Book Review: Crooked

Reviewed By: Ali Karim - RAM

Crooked     Amazon US PB Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB
Brian M. Wiprud
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Bantam Dell / July 2005

I have avidly followed Wiprud’s work from his debut ‘Sleep with the fishes’. He then published two [what I would term] zany caper novels featuring Taxidermist Garth Carson and his partner Angie. In his latest - Crooked, Wiprud explores the misadventures of Garth’s brother, the colourful scoundrel Nicholas Palihnic who appeared in a supporting role in Wiprud’s hilarious ‘Pipsqueak’.

Nicholas is hired by an insurance house to find a stolen / missing painting. But what appears like a simple case soon becomes far from simple as Palihac working on a lead, finds himself framed for murder. The writing style is more confident and hip than in Wiprud’s previous work showing maturity and therefore not requiring as much broad farce to propel the plot forward. Wiprud does however revel in complexity as Palihac also gets involved with a former lover Nicasia Grieg who is searching for her current boyfriend [who was apparently eaten by a crocodile in Costa Rica]. Yes, there is still plenty of humor remaining in Wiprud’s latest as these two plots collide as Nicasia’s boyfriend – Barney Swires was working on finding a very substantial treasure, and Nicasia’s company need Palihnic’s help. We get double, triple as well as multiple-cross, as everyone converges to find the treasure and everyone has their own agenda in a frantic finale. If you like comedy caper novels, then Wiprud’s ‘Crooked’ should hit the spot

Ali Karim - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM