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A Town Called Potato: A Sci-Fi Murder Comedy
It's a lighthearted murder mystery ... with space aliens!Gabriel Lake is a not so hard-boiled computer guy who finds himself swept up into a web of interstellar crime when he is recruited into the Galactic Detective Agency, led by the brilliant Oren Vilkas. Can a mere Earthling track a killer across the stars before more lives are lost? Can he negotiate his way around other worlds and understand the ways of extra-terrestrial cultures? Can he even figure out how to use a bathroom designed for aliens? And can he uncover the mystery of A Town Called Potato?INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHORQ. How did you come up with the title A Town Called Potato?A. I didn’t. It was a random thing one of my grandsons said at eight years old one day while we were playing. I often keep track of funny things my grandkids say, but this one really stuck with me. I kept thinking about that town and why it might be called Potato. I already knew I wanted to write a comedy sci-fi story, and the title just seemed to fit. The book evolved from that, and I named the protagonist after my grandson.Q. What authors inspired you in writing A Town Called Potato?A. Given that the story is a mash-up of comedy sci-fi and detective fiction, authors from each of those genres inspired me. In detective fiction, I love Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe books. In fact, it isn’t too hard to see that Oren Vilkas is a homage to Nero Wolfe. And it was Rex Stout, along with Sue Grafton and Arthur Conan Doyle, who inspired me to write the book in first person. Of course when you think of comedic sci-fi, Douglas Adams is the king, and I have tried to capture a fraction of his sense of imaginative. Terry Pratchett is another comedic writer who has always inspired me with his brilliance. And I have to mention P. G. Wodehouse the OG of character-driven comedy novels.Q. Did you find it difficult to mash up so many genres?A. I did at first. I kept veering off just into comedy or just into detective noir. So it needed a few passes through the text to make sure I got all the boxes ticked and to get into the swing of things. I wanted Gabriel Lake to be so infused with detective fiction that his inner monologue just naturally takes on the cadences of film noir. The trick was to make that comedic and not just cheap parody. I think I found the balance by making Gabriel self-effacing in describing his fish-out-of-water adventures in space and in bringing everyone else in on the joke as well. By the end I found it easier to find Gabe’s voice, and as I got into the sequel, The Maltese Salmon, it started feeling more and more like home.Q. Where did you get the idea for the chrono engine?A. Every sci-fi novel that deals with interstellar travel has to deal with how to cross the mind-boggling vast expanses of space. You can devise some kind of faster-than-light travel (warp drive, hyperspace, etc.), or hypothesize traversable wormholes, or imagine a constant acceleration drive that achieves some significant fraction of light-speed, or have generation/sleeper ships. But I was shooting for comedy sci-fi. I knew I needed some preposterous tongue-in-cheek technology, something Douglas Adams might come up with. So I thought for a long time about “What Would Doug Do?” My answer with the chrono engine weaves together a wee bit of hard science (the fact that the universe used to be mush smaller) with the most outrageous hand-waving technobabble that I could come up with. I hope it makes you chuckle.
- GenresScience FictionMystery
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2020
68 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Gary Blaine Randolph
24 books6 followersIn some ways, I’ve come to writing late in life. In other ways, I’ve written in every job I ever had. When I founded and ran a software company, I wrote software manuals, newsletters, and ad copy. When I was a professor of computer technology, I wrote academic papers and textbooks. As a freelance software developer, I’ve written instruction manuals. I’ve also written blogs, drama sketches, magazine articles, poems, stories for telling, and more.
My focus nowadays is on writing, which I love. When I’m not doing that, I’m often playing guitar and memorizing stories for storytelling gigs. For fun I enjoy cycling, reading mysteries and sci-fi, drinking coffee, and hanging out with friends and grandkids.
My focus nowadays is on writing, which I love. When I’m not doing that, I’m often playing guitar and memorizing stories for storytelling gigs. For fun I enjoy cycling, reading mysteries and sci-fi, drinking coffee, and hanging out with friends and grandkids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 15, 2025
A Town Called Potato by Gary Blaine Randolph and narrated by Tim Radcliffe, is the first book in the Galactic Detective Agency. the story is about Gabriel Lake who’s reading list gets mistaken for the cases he solved and this is how he gets enticed into becoming a detective in search of a 20 foot tall princess named Ralph and Tam her normal sized husband. All they know is they’re hiding in a small town called potato Indiana a.k.a. Port auto he’s hired by his new boss Orin, who at one time was a person but upon his death got his brain downloaded and is now digital. His partner is a reptile name Zastra, whose relationship with Gabe is one of the best things about this book. He solved the initial mystery pretty quickly and got paid very well for his services. So when they come back the next day letting him know that the princesses husband is dead he’s once again working for the agency but this time instead of going to small town Indiana he will travel through the stars and see things he’s never seen let alone thought existed he even gets arrested and sentence to five years in jail on an alien planet the captain of another ship seems to have a crush on him but these are just a few of the exciting moments in the book because before long someone else is murdered and someone Gabriel holds very dear is threatened. There’s Giants, Reptilians, Shapeshifters and so much more in the book I thought the author did a great job creating the different worlds in the book and thought of so many things I would’ve never thought of especially when the cop ask Gabriel about his eyes and Gabriel said brown and the cop said no do you have one two or three! I laughed so hard and even rewinded it to let my husband listen this is truly an entertaining Book that I can’t wait to read the next addition in the series. I was given this book courtesy of adoptanaudiobook.com but it doesn’t affect my opinions as this is my honest opinions. #AdoptAnAudiobook.com, #TheBlindReviewer, #GaryBlaineRandolph, #ATownCalledPotato, #TimRadcliffe,
March 7, 2023
This was my first time reading anything like this, from this author or the genre at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will read more.
July 26, 2023
This is book one of six in a series of light, humorous detective noir.
Gary Blaine Randolph both emulates and pays homage to classic Golden Age mysteries throughout, but the twist (and hook) is that in his version the detectives, victim and suspects are all aliens – with the notable exception of main character, Gabriel Lake – and most of the action is set in space.
The worldbuilding is really fun: space travel via time travel makes for a fast-paced ride through the cosmos and the story! The whole thing, in fact, is very good fun and entertaining, if a little bit on the silly side at times.
Think The Hitchhiker’s Guide… crossed with Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth series and you won’t be far wrong. If you are a fan of those wacky space shenanigans and tongue-in-cheek gritty spoof mysteries then you will enjoy this galactic detective romp.
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Gary Blaine Randolph both emulates and pays homage to classic Golden Age mysteries throughout, but the twist (and hook) is that in his version the detectives, victim and suspects are all aliens – with the notable exception of main character, Gabriel Lake – and most of the action is set in space.
The worldbuilding is really fun: space travel via time travel makes for a fast-paced ride through the cosmos and the story! The whole thing, in fact, is very good fun and entertaining, if a little bit on the silly side at times.
Think The Hitchhiker’s Guide… crossed with Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth series and you won’t be far wrong. If you are a fan of those wacky space shenanigans and tongue-in-cheek gritty spoof mysteries then you will enjoy this galactic detective romp.
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
September 9, 2021
When computer expert Gabriel Lake meets with a new client, he expects them to ask him to develop a new app. He doesn't expect them to ask him to help find a missing person. Not just any missing person. Someone who doesn't belong on Earth. And that's just the beginning of the adventure.
This book felt like A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy crossed with Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the book, the main character admits he has no idea what he is doing, but he is drawing his knowledge from the noir mysteries he loves to read.
Set on several other planets, this book required a lot of worldbuilding. And the author did not disappoint. Perhaps it was his likening it to science fiction shows I had seen, but I could really picture each new location, as well as the aliens who lived there. I also really enjoyed not only the explanation of how the chrono drive worked, but also watching it in motion. The author used some great imagery.
I do have two minor complaints, which is why this is only a four-star review. First, the book is poorly edited. In addition to constant changes in tense and point of view, there are many grammatical errors and countless misspellings. Although irksome, they were not enough to detract from the story. The other complain is that at the beginning of the final chapter (or perhaps it was the end of the one before), Gabe promises a friend he will explain everything that had happened. Yet, the story ends without him doing so.
Otherwise, I like this character and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book felt like A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy crossed with Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the book, the main character admits he has no idea what he is doing, but he is drawing his knowledge from the noir mysteries he loves to read.
Set on several other planets, this book required a lot of worldbuilding. And the author did not disappoint. Perhaps it was his likening it to science fiction shows I had seen, but I could really picture each new location, as well as the aliens who lived there. I also really enjoyed not only the explanation of how the chrono drive worked, but also watching it in motion. The author used some great imagery.
I do have two minor complaints, which is why this is only a four-star review. First, the book is poorly edited. In addition to constant changes in tense and point of view, there are many grammatical errors and countless misspellings. Although irksome, they were not enough to detract from the story. The other complain is that at the beginning of the final chapter (or perhaps it was the end of the one before), Gabe promises a friend he will explain everything that had happened. Yet, the story ends without him doing so.
Otherwise, I like this character and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
October 4, 2022
Gabriel Lake lives a quiet life as a freelance software designer in Indianapolis. Then he is approached by some space alien detectives who seek his help in finding a princess from the planet Diere whom they believe has recently fled to an Indiana town with a name something like "Potato". Gabriel decides to accept the offer and embarks on an adventure with the Galactic Detective Agency.
Gabriel was recruited by the Agency because of his love of detective fiction, a questionable-sounding criterion. But he turns out to be a natural for the job and proves to be a valuable member of the investigative team. The story is humorous and engaging.
One small glitch: Khan, for both Genghis and the Star Trek villain, is misspelled.
Gabriel was recruited by the Agency because of his love of detective fiction, a questionable-sounding criterion. But he turns out to be a natural for the job and proves to be a valuable member of the investigative team. The story is humorous and engaging.
One small glitch: Khan, for both Genghis and the Star Trek villain, is misspelled.
March 6, 2023
If you're looking for something to read that will take you back to your 12-year old self, this might be just the book for you. It involves a wise-cracking detective who is hired to track down a missing woman from another planet. And, Oh, yes, she's gigantic. Like 30 feet tall gigantic. He travels to distant galaxies thanks to time-travel based rocketry, fends off intergalactic bad guys, and finally finds the missing princess and solves the murder of her other-species fiancée. Or words to that effect. Trust me, if you're looking for something that will while away and afternoon and justify wolfing down a big bag of Reeses Pieces, this is just the ticket. Is it silly? Heck yeah. Will it make you smile? Guaranteed.
June 22, 2025
This was such a funny sci fi murder mystery! I enjoyed how the author wrote Gabriel Lake, and he was such an easily likeable character. I thought it was hilarious how the aliens approached Gabriel, and enjoyed learning about the alien technology. The running commentary and how some things were similar was funny. I enjoyed connecting all the dots and trying to figure out who was behind everything. The narrator, Tim Ratliff does a great job portraying Gabriel and several of the alien species. He kept me engaged till the very end. This would be great for fans of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Sherlock Holmes. I also believe that this would be fun to read for middle grade readers!
A very special thanks to Tim Ratliff for the gifted audiobook.
A very special thanks to Tim Ratliff for the gifted audiobook.
June 22, 2025
"You say Tomato, I say To-mah-to."
An easy, fast, comedic listen. A who-done-it, murder mystery, hilarious ride. How about the Butler, in the Library, with the candlestick.
An intergalactic, murder mystery with "the Rock" as our guide. The MMC is a mediocre computer hacker, but the aliens think he's a genius. Across galaxies, you are met with one-liners, Steak-n-Shake, and mishaps. All individuals involved are working toward one thing. Solving the mystery before anyone else dies.
Narrator: His intonation makes the read. He brings to life the quirkiness of all the characters. Be ready for the laughs, the "Karens," and all the twists thrown at you to detour you from discovering who the murderer is.
An easy, fast, comedic listen. A who-done-it, murder mystery, hilarious ride. How about the Butler, in the Library, with the candlestick.
