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The Doll Series #1
A Man Named Doll
'Shot through with darkly comic flourishes. Motel, money, murder, it has all you need to keep you happy' THE TIMES, THRILLER OF THE MONTH
Meet Happy Doll Hap to his friends. He's a LA private detective living a quiet life along with his beloved half-Chihuahua half-Terrier, George.
He's getting by just fine When he's not walking George or sipping tequila, Hap works nights at the Thai Miracle Spa, protecting the women who work there from clients who won't take "no" for an answer.
Until he kills a man Usually Doll avoids trouble by following his two basic bark loudly and act first. But after a deadly fight with a customer, even he finds himself wildly out of his depth...
A Man Named Doll is both a hilarious introduction to an unforgettable character, and a high-speed joyride through the sensuous and violent streets of LA.
Meet Happy Doll Hap to his friends. He's a LA private detective living a quiet life along with his beloved half-Chihuahua half-Terrier, George.
He's getting by just fine When he's not walking George or sipping tequila, Hap works nights at the Thai Miracle Spa, protecting the women who work there from clients who won't take "no" for an answer.
Until he kills a man Usually Doll avoids trouble by following his two basic bark loudly and act first. But after a deadly fight with a customer, even he finds himself wildly out of his depth...
A Man Named Doll is both a hilarious introduction to an unforgettable character, and a high-speed joyride through the sensuous and violent streets of LA.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2021
260 people are currently reading
3616 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Ames
41 books771 followersJonathan Ames is an American author who has written a number of novels and comic memoirs, and is the creator of two television series, Bored to Death (HBO) and Blunt Talk (STARZ). In the late '90s and early 2000s, he was a columnist for the New York Press for several years, and became known for self-deprecating tales of his sexual misadventures. He also has a long-time interest in boxing, appearing occasionally in the ring as "The Herring Wonder".
Two of his novels have been adapted into films: The Extra Man in 2010, and You Were Never Really Here in 2017. Ames was a co-screenwriter of the former and an executive producer of the latter.
Two of his novels have been adapted into films: The Extra Man in 2010, and You Were Never Really Here in 2017. Ames was a co-screenwriter of the former and an executive producer of the latter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
April 23, 2021
Oh, this one had so much potential for me, I loved the character, the story, especially the way it unfolded. But I have said many times the Fictive Dream is everything to this reader and I kept getting tossed out of the story with writing ticks (evil little blood sucking beasts). The over use of the conjunction and the passive voice ruined it for me. Without these issues this story might have gone the distance, been Raymond Chandleresk. This could be just on me, my writers eye not allowing me to enjoy a story where others might. The continual use of :and then there was, and then there were, and and, and, then then then, kept me at arms length. Yikes.
Some simple editing could've made this one stellar (for me)
And then there were the errors in the police procedure (see what I did right there) that could've been easily fixed with vetting by someone in law enforcement.
Some simple editing could've made this one stellar (for me)
And then there were the errors in the police procedure (see what I did right there) that could've been easily fixed with vetting by someone in law enforcement.
November 27, 2021
“They didn’t like it, and they still didn’t like me.” (3.5 stars)
I was very pleasantly surprised by A MAN NAMED DOLL.
The first paragraph sets the quasi noir tone of the book. What follows is a tight, well-constructed story. I was never bored while reading it, and I found this quick novel enjoyable. It has some of the quirkiness that those who have read Mr. Ames before have encountered, but not nearly as much as is usually present. And that as good thing. Mr. Ames is an odd dude, and sometime he writes odd things that I always thought distracted from the text. Not so much in A MAN NAMED DOLL.
In short, the plot is about a private investigator, formerly of the LAPD, who is propelled on the journey this book chronicles when an old friend shows up on his porch with a bullet in his gut.
A moment I have to comment on is an 8 ½ page chapter that Ames writes that gives a concise, yet complete, history of the 50 year old protagonist. And it does not appear until halfway through the novel. It is a bold and appropriate choice and it stood out to me as a really excellent example of the book’s construction.
Some quotes that I enjoyed:
• “Like most people, he was a mix of things. Heroic and selfish. Insightful and blind. Sane and insane.”
• “He was a good reader of people. His eyes in his big round head were shrewd, and he was one of those types who understood others but not himself.”
• “His anger was with himself, but he took it out on me.”
• “The Adderall was really enjoying itself, had me flapping my mouth, had me feeling blithe and clever.”
At 208 pages A MAN NAMED DOLL moves along at a quick clip, yet paradoxically there are moments of great detail about mundane things (how a cell phone works) that I could not figure out why they were included. However, despite that, the text never gets bogged down, and if Jonathan Ames writes another book about private investigator Happy Doll I will read it.
I was very pleasantly surprised by A MAN NAMED DOLL.
The first paragraph sets the quasi noir tone of the book. What follows is a tight, well-constructed story. I was never bored while reading it, and I found this quick novel enjoyable. It has some of the quirkiness that those who have read Mr. Ames before have encountered, but not nearly as much as is usually present. And that as good thing. Mr. Ames is an odd dude, and sometime he writes odd things that I always thought distracted from the text. Not so much in A MAN NAMED DOLL.
In short, the plot is about a private investigator, formerly of the LAPD, who is propelled on the journey this book chronicles when an old friend shows up on his porch with a bullet in his gut.
A moment I have to comment on is an 8 ½ page chapter that Ames writes that gives a concise, yet complete, history of the 50 year old protagonist. And it does not appear until halfway through the novel. It is a bold and appropriate choice and it stood out to me as a really excellent example of the book’s construction.
Some quotes that I enjoyed:
• “Like most people, he was a mix of things. Heroic and selfish. Insightful and blind. Sane and insane.”
• “He was a good reader of people. His eyes in his big round head were shrewd, and he was one of those types who understood others but not himself.”
• “His anger was with himself, but he took it out on me.”
• “The Adderall was really enjoying itself, had me flapping my mouth, had me feeling blithe and clever.”
At 208 pages A MAN NAMED DOLL moves along at a quick clip, yet paradoxically there are moments of great detail about mundane things (how a cell phone works) that I could not figure out why they were included. However, despite that, the text never gets bogged down, and if Jonathan Ames writes another book about private investigator Happy Doll I will read it.
April 2, 2023
Absolutely loved this breezy, fast-paced and violent private eye mystery-thriller.
The dope smoking hero is a loner with a born loser’s heart. He has one constant and faithful companion, George. A real dog of a sidekick, half Chihuahua, half terrier and full of love for his master Doll… Happy Doll.
This reminded me of another breezy, humorous and action-packed series: the Shortcut Man novels by P. G. Sturges, son of the famous film director.
Find a synopsis for this book elsewhere- I don’t regurgitate plots. Suffice to say it’s full of surprises, little twists most readers will never see coming. It’s an immensely entertaining and well written number.
Ordering the second entry in this new series as soon as I post this review.
5 Stars. Highest Recommendation!
The dope smoking hero is a loner with a born loser’s heart. He has one constant and faithful companion, George. A real dog of a sidekick, half Chihuahua, half terrier and full of love for his master Doll… Happy Doll.
This reminded me of another breezy, humorous and action-packed series: the Shortcut Man novels by P. G. Sturges, son of the famous film director.
Find a synopsis for this book elsewhere- I don’t regurgitate plots. Suffice to say it’s full of surprises, little twists most readers will never see coming. It’s an immensely entertaining and well written number.
Ordering the second entry in this new series as soon as I post this review.
5 Stars. Highest Recommendation!
December 29, 2022
An old friend from the force visits LA private investigator Happy “Hank” Doll with a proposition: a big payday in exchange for his kidney. And then his friend is shot dead with some shady characters sniffing around for the money. As more dead people start inconveniently popping up in Doll’s life, making the cops look hard at him to see if he’s a crazed serial killer, he sets out to avenge his friend’s death. All in a day’s work for A Man Named Doll.
Jonathan Ames has written noir-ish stories throughout his career, starting with the less successful I Pass Like Night to short stories like Bored to Death and You Were Never Really Here, both of which were adapted into a great TV show and decent movie. He returns to the genre with A Man Named Doll, the first in an ongoing crime/modern LA noir series, and it’s not bad.
The staples are all there: the private detective, the person who enters his office in the first chapter setting off the chain of events, the booze, the dame, getting knocked around by low-lifes, etc. Ames plays it all well without making it feel cliched or knowing, and his prose style is deceptively simple and accessible with the story unfolding smoothly, so that the novel is a pleasantly breezy read.
The story slows down a bit in the second act when Doll goes on the obligatory stake-out. I know why it had to happen but that whole section is dull. Doll himself is not that distinctive a character - he’s a basic private detective-type that readers of this genre will have seen before - and, similarly, the story generally is fairly unmemorable. I didn’t dislike it but it doesn’t stand out as remarkable or even remotely new and I don’t expect to remember it for long.
Still, it’s not too boring either and I enjoyed it enough to want to check out the next book. While not among Jonathan Ames’ best fiction, if you’re in the mood for a decent modern LA noir tale, A Man Named Doll is worth a look.
Jonathan Ames has written noir-ish stories throughout his career, starting with the less successful I Pass Like Night to short stories like Bored to Death and You Were Never Really Here, both of which were adapted into a great TV show and decent movie. He returns to the genre with A Man Named Doll, the first in an ongoing crime/modern LA noir series, and it’s not bad.
