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John Abernathy #1
The Enigmatologist
Twenty-something, John Abernathy is disillusioned. His job as a private investigator is unfulfilling, and he can’t find work in his chosen field, Enigmatology, the study and design of puzzles. He is about to quit when the National Enquirer calls. A woman in Las Vegas, New Mexico sent them a photo of someone who’s supposed to have died 35 years ago—Elvis Aaron Presley. And they need John to investigate it.
When the Elvis impersonator, Al Leadbelly, is murdered, John investigates, finding Air Force colonel, Alvin Hollister—convinced Leadbelly has information regarding Elvis's death—at the crime scene conducting his own investigation. John discovers great-great-great grandfather's journal—unearthing a conspiracy entwining Elvis, shape-shifting aliens, and Mary Todd Lincoln. Now John must solve Leadbelly's murder and discover if he really was really Elvis, an obsessed fan, or something more.
When the Elvis impersonator, Al Leadbelly, is murdered, John investigates, finding Air Force colonel, Alvin Hollister—convinced Leadbelly has information regarding Elvis's death—at the crime scene conducting his own investigation. John discovers great-great-great grandfather's journal—unearthing a conspiracy entwining Elvis, shape-shifting aliens, and Mary Todd Lincoln. Now John must solve Leadbelly's murder and discover if he really was really Elvis, an obsessed fan, or something more.
403 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2016
16 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Ben Adams
2 books11 followersBen Adams is a San Francisco Bay Area writer. His work has appeared in Everyday Weirdness. His one man show Rockabilly Sasquatch recently ended its historic forty-two year run at the McKinley Theater on Broadway in Prineville, Oregon, a feat made even more remarkable by that fact that Adams was born sixteen years after it opened. His show spawned the hit movie Rockabilly Sasquatch Goes to Mars, and the perennial Christmas special Rockabilly Sasquatch Saves Christmas. He is the author of The Enigmatologist and The Resurrectionist.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 29, 2016
How to give this review without recap or spoilers? For clues, see publisher's blurb. The whole tale is an insanely funny, rolicking groaner full of puns, snarks, memorabilia, and that life-sized velvet painting of Elvis naked! Set primarily in Las Vegas, New Mexico, it is right near Roswell and the Area 51 crowd. If the name and place names don't have you snorting your coffee, the incidents will. There really is a fine plot, and it is well written with believable, interesting characters, and all-too-clear visualization. Twisty!
October 2, 2016
Brilliant--Elvi, ETs and Tabloid Trash. Wish I'd written this.
September 2, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC of this book.
I initially thought I'd give this book a 5-star rating, but I eventually decided against it. Let me explain why. This is one of the coolest contemporary novels I've read this year, in that it's funny, quirky, and has several fantastic characters that have made me read and read, and I would've probably finished the book in one to two days, but... When I was about 70% into the novel, everything started getting cheesier and cheesier. I couldn't buy it anymore. I don't want to give too much detail particularly since The Enigmatologist hasn't even been published yet. One thing I do want to make clear, though. If you're not especially patient (and I'm not!), you'll find it a bit hard to finish the book.
*also published on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley
I initially thought I'd give this book a 5-star rating, but I eventually decided against it. Let me explain why. This is one of the coolest contemporary novels I've read this year, in that it's funny, quirky, and has several fantastic characters that have made me read and read, and I would've probably finished the book in one to two days, but... When I was about 70% into the novel, everything started getting cheesier and cheesier. I couldn't buy it anymore. I don't want to give too much detail particularly since The Enigmatologist hasn't even been published yet. One thing I do want to make clear, though. If you're not especially patient (and I'm not!), you'll find it a bit hard to finish the book.
*also published on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley
April 30, 2016
Thanks to Librarything for a free ecopy of The Enigmatologist.
It all starts with John Abernathy, an enigmatologist turned private eye, on assignment in Las Vegas, New Mexico to verify an Elvis sighting. The Enigmatologist is a fun, light read with action, adventure, mystery, aliens, Elvis sightings, romance, and lots of humour. What a wild ride!
It all starts with John Abernathy, an enigmatologist turned private eye, on assignment in Las Vegas, New Mexico to verify an Elvis sighting. The Enigmatologist is a fun, light read with action, adventure, mystery, aliens, Elvis sightings, romance, and lots of humour. What a wild ride!
May 19, 2016
The Enigmatologist: Ben Adams
Many people were enamored with the sound and songs of Elvis Aaron Presley from the first time he took center stage. His performances were unique, his sound was different and he became more than just an icon to the public but a symbol of change in the music business. Throughout his career many found him mysterious, some thought that he might have unusual powers and others just wanted to be like him or him. Imagine hundreds of people lining up to see if they could try out as his body double and stand on stage pretending to be Elvis and living an unusual dream. This novel centers on a single photograph that someone took thinking she spotted Elvis in the present and hoping it was authentic and that the King as he was referred to was alive.
John Abernathy is in his twenties and living a life that is really not what he wants. Enigmatology is the study and design of puzzles, primarily in his case crosswords. He loves creating them, adding a theme and then placing the clues for those trying to complete the puzzle hoping that they will be able to fill in each square. But, John at the present time is working as a private investigator and truly dislikes his job. Wanting to quit and find something more lucrative to do he is approached by the editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer to go to Las Vegas, New Mexico to find the person who took a photo of Elvis Presley who died 35 years ago or did he? Authenticity is what they want and John decides this would be more interesting then taking pictures of husbands and wives cheating on each other. But, this book is not just about John and his desire to become more than just a snoop. As he enters the world of Mrs. Morris and sees the Elvis museum she created in her home he begins to wonder just what he has gotten himself into especially since she has other thoughts in mind. Checking out her home he cannot believe her or what he sees and she presents him with the photograph and hopes that he finds it to be authentic. But, this is just the first step in a long line of situations that John will encounter as he goes to the home of the person in the picture who turns out to be an Elvis impersonator. Al Leadbelly is his name and when John enters his trailer what he sees is total carnage and it appears that he is dead along with the first person the Inquirer sent to investigate who also wound up dead. There is much more to this plot as John is being stalked by Air Force Colonel, Alvin Hollister for other reasons as well as hoping he will lead him to the information Leadbelly had regarding Elvis’s death. This leads John to reading his great-great-great-grandfather’s journal, which interlocks his past with Elvis, how Elvis was summoned to work for the Air Force and deal with aliens and how this links back to Mary Todd Lincoln. Imagine shape-shifting aliens, imagine being told that you are an alien and have the capability to shape-shift, live hundreds of years and be able to telepathically communicate with other people. John finds out the Leadbelly staged his death, burned down his home, took off and helped him escape hoping that Hollister would not find him.
Meet Professor Gentry who has a definite link to Elvis and who has written a book on the King so they think. Told that he was part of Elvis’s security they soon learn that he was his dog walker and as his dog walker he got some perks. The National Inquirer seeks to publish articles that often expose the darker side of someone’s life and as long as they can get away with it the truth can be stretched and fabricated to suit their needs. John is working for them or so he thinks until he finally uncovers what Hollister has been doing, just who Rex Grant really is and the fact that his life is in danger.
John might love to do crosswords but meeting Rosa just might change his direction but why does she fall for him and what does this have to do with his past? Who is Louisa and why is she central to John finding where he truly belongs? How can those that are gone come to you in the present and change the course of your life? Just who was Grant really and why was he involved? How does he trick John into thinking he really worked for the Inquirer hoping to learn if the photo was real?
There are scenes in this book that are quite hilarious as you watch Mrs. Morris try to make time with John as well as John trying to get away from her. Other scenes are quite unique as he deals with Hollister, tries to escape his hold and then uses his intelligence and newfound powers to get away from him. Elvis was hired to find aliens and in doing so supposedly hired body doubles to do his shows, stand in for him during interviews and deal with the media. No one seemed to notice the difference and Leadbelly was the most authentic of all of them. Professor Gentry contradicted everything that John learned about his family history, how the Abernathy’s migrated to Denver looking for a new life, how his great great great grandfather’s fate as the author relates became a parable for making sure the stove was turned off, not wanting to love the family fortune in a fire. He must have realized that Elvis had a connection to the government and was secretly investigating aliens.
Elvis Presley rose to fame in the 1950’s and although this is a fiction you begin to wonder if any of it is true. On the radio, the silver screen and still one of the hottest names in music history Elvis lives on. At the age of 42 he passed away on August 16, 1977 of heart failure due to his misuse of drugs. Elvis might be gone but some think that he is more than just a human being that lived. Elvis was hooked on the study of the Bible, numerology and mystical religion. He believed in life after death and he also thought he had the powers of psychic healing by placing his hands on a person. So, believing in reincarnation maybe one of these Elvis sightings and impersonators might really be him or maybe not. Within this novel there are many Elvis sightings, many Elvis impersonators where John’s newfound family lives. Take a trip back in time and join John, Sheriff Masters and Leadbelly and find out if the photo was real, whether Elvis is really gone if the many eyewitnesses really did see him at various times or if what they saw were look alikes or impersonators. Read this humorous novel and you decide when you see the players coming together, hear Hollister threaten John and decide after reading the startling ending, meeting Louisa and hearing why she and Archie separated and decide: Is Elvis alive? Is ghost or spirit communicating with others if so how? Or is it that so many of us are not willing to accept that the King?
Some puzzles are difficult to solve with pencil and paper as John learns when he finally comes to grips with his fate, his past and what he hopes is his future. Will he create puzzles in his new realm? Will he decide that being part Alien and part human will bring about experiences he never dreamed of? Where will the spirits lead him? Only author Ben Adams knows John’s fate and that’s if he continues to write his story. If you hear his music in your heart, on the radio or on CD’s then Elvis will live on forever.
Fran Lewis: Just Reviews/MJ Magazine
Many people were enamored with the sound and songs of Elvis Aaron Presley from the first time he took center stage. His performances were unique, his sound was different and he became more than just an icon to the public but a symbol of change in the music business. Throughout his career many found him mysterious, some thought that he might have unusual powers and others just wanted to be like him or him. Imagine hundreds of people lining up to see if they could try out as his body double and stand on stage pretending to be Elvis and living an unusual dream. This novel centers on a single photograph that someone took thinking she spotted Elvis in the present and hoping it was authentic and that the King as he was referred to was alive.
John Abernathy is in his twenties and living a life that is really not what he wants. Enigmatology is the study and design of puzzles, primarily in his case crosswords. He loves creating them, adding a theme and then placing the clues for those trying to complete the puzzle hoping that they will be able to fill in each square. But, John at the present time is working as a private investigator and truly dislikes his job. Wanting to quit and find something more lucrative to do he is approached by the editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer to go to Las Vegas, New Mexico to find the person who took a photo of Elvis Presley who died 35 years ago or did he? Authenticity is what they want and John decides this would be more interesting then taking pictures of husbands and wives cheating on each other. But, this book is not just about John and his desire to become more than just a snoop. As he enters the world of Mrs. Morris and sees the Elvis museum she created in her home he begins to wonder just what he has gotten himself into especially since she has other thoughts in mind. Checking out her home he cannot believe her or what he sees and she presents him with the photograph and hopes that he finds it to be authentic. But, this is just the first step in a long line of situations that John will encounter as he goes to the home of the person in the picture who turns out to be an Elvis impersonator. Al Leadbelly is his name and when John enters his trailer what he sees is total carnage and it appears that he is dead along with the first person the Inquirer sent to investigate who also wound up dead. There is much more to this plot as John is being stalked by Air Force Colonel, Alvin Hollister for other reasons as well as hoping he will lead him to the information Leadbelly had regarding Elvis’s death. This leads John to reading his great-great-great-grandfather’s journal, which interlocks his past with Elvis, how Elvis was summoned to work for the Air Force and deal with aliens and how this links back to Mary Todd Lincoln. Imagine shape-shifting aliens, imagine being told that you are an alien and have the capability to shape-shift, live hundreds of years and be able to telepathically communicate with other people. John finds out the Leadbelly staged his death, burned down his home, took off and helped him escape hoping that Hollister would not find him.
Meet Professor Gentry who has a definite link to Elvis and who has written a book on the King so they think. Told that he was part of Elvis’s security they soon learn that he was his dog walker and as his dog walker he got some perks. The National Inquirer seeks to publish articles that often expose the darker side of someone’s life and as long as they can get away with it the truth can be stretched and fabricated to suit their needs. John is working for them or so he thinks until he finally uncovers what Hollister has been doing, just who Rex Grant really is and the fact that his life is in danger.
John might love to do crosswords but meeting Rosa just might change his direction but why does she fall for him and what does this have to do with his past? Who is Louisa and why is she central to John finding where he truly belongs? How can those that are gone come to you in the present and change the course of your life? Just who was Grant really and why was he involved? How does he trick John into thinking he really worked for the Inquirer hoping to learn if the photo was real?
There are scenes in this book that are quite hilarious as you watch Mrs. Morris try to make time with John as well as John trying to get away from her. Other scenes are quite unique as he deals with Hollister, tries to escape his hold and then uses his intelligence and newfound powers to get away from him. Elvis was hired to find aliens and in doing so supposedly hired body doubles to do his shows, stand in for him during interviews and deal with the media. No one seemed to notice the difference and Leadbelly was the most authentic of all of them. Professor Gentry contradicted everything that John learned about his family history, how the Abernathy’s migrated to Denver looking for a new life, how his great great great grandfather’s fate as the author relates became a parable for making sure the stove was turned off, not wanting to love the family fortune in a fire. He must have realized that Elvis had a connection to the government and was secretly investigating aliens.
Elvis Presley rose to fame in the 1950’s and although this is a fiction you begin to wonder if any of it is true. On the radio, the silver screen and still one of the hottest names in music history Elvis lives on. At the age of 42 he passed away on August 16, 1977 of heart failure due to his misuse of drugs. Elvis might be gone but some think that he is more than just a human being that lived. Elvis was hooked on the study of the Bible, numerology and mystical religion. He believed in life after death and he also thought he had the powers of psychic healing by placing his hands on a person. So, believing in reincarnation maybe one of these Elvis sightings and impersonators might really be him or maybe not. Within this novel there are many Elvis sightings, many Elvis impersonators where John’s newfound family lives. Take a trip back in time and join John, Sheriff Masters and Leadbelly and find out if the photo was real, whether Elvis is really gone if the many eyewitnesses really did see him at various times or if what they saw were look alikes or impersonators. Read this humorous novel and you decide when you see the players coming together, hear Hollister threaten John and decide after reading the startling ending, meeting Louisa and hearing why she and Archie separated and decide: Is Elvis alive? Is ghost or spirit communicating with others if so how? Or is it that so many of us are not willing to accept that the King?
Some puzzles are difficult to solve with pencil and paper as John learns when he finally comes to grips with his fate, his past and what he hopes is his future. Will he create puzzles in his new realm? Will he decide that being part Alien and part human will bring about experiences he never dreamed of? Where will the spirits lead him? Only author Ben Adams knows John’s fate and that’s if he continues to write his story. If you hear his music in your heart, on the radio or on CD’s then Elvis will live on forever.
Fran Lewis: Just Reviews/MJ Magazine
May 31, 2017
Gentle humor and some nice ideas early on. Conspiracies, Elvis sightings and American folk lore. By about half way the revelations started to be less intriguing and I could see where the plot was heading. Towards the end I couldn't really root for the hero I cant say why without spoilers. The book eventually petered out with no real climax.
How should I rate a book if I liked the first half but the second half left me disappointed? Should the good moments count for something or should the ultimate disappointment dictate.
