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Thomas Prescott #4
Show Me
Thomas Prescott must prove a horrific crime in a small town is tied to Big Biotech in the new thriller from #1 Amazon bestselling author Nick Pirog.
When retired homicide detective Thomas Prescott learns he's inherited a 250-acre farm in Tarrin, Missouri (pop. 2,100), he can't get there fast enough. As he slowly acclimates to small town living, he hears rumblings about a horrific crime in the town's past. Four years earlier, a recently fired employee of the local grocery store enacted his revenge, shooting and killing the owner of the store, plus four customers, then turning the gun on himself. The crime appears to have been solved, but Prescott has his doubts.
Balancing farm life and a budding romance with the town veterinarian, Prescott begins reinvestigating the crime. On the surface, the case is cut and dry--a revenge killing gone bad. But what if revenge wasn't the motive? What if the store owner wasn't the target?
One by one, Prescott delves into the victims' pasts. As Prescott digs deeper, he discovers the murders were twenty years in the making and soon finds himself in the unfamiliar waters of Big Biotech, GMOs, political payoffs, hired mercenaries, and the shadowy past of one of the most hated companies in the world.
As the web of lies grow, Prescott must prove the cover-up before he becomes it's next victim...
When retired homicide detective Thomas Prescott learns he's inherited a 250-acre farm in Tarrin, Missouri (pop. 2,100), he can't get there fast enough. As he slowly acclimates to small town living, he hears rumblings about a horrific crime in the town's past. Four years earlier, a recently fired employee of the local grocery store enacted his revenge, shooting and killing the owner of the store, plus four customers, then turning the gun on himself. The crime appears to have been solved, but Prescott has his doubts.
Balancing farm life and a budding romance with the town veterinarian, Prescott begins reinvestigating the crime. On the surface, the case is cut and dry--a revenge killing gone bad. But what if revenge wasn't the motive? What if the store owner wasn't the target?
One by one, Prescott delves into the victims' pasts. As Prescott digs deeper, he discovers the murders were twenty years in the making and soon finds himself in the unfamiliar waters of Big Biotech, GMOs, political payoffs, hired mercenaries, and the shadowy past of one of the most hated companies in the world.
As the web of lies grow, Prescott must prove the cover-up before he becomes it's next victim...
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2017
908 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Nick Pirog
40 books1,268 followersNick Pirog is the bestselling author of the Thomas Prescott series, the 3:00 a.m. series, and The Speed of Souls. He lives in South Lake Tahoe with his other half, Stephy, and their pup, Potter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
January 4, 2022
On hiatus from being a super crime fighter, Thomas loses the love of his life to Bolivia..as well as his toned physique.
While eating his way through the doldrums of his lost love, Thomas’ irreverent snark, ala Ryan Reynolds, falls by the wayside when he inherits a Missouri farm.
Feeling a lot of loss and a bit curious, Thomas makes the non-stop drive to small-town Missouri to see what next awaits him.
The pace of life should be slow, right? We can always count on Thomas Prescott to spice up life. 😁
While eating his way through the doldrums of his lost love, Thomas’ irreverent snark, ala Ryan Reynolds, falls by the wayside when he inherits a Missouri farm.
Feeling a lot of loss and a bit curious, Thomas makes the non-stop drive to small-town Missouri to see what next awaits him.
The pace of life should be slow, right? We can always count on Thomas Prescott to spice up life. 😁
November 12, 2021
A typical Pirog book! You have a murder, mystery, romance, lots of humor but without horrible characters.
March 5, 2017
SHOW ME is a fantastic read! Interesting storylines, red herrings, twists and turns, makes this a fast paced page turner! Thomas' ascerbic wit mixed with a suspenseful plot is a winner! Serious ethical issues of Big Biotech are well- researched and enlightening. It is rare to find an enjoyable, fun book that tickles your funny bone yet also scratches your thinking cap! Nick, you are the one who have created the Prescott addiction, so PLEASE, PLEASE, don't wait five more years for another full length novel! And please bring back May and Harold!
January 29, 2021
Out of the first 4 books I’ve read in this series, Show Me is by far my favorite. I love the piglets, the farmhand who always “knows a guy”, the small town, big corporation corruption, and the GMO and conspiracy theories. This was awesome.
October 22, 2025
If the 3rd book was "Thomas Prescott goes John 'Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Fucker!' McClane on a cruise ship" then this 4th one is "Thomas Prescott goes Erin Brockovich with Babe the pig, times two" and I can't help laughing at that thought... 😆
April 8, 2024
If you like the others in this series this one is the same thing but, he gets bloodied in different spots in a different state and there are pigs and a rooster.
Action, bad guys and usual debauchery. Good fun.
Action, bad guys and usual debauchery. Good fun.
July 8, 2019
I wanted to put in my two cents worth on this series so far. I have a weird habit of not being able to read a series out of order. If I find out a book that I want to read is "Book 4" ,then I will go find Book 1 to start with and read until I get to book 4 or beyond. Because of this, I have been able to see the progression of many well known authors. When Unforeseen was up in my Audible que I looked and saw that it was the author's first book. Afterwords, I have to admit, I wasn't that impressed. But....there WAS something. Something that I couldn't name that kept me going so I decided to try another one of his books and I was off to the world of Henry Bins. 5 books later and it was time to finish the Thomas Prescott series.
I can honestly say that I am glad I went back and gave myself a chance to enjoy his work. I can definitely see the changes in writing style that occurred with either the maturity or age of the author. He has created a definite character in Thomas that is well defined and consistent. The humor that was a bit "too contrived" in earlier books is now well placed and makes for a funny, engaging read.
His books have been well thought out, and have made me think. There is always a "ta-da" moment, and sometimes two or three.
I've enjoyed every book in this series and am hoping that there will be more to come.
I can honestly say that I am glad I went back and gave myself a chance to enjoy his work. I can definitely see the changes in writing style that occurred with either the maturity or age of the author. He has created a definite character in Thomas that is well defined and consistent. The humor that was a bit "too contrived" in earlier books is now well placed and makes for a funny, engaging read.
His books have been well thought out, and have made me think. There is always a "ta-da" moment, and sometimes two or three.
I've enjoyed every book in this series and am hoping that there will be more to come.
April 28, 2019
I liked the book until the end. I enjoyed all the characters and the story had twists and turns. However, the ending was stupid. You do not confront a person you believe is a killer while in a hot air balloon.
December 9, 2024
My review is somewhat on the series books 1-4, although this is favorite book so far. Maybe because it had some pigs in it. I have a soft spot for animals and pigs are on the top of the list, so yeah I give a little extra credit for this!
Prescott in the series is a douchebag, the author even mentions this and some of the slurs and jokes can get under your skin. (is int not a good thing that a book gets under your skin good or bad?) The 3rd book I almost DNF's it because of this but I had to remind myself you won't always relate or like the main characters. There is still a purpose for Pirog's writing. I am glad I didn't because Pirog does bring a worldly issue to light and makes you think about it. If you ever watched the TV series MASH there is a guy in there that you love to hate. Snooty, arrogant, but yet there are those moments that make you relate and understand that this person is human to. Hints that Prescott is actually a good human are present in all the books, but this last book leaves you going damn, yup ok, you redeemed yourself. Again maybe it was the whole pig situation or maybe it was what happens to the farm in the end.
The main story lines are great. Some liberties where taken on some of the events that make it a bit unrealistic, yet could be plausible. This is not a re-telling of history, but something to get you thinking about real events and spread awareness. Each book has a focus that meant something to the author. I could see it in the story line and when I read the authors note (yup I do that sometimes) my theories where confirmed.
Overall I am torn by Prescott's character, yet I do like the overall story line.
Prescott in the series is a douchebag, the author even mentions this and some of the slurs and jokes can get under your skin. (is int not a good thing that a book gets under your skin good or bad?) The 3rd book I almost DNF's it because of this but I had to remind myself you won't always relate or like the main characters. There is still a purpose for Pirog's writing. I am glad I didn't because Pirog does bring a worldly issue to light and makes you think about it. If you ever watched the TV series MASH there is a guy in there that you love to hate. Snooty, arrogant, but yet there are those moments that make you relate and understand that this person is human to. Hints that Prescott is actually a good human are present in all the books, but this last book leaves you going damn, yup ok, you redeemed yourself. Again maybe it was the whole pig situation or maybe it was what happens to the farm in the end.
The main story lines are great. Some liberties where taken on some of the events that make it a bit unrealistic, yet could be plausible. This is not a re-telling of history, but something to get you thinking about real events and spread awareness. Each book has a focus that meant something to the author. I could see it in the story line and when I read the authors note (yup I do that sometimes) my theories where confirmed.
Overall I am torn by Prescott's character, yet I do like the overall story line.
November 1, 2023
Thomas is a lunatic with boatloads of money and good reasons to have PTSD. This time his recently discovered grandpa has died and left the family farm to him. It hasn't been occupied for years, but when he gets there he finds two starving piglets with their dead mother in his barn. Then he meets the town veterinarian and soon he meets a near neighbor who can use the work. All the while he is working on spiffying things up and tending to the piglets, he finds a mystery of a multiple murder that happened to the town fifteen years ago. Let the investigation begin! there is plenty of funny business as well as flat out humor that makes this story a real winner.
I got this in audio narrated by Johnny Heller who once again proved his acting skills with this one!
I got this in audio narrated by Johnny Heller who once again proved his acting skills with this one!
December 8, 2021
Alas, I have reached the end of the free Audible 4-pack of this series, so I will no longer be mocking it. That's probably good for me, so I can focus on something I do like. It's probably good for the ratings for the author, though I doubt my consistent 2-stars are really doing much to drag down the statistical ratings here on goodreads. I will say that the author/narrator keeps using the phrase "falling in love", and I do not think it means what they think it means. If you like thrillers, go for it.
January 15, 2023
Each book I read By Nick in this series gets Better..Thomas has such a Ryan Reynolds type vibe to me..hilarious..And I can't wait to see where Baxter The Dog will Pop up next. Modern Day Pirates?? How Kool..
December 23, 2021
This has been my favorite so far in this series.
October 9, 2022
I love this author and the character Thomas Prescott!! I will continue on with the rest of his books! They are drama and comical at the same time.
February 24, 2023
Outstanding series
February 2, 2024
All this series has a great sense of humour but this one tops them all, the piglets are my favourite and I am glad they survive
May 14, 2025
This was my favorite in this series. I like small country town settings and the storyline is intriguing. The overwhelming sarcastic comments in prior books is no where to be seen here. There is the just about perfect amount of witty comments and quite a few laughs.
March 2, 2022
I enjoyed his sweeter side, but all the fat jokes were over the top.
February 9, 2023
A decent and complicated topic rolled up in a murder mystery.
I did like this book quite a bit, especially the first part. This is not as funny as book 1 in the series, but does get closer to that level of funny.
Its also not the roller coaster suspense/action book that Book 3 in this series was, which was more of a mix between a Die Hard and James Bond like adventure.
This one takes the Thomas Prescott character into yet another new and unique situation. (Kudos to the author for finding a way to take his fish out of water in new ways.)
This book also breaks the typical who done it format by not only breaking the murder mystery mold of solving the mystery and being done, but by screwing up the solving of the mystery, not once, but twice.
In that way, it sort of reminds me of the movie Clue (named after the board game) with alternate unfolding endings.
The main character seems to continue to be on an unfolding path of personal development while never really developing or changing other than to find himself in new pickles.
its that last re-pickling of Thomas Prescott that evokes a Stephanie Plum of Janet Evanovich’s writing semblance of, continually being able to go back to the same thing but in new scenarios.
That familiarity makes the humor possible and this book has quite a bit (pigs crashing a funeral).
That said, Thomas Prescott as a character also seems to be ‘too smart’ to continually make the same mistakes, like picking a fight with a police officer at a crime scene and then getting beaten up because the main character is temporarily out of shape and didn’t bother to learn anything about the police officer he picked the fight with (MMA fighter).
All that aside, the story was very interesting and covered a wide range of topics relating to GMOs bovine growth hormones, mega companies from Bayer to Monsanto to Blackwater and a couple others and local corruption in a small town too. At the end of the story, the author does a great and interesting job of detailing his research and ideas and how they pieced together and were recrafted into fiction in this book. I really appreciated and enjoyed that look behind the curtain.
I did like this book quite a bit, especially the first part. This is not as funny as book 1 in the series, but does get closer to that level of funny.
Its also not the roller coaster suspense/action book that Book 3 in this series was, which was more of a mix between a Die Hard and James Bond like adventure.
This one takes the Thomas Prescott character into yet another new and unique situation. (Kudos to the author for finding a way to take his fish out of water in new ways.)
This book also breaks the typical who done it format by not only breaking the murder mystery mold of solving the mystery and being done, but by screwing up the solving of the mystery, not once, but twice.
In that way, it sort of reminds me of the movie Clue (named after the board game) with alternate unfolding endings.
The main character seems to continue to be on an unfolding path of personal development while never really developing or changing other than to find himself in new pickles.
its that last re-pickling of Thomas Prescott that evokes a Stephanie Plum of Janet Evanovich’s writing semblance of, continually being able to go back to the same thing but in new scenarios.
That familiarity makes the humor possible and this book has quite a bit (pigs crashing a funeral).
That said, Thomas Prescott as a character also seems to be ‘too smart’ to continually make the same mistakes, like picking a fight with a police officer at a crime scene and then getting beaten up because the main character is temporarily out of shape and didn’t bother to learn anything about the police officer he picked the fight with (MMA fighter).
All that aside, the story was very interesting and covered a wide range of topics relating to GMOs bovine growth hormones, mega companies from Bayer to Monsanto to Blackwater and a couple others and local corruption in a small town too. At the end of the story, the author does a great and interesting job of detailing his research and ideas and how they pieced together and were recrafted into fiction in this book. I really appreciated and enjoyed that look behind the curtain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2022
Nick Pirog has a solid plot and good characters (loved silly blue-haired Bree), and his witty asides often had me chuckling out loud while reading this book. The protagonist Thomas Prescott is a relatable and regular sort of guy, a former homicide cop who can't mind his own business as he decides to solve a multiple-murder cold case in the very small town to which he has just moved. My only issue with Pirog is, as it has been for some years, that his grasp of certain grammatical rules is consistently weak and I find myself mentally correcting him even as I am actively enjoying the story. What can I say, I'm a finicky reader and prefer my writers to be well-versed in the technicalities of their craft.
November 7, 2017
This was another enjoyable read and it was really surprising for me to guess (correctly) what companies/towns he was actually writing about. Its set in Missouri and being from St. Louis I knew that Simon's Beach was actually Times Beach. However its not a ghost town anymore though its not a town either. Its like a state park called Route 66 park and has been since I was a teenager. My mother and I went several times for walks with our dogs and even visited the Route 66 museum (where it talked about everything from Route 66 to what happened to the town. Why am I talking about this in a book review? I don't know but I did like the creative liberties he took with it all.
August 22, 2018
Another Thomas Prescott book by Nick Pirog that had me laughing as usual between serious hockey doo committed by Big Tech Pharma, and locals of small town where Thomas inherits a farm and two darling piglets that it turns out he adores. Who knew...another layer of Thomas Prescott. Twists and turns and even Thomas didn’t get it quite right until the end, but get it right he DID. Show Me was yet another great read and the Thomas Prescott books are such a great series. When I need to laugh I am guaranteed I will if I pick up one of Nick Pirog’s books. I highly recommend this book. ENJOY!!
I DID.
I DID.
February 4, 2017
Loved show me
I chose this book because I've read everything that Nick has written. I'm always sad when I'm finished because I don't want it to end. Then I pre-order his next book and wait patiently for it to publish. I started first with 3 a.m. And fell in love with Henry Bins. Then Thomas Prescott and even love the character of Maddy. Now that Nick is snowed in this winter in Tahoe as I have a friend there. He should be getting some major writing done in between shoveling snow. Can't wait for your next one Nick. 3:52 am. God is love
I chose this book because I've read everything that Nick has written. I'm always sad when I'm finished because I don't want it to end. Then I pre-order his next book and wait patiently for it to publish. I started first with 3 a.m. And fell in love with Henry Bins. Then Thomas Prescott and even love the character of Maddy. Now that Nick is snowed in this winter in Tahoe as I have a friend there. He should be getting some major writing done in between shoveling snow. Can't wait for your next one Nick. 3:52 am. God is love
August 22, 2018
Oh. My. Goodness. Can this guy write, or what! Not that it comes as a surprise, since I've read his other books, but I think I may have slightly forgotten just how clever Nick Pirog is (consequently, how clever Thomas Prescott is). Having been sick while I read it made me doubly grateful for how well it engrossed me in the story.
Often, when I'm reading, I find myself wondering about what kind of research the author must have undertaken to learn so much, and this was no exception. Be sure and read what Mr. Pirog has to say AFTER the story ends!
Often, when I'm reading, I find myself wondering about what kind of research the author must have undertaken to learn so much, and this was no exception. Be sure and read what Mr. Pirog has to say AFTER the story ends!
May 9, 2019
Fantastic book. I didn't want to put it down and read it very quickly. Love this series. The character of Thomas Prescott is so well fleshed out, and the story line (with the twists and turns ;-) was compelling. I've read all in the series -- except for The Afrikaans which I skipped because I didn't find the synopsis interesting, but I will definitely go back and give it a go!
I am now reading his Henry Bins series and enjoying it very much; but please, Mr. Pirog, write another Thomas Prescott book pronto!
I am now reading his Henry Bins series and enjoying it very much; but please, Mr. Pirog, write another Thomas Prescott book pronto!
May 7, 2017
Nick Pirog at his best!
I love Nick Pirog's writing. I can't get enough of the humour. The characters are real and rounded and believable. He really has been one of the truly fantastic writers I've found online. If you haven't read any of his books, give them a try, I think he might just be up there with Harlan Coben! If you've read the other Thomas Prescott books, you'll be delighted with this one.
I love Nick Pirog's writing. I can't get enough of the humour. The characters are real and rounded and believable. He really has been one of the truly fantastic writers I've found online. If you haven't read any of his books, give them a try, I think he might just be up there with Harlan Coben! If you've read the other Thomas Prescott books, you'll be delighted with this one.
June 21, 2018
Another great entry in the Prescott series. Thomas Prescott lives the life every guy wants to live: he's rich, good looking, finds adventure wherever he goes and always gets the girl. (At least for the duration of the book) Solid mystery and a lot of info about bio-genetic enhanced foots. Can't wait for the next entry to be released.
April 16, 2021
Well FINALLY.
It took four books, but we're finally at the point where Nick Pirog has shifted away from some of the most maddening flaws of the first three Thomas Prescott novels—sexism, juvenile humor and a myriad of socially stunted terminology—and really put his plot and character development into overdrive in this book. Thankfully, Prescott comes back down to earth after his Jason Bourne/James Bond-style escapades in The Afrikaans required some suspension of belief that a normal guy on vacation can do all the things Prescott and company accomplished. With Show Me, we're back on steady ground with a flawed hero who still gets beat up both physically (this time mostly by his own stupidity, let's just call it what it is) and emotionally. He's back to being Human Thomas Prescott, retired detective with a penchant for trouble.
This plot has all the small-town crime trimmings as Prescott puts his cold case detective hat on after moving to Missouri. After an acquaintance gets murdered Thomas can't help but start poking around which makes the sheriff mad, the big GMO company mad, and, well, pretty much everyone mad for one reason or another. In true Pirog style there are plots and subplots (but not as many as in previous stories) with twists and turns—and yes there's a big plot twist at the end. I have to admit my "that's the murderer" radar went off fairly early in the story and turns out I was right, but only partly (again, subplot/plot twist).
I love Pirog's development of Prescott in this story. If there's anything that saves Prescott from being a totally unlikeable character, it's his self-deprecating humor and self-awareness that he can be a real jerk, especially when it comes to women. This is his saving grace. Always has been. But Pirog has finally given Thomas a moment to shine by thinking with his "big head" and not his "little head" when it comes to the women in this story, and he actually pulls through as a guy who puts his emotional feelings before his sex drive. (Applause). It took some time, but a fairly mature Thomas Prescott has finally arrived. His generosity and the friendships he sparks up in this story add another facet to his character. And if Thomas falling madly in love with...TADA!!!!...two adorable little piglets doesn't warm your hardened heart to his old a-hole, frat-boy ways, are you even human?
So I'm going to say, if I have just ONE gripe about this story at all, it's about the big reveal. I won't give away any spoilers, but NOBODY in their right mind would put themselves in THAT situation with the murderer, especially with an innocent person in tow. I had a real, "are you KIDDING me we were SO CLOSE to a perfect Thomas Prescott book!" when it hit. But, then, would it be a Thomas Prescott story if he didn't make some bad calls based on a bit of arrogance? So, yep, the murderer reveal was weak...and I'm glad to say it was pretty much the only flaw in the story. That's saying quite a lot considering my frustration with his first three books.
Pirog saved the day with Show Me. I'll be on the lookout for the next Thomas Prescott book.
It took four books, but we're finally at the point where Nick Pirog has shifted away from some of the most maddening flaws of the first three Thomas Prescott novels—sexism, juvenile humor and a myriad of socially stunted terminology—and really put his plot and character development into overdrive in this book. Thankfully, Prescott comes back down to earth after his Jason Bourne/James Bond-style escapades in The Afrikaans required some suspension of belief that a normal guy on vacation can do all the things Prescott and company accomplished. With Show Me, we're back on steady ground with a flawed hero who still gets beat up both physically (this time mostly by his own stupidity, let's just call it what it is) and emotionally. He's back to being Human Thomas Prescott, retired detective with a penchant for trouble.
This plot has all the small-town crime trimmings as Prescott puts his cold case detective hat on after moving to Missouri. After an acquaintance gets murdered Thomas can't help but start poking around which makes the sheriff mad, the big GMO company mad, and, well, pretty much everyone mad for one reason or another. In true Pirog style there are plots and subplots (but not as many as in previous stories) with twists and turns—and yes there's a big plot twist at the end. I have to admit my "that's the murderer" radar went off fairly early in the story and turns out I was right, but only partly (again, subplot/plot twist).
I love Pirog's development of Prescott in this story. If there's anything that saves Prescott from being a totally unlikeable character, it's his self-deprecating humor and self-awareness that he can be a real jerk, especially when it comes to women. This is his saving grace. Always has been. But Pirog has finally given Thomas a moment to shine by thinking with his "big head" and not his "little head" when it comes to the women in this story, and he actually pulls through as a guy who puts his emotional feelings before his sex drive. (Applause). It took some time, but a fairly mature Thomas Prescott has finally arrived. His generosity and the friendships he sparks up in this story add another facet to his character. And if Thomas falling madly in love with...TADA!!!!...two adorable little piglets doesn't warm your hardened heart to his old a-hole, frat-boy ways, are you even human?
So I'm going to say, if I have just ONE gripe about this story at all, it's about the big reveal. I won't give away any spoilers, but NOBODY in their right mind would put themselves in THAT situation with the murderer, especially with an innocent person in tow. I had a real, "are you KIDDING me we were SO CLOSE to a perfect Thomas Prescott book!" when it hit. But, then, would it be a Thomas Prescott story if he didn't make some bad calls based on a bit of arrogance? So, yep, the murderer reveal was weak...and I'm glad to say it was pretty much the only flaw in the story. That's saying quite a lot considering my frustration with his first three books.
Pirog saved the day with Show Me. I'll be on the lookout for the next Thomas Prescott book.
May 20, 2021
Loved it. Read it so fast I had to go back and reread parts. The writing is so good! As this series has progressed I have gotten to know the people in Thomas's life and to know him so well that I think I could predict what he'd have in his fridge! He's evolved through these four books and, even though he's still kind of a dick, he's a bit less of one.