An intergalactic, murder mystery with "the Rock" as our guide. The MMC is a mediocre computer hacker, but the aliens think he's a genius. Across galaxies, you are met with one-liners, Steak-n-Shake, and mishaps. All individuals involved are working toward one thing. Solving the mystery before anyone else dies.
Narrator: His intonation makes the read. He brings to life the quirkiness of all the characters. Be ready for the laughs, the "Karens," and all the twists thrown at you to detour you from discovering who the murderer is.
June 29, 2025
This was a fun sci-fi murder mystery. Our main character, Gabriel Lake, runs his own computer programming business, but it’s his deep knowledge of the murder mystery genre that gets him abducted by aliens. These extraterrestrials want to hire him first to find a missing princess, then to solve a murder.
I liked that the story never took itself too seriously. It’s a great pick for busy minds who want something entertaining but not too heavy. I also enjoyed the twist and the touch of romance. As someone who doesn't read a lot of sci-fi, I felt like the story was still really accessible and easy to get into.
I liked that the story never took itself too seriously. It’s a great pick for busy minds who want something entertaining but not too heavy. I also enjoyed the twist and the touch of romance. As someone who doesn't read a lot of sci-fi, I felt like the story was still really accessible and easy to get into.
September 26, 2020
Solid fun read.
This book was fun. 3 stars is solid and means I will read the next one in the series. The first few chapters were a little stilted, but you could tell when the author found his groove because I didn’t notice it again until the last chapter or so. Way better editing than some books you find on here. A couple of typos, like 2-3, nothing to pull you out of the story.
This book was fun. 3 stars is solid and means I will read the next one in the series. The first few chapters were a little stilted, but you could tell when the author found his groove because I didn’t notice it again until the last chapter or so. Way better editing than some books you find on here. A couple of typos, like 2-3, nothing to pull you out of the story.
April 25, 2025
A good start to a series
I’m a fan of the Bob and Nikki series, and we were left with a vacuum last year when Jerry Boyd, the author of the series, unexpectedly passed away, leaving us fans a cliffhanger with no potential ending in site. , A town called Potato was a great new author who had a similar sense of humor and it reads quickly. So thank you Amazon for finding and recommending to me.
I’m a fan of the Bob and Nikki series, and we were left with a vacuum last year when Jerry Boyd, the author of the series, unexpectedly passed away, leaving us fans a cliffhanger with no potential ending in site. , A town called Potato was a great new author who had a similar sense of humor and it reads quickly. So thank you Amazon for finding and recommending to me.
August 17, 2021
Review through Voracious Readers Only
A fun filled quirky mystery full of crazy characters, interplanetry hijinx and a murder that needs solved. Thoroughly enjoyed the adventure even the puns! There were unfortunately a couple of spelling typo's along the way but didn't detract from the humour. A town called Potato is well worth reading!
A fun filled quirky mystery full of crazy characters, interplanetry hijinx and a murder that needs solved. Thoroughly enjoyed the adventure even the puns! There were unfortunately a couple of spelling typo's along the way but didn't detract from the humour. A town called Potato is well worth reading!
March 23, 2023
Definitely SF mode with a huge number of aliens and their worlds and habits described, ships, space travel and weapons described at length and, of course, the battles. OTOH there was a decent mystery but no clue dropping for 2/3 of the story. Then a long winded chase and afterward to lead to the next book.
May 19, 2023
This was a good beginning to a series I will be continuing to read. I am writing reviews on books I have read today cause it's my birthday and I am feeling generous. This book deserves the praise because I found it so well written. The main character is relatable and likable and the story was very interesting.
September 3, 2023
Gabriel Lake is a computer programmer, with a love of crime fiction. This gets him the attention of the Galactic Detective Agency, who are investigating on earth and need local for help, to find a missing princess, which turns to murder. Light-hearted romp as Gabe goes into space to solve a murder and see the galaxy.
September 24, 2024
Entertaining
Really enjoyed it. Who knows? Maybe this is going on all the time! It's clever, fast-paced, funny, surprising and many other good things in a read. Imagine a computer nerd having to turn into a detective with only fiction novels do the same, to go on. I think he did pretty well.
