Blokes on a Plane

Windy Mountain Tasmanian Tiger #3

by John Martin

WILL THEY SOLVE THE CRIME IN TIME TO CATCH THEIR PLANE?

Two old blokes feel duty-bound to become amateur sleuths in this funny mystery.

The story starts with a DNA test that leads to them nervously booking an airplane trip from Tasmania to Ireland.

But when the most obnoxious man in town disappears, and someone starts stealing important landmarks in Windy Mountain, Oodles and Wish-Wash swing into action — well, as fast as two muddle-headed octogenarians can.

This is the next book in the Windy Mountain Tasmanian Tiger series. You don’t need to have read the first two novels to get a load of laughs from this one. One thing is certain though. This time the Tasmanian Tiger isn’t the only one missing.


Get it at http://books2read.com/u/bro7PZ

Unknown Binding

About the author

I'm an Australian who writes funny novels with a dash of mystery and sometimes with a dollop of whodunnit. Heck, 2020 even brought out some black comedy from me.

Reviews

[Danielle's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blokes on a plane reads like a comedy sketch. It's something a little different for me and it was entertaining. It's about an elderly community in a small town, Windy Mountain. It's quirky, heartwarming and funny to read about these two troublemakers. You are as old as you feel and these two are young at heart.

Oodles and Wish-wash live in Australia. They are planning a holiday to Ireland but first, they need to find out what happened to the old Mayor. He has gone missing. What starts as a little detective work turns into a whole lot of mess for these two. Will they ever get their break?

4 stars out of 5. Something different.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blokes on a Plane is a weirdly entertaining story revolving around the wise-cracking antics of good friends. Two elderly residents of Windy Hill take it upon themselves to solve a series of mysteries that no one seems to have noticed. Oodles, a noon (reckless driver) and Wish-Wash, former town drunk, have settled down and established a Tasmanian tiger museum but their lives changes when Oodles wins a trip for two Ireland based on his DNA. Who else to take but Wish-Wash who has never traveled. Wish-Wash has noticed items and persons missing and a formidable new resident who seems to be involved in the mysteries. The two humorously delve into the mysteries and involve the odd characters that inhabit Windy Mountain. It is a understatement to say that nothing is as it seems. Another raucous story from John Martin.

[Lance Carney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blokes on a Plane is the third book in the Windy Mountain series and I was excited to find the “blokes” in question are two of my favorite characters from the first two books. Although young in the first book, Oodles and Wish-Wash are now two old codgers and their hilarious banter through Blokes keeps the story moving at a funny pace. While Oodles is a retired works foreman at the Windy Mountain Council, Wish-Wash was THE town drunk for thirteen years, setting standards too high for the ones that followed.

The fun begins when Wish-Wash wins a contest to fly to Donegal, home of his ancestors and decides to take Oodles with him. Before the trip, strange things begin happening in town and the two old men turn into amateur detectives, trying to solve the disappearances of an ex-mayor, town signs, town bench and the big bronze statue of Colonel Northan from the middle of the street. What ensues is a crazy story that includes a lesson in the death of print newspapers (along with fake news), the continued hunt for the Tasmanian Tiger (Oodles and Wish-Wash are now the owners of the Windy Mountain Tasmanian Tiger Museum) and Wish-Wash’s outrageous, mismatched outfits (can you say “fashion train wreck”).

Will the “blokes” actually get on the plane? Join Oodles and Wish-Wash to find out in another Windy Mountain story that is guaranteed to make you smile.

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish-wash and Oodles are back – but ex-mayor James Northan (Jimbo) seems to have gone missing. Not only James, but parts of the Windy Mountain’s town infrastructure are also disappearing on a daily basis: various town signs, Oodles’ favourite town bench … It is obviously the work of sinister new-comer, Messerschmitt and his intimidating German Shepherd dog (who becomes much more intimidating, once his name is revealed) – at least that is what Wish-Wash has decided. Oodles disagrees. Potential wrong-doers are named – but Oodles and Wish-Wash are unable to agree on anything.
Meanwhile, Wish-Wash has won a business class trip for two to County Donegal in Ireland, and has his living family numbers doubled again.
Back at the Tasmanian Tiger Museum, there is a new worker (not employee, as he is not paid), Tim (aka Awesome Sauce). Tim is a whizz with the computer – or at least he knows much more about how to use it than either Oodles or Wish-Wash. Unfortunately, he uses his knowledge mainly to change the door bell to increasingly irritating (and inappropriate) sounds.
The book is very enjoyable, with Oodles and Wish-Wash bickering like an old married couple. There is a possible sighting of a Tasmanian tiger (of course), Oodles and Wish-Wash are declared dead, and the mystery of who removed all the missing objects (and James) is finally revealed. Unfortunately, I found the ‘reveal’ a bit silly and not really in keeping with the perpetrator’s character (although reasons are given). I was also disappointed that a book titled “Blokes on a Plane” did not have a plane in it, nor anyone travelling further than the nearest town of “Slutz Plains (which appears to have the ‘mountain that is missing from the town of Windy Mountain). I wanted to see the ‘blokes’ coping with 1) airline (and general) smoking bans and 2) life outside Windy Mountain. Hopefully, all this will be explored in another novel.
So, to my mind, not quite as good as “Lie of the Tiger” but definitely well worth a read.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Laur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, quirky, comedy read.