Reviews
I loved this book...couldn't put it down. Fast paced, well researched and true to location. I'm excited to read more by this author! I would recommend it to anyone who loves murder mysteries.
-Amazon
This book was so enjoyable that I finished it in one day. Ok, so partly this was because I was off work sick at the time, but nevertheless, I rushed through it all in one day because I loved the misanthropic Gino Gibaldi so much, and couldn't wait to find out who had framed him for the gory murder of his neighbour, Champ-een Rattlesnake Wrangler and sometime lawyer Sam Simms.
-Goodreads
You'd think that an agoraphobic would be able to stay out of trouble. But Gino Gibaldi prefers to let everyone think he's a grump, a curmudgeon. He maintains relationships, and even friendships, with the eclectic, quirky neighbors in his Old East Dallas neighborhood without revealing his secret. But when one of those neighbors is murdered, Gino finds himself in hot water.
I live near the real-life quirky neighborhood depicted in this book, and that made me enjoy it all the more. Great characters and laugh out loud funny moments as Gino and his friends try to keep him out of jail.
-Goodreads
Thanks!
Wow, I've had this book a couple of months but was in the middle of another series. I finally read this gem and am hoping it's the beginning of a series. The story grabs you pretty quick. Gino, a man made complex and shielded via an abusive childhood finds himself the center of attention through an accusation of murder being leveled against him. Set in Dallas, Tx but sweeping west to the border patrols of the long drive to El Paso, you're going for a ride but you're going to like it.
-Amazon
I thought this book would be a casual summer read. Instead I found myself on a wild ride with Gino taking the lead. It's mystery, mayhem and even a little romance. Although the author gives us some insight into child abuse, diabetes complications and unpleasant jail experiences, she does it with a light hand that makes me aware of her 'quirky' sense of humor.
-Amazon
I purchased a 99-cent Kindle edition of this book when it was touted on NextDoor, because it is set in my neighborhood. I didn't really expect too much, so I was pleasantly surprised by the caliber of the writing. I liked the main character, and the situations he gets into are inventive, although I thought the whodunit aspect fizzled a bit, or maybe wrapped up a bit too easily. Overall, I enjoyed reading it.
-Goodreads
I fell in love with Candace Williams' first book, "Earthquake Doll," and proclaimed it (see my Amazon review) an artistic treasure and a potential classic. So I really anticipated her next work, this time a light-hearted Texas murder mystery. Gino, the protagonist, has lots of issues, problems, and demons. But despite all of that, he surprises the reader (and himself) with occasional clear thinking and decisive action. Just when you're thinking he's trapped with no way out, and expecting some outside agency to magically appear to bail him out, he solves his immediate problem. And then you realize how hard you were pulling for him to do so! Gino and his eclectic friends and neighbors are not your stereotypical Texans, but this book will have you laughing, worrying, almost despairing, then celebrating. I stayed up late several nights reading, engrossed in the tale and the characters. It's just a very enjoyable book. Give it a try!
-Amazon