Really enjoyed it. Who knows? Maybe this is going on all the time! It's clever, fast-paced, funny, surprising and many other good things in a read. Imagine a computer nerd having to turn into a detective with only fiction novels do the same, to go on. I think he did pretty well.
August 7, 2021
This book is a good lighthearted read, a computer programmer from Earth gets recruited to join the galactic detective agency. This book is easy to follow and even though some of the puns were groan worthy it did make me smile, will definitely be on the look out for other books in the series.
January 2, 2023
Loved this book.
If you liked the tone in A Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy you'll enjoy this book. Irreverent and tongue in cheek Gary keeps the action and mysteries flowing. Definitely jumping to the next book.
If you liked the tone in A Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy you'll enjoy this book. Irreverent and tongue in cheek Gary keeps the action and mysteries flowing. Definitely jumping to the next book.
October 19, 2024
Nice plot
Great story. Entertaining, with mystery and well developed characters. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to connect to the space / aliens but I enjoyed the story and can't wait to read more.
Great story. Entertaining, with mystery and well developed characters. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to connect to the space / aliens but I enjoyed the story and can't wait to read more.
March 6, 2025
Funny sci-fi whodunit
An amusing story about a regular IT guy who agrees to consult for an alien detective agency. The action keeps moving while clues are gathered to solve a murder.
A fun, escapist read.
An amusing story about a regular IT guy who agrees to consult for an alien detective agency. The action keeps moving while clues are gathered to solve a murder.
A fun, escapist read.
August 16, 2021
I received a copy of this book from VRO and this is my voluntary honest review.
A fun read!
Silly!
Lightheaded!
Easy to follow!
Makes you smile!
Read! Enjoy!
A fun read!
Silly!
Lightheaded!
Easy to follow!
Makes you smile!
Read! Enjoy!
February 28, 2023
A fun romp of an adventure that was just what my overtaxed and anxious brain needed.
February 4, 2024
Great Fun!
Read it in one sitting. Wife kept staring at me laughing suspiciously... Now she has the book. We'll see who's laughing last...
Read it in one sitting. Wife kept staring at me laughing suspiciously... Now she has the book. We'll see who's laughing last...
March 29, 2025
Lightweight but entertaining sci-fi/murder mystery. I got a few chuckles out if it.
May 7, 2025
it's alright.
May 26, 2025
Imaginative with plenty of twists and turns
Nice start to a series. No foul language. Suitable for all ages. Looking forward to reading more. Already have the next volume.
Nice start to a series. No foul language. Suitable for all ages. Looking forward to reading more. Already have the next volume.
June 13, 2025
enjoyable listen, with hidden and not so hidden comedy throughout (especially the names of characters).
well worth a listen
well worth a listen
December 21, 2023
Fun and entertaining
October 8, 2021
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
A quirky detective story involving Aliens being murdered on Earth and the hunt for their killer. Gabriel Lake, an earthling, is drawn in to help solve the case.
Readable story
A quirky detective story involving Aliens being murdered on Earth and the hunt for their killer. Gabriel Lake, an earthling, is drawn in to help solve the case.
Readable story
April 14, 2022
Let's be honest. I wrote this book, so it's pretty likely that I would recommend it.
That being said, let me review the book as something I am currently reading to a nine-year-old, who happens to be the namesake of my protagonist. The kid is an avid reader, so I thought he would like this. He doesn't get all the jokes, but he is definitely enjoying the book. I can watch him imagine the worlds as I read about them to him.
So for ages 9 to adult, if you want to read some funny sci-fi with a mystery story line, this is the book for you!
That being said, let me review the book as something I am currently reading to a nine-year-old, who happens to be the namesake of my protagonist. The kid is an avid reader, so I thought he would like this. He doesn't get all the jokes, but he is definitely enjoying the book. I can watch him imagine the worlds as I read about them to him.
So for ages 9 to adult, if you want to read some funny sci-fi with a mystery story line, this is the book for you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews