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The Claire Saga #1
The Wise Ass
"I don't believe I've ever read a book quite like The Wise Ass, and I've read quite a few. It's a mix of suspense, Goodfellas, sci-fi, caper & just plain good fun." –Karen M. (Amazon Reviewer)
"The Claire Trilogy is a commentary on our times with a little magic and space adventures thrown in." –Oldcowgurl (Amazon Reviewer)
When Wise Guys meet the Wise Ass and friends, all hell breaks loose.
After his brothers are murdered, a New York mob lawyer testifies against his associates and is forced to enter WITSEC (the Witness Protection Program). He and his wife are relocated to a rural area outside a small town in Colorado where he is compelled to adapt to his new life under the constant threat of mafia reprisal. Reflexively resisting his immersion into all things country, this life long city boy meets and adopts a loquacious mule and befriends his closest neighbors, who have even greater secrets to conceal.
A renegade US Marshall, a lesbian couple that includes a powerful psychic-medium-witch and an ex-army ranger completes his new circle of friends. When the mob associates are released due to the lawyer's intentionally prejudicial testimony at trial, they come gunning for him before the retrial can occur.
"The Claire Trilogy is a commentary on our times with a little magic and space adventures thrown in." –Oldcowgurl (Amazon Reviewer)
When Wise Guys meet the Wise Ass and friends, all hell breaks loose.
After his brothers are murdered, a New York mob lawyer testifies against his associates and is forced to enter WITSEC (the Witness Protection Program). He and his wife are relocated to a rural area outside a small town in Colorado where he is compelled to adapt to his new life under the constant threat of mafia reprisal. Reflexively resisting his immersion into all things country, this life long city boy meets and adopts a loquacious mule and befriends his closest neighbors, who have even greater secrets to conceal.
A renegade US Marshall, a lesbian couple that includes a powerful psychic-medium-witch and an ex-army ranger completes his new circle of friends. When the mob associates are released due to the lawyer's intentionally prejudicial testimony at trial, they come gunning for him before the retrial can occur.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2021
2036 people are currently reading
3965 people want to read
About the author
Tom McCaffrey
17 books92 followersTom McCaffrey is a born-and-bred New Yorker who, after a long career working as a successful entertainment attorney in Manhattan, relocated with his wife to a small town in Northern Colorado to follow a road less travelled and return to his first passion, writing. Despite the local rumors started by Claire the mule, he denies being in the Witness Protection Program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 reviews
February 18, 2021
The Wise Ass
by Tom McCaffrey
Black Rose Writing
This book started out as a thriller. A lawyer ends up working for a mob boss then there is a bust. Our guy of the story takes care of the financial side for the mob so he pleads a deal for witness protection. Him and his wife are moved from NY to Colorado. City boy to country boy.
This is where the book goes to thriller plus fantasy! It's such a fun wild ride too! This town he moves to is small and the neighbors are not at all what they seem! That becomes obvious when a mule starts talking to him!
It's a great book with heartwarming feelings at the core but enough suspense to keep the reader on edge! Thrills, fun, suspense, friendships, and second chances. I really enjoyed it!
This is a wonderful story that made me feel good! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this Wise book!
by Tom McCaffrey
Black Rose Writing
This book started out as a thriller. A lawyer ends up working for a mob boss then there is a bust. Our guy of the story takes care of the financial side for the mob so he pleads a deal for witness protection. Him and his wife are moved from NY to Colorado. City boy to country boy.
This is where the book goes to thriller plus fantasy! It's such a fun wild ride too! This town he moves to is small and the neighbors are not at all what they seem! That becomes obvious when a mule starts talking to him!
It's a great book with heartwarming feelings at the core but enough suspense to keep the reader on edge! Thrills, fun, suspense, friendships, and second chances. I really enjoyed it!
This is a wonderful story that made me feel good! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this Wise book!
May 4, 2022
I haven't had such fun reading a book in a long time.
It begins as a normal thriller. A New York lawyer named Jimmy (with various last names as the story progresses) starts working for a mafia boss handling his "legitimate" non-criminal accounts. Nevertheless Jimmy ends up being implicated for money laundering and is picked up by the feds. To scare him into silence, the mafia boss has Jimmy's three brothers killed. It had the opposite effect on Jimmy. In his rage, Jimmy spills the beans to the authorities and enters the federal witness protection program. 66-year old Jimmy and his wife are relocated to a small ranch in Colorado. His mafia boss and cronies are imprisoned. This is where the plot turns bizarre. Jimmy and his wife gradually make friends with their mysterious next-door neighbors. And buy a pet mule with a special talent. And meet a psychic restaurant owner who communicates with Jimmy's dead brothers. When his former mafia boss is released on a technicality and comes gunning for him, Jimmy's new allies lock and load; ready to protect him.
My synopsis of the story does not do this book justice. It is not great literature but is a great story.
It begins as a normal thriller. A New York lawyer named Jimmy (with various last names as the story progresses) starts working for a mafia boss handling his "legitimate" non-criminal accounts. Nevertheless Jimmy ends up being implicated for money laundering and is picked up by the feds. To scare him into silence, the mafia boss has Jimmy's three brothers killed. It had the opposite effect on Jimmy. In his rage, Jimmy spills the beans to the authorities and enters the federal witness protection program. 66-year old Jimmy and his wife are relocated to a small ranch in Colorado. His mafia boss and cronies are imprisoned. This is where the plot turns bizarre. Jimmy and his wife gradually make friends with their mysterious next-door neighbors. And buy a pet mule with a special talent. And meet a psychic restaurant owner who communicates with Jimmy's dead brothers. When his former mafia boss is released on a technicality and comes gunning for him, Jimmy's new allies lock and load; ready to protect him.
My synopsis of the story does not do this book justice. It is not great literature but is a great story.
May 23, 2021
The paranormal side of the witness protection program. A talking mule. Displaced New Yorkers. What else do you need? Open this book in the morning and start reading. You'll miss lunch and dinner, but you won't care. Can't wait for the sequel.
February 23, 2021
What a fun book! I don’t want to give anything away, but I’ll just say a lawyer’s life is flipped upside down and he ends where no in expected he would, least of all, him.
A completely implausible storyline makes absolute sense because of the wonderful writing style.
A fun read that I highly recommend!
A completely implausible storyline makes absolute sense because of the wonderful writing style.
A fun read that I highly recommend!
February 11, 2023
• TWO STARS for PACE and PLOT; THREE STARS for EFFORT and ENTERTAINMENT VALUE
• I’m not sure how one would market this book. It seems to start as a crime drama with Manhattan lawyers, money laundering, mafia men & witness protection programs, but then it meanders into a Better Homes & Gardens novella about owning a new ranch with acreage in Colorado with touches of a fish-out-of-water story, then fortune-tellers, and finally into an acid-trip(?) when meeting Claire (finally!) at the 51% point in the book. That’s WAY TOO LATE to hit a major plot point, and frankly, not worth waiting for. Then aliens come into the plot? WTH?
• The first eight chapters were great with a lot of action, great descriptions, and a moving plotline. But then the pace dwindled quite a bit, and the suspense fell away in a pitifully slow death spiral. McCaffrey has a wonderful knack for describing scenes with a lot of detail (ala, James Michener), pulling me into the scene, and making me feel like I’m there. OTOH, these long passages of description had me wondering if ALL THIS DETAIL was truly necessary for the mafia-infused plot.
• To wit, the description of the ranch house & four-acre property in Colorado was considerably overdone. Most of this could be thrown away to improve the book; it’s all unnecessary filler material. About a third of the way in, I grew tired of the endless descriptions of home & yard & sheds & vehicles & interior decor & computer/printer/office equipment & the wildlife, wondering why these were important. Does the reader REALLY need to know what type of printer & computer the protagonist has in his office, or the type of wood in said office, or the exact layout of the house & rear paddocks & the neighbors’ houses? (I kid you not.) No, the reader doesn't need that level of detail. Do we need ENTIRE CHAPTERS devoted to describing their new Colorado surroundings? No. Do we need TWO ENTIRE CHAPTERS devoted to how & where Claire was born and to whom. Is ALL that detail really that important? No.
• If these details are important for later in the book, the author needs to balance out these massive info dumps (after significantly cutting them down) with plot pace, perhaps saving the most important pieces for when they are ACTUALLY needed in the plot.
• One of the worse things an author wants to hear a reader say is, “Why should I care about XXXX? You’ve not given me cause or reason for concern.” Yet, this is what continually surfaced while I was reading this novel. It was distracting, and the book’s pace suffered because of it. I grew tired of the book and wanted to put it down so many times. But I held on, hoping it would pick up. Unfortunately, it never did, and I abandoned the book at the 60% mark having grown tired of the endless and unimportant details given.
• On the plus side, I learned a lot about gun safety and how the Witness Protection program works. Great engrossing details here. The characters are well-defined and funny. There are several LOL moments from the narrator’s running social commentary; I very much enjoyed that aspect of this novel.
• The author has a good command of salient pop references, and I enjoyed his weaving them into the narration. McCaffrey is obviously a well-read and intelligent author, as he apparently knows a lot about law, courtrooms, police procedures, operations of the U.S. Marshals, foreign exchange accounts, and money laundering. But if someone were to classify this as a thriller or suspenseful mystery, I’d have to disagree strongly. McCaffrey should study the Three Act Structure to better understand where & when plot points should appear in a novel. My suggestion: “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” or a similar book.
• Lastly, THIS NOVEL NEEDS A BETTER EDITOR (if it ever had one) to trim the story to its essential details and focus on plot points. If this is to be a mystery, sure, throw in a few red herrings. But not everything must be described down to its nuts and bolts. Also, there are NUMEROUS grammatical errors, incorrect capitalizations, inaccurate comma usages, and a few misspelled words. Also, someone (the author? the editor?) doesn’t know how to use dialogue tags properly. It’s evident this book wasn’t published by one of the larger publishers (and possibly on a tight budget), but these oversights don’t take much away from the overall plot, which suffers mostly because it’s meandering & unfocused.
• I’m not sure how one would market this book. It seems to start as a crime drama with Manhattan lawyers, money laundering, mafia men & witness protection programs, but then it meanders into a Better Homes & Gardens novella about owning a new ranch with acreage in Colorado with touches of a fish-out-of-water story, then fortune-tellers, and finally into an acid-trip(?) when meeting Claire (finally!) at the 51% point in the book. That’s WAY TOO LATE to hit a major plot point, and frankly, not worth waiting for. Then aliens come into the plot? WTH?
• The first eight chapters were great with a lot of action, great descriptions, and a moving plotline. But then the pace dwindled quite a bit, and the suspense fell away in a pitifully slow death spiral. McCaffrey has a wonderful knack for describing scenes with a lot of detail (ala, James Michener), pulling me into the scene, and making me feel like I’m there. OTOH, these long passages of description had me wondering if ALL THIS DETAIL was truly necessary for the mafia-infused plot.
• To wit, the description of the ranch house & four-acre property in Colorado was considerably overdone. Most of this could be thrown away to improve the book; it’s all unnecessary filler material. About a third of the way in, I grew tired of the endless descriptions of home & yard & sheds & vehicles & interior decor & computer/printer/office equipment & the wildlife, wondering why these were important. Does the reader REALLY need to know what type of printer & computer the protagonist has in his office, or the type of wood in said office, or the exact layout of the house & rear paddocks & the neighbors’ houses? (I kid you not.) No, the reader doesn't need that level of detail. Do we need ENTIRE CHAPTERS devoted to describing their new Colorado surroundings? No. Do we need TWO ENTIRE CHAPTERS devoted to how & where Claire was born and to whom. Is ALL that detail really that important? No.
• If these details are important for later in the book, the author needs to balance out these massive info dumps (after significantly cutting them down) with plot pace, perhaps saving the most important pieces for when they are ACTUALLY needed in the plot.
• One of the worse things an author wants to hear a reader say is, “Why should I care about XXXX? You’ve not given me cause or reason for concern.” Yet, this is what continually surfaced while I was reading this novel. It was distracting, and the book’s pace suffered because of it. I grew tired of the book and wanted to put it down so many times. But I held on, hoping it would pick up. Unfortunately, it never did, and I abandoned the book at the 60% mark having grown tired of the endless and unimportant details given.
• On the plus side, I learned a lot about gun safety and how the Witness Protection program works. Great engrossing details here. The characters are well-defined and funny. There are several LOL moments from the narrator’s running social commentary; I very much enjoyed that aspect of this novel.
• The author has a good command of salient pop references, and I enjoyed his weaving them into the narration. McCaffrey is obviously a well-read and intelligent author, as he apparently knows a lot about law, courtrooms, police procedures, operations of the U.S. Marshals, foreign exchange accounts, and money laundering. But if someone were to classify this as a thriller or suspenseful mystery, I’d have to disagree strongly. McCaffrey should study the Three Act Structure to better understand where & when plot points should appear in a novel. My suggestion: “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” or a similar book.
• Lastly, THIS NOVEL NEEDS A BETTER EDITOR (if it ever had one) to trim the story to its essential details and focus on plot points. If this is to be a mystery, sure, throw in a few red herrings. But not everything must be described down to its nuts and bolts. Also, there are NUMEROUS grammatical errors, incorrect capitalizations, inaccurate comma usages, and a few misspelled words. Also, someone (the author? the editor?) doesn’t know how to use dialogue tags properly. It’s evident this book wasn’t published by one of the larger publishers (and possibly on a tight budget), but these oversights don’t take much away from the overall plot, which suffers mostly because it’s meandering & unfocused.
May 12, 2022
great read
Very entertaining, with great characters, excellent plot and storyline. Lots of surprises, twists and turns. Very enjoyable and I could not put it down.
Very entertaining, with great characters, excellent plot and storyline. Lots of surprises, twists and turns. Very enjoyable and I could not put it down.
January 24, 2023
Berthoud fan
It was so fun to read a book about our beloved Berthoud town. My only criticism is the book lost me for a bit as it transitioned from one type of book to another. I suggest when this move happens you check your logical lawyer brain at the door. True to the title it was about a wise ass...and a smart mule too. 😏 It was quirky, funny and clever. I've met the author a few times, very accessible, neat guy. I want to go talk to Claire, she seems to be the brains of the operation.
It was so fun to read a book about our beloved Berthoud town. My only criticism is the book lost me for a bit as it transitioned from one type of book to another. I suggest when this move happens you check your logical lawyer brain at the door. True to the title it was about a wise ass...and a smart mule too. 😏 It was quirky, funny and clever. I've met the author a few times, very accessible, neat guy. I want to go talk to Claire, she seems to be the brains of the operation.
June 21, 2021
Enjoyed this relatively light-hearted fantasy after having finished a dark novel. However, a couple of notes to the author: a male elk is a bull, not a buck, which is a deer; a male mule is a John, not a Jack, which is a donkey; a female mule is a Molly; one holds a handgun by the grip, not the "handle". The narrator might be considered ignorant about these terms, but the Jack vs. John slip was made by Claire, who would have known better.
Enough nit-picking, still liked it.
Enough nit-picking, still liked it.
April 3, 2024
I received a complimentary electronic edition of this excellent novel from the author and FreeBooksy. I have read The Wise Ass of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me - I am excited to recommend Tom McCaffrey to friends and family. The Wise Ass is a mishmash of genres - a little of everything smushed together very well. It was an incredible lift in the midst of our strange and utterly depressing U.S. autumn of 2023, and I can't wait to read the sequels. All three in the 'Claire' series are available on Kindle Unlimited.
I love Claire. I think you can't help but love her, as well. The high jinks she - and her lawyer friend Jimmy - get into will keep you up late and in tears of laughter. I probably read aloud half of the first few chapters to my family as they were all impatiently waiting for me to finish it - FAST!
We love being retired! Jimmy isn't retired yet, but he might as well be. He and Claire have about as much leisure time as do we retirees, and use it well. They will be happy to help you waste a few hours, as well. And will, I promise, keep you in stitches. What a hoot! A little bit of woo-woo, handled well.
REVIEWED ON NOVEMBER 4, 2023, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo. A NOTE to other reviewers, if you use the title in your review, it will be kicked out of Amazon for profanity. Use A** instead... Life is funny, huh?
I love Claire. I think you can't help but love her, as well. The high jinks she - and her lawyer friend Jimmy - get into will keep you up late and in tears of laughter. I probably read aloud half of the first few chapters to my family as they were all impatiently waiting for me to finish it - FAST!
We love being retired! Jimmy isn't retired yet, but he might as well be. He and Claire have about as much leisure time as do we retirees, and use it well. They will be happy to help you waste a few hours, as well. And will, I promise, keep you in stitches. What a hoot! A little bit of woo-woo, handled well.
REVIEWED ON NOVEMBER 4, 2023, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo. A NOTE to other reviewers, if you use the title in your review, it will be kicked out of Amazon for profanity. Use A** instead... Life is funny, huh?
September 28, 2021
Didn’t see this one coming and I’m glad I didn’t. I really enjoyed it!
December 17, 2021
What Fun
It is so hard to find a whimsical and funny book these days and this one is s such a hoot It is crazy magical and out of this world delightful Hatred for it to end
It is so hard to find a whimsical and funny book these days and this one is s such a hoot It is crazy magical and out of this world delightful Hatred for it to end
April 2, 2022
I received this wonderful book for free in the goodreads giveaway and it not only arrived here in speedy time (within a week), but also noted and autographed by the author !
First off:
This book was a truly fun ride, and I haven't enjoyed truly fun and entertaining books lately.
So therefor it stands out already !
Would YOU like this book ?
Well, do you like any of the following:
-Legal/Gangster/Mob stories ? (main character is a lawyer, working for the mob)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ? (inter-galactical neighbors)
- Cozy Mysteries ? (lots of new friends in a small town sticking together against the mob)
- Time Travel ? (Author reminds us of the 80's and 90's)
- Animals ? (Speaking Mule)
- Irish people ?(Gotta love them - I am myself known to occasionally enjoying drinking a Guinness while listening to Floggin' Molly)
So in general:
This book has something for everyone, including Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Mystery, Crime, and so much more !
The story had me so intrigued, that once I started reading, I only stopped because I could not stay awake all night long to finish it...because I have a job, which my life literally depends on (since I am a single woman living in a small town with no chance to find a husband, that can support my reading habits and my dog's psychotic outbreaks - the only ones that would fit my criteria already have found and married women with similar habits already...).
So unfortunately, I was not able to finish the book in one sitting - but I truly wanted to !
So by day 2 reading this outstanding book, I was sad, that the story was over...