The staples are all there: the private detective, the person who enters his office in the first chapter setting off the chain of events, the booze, the dame, getting knocked around by low-lifes, etc. Ames plays it all well without making it feel cliched or knowing, and his prose style is deceptively simple and accessible with the story unfolding smoothly, so that the novel is a pleasantly breezy read.
The story slows down a bit in the second act when Doll goes on the obligatory stake-out. I know why it had to happen but that whole section is dull. Doll himself is not that distinctive a character - he’s a basic private detective-type that readers of this genre will have seen before - and, similarly, the story generally is fairly unmemorable. I didn’t dislike it but it doesn’t stand out as remarkable or even remotely new and I don’t expect to remember it for long.
Still, it’s not too boring either and I enjoyed it enough to want to check out the next book. While not among Jonathan Ames’ best fiction, if you’re in the mood for a decent modern LA noir tale, A Man Named Doll is worth a look.
June 11, 2025
4.5 stars
"[Lou Shelton] was in the customer's chair and I was behind my desk. He was seventy-three, bald, and short, and getting shorter all of the time. I was fifty, Irish, and nuts, and getting nuttier all of the time. Outside there was a downpour. L.A. was crying and had been for weeks. The window behind my desk was being pelted, the noise was like a symphony gone mad . . ." -- on page 1
Move over, Philip Marlowe and Lew Archer - the 'City of Angels' has an unlikely new noir detective pounding its 21st century pavement. Happy Doll - just called him 'Hank,' thanks - is a Navy veteran and ex-LAPD officer / missing persons investigator who moonlights as a private eye in between his night gig as a security man at a dubious strip mall massage parlor. But hold on to your holsters, fans of hardboiled heroes - while this simplistic background check may give the impression that our man Doll is just another dime-a-dozen gumshoe, author Ames wisely provides him a chapter which fully fleshes out a traumatic past - including an alcoholic and distant father, sexual abuse as a young teen from a trusted camp counselor, and the unexpected suicide of a friend - and, I think, firmly puts the readers in the bleachers for cheering on this unlikely-named narrator/protagonist. The plot is kicked into motion by a dependable trope - an ailing older mentor / friend from the policing days who once took a bullet intended for Doll - shows up to ask for assistance, and a few scenes later is murdered, but then things get interesting because initially Doll seems absolutely luckless (but not incompetent), and damned if he doesn't keep resolutely plugging away at the twisty investigation. Accompanied by his faithful canine companion 'George,' a friendly terrier/Chihuahua mix, Doll hits those freeways of SoCal in his dusty, trusty old Chevy Caprice under the influence of painkillers - don't ask - to perform the necessary legwork and interact with a colorful cast of supporting types, including a diamond merchant, an vainly aging realtor, a former 70's sitcom star, and a disgraced surgeon. Based on the initial outing of this intriguing new series, I'm now interested to check out the subsequent stories.
"[Lou Shelton] was in the customer's chair and I was behind my desk. He was seventy-three, bald, and short, and getting shorter all of the time. I was fifty, Irish, and nuts, and getting nuttier all of the time. Outside there was a downpour. L.A. was crying and had been for weeks. The window behind my desk was being pelted, the noise was like a symphony gone mad . . ." -- on page 1
Move over, Philip Marlowe and Lew Archer - the 'City of Angels' has an unlikely new noir detective pounding its 21st century pavement. Happy Doll - just called him 'Hank,' thanks - is a Navy veteran and ex-LAPD officer / missing persons investigator who moonlights as a private eye in between his night gig as a security man at a dubious strip mall massage parlor. But hold on to your holsters, fans of hardboiled heroes - while this simplistic background check may give the impression that our man Doll is just another dime-a-dozen gumshoe, author Ames wisely provides him a chapter which fully fleshes out a traumatic past - including an alcoholic and distant father, sexual abuse as a young teen from a trusted camp counselor, and the unexpected suicide of a friend - and, I think, firmly puts the readers in the bleachers for cheering on this unlikely-named narrator/protagonist. The plot is kicked into motion by a dependable trope - an ailing older mentor / friend from the policing days who once took a bullet intended for Doll - shows up to ask for assistance, and a few scenes later is murdered, but then things get interesting because initially Doll seems absolutely luckless (but not incompetent), and damned if he doesn't keep resolutely plugging away at the twisty investigation. Accompanied by his faithful canine companion 'George,' a friendly terrier/Chihuahua mix, Doll hits those freeways of SoCal in his dusty, trusty old Chevy Caprice under the influence of painkillers - don't ask - to perform the necessary legwork and interact with a colorful cast of supporting types, including a diamond merchant, an vainly aging realtor, a former 70's sitcom star, and a disgraced surgeon. Based on the initial outing of this intriguing new series, I'm now interested to check out the subsequent stories.
February 17, 2024
Didn't expect I'd like this quirky noir so much. I usually remember all the books I ever bought, but this time I had no idea how this book came to be in my audible library. A quick investigation showed that I bought it when it was on a huge discount as their "daily sale", so I grabbed it because I liked the description, and promptly forgot about its existence.
I'm glad I picked "A Man Named Doll" out of my shamefully long to-read queue. I liked the plot and characters, but especially enjoyed the outstanding quality of the writing. I'd be marking lots of quotes if it wasn't an audiobook.;)
Just one example of many:
Then he noticed the butterflies in the parking lot, swirling about like drunken particles[...].
The audiobook version is narrated by the author himself, and the narration is excellent because he also happens to be an actor, among many other occupations.
I'll be sure to read the next book in the series.
I'm glad I picked "A Man Named Doll" out of my shamefully long to-read queue. I liked the plot and characters, but especially enjoyed the outstanding quality of the writing. I'd be marking lots of quotes if it wasn't an audiobook.;)
Just one example of many:
Then he noticed the butterflies in the parking lot, swirling about like drunken particles[...].
The audiobook version is narrated by the author himself, and the narration is excellent because he also happens to be an actor, among many other occupations.
I'll be sure to read the next book in the series.
April 8, 2021
The first two-thirds of this read like a classy homage to the great LA noir of the past. It screams at various times of Cain, Chandler and Hammett - some elements feels literally torn from their playbooks. It's funny, full of wisecracks and set in the pantheon of grotesque wealth, the Hollywood Hills.
And then everything goes..
DARK
AS
FUCK.
Great, disturbing fun with a brilliant and comic narrative voice. The start of what could be a very entertaining series.
And then everything goes..
DARK
AS
FUCK.
Great, disturbing fun with a brilliant and comic narrative voice. The start of what could be a very entertaining series.
May 4, 2021
Relentless, funny, sharp, and unexpectedly dark. An absolutely thrilling read.
July 18, 2022
Finished it in one sitting. It’s how books should be - gripping, funny, entertaining all in one. Very very enjoyable - highly recommended.
April 20, 2021
2.5 STARS
His parents really had a sense of humor. With the last name of Doll, they could have chosen so many first names. The one they decided on was .. Happy. Happy Doll, he is .. although he usually goes by Hank or Hap.
Doll is an ex-detective, now working at being a private investigator. An old friend looks him up and wants Doll to donate one of his kidneys to him. Doll doesn't make a decision .. mainly because his old friend shows up at his house, with a bullet in his stomach.
The old man was already dying .. why would anyone shoot him? Doll is determined to find out.
In the course of about 24 hours, Doll kills several people and guess who the prime suspect is?
I really wanted to like this one. The character was great in that the love of his life is a dog named George. I know there was a good story in there, but it felt smothered in all the graphic violence that felt gratuitous. The man suffered so many injuries he should have died at least 5 times. Having one of his kidneys removed .. without his consent .... and then a day or two after this particular surgery, he's up battling the bad guys. Being an ex-cop, I found his treating a crime scene like it was nothing, manhandling evidence, hiding evidence and lying to the cops just annoying. Coming from a law enforcement family, I always look for some sort of credibility to hang onto. Unfortunately .. I found none.
Many thanks to the author / Mulholland Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
His parents really had a sense of humor. With the last name of Doll, they could have chosen so many first names. The one they decided on was .. Happy. Happy Doll, he is .. although he usually goes by Hank or Hap.
Doll is an ex-detective, now working at being a private investigator. An old friend looks him up and wants Doll to donate one of his kidneys to him. Doll doesn't make a decision .. mainly because his old friend shows up at his house, with a bullet in his stomach.
The old man was already dying .. why would anyone shoot him? Doll is determined to find out.
In the course of about 24 hours, Doll kills several people and guess who the prime suspect is?
I really wanted to like this one. The character was great in that the love of his life is a dog named George. I know there was a good story in there, but it felt smothered in all the graphic violence that felt gratuitous. The man suffered so many injuries he should have died at least 5 times. Having one of his kidneys removed .. without his consent .... and then a day or two after this particular surgery, he's up battling the bad guys. Being an ex-cop, I found his treating a crime scene like it was nothing, manhandling evidence, hiding evidence and lying to the cops just annoying. Coming from a law enforcement family, I always look for some sort of credibility to hang onto. Unfortunately .. I found none.
