Way I See It

by Wampus Reynolds

Norman, Oklahoma: the home of drinking, screwing around, and breaking down Sooners football. That’s how Cole Posel sees it. He came to college here years ago with Holden, his childhood best friend and never left. All that changes the morning Holden Price is found shot dead on the side of a lake. Cole and his old classmate/megachurch pastor’s wife Robin, now look through their friend’s hidden life for clues and answers police can’t provide. They uncover a complex man who touched others in many ways and they uncover a town with many secrets. Can Hilton’s killer be nearby? And did they kill those other victims? The first novel from standup comedian and game show veteran Wampus Reynolds contains many elements: a tightly plotted crime novel, a meditation on friendship and adulthood and an examination of the people who went to college and never let it end. Way I See It is a mystery with an ending that will make you question the way that you yourself see.

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2020

Reviews

[Wampus Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this tacky? I'm pretty sure it is, but I consider this "priming the pump."

[David Rash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. I can’t for the life of me remember where it was that I heard of this book but I’m so glad I did. It’s been sitting in a stack of books by my bed taunting me since I bought it August. I finally picked it out a few days ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since starting it. The voice and style of the book is perfect—the only way I can think to describe it is that it feels good in all the right parts of your brain reading it. The characters were all well orchestrated and most importantly the mystery really worked. It twisted and turned and misdirected and revealed with the best of them (and even better). I say this without any pressure—I can’t wait to see what Wampus Reynolds writes next.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of mysteries, but I am picky. Most new (to me) authors don't make it past two pages before I discard them for cliches, bad prose, or unreadable layout. This goes quadruple for self-published authors who (hate me all you want) are often self-published for a reason.

None of those things are true in this book. I loved it from the start to the finish.

First off, I felt like I got to know Norman, OK. I've never been there but Norman is definitely a character in this book and while I did live in a college town for a little bit, I could feel what makes Norman unique. I love a book that takes me somewhere I have never been.

But everything in this book is good. I don't want to spoil anything so i will just say it's surprising but consistent, the characters are unique but believable, and the dialogue make sense instead of making you cringe. You know that feeling when you read a great mystery and then get mad because it's the author's first book and you can't go read the next one? Yeah, I am having that feeling now.

I should say I know the author because we are in the same (non-writing) field and I met him once on the street in Denver when we were attending the same conference. I bought the book on the strength of that and because Wampus is funny on social media. But really, if I didn't think it was awesome, I would just do that thing where I say, "Oh I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to start it yet..." until he forgot I bought it. People do that to me all the time. It's part of the social contract of buying books from acquaintances. But if I am going out of my way to review this you should trust me.

[Allen Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best mysteries are elevated not only by complicated twists but also the rich characters that inhabit the world. Way I See It achieves this and makes it look easy. The novel draws readers into the shadowy doings in a college town where a substrata of eclectic individuals cling after graduation and the parties end. Not only is it the type of mystery that compels you to find out the conclusion, it is a rumination on friendship and those we leave behind. Wampus Reynolds has a deft turn of phrase, keeps his foot firmly planted on the gas of the story, and guides readers through a unique Oklahoma landscape of drug dealers, megachurches, and college football. Spread the word – this is a great read.

[Adam Bregman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delving into this novel provides a sensation similar to going out to see a band you love, getting very high doing so, meeting someone who'll you'll never be serious about and who doesn't quite remember your name and waking up the next day hungover, but with fond memories, however vague, and a fleeting excitement that one hopes doesn't dissipate as the following humdrum day ensues.

The college town of Norman, Oklahoma is a crucial character and Wampus sketches it in a wry, amusing manner, the way he sees it. "Oh, Norman, you strange beast. On good days, you are Richard Linklater's Slacker's Austin with eight people playing its thirty roles. On bad days, you are the leaked video of frat guys on a bus singing the n word. You got the art but you ain't got the patrons. You got the music but you don't have the right celebrators. It's tough being uncelebrated."

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wampus Reynolds first novel is an excellent, enjoyable dive into a murder mystery set in Norman, OK. I started one day and finished it the next, it was that good!

[Alise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crap-countenanced, Soul Patch.tv, Frisco Disco. Come for a twisting whodunit, stay for the real protagonist of this clever crime novel: Norman, OK!

[Maria Arney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a fast ride where much was familiar and I was sure that I knew where we were headed. Mr Reynolds had me so wrapped up in his well developed scheming protagonist that it felt like a sudden break up for days after reading the last page. Cleverly composed and guaranteed to be an enjoyable read especially for those whose fortè lies in waggishly written crime fiction.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, fast-paced page-turner murder mystery that does at least two unusual things for the genre. First the Norman, Oklahoma, setting is unique and insightfully developed with the kind of sharp, observant humor you might expect if you're familiar with Wampus' stand-up comedy (also highly recommended), and the characters are richer and more three-dimensional as a result. Also, though plots in which the protagonist attempts to solve the murder of a once-close friend are fairly common, I've rarely seen a mystery novel honor the grief and mourning process that comes with the death of a loved one to this extent. Did I mention it's funny?

[Coco Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

The humor in this was dark and hilarious, but that’s about where my praise ends. It was apparent this was self-published and edited with the amount of grammar and technical writing errors throughout. Sentences that lacked logic, misplaced punctuation, and lack of quotation marks for the main character's outer dialogue all were issues that pulled me out of the story. The characters, premise, and setting were all interesting but the execution fell short. The big reveal at the end was summed up in just a few pages & left me going whaaaat. There needed to be more explanation around the ending in my opinion.

[Terry McFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reynolds sets this mystery in a fictionalized version of the town I lived in when I was at the University of Oklahoma, so it had special resonances for me—not only the places, but the various types of characters inhabiting this story.

I actually re-read the novel because I enjoyed it so much with its wry insights into post-collegiate life in a college town and to look for the clues for the revelation of the murderer's identity, which I certainly didn't catch on the first reading.

By the way, I love the cover illustration!

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting! I liked trying to figure out the real names of places since I am a long-term Normanite. The ending was a surprise as well as confusing. I wasn't sure why the main character continued to investigate the murder. The book had numerous technical issues and the story didn't hold together well in certain parts. Overall it was an excellent effort for a first time author.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took a second for me to get into, but once I did it was a blast. Having lived in Norman for 15 years, Reynolds does a great job capturing the eccentric feel of the university city. Cole is a fun character that can grate on you at times, but it all plays a part of the charm. Regardless if you are from the Sooner State or not, this is worth reading.

9/10

[Karen Tripson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, stylish mystery takes place in Norman Oklahoma, the college town.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happily finished a re-read.