changes happening in his life, as well as police scrutiny (being a former convict) during his and Alan's sleuthing, and it's interesting watching Ruddy learn to et out of his own way at times to figure out how to deal with the problems.
This is a light and easy-going book, even with the multiple murders and other criminal and/or shady things going on. Jake remains sweet, and a little slower and older, while Ruddy’s and Becky’s lives are thankfully in a better place by this entertaining book’s end.
At the start of this story, Ruddy has a dream of being murdered, then later starts hearing a voice in his head, who it turns out, is a murdered man, Alan Lottner. The two develop an amusing and somewhat argumentative relationship as Alan forces Ruddy to investigate his death.
Ruddy and his sister Becky also have a few financial concerns, with their being at risk of losing the family’s bar, and Rudy’s recent repo assignments going south, partially due to his repo “assistant” Kermit being almost completely useless. Kermit ingratiates himself with Becky, meanwhile, while convincing her to try out a somewhat dubious plan to make money for the bar.
There’s a lot going on, between the repo assignments, murder investigation, and money-making efforts. We see Ruddy struggle with all the changes happening in his life, as well as police scrutiny (being a former convict) during his and Alan's sleuthing, and it's interesting watching Ruddy learn to et out of his own way at times to figure out how to deal with the problems.
This is a light and easy-going book, even with the multiple murders and other criminal and/or shady things going on. Jake remains sweet, and a little slower and older, while Ruddy’s and Becky’s lives are thankfully in a better place by this entertaining book’s end.
November 8, 2014
Just okay!
Having liked The Dogs Of Christmas and loved Emory's Gift, and after considering A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey to be two of my all-time favorite books, I was really looking forward to reading W. Bruce Cameron's latest book, The Midnight Plan Of The Repo Man.
Bottom line for me is that while this book has an entertaining plot with a decent amount of humor, along with a good number of entertaining, albeit, quirky characters, it had nothing about it to make me consider it to be anything more than just an okay read. Unlike Cameron's other books that I read that 'stayed with me' long after reading them, The Midnight Plan Of The Repo Man is a book that, to me, is easily forgettable. It was okay during the time periods I was reading it, but at no time did I ever feel compelled to rush back to reading it during the periods I was doing something else.
I am not sorry that I read this book but, on the other hand, it is not a book that I'd recommend you rush out to read; as it is just an average book. Cameron is likely planning a sequel to The Midnight Plan Of The Repo Man but it is very unlikely that I will be reading it.
Having liked The Dogs Of Christmas and loved Emory's Gift, and after considering A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey to be two of my all-time favorite books, I was really looking forward to reading W. Bruce Cameron's latest book, The Midnight Plan Of The Repo Man.
Bottom line for me is that while this book has an entertaining plot with a decent amount of humor, along with a good number of entertaining, albeit, quirky characters, it had nothing about it to make me consider it to be anything more than just an okay read. Unlike Cameron's other books that I read that 'stayed with me' long after reading them, The Midnight Plan Of The Repo Man is a book that, to me, is easily forgettable. It was okay during the time periods I was reading it, but at no time did I ever feel compelled to rush back to reading it during the periods I was doing something else.
I am not sorry that I read this book but, on the other hand, it is not a book that I'd recommend you rush out to read; as it is just an average book. Cameron is likely planning a sequel to The Midnight Plan Of The Repo Man but it is very unlikely that I will be reading it.
June 28, 2015
3.5 stars. This was a lot of fun, even though the dog didn’t feature as much as I expected him to. I’ve never read anything by this author before, and I was pleasantly surprised. This is decidedly heartwarming, but it’s also funny and suspenseful.
It’s more of a comedic crime novel than a murder mystery. Ruddy’s repo man adventures are slightly reminiscent of Stephanie Plum’s bail bond escapades, except that Ruddy is actually pretty good at his job. The voice in Ruddy’s head is the single fantasy element in the book, and it works quite well.
I enjoyed the first half of the book a little more than the second half, because I liked the setup and the introduction of the characters more than the action scenes at the end. I especially liked Jimmy, because I have known people who would do the exact same thing with those mysterious checks.
It’s more of a comedic crime novel than a murder mystery. Ruddy’s repo man adventures are slightly reminiscent of Stephanie Plum’s bail bond escapades, except that Ruddy is actually pretty good at his job. The voice in Ruddy’s head is the single fantasy element in the book, and it works quite well.
I enjoyed the first half of the book a little more than the second half, because I liked the setup and the introduction of the characters more than the action scenes at the end. I especially liked Jimmy, because I have known people who would do the exact same thing with those mysterious checks.
January 31, 2016
Good book.. I read it on long weekend on a Sunday night in 4 hours. I liked it. The story was fun and quirky with a mystery. The main character is a mess in a real way, not in the disheveled leading guy way, but in a real, not terribly charming, life falling apart, towing a line between doing the right thing and knowing the right thing. I like his odd sense of ethics and I felt safe that nothing ridiculous would befall him. In a book that is refreshing. The author walks the character along through an interesting path without some ridiculous plot twist or overarching out of character moves. I don't know if I would keep going with the other books, but it was enjoyable and well worth wiling away an evening. I had fun finishing it.
February 11, 2015
There were so many things I loved about this book, I really don't know where to start. First of all, the story was great. Ruddy is a down on his luck repo man and part-time bouncer at the family bar. Murphy's Law could use Ruddy as a poster child. Throughout the book, he gets into all kinds of predicaments, including waking one day with the voice of Alan, a man who died 8 years ago, in his head. This books is mainly about solving Alan's murder, and Ruddy spends a large part of the book wondering if he is going to lose his mind, but there are enough side stories going on which make it hard to put the book down.