Many thanks to the author / Mulholland Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 28, 2021
A treat for readers with a dark sense of humor. Oddly named Los Angeles private investigator Happy Doll (who'd prefer to go by "Hank" and who winces when he has to pull out his driver's license for identification) loves his dog, has been in Freudian therapy for years, and generally drifts by in a marijuana-induced haze, but has a really exciting week in this slim volume. There are multiple deaths, some truly horrific injuries to his body and a close call with "organ harvesters" before his world straightens out again. I laughed and cringed in equal measures, and will remember this one for a long time!
February 1, 2024
To quote liner notes on the inside cover, "Happy Doll is a charming, if not occasionally inexpert, private investigator living one sheer cliff drop beneath the Hollywood sign with George, his half Chihuahua, half terrier".. pretty much describes what we're dealing with and makes him one of the more unique PI characters you'll encounter.
He supplements if flailing PI business by working as a quasi-bouncer at Thai 'massage parlor' that offers 'special services' to select clientele. When his close friend Lou shows up to announce the need for a kidney transplant, Happy aka Hank, deliberates and finally decides he'll help. But things turn dark when he goes to Lou's house and discovers he's been shot, and finds a tiny blue envelope with a 7 carat diamond and a note asking he sells it. As with most detective mysteries, each step takes him deeper into a chasm where he's beaten, cajoled, out-witted and confused. The author does a great job of throwing an unexpected curve ball toward the end, and its one that's worth keeping secret.
Having read several of the Walter Mosley, Leonid McGill stories, this was refreshing, unique and often funny, which was welcome in all respects. I'll be reading the sequel and am hoping its as good as this one. Fans of mystery, detectives and fun will enjoy this!
He supplements if flailing PI business by working as a quasi-bouncer at Thai 'massage parlor' that offers 'special services' to select clientele. When his close friend Lou shows up to announce the need for a kidney transplant, Happy aka Hank, deliberates and finally decides he'll help. But things turn dark when he goes to Lou's house and discovers he's been shot, and finds a tiny blue envelope with a 7 carat diamond and a note asking he sells it. As with most detective mysteries, each step takes him deeper into a chasm where he's beaten, cajoled, out-witted and confused. The author does a great job of throwing an unexpected curve ball toward the end, and its one that's worth keeping secret.
Having read several of the Walter Mosley, Leonid McGill stories, this was refreshing, unique and often funny, which was welcome in all respects. I'll be reading the sequel and am hoping its as good as this one. Fans of mystery, detectives and fun will enjoy this!
February 22, 2022
Fast paced noir which could've used a bit of editorial help, but I liked Happy Doll, his canine partner George, the atmospheric portrayal of the Los Angeles setting, and the setup for any further installments.
August 25, 2025
[3.5] very fast paced noir, enjoyed the quirky narration/dry humor and how it slowly goes more and more off the rails. Loved his friendship with his dog. Only complaint was that the ending was a little too crime TV for me. Also shout out to the seller at my new fav bookstore who told me to get this one, will be returning there soon.
March 29, 2024
A true page-turner, I finished this in just two sittings, (at a still-brief 224 pages, it was still twice as long as Ames' previous You Were Never Really Here, and all the better for the extra length). Good voice, good characters, and a plot that is propulsive enough to carry you right past the book's flaws - of which there are more than a few:
- WAY too much soap opera backstory (abusive dad and camp counsellors, suicidal tendencies, a totally ripped-off Tyrion Lannister "I killed my mom in childbirth" trauma, another character with a totally irrelevant and unnecessary "unadopted orphan" history that is mentioned just once and then forgotten)
- WAY too much use of the word "then," often multiple times in the same paragraph (or the first word in consecutive paragraphs) to the point of being distracting and then actually funny, as in "so this is a first-person narrative being told by a character who intentionally doesn't know how to write"
- That whole breathless "works nights at a local Thai spa that offers its clients a number of special services" line that plays heavily in all of the book's descriptions? Totally irrelevant to the story, and disappears completes after about chapter three
- And so much description about driving around the LA suburbs that it starts to sound like a bad "Californians" skit on SNL
(And, of course, minor points off for our protagonist's name - "Happy Doll"? Is that some sort of inside joke, only known to Ames himself? Otherwise, just as stupid as Jo Nesbø’s "Harry Hole.")
But again - all that aside, I really enjoyed this one, and greatly look forward to reading the sequel - although will probably save that for a later date.