But wait:
The author notated, that this was only book # 1 in a trilogy.
So what does one do ?
Look the trilogy up, and there it was !
Since I just had received my paycheck, and wanted the next two books IMMEDIATELY (because who has the time to wait for exciting books to come in the mail ?), I bought the kindle versions.
See, there's two kinds of people:
Bed-wetters and Bed-readers.
I am the latter, and with buying the kindle versions, I don't have to wear my reading glasses in bed, which otherwise would be highly un-comfortable...
And guess, what ?
I am reading book # 2 right now.
Because our main character is now visiting his sister that he hadn't seen in 30 years and travels to Great Britain, to quickly find out, that she has some familiar abilities as well.
And that's all I'm saying - the rest, you have to find out all by yourself !
I have to honestly say that I did not expect to be so drawn in to a book, as I was into this one.
I guess, not all surprises are bad (because usually they are - at least in my life).
I would highly recommend this book, I enjoyed it greatly and can not thank the author enough for such an exciting, fun, and beautiful ride.
Made me a fan, that's for sure !
-
August 21, 2021
This is simply a fun book. Good times. Looking forward to the neighborhood's next adventure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2021
Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
I was excited to read this one as I knew it would be different—but I didn’t know just how different it would be.
The protagonist, Jimmy McCarthy, is so well developed the reader will become engaged almost immediately. He has a wacky, deprecating sense of humor, family, and philosophy that pulls you in. His wife, Gina, is perfect, also well drawn and together with Jimmy create a strong, invested bond with the reader.
Jimmy, however, makes a questionable decision against his former Mafia family boss which lands him in the WITSEC program as Jimmy Moran in rural northern Colorado. In his own private Twilight Zone, he begins to meet his neighbors, both human and otherwise. I loved all the support characters—each very special--and the author’s frequent references to Celtic lore and common Latin phrases, easily melding educational references with sci-fi nuances. The novel is peppered with wise cracks and quotables.
This tale covers all the bases: humor, family, love, suspense, thriller, and the supernatural—somehow interwoven in a natural, almost believable way. Well-plotted, well-paced, and highly entertaining.
The storyline progresses gently into a conclusion that suddenly goes all crazy intense to THE STORM and switches POVs from each of the support characters to Jimmy—and the wind. Masterful way of building tension—such a dynamic way to hit, and hit hard, the climax. It’s a pulse-pounding conclusion.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I can’t WAIT for the next installment!
I was excited to read this one as I knew it would be different—but I didn’t know just how different it would be.
The protagonist, Jimmy McCarthy, is so well developed the reader will become engaged almost immediately. He has a wacky, deprecating sense of humor, family, and philosophy that pulls you in. His wife, Gina, is perfect, also well drawn and together with Jimmy create a strong, invested bond with the reader.
Jimmy, however, makes a questionable decision against his former Mafia family boss which lands him in the WITSEC program as Jimmy Moran in rural northern Colorado. In his own private Twilight Zone, he begins to meet his neighbors, both human and otherwise. I loved all the support characters—each very special--and the author’s frequent references to Celtic lore and common Latin phrases, easily melding educational references with sci-fi nuances. The novel is peppered with wise cracks and quotables.
This tale covers all the bases: humor, family, love, suspense, thriller, and the supernatural—somehow interwoven in a natural, almost believable way. Well-plotted, well-paced, and highly entertaining.
The storyline progresses gently into a conclusion that suddenly goes all crazy intense to THE STORM and switches POVs from each of the support characters to Jimmy—and the wind. Masterful way of building tension—such a dynamic way to hit, and hit hard, the climax. It’s a pulse-pounding conclusion.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I can’t WAIT for the next installment!
June 4, 2021
Started off great but petered-out once the mule started talking and the aliens were revealed. After that it seemed like a bunch of convoluted liberal propaganda and virtue signaling. The ending would have been better had the snitch died or paid the price for his transgressions and the illegal money and government money he was still holding onto and squandering whilst he continued trying to be a big-shot.
I have talked to the author a few times here in Berthoud where the story takes place and he seems like a nice guy. He told me he writes what he knows. But when he calls a 'bull elk' a 'buck elk' in the story and poo-poos hunters, maybe he should study up some. It was almost like the author was auditioning for a lucrative spot in the People's Republic of Boulder.
"How do you know if someone is vegan? Don't worry, they'll tell you!"
I appreciated the dogs and other critters in the story, but some of the characters were a bit much. I don't mind larger than life characters - but it was a bit overdone IMO. Some of the characters were far too eccentric and/or out of character. e.g. When some old gangster gets the drop on an Army Ranger. . .
On the cover it says, "like Grisham on mushrooms." I would change that to "like Grisham on angel dust." :)
The beginning was very good however.
I have talked to the author a few times here in Berthoud where the story takes place and he seems like a nice guy. He told me he writes what he knows. But when he calls a 'bull elk' a 'buck elk' in the story and poo-poos hunters, maybe he should study up some. It was almost like the author was auditioning for a lucrative spot in the People's Republic of Boulder.
"How do you know if someone is vegan? Don't worry, they'll tell you!"
I appreciated the dogs and other critters in the story, but some of the characters were a bit much. I don't mind larger than life characters - but it was a bit overdone IMO. Some of the characters were far too eccentric and/or out of character. e.g. When some old gangster gets the drop on an Army Ranger. . .
On the cover it says, "like Grisham on mushrooms." I would change that to "like Grisham on angel dust." :)
The beginning was very good however.
December 17, 2021
I give the entertaining style of writing, the descriptions of Colorado and the idea of a talking mule..5 stars. But then half way through an otherwise normal story he goes off the rails down a rabbit hole as if another author took over. Maybe that Colorado legal whacky weed kicked in! I was expecting the talking mule and that bit was fun but then it went over the top with alien neighbors, an accurate psychic, and even the dead make an appearance to help kill the bad guys.
.
The wife, Gina and her Stepford-wife support of Jimmy was over the top too. She doesn't give a shit that her life has been turned upside down by her husband's illegal actions. She's happy to move across country in a protection program and live life as if nothing has happened.
I know, I know....this is just a paranormal fairy tale and one shouldn't expect normalcy but for me it started out okay, even to the point of the talking mule but after that I lost interest. It got too weird.
.
The wife, Gina and her Stepford-wife support of Jimmy was over the top too. She doesn't give a shit that her life has been turned upside down by her husband's illegal actions. She's happy to move across country in a protection program and live life as if nothing has happened.
I know, I know....this is just a paranormal fairy tale and one shouldn't expect normalcy but for me it started out okay, even to the point of the talking mule but after that I lost interest. It got too weird.
June 9, 2021
Touching with action
I started this with A little skepticism. But I read it in two settings. Very cool. This is great story on soo many aspects. Without giving anything away. If your into animals, a little mob action, friendships, love and some cool "ET" stuff. A great read. I'll be looking for this Irish Mans next book!👁
I started this with A little skepticism. But I read it in two settings. Very cool. This is great story on soo many aspects. Without giving anything away. If your into animals, a little mob action, friendships, love and some cool "ET" stuff. A great read. I'll be looking for this Irish Mans next book!👁
August 1, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book, set near my hometown. In fact, I first learned of it when the author put a signed copy in my little free library (thanks Tom!). The characters are well developed, and were a fun group of friends to follow throughout the story. The first half was realistic, and the second half became a supernatural fantasy.
September 9, 2021
A Real Surprise
I purchased this book on a whim, thinking it a story about a wise guy in WitSec. What a surprise! We have talking animals, clairvoyants, extraterrestrials, mediums and lesbians melding into a thoroughly entertaining tale. Well done! Can’t wait for the next in the series.
I purchased this book on a whim, thinking it a story about a wise guy in WitSec. What a surprise! We have talking animals, clairvoyants, extraterrestrials, mediums and lesbians melding into a thoroughly entertaining tale. Well done! Can’t wait for the next in the series.
September 15, 2021
Wonderful and Funny
Stumbled across this book on my Kindle. I guess it was the photo of a mule that got my attention. Have to say, one of the best novels I have read in a while. Well written and hilarious in some parts and the next scene you find yourself crying, it is sort of about a mule but so much more.
Stumbled across this book on my Kindle. I guess it was the photo of a mule that got my attention. Have to say, one of the best novels I have read in a while. Well written and hilarious in some parts and the next scene you find yourself crying, it is sort of about a mule but so much more.
January 20, 2022
I’m not really sure what I just read. This was for a book club so not my usual genre but I’m having a hard time even identifying what genre it was. Paranormal mob crime? Alien legal thriller? Fantasy dogooder? I did enjoy the regular parts of the book— the marriage relationship was very relatable.
May 21, 2021
Wow, just wow
Saw it, read the blurb, and had to take a chance. Just fabulous. It ended far to soon, but at the exact perfect place. Now the wait until we are off to see the Wizard again. Glinda, lend a hand to make it come faster.
Saw it, read the blurb, and had to take a chance. Just fabulous. It ended far to soon, but at the exact perfect place. Now the wait until we are off to see the Wizard again. Glinda, lend a hand to make it come faster.
May 27, 2021
Wow!
This was a truly enjoyable read! Has all kinds of weird stuff in it... Action, outlandish science, magic and fantasy all jumbled up together! Very well written, descriptions of locations made me feel like I was right there... Now I want to visit that place!