In this book Thomas has turned 35 and he's not aging gracefully. Once again he's gotten his heart broken. This time by the AIDS worker doctor without borders woman, Gina, that he took up with at the end of The Afrikaans. The old man that he started visiting at the nursing home during Gray Matter has died and left him a farm in the Mid-west. Thomas was shot at the climax of the Afrikaans and has been unable to exercise, he had been an habitual runner. That coupled with the loss of Harold and his broken heart has led to Thomas putting on 40+ pounds. He packs up his parents old car and a hefty supply of snacks and drives across the country to try to put his life back together on Harold's farm.
This book takes on small town life and politics, the difficulties of farming, race relations and GMO's. It looks at man's relationship to food as well as the age old dilemma: do you have sex with the town floozy who's throwing it at ya or hold out for the pretty but nice girl who makes you smile? Or do you do both and can you live with the fallout?
Show Me is such a lovely read, so brilliantly written, so funny with such well drawn characters, that I was sad to finish it. But I've already prepared to read four more Nick Pirog books as I dive into the 3 AM series next. Hope it's as good as the Thomas Prescott series is.
In this book Thomas has turned 35 and he's not aging gracefully. Once again he's gotten his heart broken. This time by the AIDS worker doctor without borders woman, Gina, that he took up with at the end of The Afrikaans. The old man that he started visiting at the nursing home during Gray Matter has died and left him a farm in the Mid-west. Thomas was shot at the climax of the Afrikaans and has been unable to exercise, he had been an habitual runner. That coupled with the loss of Harold and his broken heart has led to Thomas putting on 40+ pounds. He packs up his parents old car and a hefty supply of snacks and drives across the country to try to put his life back together on Harold's farm.
This book takes on small town life and politics, the difficulties of farming, race relations and GMO's. It looks at man's relationship to food as well as the age old dilemma: do you have sex with the town floozy who's throwing it at ya or hold out for the pretty but nice girl who makes you smile? Or do you do both and can you live with the fallout?
Show Me is such a lovely read, so brilliantly written, so funny with such well drawn characters, that I was sad to finish it. But I've already prepared to read four more Nick Pirog books as I dive into the 3 AM series next. Hope it's as good as the Thomas Prescott series is.
January 9, 2023
Great characters, good mystery, some unexpected twists and a little humor
I always compare my mystery and thriller books to my favorite author, Harlan Coben. With that said, this is my second Nick Pirog book with Thomas Prescott and it’s definitely worth 4 stars, maybe even 4.5 stars. Thomas Prescott is the same wisecracking detective. I find the humor funny most of the time but every now and then, it’s a little too much. I grew up on a hog, corn and soybeanfarm in Iowa very similar to the farm described in the book. I also have family in the Mexico, MO area which is not far from the location of this story. This is all to say that Mr. Pirog got a few things wrong with regard to a Midwest farm, but, in general, was pretty accurate. The author did a great job defining the characters and, in so doing, shedding suspicion on several of them. Like Thomas Prescott, I had to shift the “bad guy/girl” from different people as the story unfolded. In the end, there were a number of bad guys with some worse than others. The ultimate bad guy/girl was a bit of a surprise and the motive not unexpected but still very interesting. The book seemed to wrap up a little quickly, but still a dramatic ending with some twists and turns. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a good mystery, fun characters and a little humor.
I always compare my mystery and thriller books to my favorite author, Harlan Coben. With that said, this is my second Nick Pirog book with Thomas Prescott and it’s definitely worth 4 stars, maybe even 4.5 stars. Thomas Prescott is the same wisecracking detective. I find the humor funny most of the time but every now and then, it’s a little too much. I grew up on a hog, corn and soybeanfarm in Iowa very similar to the farm described in the book. I also have family in the Mexico, MO area which is not far from the location of this story. This is all to say that Mr. Pirog got a few things wrong with regard to a Midwest farm, but, in general, was pretty accurate. The author did a great job defining the characters and, in so doing, shedding suspicion on several of them. Like Thomas Prescott, I had to shift the “bad guy/girl” from different people as the story unfolded. In the end, there were a number of bad guys with some worse than others. The ultimate bad guy/girl was a bit of a surprise and the motive not unexpected but still very interesting. The book seemed to wrap up a little quickly, but still a dramatic ending with some twists and turns. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a good mystery, fun characters and a little humor.
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