How should I rate a book if I liked the first half but the second half left me disappointed? Should the good moments count for something or should the ultimate disappointment dictate.
June 21, 2016
Tired of the same old private investigative assignments which always ultimately bring unhappiness and divorce for the client, John Abernathy is relieved when the National Enquirer calls, offering a hefty sum if he can prove that a recent photograph provided to them is of the real Elvis Presley. Not dissuaded by the fact that the previous investigator was murdered, John sets off to Las Vegas and looks into the matter, knowing that he can design a few crossword puzzles in his spare time during the assignment. John’s investigation leads him to being sexually propositioned by an 80+ year old woman who enjoys BDSM, before being kidnapped by the military, being held at gunpoint by a barman and eventually gaining the attention of the local sheriff who immediately recognizes the man in the photograph. On learning, first-hand, why the not-so-photogenic Elvis really had to disappear from everybody’s radar, John quickly goes into damage control, trying to throw the tabloid magazine off Elvis’ trail before everybody from crazed fans to the Mafia take over the quiet town. Unfortunately, John’s good intentions don’t quite go according to plan as the National Enquirer chooses to go ahead with the story anyway, embellishing the truth and creating a nightmare which stirs up a hornet’s nest, adding to the body count.
The first word that comes to mind after reading The Enigmatologist is WOW! This is definitely a unique and extremely imaginative and humorous tale which has a lot going on, keeping the reader interested, focused and wanting more. At first, the main character is bored and unhappy with making others unhappy and is excited at something different. With all of the evidence pointing in one direction, and a giant painted artwork of Elvis’ appendage pointing in another, John Abernathy follows all leads, determined to get to the truth of the matter. I almost woke the neighbors, laughing at the insane interaction between John and the woman who had taken the photo, especially when her painted depiction of The King subtly caught John’s eye. Ben Adams has found the perfect combination of action, adventure, drama, suspense, and comedy and intrigue in this murder-mystery with a twist and I recommend The Enigmatologist to all Elvis fans who love to laugh.
- Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
The first word that comes to mind after reading The Enigmatologist is WOW! This is definitely a unique and extremely imaginative and humorous tale which has a lot going on, keeping the reader interested, focused and wanting more. At first, the main character is bored and unhappy with making others unhappy and is excited at something different. With all of the evidence pointing in one direction, and a giant painted artwork of Elvis’ appendage pointing in another, John Abernathy follows all leads, determined to get to the truth of the matter. I almost woke the neighbors, laughing at the insane interaction between John and the woman who had taken the photo, especially when her painted depiction of The King subtly caught John’s eye. Ben Adams has found the perfect combination of action, adventure, drama, suspense, and comedy and intrigue in this murder-mystery with a twist and I recommend The Enigmatologist to all Elvis fans who love to laugh.
- Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
May 27, 2016
John Abernathy graduated with a degree in enigmatology, specifically the creation and design of crossword puzzles. Unfortunately there really are no practical jobs in his field so he has taken a job as a private investigator and is very unhappy. But when he approached to go to Las Vegas and authenticate a picture of Elvis, things start getting pretty wild.
Elvis is really an Elvis impersonator by the name of Al Leadbelly. John’s investigation leads him to Al’s destroyed house along with the first person sent out to authenticate the picture. Now John is in the sights of Alvin Hollister and gets wrapped up in a story full of aliens, shape shifters, Abraham Lincoln, and even his great-great-great grandfather.
This story has everything and had me hooked from the very beginning where John is presenting a wife with pictures of her cheating husband and she has the completely opposite reaction. John is clearly unhappy but cannot seem to find his place. But this is a puzzle that us just itching to be solved and will leave you very surprised at the end.
If you are looking for a wild mystery I strongly recommend you check out The Enigmatologist. It’s a great story that will have you questioning if Elvis really did die in 1977.
I received The Enigmatologist for free from Sherri Rosen Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
Elvis is really an Elvis impersonator by the name of Al Leadbelly. John’s investigation leads him to Al’s destroyed house along with the first person sent out to authenticate the picture. Now John is in the sights of Alvin Hollister and gets wrapped up in a story full of aliens, shape shifters, Abraham Lincoln, and even his great-great-great grandfather.
This story has everything and had me hooked from the very beginning where John is presenting a wife with pictures of her cheating husband and she has the completely opposite reaction. John is clearly unhappy but cannot seem to find his place. But this is a puzzle that us just itching to be solved and will leave you very surprised at the end.
If you are looking for a wild mystery I strongly recommend you check out The Enigmatologist. It’s a great story that will have you questioning if Elvis really did die in 1977.
I received The Enigmatologist for free from Sherri Rosen Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2017
It's a long time since I read a book that made me break out in a grin and laugh out loud. The Enigmatologist was sheer delight from start to finish. I loved the main character, John's, classic anti-heroism, the subtle satire of all the gumshoe detective tropes, and the great tongue-in-cheek lines like, "Everyone has a favourite armpit". It's a very funny, very clever book that works brilliantly on several levels, not the least of which is a darned good mystery.
John Abernathy just wants to write puzzles, but he ends up being a square peg in a round hole as a PI in his uncle's firm, catching cheating spouses. From here, he is sent to Las Vegas, New Mexico, igniting a whole series of events that reveal, with nice irony, John's own life to be the biggest enigma of all. The characters are full-blooded, the dialogue always sparkling.