This was a truly enjoyable read! Has all kinds of weird stuff in it... Action, outlandish science, magic and fantasy all jumbled up together! Very well written, descriptions of locations made me feel like I was right there... Now I want to visit that place!
February 7, 2022
Great story
I couldn’t put it down, it was so engaging and the characters so real and endearing. I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy. Thank you for the marvelous story.
I couldn’t put it down, it was so engaging and the characters so real and endearing. I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy. Thank you for the marvelous story.
April 2, 2022
I received this wonderful book for free in the goodreads giveaway and it not only arrived here in speedy time (within a week), but also noted and autographed by the author !
First off:
This book was a truly fun ride, and I haven't enjoyed truly fun and entertaining books lately.
So therefor it stands out already !
Would YOU like this book ?
Well, do you like any of the following:
-Legal/Gangster/Mob stories ? (main character is a lawyer, working for the mob)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ? (inter-galactical neighbors)
- Cozy Mysteries ? (lots of new friends in a small town sticking together against the mob)
- Time Travel ? (Author reminds us of the 80's and 90's)
- Animals ? (Speaking Mule)
- Irish people ?(Gotta love them - I am myself known to occasionally enjoying drinking a Guinness while listening to Floggin' Molly)
So in general:
This book has something for everyone, including Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Mystery, Crime, and so much more !
The story had me so intrigued, that once I started reading, I only stopped because I could not stay awake all night long to finish it...because I have a job, which my life literally depends on (since I am a single woman living in a small town with no chance to find a husband, that can support my reading habits and my dog's psychotic outbreaks - the only ones that would fit my criteria already have found and married women with similar habits already...).
So unfortunately, I was not able to finish the book in one sitting - but I truly wanted to !
So by day 2 reading this outstanding book, I was sad, that the story was over...
But wait:
The author notated, that this was only book # 1 in a trilogy.
So what does one do ?
Look the trilogy up, and there it was !
Since I just had received my paycheck, and wanted the next two books IMMEDIATELY (because who has the time to wait for exciting books to come in the mail ?), I bought the kindle versions.
See, there's two kinds of people:
Bed-wetters and Bed-readers.
I am the latter, and with buying the kindle versions, I don't have to wear my reading glasses in bed, which otherwise would be highly un-comfortable...
And guess, what ?
I am reading book # 2 right now.
Because our main character is now visiting his sister that he hadn't seen in 30 years and travels to Great Britain, to quickly find out, that she has some familiar abilities as well.
And that's all I'm saying - the rest, you have to find out all by yourself !
I have to honestly say that I did not expect to be so drawn in to a book, as I was into this one.
I guess, not all surprises are bad (because usually they are - at least in my life).
I would highly recommend this book, I enjoyed it greatly and can not thank the author enough for such an exciting, fun, and beautiful ride.
Made me a fan, that's for sure !
First off:
This book was a truly fun ride, and I haven't enjoyed truly fun and entertaining books lately.
So therefor it stands out already !
Would YOU like this book ?
Well, do you like any of the following:
-Legal/Gangster/Mob stories ? (main character is a lawyer, working for the mob)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ? (inter-galactical neighbors)
- Cozy Mysteries ? (lots of new friends in a small town sticking together against the mob)
- Time Travel ? (Author reminds us of the 80's and 90's)
- Animals ? (Speaking Mule)
- Irish people ?(Gotta love them - I am myself known to occasionally enjoying drinking a Guinness while listening to Floggin' Molly)
So in general:
This book has something for everyone, including Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Mystery, Crime, and so much more !
The story had me so intrigued, that once I started reading, I only stopped because I could not stay awake all night long to finish it...because I have a job, which my life literally depends on (since I am a single woman living in a small town with no chance to find a husband, that can support my reading habits and my dog's psychotic outbreaks - the only ones that would fit my criteria already have found and married women with similar habits already...).
So unfortunately, I was not able to finish the book in one sitting - but I truly wanted to !
So by day 2 reading this outstanding book, I was sad, that the story was over...
But wait:
The author notated, that this was only book # 1 in a trilogy.
So what does one do ?
Look the trilogy up, and there it was !
Since I just had received my paycheck, and wanted the next two books IMMEDIATELY (because who has the time to wait for exciting books to come in the mail ?), I bought the kindle versions.
See, there's two kinds of people:
Bed-wetters and Bed-readers.
I am the latter, and with buying the kindle versions, I don't have to wear my reading glasses in bed, which otherwise would be highly un-comfortable...
And guess, what ?
I am reading book # 2 right now.
Because our main character is now visiting his sister that he hadn't seen in 30 years and travels to Great Britain, to quickly find out, that she has some familiar abilities as well.
And that's all I'm saying - the rest, you have to find out all by yourself !
I have to honestly say that I did not expect to be so drawn in to a book, as I was into this one.
I guess, not all surprises are bad (because usually they are - at least in my life).
I would highly recommend this book, I enjoyed it greatly and can not thank the author enough for such an exciting, fun, and beautiful ride.
Made me a fan, that's for sure !
November 20, 2022
The Wise Ass will leave you astounded for its sheer ability to change tracks all the while comfortably carrying you along-is it a thriller, a science fiction story or a fantasy? Don't waste your time figuring that out just enjoy this roller coaster of a ride of a story.
It starts of as a thriller, with lawyer Jimmy slowly reeled into working for the mob and then things go spiralling out of control until Jimmy and his adorable wife Gina find themselves in Colorado as part of the Witness Protection Program.
Now here is where you might need to suspend logic as Jimmy befriends aliens, a talking Ass and a physic and more odd ball characters. But I assure you, all the characters in The Wise Ass have their own special appeal and you are drawn in as you see pieces of the puzzle coming together. With the mob gunning for Jimmy it's only his group of special friends that will be able to save him and each one of them does come through in the end. But are their efforts for naught? Does Jimmy die or is his journey still far from over? You will have to read to find out.
Tom McCaffrey has a breezy narrative style, his words take you to the here and now, and however serious things get you still can't help seeing the humor in the situation. The author's nonchalant style of story telling will make it seem pretty believable that the protagonist Jimmy simply has a lot of Tom's personality whether by design or unintentionally I know not- whatever it is it only adds to the appeal of the story. You will have to meet the author to confirm or deny my suggestion.
It starts of as a thriller, with lawyer Jimmy slowly reeled into working for the mob and then things go spiralling out of control until Jimmy and his adorable wife Gina find themselves in Colorado as part of the Witness Protection Program.
Now here is where you might need to suspend logic as Jimmy befriends aliens, a talking Ass and a physic and more odd ball characters. But I assure you, all the characters in The Wise Ass have their own special appeal and you are drawn in as you see pieces of the puzzle coming together. With the mob gunning for Jimmy it's only his group of special friends that will be able to save him and each one of them does come through in the end. But are their efforts for naught? Does Jimmy die or is his journey still far from over? You will have to read to find out.
Tom McCaffrey has a breezy narrative style, his words take you to the here and now, and however serious things get you still can't help seeing the humor in the situation. The author's nonchalant style of story telling will make it seem pretty believable that the protagonist Jimmy simply has a lot of Tom's personality whether by design or unintentionally I know not- whatever it is it only adds to the appeal of the story. You will have to meet the author to confirm or deny my suggestion.
January 31, 2022
This book was not at all what I expected. The narrator was a cunning NY lawyer who got rich working for the mob but when he is busted, he turns state's evidence and is put in a witness protection program with his wife, Gina. They are sent to a small town in northern Colorado under the guidance of a veteran agent. That part of the story is fairly predictable but once in Colorado the world turns upside down. They meet a lesbian couple who own a restaurant; one of them is a real psychic and can read the future. Their neighbors are not what they seem to be and have their own secrets. They also adopt a mule who is also not what she appears to be. I can't tell you more because I don't want to ruin it but expect surprises at every turn. And they are wonderful surprises.
January 30, 2023
I rarely give 5 stars to any book. Well, this is my first Tom McCaffrey book, and I'm definitely going for more. The author introduces characters not just from 'out of left field' but, from the parking lot, over the wall behind the cheap seats behind left field. Craziness ensues with tongue firmly in cheek while touching your heart at the same time. Somehow he manages to mix thriller/action/sci-fi/fantasy/comedy and cozy and make it all work. I don't know if he's a genius or nuts.......maybe both. But, it kept me reading and engaged right up to the final page.
February 20, 2024
It is a very enjoyable read, fast moving and with many unexpected turns and curious characters. Also, in my reading experience, it is a very different sort of book, incorporating a good deal of the lighthearted supernatural. Enhancing my enjoyment was the very competent authorship seasoned with a great deal of humor, sometimes eliciting audible guffaws. Two thumbs up. I look forward to reading book #2 in the “Saga.
February 7, 2023
Absolutely loved this!
Tom McCaffrey has a truly fantastic way of writing. It was like reading a delicious meal! I just loved his way with words, even threw me a few times and I had to look up a word or two. And that doesn’t happen often. The best part of this whole delightful story is that it’s set in my adopted home town of Berthoud, Colorado. It was such a kick to be reading about places that I know so well but in a crazy, fun book!
Tom McCaffrey has a truly fantastic way of writing. It was like reading a delicious meal! I just loved his way with words, even threw me a few times and I had to look up a word or two. And that doesn’t happen often. The best part of this whole delightful story is that it’s set in my adopted home town of Berthoud, Colorado. It was such a kick to be reading about places that I know so well but in a crazy, fun book!
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