- WAY too much soap opera backstory (abusive dad and camp counsellors, suicidal tendencies, a totally ripped-off Tyrion Lannister "I killed my mom in childbirth" trauma, another character with a totally irrelevant and unnecessary "unadopted orphan" history that is mentioned just once and then forgotten)
- WAY too much use of the word "then," often multiple times in the same paragraph (or the first word in consecutive paragraphs) to the point of being distracting and then actually funny, as in "so this is a first-person narrative being told by a character who intentionally doesn't know how to write"
- That whole breathless "works nights at a local Thai spa that offers its clients a number of special services" line that plays heavily in all of the book's descriptions? Totally irrelevant to the story, and disappears completes after about chapter three
- And so much description about driving around the LA suburbs that it starts to sound like a bad "Californians" skit on SNL
(And, of course, minor points off for our protagonist's name - "Happy Doll"? Is that some sort of inside joke, only known to Ames himself? Otherwise, just as stupid as Jo Nesbø’s "Harry Hole.")
But again - all that aside, I really enjoyed this one, and greatly look forward to reading the sequel - although will probably save that for a later date.
May 10, 2021
First mistake - the author read his own book, and he's not a good narrator. There had to have been actors who could have read it much more convincingly, and with more variation in intonation. Every other sentence sounded like a question when it wasn't because of the author's inflection.
Second mistake - early on in the book, there was an overabundance of strained metaphors and descriptors. It sounded more like a satire of a Raymond Chandler novel than an actual novel.
Third mistake - the story, at least as an audiobook, just rambled. Maybe if I had been reading this as the written word on a page it would have been better, but as an audiobook it bogged down.
Overall, this had an interesting premise for a crime, but it took forever to get there.
Second mistake - early on in the book, there was an overabundance of strained metaphors and descriptors. It sounded more like a satire of a Raymond Chandler novel than an actual novel.
Third mistake - the story, at least as an audiobook, just rambled. Maybe if I had been reading this as the written word on a page it would have been better, but as an audiobook it bogged down.
Overall, this had an interesting premise for a crime, but it took forever to get there.
May 30, 2025
A lot of books get labeled noir that aren’t, like this one. It’s hard boiled crime fiction that stands easily along side The Rockford Files or John Macdonald’s books rather than Chandler or Cain. Happy Doll is a fun character. Unfortunately, he is let down by the first person narration that frequently becomes self-indulgent. Thankfully, the whip fast story and sharp plotting make the book a winner. I would have liked the setting of LA to have had a bigger role, again the first person kept it all tell and no show, so it was always at arm’s length.
May 14, 2021
(3). This is a fun little book. It feels like a strange TV show at times, but that makes perfect sense, as the author has lots of screen writing experience. Happy Doll is a solid protagonist, and his dog George is a great sidekick. The story moves right along, with some truly unusual diversions and a totally unexplained major twist at the very end. Short and sweet this is the perfect read for a brainless, rainy afternoon. Decent stuff.
April 28, 2021
A Man Named Doll
Jonathan Ames
Pushkin Press Vertigo
A Man Named Doll is the first in a new crime series written by Jonathan Ames. He is an author of 9 books, comic memoirs and the creator of the Bored To Death (HBO) and Blunt Talk (STARZ) TV series, yet even creating the former show, Ames stated that it was his “Holy Grail was to be writing crime novels”.
With this first slice of Los Angeles Noir he has certainly cultured a memorable beginning. It is quite evident that Ames is tipping his hat to the traditions of LA PI fiction introducing his main protagonist through a first person narrative in an approach reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Yet there is plenty of flavour, quirks and unexpected moves in a novel that shows some light amongst the noir. The fact that his character is named Hank “Happy” Doll is a first indication that there will be a degree of humour in the novel. A former navy man and NYPD officer, Doll is now a private investigator.
A superb opening lays the scene of a shabby office in a less salubrious part of LA during the raining season where Doll is visited by one time police colleague Lou Shelton. The chain smoking and nicotine scarred former sergeant has had more stints inserted than he has fingers and his voice is "A toss up between a rasp, a wheeze and a death rattle." Many years before, when Doll was still a rookie, Shelton took a bullet for him in the line of duty. While Doll knows he’s after a favour, the request he makes is both unexpected and surreal leaving him stunned. Not being a particularly profitable PI, Doll has a second evening job providing security at a massage parlour. The first of a large early body count occurs when one of the masseurs is attacked by a meth high giant of a man. Our narrator comes to her defense, with accidental finality.
There is no slowing in the pace when later Shelton appears at Doll’s home. He's been shot and near to death. When Doll sees an armed stranger has followed him to the apartment he then tries to retrace Shelton’s steps, stumbling on another death and then causing another; yet all in the means of self defence of course!
Hank Doll is clearly a well-intentioned and sympathetic main character who loves his half Chichuhua half terrier George, has an on off (mainly off) relationship with Monica and feels a loyalty to Shelton. Yet you get the feeling his cards have been stacked against him and those good intentions don’t always bring beneficial results, particularly with bodies dropping around him. As the story settles we see behind the hard boiled exterior as we learn a bit of his backstory being raised with an unaffectionate father and then how he got into his current line of work while still feeling lost:
“At thirty-five, I quit the cops and life got a little better, I liked working for myself and Dr. Schine sent a lot of business my way. I was a functional alcoholic and pothead, and my love life was busy, though it was really like a version of that children’s book where the little bird – not knowing where he is – goes around asking all the other animals – Are you my mother?”
The narrative is fast paced and the sentences are elongated as Doll meanders from one predicament to another with actions that he would be unable to explain to his hostile former police colleagues. Like a delusional PI Philip Marlowe failing to reach an equilibrium between prescribed dilaudid and marijuana our new hero finds himself in mortal danger within a murky world of diamonds, dead men and kidney transplants. This is a real attention grabbing first novel for Happy Doll. The characterisations are strong however the best quality is that Ames manages to combine serious and grisly deaths with a sarcastic comical aspect so effectively. It’s an entertaining fast paced story that will at times make you laugh and at times keep you gripped. I look forward to more!
A Man Named Dog is released on Thursday 29 April 2021 by Pushkin Press Vertigo.
Jonathan Ames
Pushkin Press Vertigo
A Man Named Doll is the first in a new crime series written by Jonathan Ames. He is an author of 9 books, comic memoirs and the creator of the Bored To Death (HBO) and Blunt Talk (STARZ) TV series, yet even creating the former show, Ames stated that it was his “Holy Grail was to be writing crime novels”.
With this first slice of Los Angeles Noir he has certainly cultured a memorable beginning. It is quite evident that Ames is tipping his hat to the traditions of LA PI fiction introducing his main protagonist through a first person narrative in an approach reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Yet there is plenty of flavour, quirks and unexpected moves in a novel that shows some light amongst the noir. The fact that his character is named Hank “Happy” Doll is a first indication that there will be a degree of humour in the novel. A former navy man and NYPD officer, Doll is now a private investigator.
A superb opening lays the scene of a shabby office in a less salubrious part of LA during the raining season where Doll is visited by one time police colleague Lou Shelton. The chain smoking and nicotine scarred former sergeant has had more stints inserted than he has fingers and his voice is "A toss up between a rasp, a wheeze and a death rattle." Many years before, when Doll was still a rookie, Shelton took a bullet for him in the line of duty. While Doll knows he’s after a favour, the request he makes is both unexpected and surreal leaving him stunned. Not being a particularly profitable PI, Doll has a second evening job providing security at a massage parlour. The first of a large early body count occurs when one of the masseurs is attacked by a meth high giant of a man. Our narrator comes to her defense, with accidental finality.
There is no slowing in the pace when later Shelton appears at Doll’s home. He's been shot and near to death. When Doll sees an armed stranger has followed him to the apartment he then tries to retrace Shelton’s steps, stumbling on another death and then causing another; yet all in the means of self defence of course!
Hank Doll is clearly a well-intentioned and sympathetic main character who loves his half Chichuhua half terrier George, has an on off (mainly off) relationship with Monica and feels a loyalty to Shelton. Yet you get the feeling his cards have been stacked against him and those good intentions don’t always bring beneficial results, particularly with bodies dropping around him. As the story settles we see behind the hard boiled exterior as we learn a bit of his backstory being raised with an unaffectionate father and then how he got into his current line of work while still feeling lost:
“At thirty-five, I quit the cops and life got a little better, I liked working for myself and Dr. Schine sent a lot of business my way. I was a functional alcoholic and pothead, and my love life was busy, though it was really like a version of that children’s book where the little bird – not knowing where he is – goes around asking all the other animals – Are you my mother?”
The narrative is fast paced and the sentences are elongated as Doll meanders from one predicament to another with actions that he would be unable to explain to his hostile former police colleagues. Like a delusional PI Philip Marlowe failing to reach an equilibrium between prescribed dilaudid and marijuana our new hero finds himself in mortal danger within a murky world of diamonds, dead men and kidney transplants. This is a real attention grabbing first novel for Happy Doll. The characterisations are strong however the best quality is that Ames manages to combine serious and grisly deaths with a sarcastic comical aspect so effectively. It’s an entertaining fast paced story that will at times make you laugh and at times keep you gripped. I look forward to more!
A Man Named Dog is released on Thursday 29 April 2021 by Pushkin Press Vertigo.
April 16, 2021
I picked up Jonathan Ames's new novel - A Man Named Doll - on a rainy Saturday morning and finished it before dinner. It's just over 200 pages - but those pages make for addictive reading.
Meet Happy Doll - yes, that's his real name, but he does answer to Hank. Former Navy, LAPD and currently a struggling Private Investigator. He also works security for a massage parlor to make ends meet. And for the reader - a unique lead character.
An old colleague stops by the office to see if Hank would be willing to donate him a kidney. And that one act is the start of a string of bodies and a set of crimes that you just can't predict.
The setting is LA and I immediately got a noir feeling from settings and characters - Hank's office setting, his occupation, his home under the Hollywood sign, the buxom barkeep at his local and more.
Happy's inner dialogue is wickedly sharp and darkly humourous. He acts on impulse quite often and doesn't seem to realize that he isn't immortal. He's quite likeable and you can't help but behind him. Oh, and his dog George is an excellent sidekick.
The plot kept me guessing with every new turn (and body). There was no way to guess how things were going to turn out. The pacing of the book is fast and furious, with no downtime. Well, maybe a tad - Hank does get knocked out quite a bit.
The writing was excellent, the lead character engaging and the plot was inventive. Lee Child says this about A Man Named Doll - "Quirky, edgy, charming, funny and serious, all in one." I couldn't have said it better myself. And.....there's more Happy-ness to come. The first chapter of the next book is included at the end. The Wheel of Doll is due out next year.
Meet Happy Doll - yes, that's his real name, but he does answer to Hank. Former Navy, LAPD and currently a struggling Private Investigator. He also works security for a massage parlor to make ends meet. And for the reader - a unique lead character.
An old colleague stops by the office to see if Hank would be willing to donate him a kidney. And that one act is the start of a string of bodies and a set of crimes that you just can't predict.
The setting is LA and I immediately got a noir feeling from settings and characters - Hank's office setting, his occupation, his home under the Hollywood sign, the buxom barkeep at his local and more.
Happy's inner dialogue is wickedly sharp and darkly humourous. He acts on impulse quite often and doesn't seem to realize that he isn't immortal. He's quite likeable and you can't help but behind him. Oh, and his dog George is an excellent sidekick.
The plot kept me guessing with every new turn (and body). There was no way to guess how things were going to turn out. The pacing of the book is fast and furious, with no downtime. Well, maybe a tad - Hank does get knocked out quite a bit.
The writing was excellent, the lead character engaging and the plot was inventive. Lee Child says this about A Man Named Doll - "Quirky, edgy, charming, funny and serious, all in one." I couldn't have said it better myself. And.....there's more Happy-ness to come. The first chapter of the next book is included at the end. The Wheel of Doll is due out next year.
January 21, 2022
The private eye spectrum runs from full functioning adult (Robert B. Parker, Kristen Lepionka, Robert Crais), give or take a quirk or two, to someone with a lot of baggage. Happy Doll is on the latter end of the spectrum, and sees a Freudian psychiatrist often. His drug use (some medicinal, after injuries, some recreational to smooth out the medicinals) is prodigious, but he is smart (except about himself) and functions well enough in the crunch. This outing's plot is good, and the writing is solid, but I'll withhold judgment on Doll until the second book appears. (NOTE: There was an earlier p.i. named Doll who appeared in two books, but it's been a while and I don't remember the author's name.)
June 17, 2021
3/5. One guy's concept of reality boiled to the bone, losing all the usual social niceties in a noir tale that is at times humorous, at other times downright disgusting. It seems everyone is out to get our erstwhile hero who bears the unfortunate moniker Happy Doll. A private detective who often fumbles, Mr. Doll slides from one perilous encounter to the next, dodging the police, the bad guys and who knows who else as he tries to stay ahead and stay alive. If you like noir, you'll get a kick out of this one.
March 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this crime thriller set in Los Angeles. Happy Doll is a private detective, and immediately sympathetic with his funny name (in contrast to his dry personality) and love of his pet dog but difficulty having close relationships with people. Fast paced, tightly written with a strong sense of place and character. Feels like an old Hollywood noir film.
September 21, 2021
I liked this one. The main character is interesting. He had a Jewish mother who died when he was born and an Irish American father who never forgave him for his mother’s death. Doll has a deep relationship with his dog. Doll is in therapy. There is a lot of action.
October 27, 2021
2.5 stars. I really wanted to love this book, but it was not meant to be. 😔 I could not connect with the main character. Something just seemed off. I kept spacing out and then reread pages. I feel like it had potential, but just didn’t hit the spot for me.
November 26, 2020
A quick quirky read. I enjoyed it.
June 14, 2021
Loved this book! Brutal, fun, weird, lovely... Such a great read.
October 24, 2021
Entertaining.
February 25, 2023
An absolute blast. A modern noir story that's fun, funny and surprisingly emotional.
September 7, 2021
Loved this modern noir. Razor sharp wit, goons on both sides of the law and a loveable dog made this a very enjoyable story for me. Just disappointed it wasn't longer. Can't wait for the sequel.
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