Next, I loved the characters. Ruddy is so darn likable and even though you are led to believe he has done some wrong things in his past, you can't imagine any of them were done intentionally. He adopted his best friend Jake after finding him in the trunk of one of his repos. A man who loves dogs - way to my heart! Ruddy has a soft spot for his sister Becky, who also drives him crazy, and several other zany characters show up from time to time in the book. However, that is not to say that Ruddy isn't at time irritating himself, and at times I wished someone would just smack him in his head. This doesn't make the book any less enjoyable, it just makes it more real. Cameron created a wonderful world in which these people live, work and interact. I could actually see myself being friends with these people, which may say something about me, but who wouldn't want to get to know a couple constantly trying to get rich quick, an immature guy named Kermit and a goose named Doris.
I own several of Cameron's works and have never read them - I know as dog stories they have to be sad at some point and I have to gear myself up for that. I am so glad I grabbed this book when I saw it at the library. I can see it joining my collection on my bookshelves soon. The very end of the book hinted at another story involving Ruddy, Jake and the rest of the crazy clan and I for one can't wait.
Next, I loved the characters. Ruddy is so darn likable and even though you are led to believe he has done some wrong things in his past, you can't imagine any of them were done intentionally. He adopted his best friend Jake after finding him in the trunk of one of his repos. A man who loves dogs - way to my heart! Ruddy has a soft spot for his sister Becky, who also drives him crazy, and several other zany characters show up from time to time in the book. However, that is not to say that Ruddy isn't at time irritating himself, and at times I wished someone would just smack him in his head. This doesn't make the book any less enjoyable, it just makes it more real. Cameron created a wonderful world in which these people live, work and interact. I could actually see myself being friends with these people, which may say something about me, but who wouldn't want to get to know a couple constantly trying to get rich quick, an immature guy named Kermit and a goose named Doris.
I own several of Cameron's works and have never read them - I know as dog stories they have to be sad at some point and I have to gear myself up for that. I am so glad I grabbed this book when I saw it at the library. I can see it joining my collection on my bookshelves soon. The very end of the book hinted at another story involving Ruddy, Jake and the rest of the crazy clan and I for one can't wait.
November 3, 2014
I have a soft spot for characters who are screw-ups with good hearts, and Ruddy (like the complexion) is exactly that. And he repossesses cars for a living, an occupation no one holds in high esteem. (As an aside, I never understood the contempt for repo men. You promise to pay for a car, you don't pay, you don't return it, it gets taken away. What is so nefarious about that?)
This story by W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog's Purpose among other books, is entertaining and mostly fluffy with a touch of bad guys and bad stuff. The characters are fun to read about. Ruddy did something bad and went to prison – we're told that fairly early on. What he did is not revealed until later in the book but it isn't hard to figure out.
The beginning is wonderfully creepy. And you know those niggling inner voices? Ruddy has one in spades. His inner voice is named Alan.
I loved the not-too-smart character Jimmy, and his and Ruddy's loyalty to one another. And the dog Jake – who could not love Jake, a dog that thinks going for a walk is a chore.
There is a touch of romance, or at least romance desired, but not sappy.
This is an enjoyable book, light but not saccharine, and I will be on the lookout for the promised, yet unnamed sequel.
I was given an advance readers copy of this book for review.
This story by W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog's Purpose among other books, is entertaining and mostly fluffy with a touch of bad guys and bad stuff. The characters are fun to read about. Ruddy did something bad and went to prison – we're told that fairly early on. What he did is not revealed until later in the book but it isn't hard to figure out.
The beginning is wonderfully creepy. And you know those niggling inner voices? Ruddy has one in spades. His inner voice is named Alan.
I loved the not-too-smart character Jimmy, and his and Ruddy's loyalty to one another. And the dog Jake – who could not love Jake, a dog that thinks going for a walk is a chore.
There is a touch of romance, or at least romance desired, but not sappy.
This is an enjoyable book, light but not saccharine, and I will be on the lookout for the promised, yet unnamed sequel.
I was given an advance readers copy of this book for review.
January 17, 2016
I read every page of the book I'm reading, I have to I'm a nerd. All I can say is thank goodness I do otherwise this review would have been full of outrage!
The story should not have ended with so many unanswered questions but after reading the acknowledgements I know there will be future Repo Man books to fill in the blanks - happiness and joy! Now it's just a question of when : )
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man is full of Cameron's trademark wit and well written characters.
Alan has got to be the most effeminate man in all of Kalkaska, Michigan - creased pants, clean freak, yoga practicing, psychic visiting Alan who notices makeup, jewelry and is always considering the feelings of others is the polar opposite of Ruddy, the hothead former football star who's in love with Alan's daughter. Toss in a dim bulb best friend, get rich quick schemes and a guy named Kermit and you've got yourself a funny fast-paced read.
This is the perfect book for fans of Carl Hiasson, Dave Barry and Elmore Leonard.
The story should not have ended with so many unanswered questions but after reading the acknowledgements I know there will be future Repo Man books to fill in the blanks - happiness and joy! Now it's just a question of when : )
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man is full of Cameron's trademark wit and well written characters.
Alan has got to be the most effeminate man in all of Kalkaska, Michigan - creased pants, clean freak, yoga practicing, psychic visiting Alan who notices makeup, jewelry and is always considering the feelings of others is the polar opposite of Ruddy, the hothead former football star who's in love with Alan's daughter. Toss in a dim bulb best friend, get rich quick schemes and a guy named Kermit and you've got yourself a funny fast-paced read.
This is the perfect book for fans of Carl Hiasson, Dave Barry and Elmore Leonard.
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