Reviewed By: Donna M - RAM
Sleep With the Fishes
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Brian M. Wiprud
Class/Genre: Mystery Mafia Humorous
2001, Xlibris, 178 pages
When Sid 'Sleep' Bifulco (so called because he thoughtfully puts his victims to sleep before he whacks them - after all, its tidier that way) rats out the Palfutti family, he tells the FBI to stuff their Witness Protection Programme and comes to an arrangement with a rival mob family. In prison he develops a passion for fishing (which he learns without the aid of water of any description, or fish for that matter) and, on his release, he retires from the wiseguy life to pursue some quiet fishing in Hellbender Eddy. Only it doesn't quite work out that way. There are some sharks circling, and none of them have gills.
This book is a hilarious caper - Donald Westlake serialised in Fishing Monthly and filmed by Martin Scorsese. The Codfather maybe. Sid is a marvellous character, and the supporting cast are memorable, funny and scarily likeable (I say 'scarily' because most of them are as mad as a trout in a tutu).
What I know about fishing can be written on the back of a maggot, but Brian Wiprud makes it sound like great fun. He also makes the most ridiculous situations sound believable and the plot bounces along as the characters lurch from one crisis to the next. Fish, porn, and two guys named Bob. It's an offer you can't refuse.
Donna M - RAM
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Donna M - RAM
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