The book is a real page-turner, and I was hooked from the word go, my intrigue mounting with every chapter. Adams skilfully blends a mixture of genres seamlessly, not just the above-mentioned, but sci-fi, thriller, romance and historical fiction, including a great spoof on Elvis conspiracy theories.
I hope there will be a sequel from this outstanding and entertaining writer.
John Abernathy just wants to write puzzles, but he ends up being a square peg in a round hole as a PI in his uncle's firm, catching cheating spouses. From here, he is sent to Las Vegas, New Mexico, igniting a whole series of events that reveal, with nice irony, John's own life to be the biggest enigma of all. The characters are full-blooded, the dialogue always sparkling.
The book is a real page-turner, and I was hooked from the word go, my intrigue mounting with every chapter. Adams skilfully blends a mixture of genres seamlessly, not just the above-mentioned, but sci-fi, thriller, romance and historical fiction, including a great spoof on Elvis conspiracy theories.
I hope there will be a sequel from this outstanding and entertaining writer.
August 13, 2016
The Enigmatologist is the funniest book I’ve read in a long time, thanks to a cavalcade of characters who perfectly embody the mythical American southwest of Elvis, trailer parks, flying saucers, and the requisite Air Force goons.
What really sold me on this book is that the story is more than just a comedic vehicle – it works really nicely as mystery adventure. The plot itself, while as outlandish as you'd expect, is itself a work of enigmatology, with all its crazy moving pieces coming together nicely. The writing is terrific: highly readable and page-turning, with more than a moments of elegant prose slyly hidden among the flow of jokes, jibes and gags.
It all makes for a very satisfying read, and outright fun to boot. If the blurb appeals to you and you're a fan of things like the wackier episode of the X-Files, then it's a safe bet you'll be happy you picked this book up.
What really sold me on this book is that the story is more than just a comedic vehicle – it works really nicely as mystery adventure. The plot itself, while as outlandish as you'd expect, is itself a work of enigmatology, with all its crazy moving pieces coming together nicely. The writing is terrific: highly readable and page-turning, with more than a moments of elegant prose slyly hidden among the flow of jokes, jibes and gags.
It all makes for a very satisfying read, and outright fun to boot. If the blurb appeals to you and you're a fan of things like the wackier episode of the X-Files, then it's a safe bet you'll be happy you picked this book up.
April 11, 2017
This humorous mix-up of Elvis and aliens conspiracy theories has great characters who, despite coming straight from central casting, are perfect in their roles. If you’re looking for realism or a straight-man somewhere in here, you won’t find it. Also, readers who are offended by off-colored or risqué humor might want to pass–graphic (and funny) descriptions of John’s detective work chasing cheating husbands and some Elvis artwork might be more than they can handle. But, if bawdy humor and over-the-top situations are up your alley, this will make you chuckle and keep you turning the pages.
Read the rest at Underground Book Reviews dot org
Read the rest at Underground Book Reviews dot org
May 9, 2017
Adams has crafted a novel that transcends many genres, blending and pushing the boundaries of them. The Enigmatologist is certainly humorous, but also draws on Sci-Fi, crime, and drama genres for influences. I was continuously guessing at the next plot twist throughout. The main character is not your picturesque hero and he is far more relatable for it. Adams does a bang-up job at creating a diverse and enjoyable cast of characters. If you're looking for a good laugh and an intriguing tale that seriously pushes the boundaries of creativity, look no further. This novel is special and will certainly captivate a large audience. I highly recommend.
August 28, 2016
I had high hopes for this book. I really did. I couldn't wait to read it. I read the goodreads reviews saying it was hilarious. It was not funny. Basically, for me it was poorly written and hard to follow. Sometimes the author didn't specify enough in the dialogue to keep me wondering who said what. Overall, this book let me down.
August 7, 2016
If the star award was simply for originality there would be no need to write anymore because the storyline was simply brilliant. I have to admit to being a closet Elvis fan so a lot of the Elvis references went down particularly well in the context of the story. Add in conspiracies and Aliens and you get a novel that could easily be turned into a laugh a minute film.
October 30, 2016
I tried and tried and tried. But I just could not finish it. I gave up 70% of the way in.
September 7, 2017
An action novel with "out of this world" characters.
Many fans may say that Elvis was “out of this world”; some would even say that his impersonators are “out of this world.” Would either, neither or both be correct? John Abernathy, the enigmatologist knows.
John didn’t always know. He was just a twenty-three year old graduate puzzle designer biding his time doing boring work as a junior private investigator for his grandfather’s friend. Sick of taking pictures of cheating husbands and wives, he was thinking about a different occupation when opportunity knocked in the form of a photograph with a startling, if indistinct, likeness of Elvis. The photo was allegedly taken by a woman in the remote New Mexico town of Las Vegas who offered to sell it to the National Enquirer.
What follows is confusing, action-packed nutty bedlam that stretches John far beyond the point of no return. He learns more about his life and family, and more about his future in a couple of days than he thought he ever wanted to know. He also learns that he has not grown up alone; he has been watched by many eyes every day of his life and that his future affects more lives than he ever imagined.
It took a long time for me to get into this story, It seemed to begin slowly with a ‘who really cares’ attitude. However, once John reached Las Vegas, the story built quickly and purposefully and I really began to wonder how it would turn out. Incorporating elements of government conspiracy, Elvis fan worship and imitation, Alien cover-up conspiracies, Native-American spirituality and the mystery of a vast remote location, The Enigmatologist grew into an entertaining larger than life scenario. It would be a good read for any lover of mystery, Sci-Fi or conspiracies.
Hey John! Look up and wave.
Many fans may say that Elvis was “out of this world”; some would even say that his impersonators are “out of this world.” Would either, neither or both be correct? John Abernathy, the enigmatologist knows.
John didn’t always know. He was just a twenty-three year old graduate puzzle designer biding his time doing boring work as a junior private investigator for his grandfather’s friend. Sick of taking pictures of cheating husbands and wives, he was thinking about a different occupation when opportunity knocked in the form of a photograph with a startling, if indistinct, likeness of Elvis. The photo was allegedly taken by a woman in the remote New Mexico town of Las Vegas who offered to sell it to the National Enquirer.
What follows is confusing, action-packed nutty bedlam that stretches John far beyond the point of no return. He learns more about his life and family, and more about his future in a couple of days than he thought he ever wanted to know. He also learns that he has not grown up alone; he has been watched by many eyes every day of his life and that his future affects more lives than he ever imagined.
It took a long time for me to get into this story, It seemed to begin slowly with a ‘who really cares’ attitude. However, once John reached Las Vegas, the story built quickly and purposefully and I really began to wonder how it would turn out. Incorporating elements of government conspiracy, Elvis fan worship and imitation, Alien cover-up conspiracies, Native-American spirituality and the mystery of a vast remote location, The Enigmatologist grew into an entertaining larger than life scenario. It would be a good read for any lover of mystery, Sci-Fi or conspiracies.
Hey John! Look up and wave.
March 17, 2020
4 stars. What an absolutely wonderful surprise, I didn't expect to be this entertained at all when I picked up this book. That's not to say I thought it would suck, but I was just expecting an average first book read! But how fantastically weird and zany! And unlike so many other books I've picked up over the years that have advertised 'laugh out loud humor', this book actually delivered in that department!
The only book I can think of that's even come close to this kind of 'riffing it' plot that combined both weirdness and a touch of scifi was Scalzi's "Redshirts". Maybe also Shuvom Ghose's 'Infinity Squad' pairing or even Jeremy Robinson's 'Space Force' but both of those books went way into the military, kill everyone and everything direction. Thankfully, 'The Enigmatologist' avoids this trap beyond some brief but necessary ass-kicking, nose-cracking and all around general mayhem.
I can't think of a lot that I can say here otherwise that wouldn't be a spoiler. I liked the characters, I liked how the plot grew into a full-fledged story and I loved the wit! Was the prose and grammar always spot on? No, of course not, but hey, it kept moving and kept us guessing right to the end! Sure there were some spots where things slowed down a bit but overall, I can only recommend this book!
Maybe it's just the Corona Lockdown talking, but I know that I'm starting Book 2 IMMEDIATELY! Fun stuff!
The only book I can think of that's even come close to this kind of 'riffing it' plot that combined both weirdness and a touch of scifi was Scalzi's "Redshirts". Maybe also Shuvom Ghose's 'Infinity Squad' pairing or even Jeremy Robinson's 'Space Force' but both of those books went way into the military, kill everyone and everything direction. Thankfully, 'The Enigmatologist' avoids this trap beyond some brief but necessary ass-kicking, nose-cracking and all around general mayhem.
I can't think of a lot that I can say here otherwise that wouldn't be a spoiler. I liked the characters, I liked how the plot grew into a full-fledged story and I loved the wit! Was the prose and grammar always spot on? No, of course not, but hey, it kept moving and kept us guessing right to the end! Sure there were some spots where things slowed down a bit but overall, I can only recommend this book!
Maybe it's just the Corona Lockdown talking, but I know that I'm starting Book 2 IMMEDIATELY! Fun stuff!
July 16, 2017
This book was recommended to me by a friend, so I dove in without reading the summary. Turns out that was a good thing. I was humming along with this good old fashion detective story anticipating an amazing puzzle to be solved. For me, there’s nothing better than having clues to work through while the plot builds. Instead, the story shifted in an unexpected direction, but that’s cool. The story will be lighter than I first thought. To my surprise, the story then took a ninety degree turn and became a detective sci-fi novel. The light-hearted writing and wit made the story work.
April 21, 2022
Surprising Pleasure
Humor, mystery, history, science fiction and Elvis. The book is like a crossword puzzle in that many of the words used to flesh it out didn't have anything to do with the overall theme but without them the puzzle would have been incomplete and made no sense. I am glad to have found this jewel. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I couldn't find it digital again when I recommended it to a friend.
Humor, mystery, history, science fiction and Elvis. The book is like a crossword puzzle in that many of the words used to flesh it out didn't have anything to do with the overall theme but without them the puzzle would have been incomplete and made no sense. I am glad to have found this jewel. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I couldn't find it digital again when I recommended it to a friend.
November 12, 2019
Hm. I was entertained for most of the book but I stopped rooting for John and found myself (once again) liking the secondary characters more. The plot was nice but a terribly predictable coming-into-power story. Not every book has to be a genius piece of writing to be entertaining or 5 stars for me, but this one just didn't scratch the itch.
December 9, 2017
It's No Mystery
The cover is the first clue that you are in for a quirky ride. This is a strange little tale with cosmic proportions. A strange trip in a recreational vehicle that I was glad I took. Viva LA Enigmatologist!
The cover is the first clue that you are in for a quirky ride. This is a strange little tale with cosmic proportions. A strange trip in a recreational vehicle that I was glad I took. Viva LA Enigmatologist!
May 18, 2017
Blegh!!! Bad ideas, stilted & boring writing, and not captivating at all.
February 18, 2017
The very beginning of The Enigmatologist has much potential, with oddball characters and a quirky and satirical writing style. John Abernathy is a wannabe puzzle designer who is trapped in a monotonous job as a junior private investigator working for a family friend. The initial plot -- that John's firm was hired by The National Inquirer to investigate the authenticity of a photo purporting to be Elvis and to track down the killer of a young (even younger than John) intern who was originally given the task but who wound up dead. John's adventure begins with a comical encounter with the photographer who submitted the Elvis photo to The Inquirer, but quickly devolves into a mess that includes a bizarre episode involving an army general who is involved in conspiracy theories that would seem unlikely even for the Inquirer, then to a dusty New Mexico town where John finds an impossible love interest. The story makes little sense and the dialogue and writing do little to hold the reader's attention and give hope for a worth-while continuation. I'll admit that I only skimmed the second half of the book after basically giving up on it.
September 9, 2016
John Abernathy is an amateur enigmatologist, someone who studies and designs word puzzles, and a part time private eye who is hired by the National Enquirer to look for a woman who claims to have photographic evidence that Elvis is alive, even though the rest of the world believes that he died thirty-five years earlier. The job takes him to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he encounters a cast of characters straight out of a David lynch movie. An Elvis impersonator, aliens, a United States Air Force colonel working in Area 51, a beautiful and intriguing woman named Rosa, murder, federal agents and roadside motels. John becomes entrenched not only in his assignment but the chicanery surrounding the town of Las Vegas itself, leading up to long lost secrets of his own family name.
What a fantastic read! If you're a fan of John Fante or Elmore Leonard then you'll want to pick up The Enigmatologist immediately. It's a humorously hard-boiled story that is penned by Ben Adams, who writes with the authority and conviction of a seasoned author. After finishing I came to the realization that not one page of this book had been wasted.
From page one I was hooked by Adams' firm grasp of the plot as he took me down a road filled with mystery, intrigue and lots of humor, and it's all set against the backdrop of the epic expanse of the American Southwest. He unfolds the story at a compelling pace, making sure that no stone is left unturned but also whetting your appetite for the next chapter to come. And as John Abernathy's journey in trying to locate Elvis begins to unravel and reveal the ever-expanding enigma of his case, growing more bizarre and more mystifying, my own journey as a reader is fulfilled with each passing chapter. His search for the truth is deftly told by Adams who does not rely on hackneyed tropes but instead uses his own refreshing voice to add a new facet to a much loved genre. I've learned that this is the first book in a trilogy and, for one, cannot wait for the next adventure. Well done.
What a fantastic read! If you're a fan of John Fante or Elmore Leonard then you'll want to pick up The Enigmatologist immediately. It's a humorously hard-boiled story that is penned by Ben Adams, who writes with the authority and conviction of a seasoned author. After finishing I came to the realization that not one page of this book had been wasted.
From page one I was hooked by Adams' firm grasp of the plot as he took me down a road filled with mystery, intrigue and lots of humor, and it's all set against the backdrop of the epic expanse of the American Southwest. He unfolds the story at a compelling pace, making sure that no stone is left unturned but also whetting your appetite for the next chapter to come. And as John Abernathy's journey in trying to locate Elvis begins to unravel and reveal the ever-expanding enigma of his case, growing more bizarre and more mystifying, my own journey as a reader is fulfilled with each passing chapter. His search for the truth is deftly told by Adams who does not rely on hackneyed tropes but instead uses his own refreshing voice to add a new facet to a much loved genre. I've learned that this is the first book in a trilogy and, for one, cannot wait for the next adventure. Well done.
October 26, 2016
There is a delightful weirdness to this. It's a bit like one of those bands that make concept albums utilizing all of the over the top synthness and sci-fi elements of the worst 80s music and manage to squeeze it all into a package that-- if it's your cup of tea-- is fist pumping fun (if it's not your cup of tea, of course, it'll be the cheesiest thing ever). This book takes a turn about three quarters of the way through that some might find a bit much, but it was just my cup of tea.
Adams manages to keep the narrative rolling along at a nice clip, giving just enough description, but never slowing things down by getting too descriptive, and offering enough twists to hold the readers interest. What I genuinely appreciated, though, is that the twists themselves, while keeping me on my toes and unsure of where everything was headed, weren't manipulative and cheap. It wasn't like one of those con-artist stories where it's a twist here, and just when you thought they were up, no it's down, now it's left, but secretly the whole time everything was to the right. A lot of stories that depend on twists to keep the reader engaged end up feeling like the end of "Clue". In The Enigmatologist, I had no idea for most of the book where the story was headed, and even when I had gone far enough that I was pretty sure, a few twists still lay in wait, but the twists weren't there as a crutch, but rather as a way to illuminate more about the characters.
I had a good time reading this, and I feel like this is the start to a series. If so, then I'm in for the next one.
Adams manages to keep the narrative rolling along at a nice clip, giving just enough description, but never slowing things down by getting too descriptive, and offering enough twists to hold the readers interest. What I genuinely appreciated, though, is that the twists themselves, while keeping me on my toes and unsure of where everything was headed, weren't manipulative and cheap. It wasn't like one of those con-artist stories where it's a twist here, and just when you thought they were up, no it's down, now it's left, but secretly the whole time everything was to the right. A lot of stories that depend on twists to keep the reader engaged end up feeling like the end of "Clue". In The Enigmatologist, I had no idea for most of the book where the story was headed, and even when I had gone far enough that I was pretty sure, a few twists still lay in wait, but the twists weren't there as a crutch, but rather as a way to illuminate more about the characters.
I had a good time reading this, and I feel like this is the start to a series. If so, then I'm in for the next one.
August 30, 2016
I am pleasantly surprised!! This book had me hooked from the beginning. The thing I loved most about this book was the fact I was confused until nearly three quarters of the way through it. I really enjoyed not being sure of what was going on until the author wanted you to know. It is very rare I get to experience something written like this and I can spend most of the book mentally exploring the possibilities. Is there a second book to this story? I want to know how everything goes down with the developments from the end of this book.
April 8, 2017
"Don't Be Cruel"
This book starts out as a sun baked mystery. Our private investigator hero, John, heads to Las Vegas, New Mexico, (which in reality is a very cool and laid back place in northern New Mexico), to track down an Elvis sighting for a tabloid newspaper. The intern who preceded him ended up dead in the desert, so we know bad things are going to happen. But, our hero is just killing time on the paper while he perfects his skills as an enigmatologist - that is, a builder of crossword puzzles. Right off the bat this is a tip off that the tale is not going to be a standard crime and murder in the desert sort of mystery.
We start off with some snappy dialogue, some interesting internal monologues on John's part, a little action, and the general sense that this story may be a bit bumpy and weird, but could be fun. That sense continues after John gets to Las Vegas. After a strange and strangely funny interview with a sex-starved elderly Elvis fan, we definitely know this book could go anywhere. And then it veers completely off the tracks.
Do you remember the X-Files episodes that were light-hearted and played more for comedy? The Ed Asner/Lily Tomlin Christmas episode, the Michael McKean as Mulder episode, the classic and touching Peter Boyle as Clyde Bruckner episode? Well, that's sort of like what you get here. MILD RANDOM SPOILERS. You get Elvis impersonators, a government conspiracy, an Air Force coverup, Area 51, Roswell, Elvis as a special alien detecting government agent, body snatching, Elvis's dog walker, and about a dozen other alien angles I won't specify in order to not ruin all of the surprises.
This book has everything and it screams along, aided in large part by huge chunks of monologuing, explanatory diary entries, and general exposition. There are plot holes you could drive a spaceship through and all kinds of groan-worthy dialogue, but the whole thing has an antic, free wheeling, subversive, and just generally amiable energy that kept me going. It even has a hot romance. And, some very clever one-liners and throwaway lines from our sometimes hapless hero.
So, while it's a hot mess, it's fun and very entertaining in an antic and haphazard sort of way. I don't think I could take a steady diet of books like this, but sometimes you have to just let the Jailhouse Rock.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book starts out as a sun baked mystery. Our private investigator hero, John, heads to Las Vegas, New Mexico, (which in reality is a very cool and laid back place in northern New Mexico), to track down an Elvis sighting for a tabloid newspaper. The intern who preceded him ended up dead in the desert, so we know bad things are going to happen. But, our hero is just killing time on the paper while he perfects his skills as an enigmatologist - that is, a builder of crossword puzzles. Right off the bat this is a tip off that the tale is not going to be a standard crime and murder in the desert sort of mystery.
We start off with some snappy dialogue, some interesting internal monologues on John's part, a little action, and the general sense that this story may be a bit bumpy and weird, but could be fun. That sense continues after John gets to Las Vegas. After a strange and strangely funny interview with a sex-starved elderly Elvis fan, we definitely know this book could go anywhere. And then it veers completely off the tracks.
Do you remember the X-Files episodes that were light-hearted and played more for comedy? The Ed Asner/Lily Tomlin Christmas episode, the Michael McKean as Mulder episode, the classic and touching Peter Boyle as Clyde Bruckner episode? Well, that's sort of like what you get here. MILD RANDOM SPOILERS. You get Elvis impersonators, a government conspiracy, an Air Force coverup, Area 51, Roswell, Elvis as a special alien detecting government agent, body snatching, Elvis's dog walker, and about a dozen other alien angles I won't specify in order to not ruin all of the surprises.
This book has everything and it screams along, aided in large part by huge chunks of monologuing, explanatory diary entries, and general exposition. There are plot holes you could drive a spaceship through and all kinds of groan-worthy dialogue, but the whole thing has an antic, free wheeling, subversive, and just generally amiable energy that kept me going. It even has a hot romance. And, some very clever one-liners and throwaway lines from our sometimes hapless hero.
So, while it's a hot mess, it's fun and very entertaining in an antic and haphazard sort of way. I don't think I could take a steady diet of books like this, but sometimes you have to just let the Jailhouse Rock.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
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