Bye Bye Bertie: A Joe LaFlam Mystery

by Rick Dewhurst

Bye Bye Bertie is the story of P.I. Joe LaFlam's struggle to be free from the fear of dying destitute and alone in an alley, under cardboard, just another discard of a world gone bad. His fear is magnified by doubts about his chosen profession. He has long sought to be a successful detective, but he has been thwarted by his incompetence and haunted by his insecurity. Bachelor LaFlam equates marriage with bliss and a successful career with bread on his future family's table. To be free once and for all, Joe vows to look death in the face by undertaking a desperate 21-day fast to twist God's arm to help him solve a prominent kidnapping case, make some good money, and get the girl, any girl. With God's help Joe figures the odds are now good that he won't end up dead and alone in some big-city alley under cardboard or newspapers or something bad like that. Bye Bye Bertie is a compelling telling of how the fear of living and dying badly sometimes can be relieved somehow in mysterious ways.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2005

About the author

Rick Dewhurst tried his hand at a variety of jobs, including home improvements salesman, bartender, fish-boat deckhand, and taxi driver, before earning his B.A. in English literature from the University of Victoria, with training in journalism. He then worked as a newspaper sports editor before answering the call to start City Gate Church, where he has served as pastor since 1995. His first novel, Bye Bye Bertie, introduced readers to the lovable and offbeat P.I. Joe LaFlam. Rick lives in Duncan, British Columbia, with his wife Jane. They have three adult children.

Reviews

[Grey853 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes I wonder how some books get published. This was a load of nonsense and not worth the time it took to finish.

[Nydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is like a bad accident: You can't help but read it even though you know you shouldn't.

[joyce lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok, and i thought I had lost my marbles?!

this book was one of the most confusing stories i've read in a LOONNNGGGG time!!!

you've got a guy named Joe LaFlam who's real name is John Doe; he pretends and ACTS like he lives in Seattle, Washington, only he's REALLY living in Vancouver, Canada; his father is dead, only he's not; his client's sister is kidnapped, only she really isn't, but then she is ALONG w/ his client, then their mother, THEN their other sister; his mother is really his aunt, who's the sister of the kidnapped mother, who's bodyguard is the kidnapper who's his father who's also a burnt out preacher of a charismatic church; the lost are raptured but the saved aren't, and Jesus isn't coming back, and ...

AAAHHH!!!

i read every single word of this book, more than once, and i'm still not sure exactly what it was i read.

maybe it was meant as a comedy and i just don't have enough of a sense of humour?!

if i didn't know better, i'd have sworn i was overdosing on medication while reading this thing, only problem is, i'm not ON any medication right now!!!

[David Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real, indie gem–proof that the burgeoning independent publishing movement is gifting the world with brilliant novels that would have otherwise never seen the light of day. Bye Bye Bertie is a satirical, modern day detective novel (with a retro Dragnet-era feel) based on a gen-x, Canuck gumshoe who moves to Seattle in order to open a Christian detective agency.

Detective Jo LaFlam is equally interested in his profession and determining the mystic will of God as he is in jelly donuts and getting married. This book is funny. And I’m not just saying that. How could throwing Sergeant Friday into the middle of contemporary Seattle as a Christian detective not be funny? Let me tell you, it is. Mix in a hot, conservative dame with a sister being brainwashed by Druids, and you’ll soon be along for a great ride. Read it! Review it! Share it!

***while this novel is not for everyone, it is my opinion that it executes its intended results very well. Understand that this is a religious satire.

[Cynthia Rielley · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a horror show, if I read one more time that the main character was a Christian and had bad breath I thought I would lose my mind. Seriously, you can write a Christianity based novel without mentioning 12 times a page that you are Christian. We get it trust me. I had to finish it thought to see if the story eventually made sense. It didn't. Lame,just lame. Sorry padre.

[RP · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audience for this book is Christians who can get the inside jokes, and laugh about the true and funny aspects of human nature even within our ranks. Those who didn't enjoy it took took it seriously, which was their big miss. John Doe is an extreme example of weaving mental rambling that describes how our thoughts can carry us along, and it's a silly, fun read. It's less about the plot and mystery than about the human propensity to rationalize. Being a minister, the author must have heard it all. I enjoyed how he mixed in so much insight in the satire!

I read this during a very low time in my life, and this book made me laugh out loud. Thank you - I needed that! God bless you!

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad. DNF

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very comical read, one that I laughed out loud at, partly because I had such a hard time putting it down. If you want a liesurely read, a decent mystery, and a tour through a very imaginative young detective, this book is for you!

[Teresa Rollen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish