Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

Kinky Friedman #15

by Kinky Friedman

Investigating the disappearance of an eleven-year-old boy with a rare form of autism, Kinky Friedman is also challenged to discover the whereabouts of a missing cat and enlists the help of Steve Rambam, a octogenarian with poor eyesight, and a frisky canine. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Crime, Mystery Thriller

242 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 12, 2002

About the author

Richard S. "Kinky" Friedman is an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. He was one of two independent candidates in the 2006 election for the office of Governor of Texas. Receiving 12.6% of the vote, Friedman placed fourth in the six-person race.

Friedman was born in Chicago to Jewish parents, Dr. S. Thomas Friedman and his wife Minnie (Samet) Friedman. The family moved to a ranch in central Texas a few years later. Friedman had an early interest in both music and chess, and was chosen at age 7 as one of 50 local players to challenge U.S. grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky to simultaneous matches in Houston. Reshevsky won all 50 matches, but Friedman was by far the youngest competitor.

Friedman graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Texas in 1962 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1966, majoring in Psychology. He took part in the Plan II Honors program and was a member of the Tau Delta Phi fraternity. During his freshman year, Chinga Chavin gave Friedman the nickname "Kinky" because of his curly hair.

Friedman served two years in the United States Peace Corps, teaching on Borneo in Malaysia with John Gross. During his service in the Peace Corps, he met future Texas Jewboy road manager Dylan Ferrero, with whom he still works today. Friedman lives at Echo Hill Ranch, his family's summer camp near Kerrville, Texas. He founded Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, also located near Kerrville, whose mission is to care for stray, abused and aging animals; more than 1,000 dogs have been saved from animal euthanasia.

Series:
* Kinky Friedman Mystery

Reviews

[Ricky Ginsburg]

Two missing - a little autistic boy who only says the word "shnay" and a three-legged cat. Do they actually have something in common? You'll have to read this one and find out. It's fast, it's confusing, and it's Kinky Friedman doing what he does best.

[Jordan Holmes]

Honestly... I picked this as a bad read and yeas this man is fucking cracked and has some severe opinions yet.. entertaining. Felt like 200pgs of earnestness flickering between thoughts like TV channels. I'm trying to constellate a politics here and failing. Who Are You Kinky Friedman. What are you

[Leticia G.]

It’s a funny not funny PI crime story, Kinky style!

[Beth]

I read this mystery novel because a friend recommended the series to me and told me it was funny. I did not find it to be funny, just lame. Also, the story was very minimal, with little detecting actually going on and with lots of padding from irrelevant asides. I won't be reading any other Kinky Friedman books.

[Caratstick]

I don't want him for my governor, but this book is funny as hell.

[Daniel Hagedorn]

When I need something a little different, Kinky it is, but of course, I didn't know that as I rummaged around a local secondhand store collective. Upfront the young girls talked excitedly about going to show at a place none of them had ever been. Oh to be young, I thought, as I glanced at one of them. And that's where I found this one...this book that is. I paid them no mind like they paid me none as I was rung up and shipped out...

[Lorlee]

Typical Kinky

[Colin Scanlon]

what is this book bro

[Adventurer Rich]

This is the second Kinky Friedman book that I have read. When I finished "God Bless John Wayne", I felt like it was a pretty good quick read. Reading "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" was more enjoyable. It took reading a second book for me to discover how much I like Mr. Friedman's characters and how much I really enjoy his writing style. I guess he kind of grows on you. I'm actually really looking forward to reading more of his work. The mysteries aren't exactly nail-biters, but you develop an interest in their outcome, and you may find that Kinky has actually touched you just a little bit in the end (and I don't mean he's touching your butt... although I think he would like that :)

[Virg]

Randomly came across this book at a book swap, and had never heard of this author before.
Very entertaining read! Glad I found it. Still not sure I fully understand who Kinky is, or how he makes a living, but this semi-detective cowboy living in New York has a writing style I like.

[Bobby Daugherty]

It's a case of missing kid and missing kitty when Kinky Friedman, private dick extraordinaire and animal lover nonpareil, attempts to find a young, autistic New York boy and a three-legged Texas cat named Lucky, both of whom have disappeared.

[tcbntx001 Hardin]

What can you say about Kinky but nuts?

[Carrie]

My first Kinky book. Hilarious. He has the ability to be a character in his own fiction books and make it work. The main character is a Jewish, country singing, New York detective, enough said...

[Wanda]

Stupid & not very funny.

[Jean]

Nothing much happens in this book, but is is strangely addictive anyway.

[Francesca]

A bit short on plot but full of laugh-out-loud funny quips from an assortment of colorful characters. A short, diverting read.

[Vonn New]

Quick, amusing read. Nothing entirely profound, but some one-liners that made me laugh and an overall irreverent attitude that I enjoyed.

[Carol]

Not his best but still very good.

[Harry Addington]

Could not get into this book. Gave up after 20 pages.

[Luke]

Enjoyable yet very slightly racist.

[Elspeth Shell-moyer]

This is my favorite Kinky Friedman book. Read it.

[Andrew Mcdonald]

Not one of his best but he's always amusing.