Road Kill

Okay, so maybe I'm gushing, but I don't know where to start. I have to confess a bias, as I'm hopelessly addicted to Kinky Friedman, but this has to be one of his best. Cleverly disguised as a quick and easy mystery, this book will suck you in from page one. Roadkill has so much great wit in it, that I found myself reading passages out loud to my friends and husband. I haven't found so many lines in a Kinky book since his old stuff and I'm glad he's back in full form. Also, he has a way of dispensing a bit of philosophy and wisdom to the reader without preaching, condescending, or being pretentious. My only gripe is that I wanted more Ratso. I could go on, but just read the book.

Roadkill is a must read for any Kinky Friedman fan or anyWillie Nelson Fan. The fact that Kinky Friedman used to play music with Willie Nelson and they are longtime compatriots makes the reader feel like he is on tour with Willie as Kinky puffs away at his cigar trying to figure out "who dun it" Most of the characters are real and it would take an insider like Kinky to graspthe surealistic adventuristic spirit that can only occur on Willie's Bus. The reader gets the feeling that this story is not ficticious at all. It left this reader ringing both red phones of the hook as I went in search of my Gypsy spirit (which I found drinkin' down at the local saloon listening to Hank Sr.)

Kinky Friedman, the self-proclaimed Last of the Landless Texas Jewish Singing Cowboys, is in a deep-purple funk in his loft in Noo Yawk City, despite heroic efforts of his friends and his cat. Willie Nelson is scraping the emotional bottom, too, thinking his tour bus has killed a native American medicine man and someone's trying to kill him. Put these two chess-playing cowboys together and you have the funniest, yet gripping, mystery novel of the year. Willie invites Kinky to travel with him to try to find the killer, who Kinky suspects is one of Willie's 83 ex-wives. Kinky finds a new bunch of buddies, Ben, Booger, Gator, and two cigar-smoking, wise-cracking native Americans, who, along with his Village Irregulars, to help hi sift the facts from the road grit. Kinky's inimitable use of a good plot as a springboard to literary, social, political, and philosophical musings continues to illustrate his broad grasp of literature and history. His anecdotes about celebrities in the entertainment business provide an extra spark. So, here's Kinky at his best, on a cosmic romp across the country with the legendary Red Headed Stranger. Don't miss this one! This book elevates Kinky from the cult status he has enjoyed. Lookout for the best seller lists!

Willie Nelson fans will find pleasure, and perhaps a few surprises, in Kinky Friedman's latest offering, "Roadkill." The two share a long friendship, dating back to Friedman's days as leader of the now-defunct Texas Jewboys. In "Roadkill," Nelson reprises his real-life role as a friend of the Kinkster and serves as a sort of spiritual mentor for the country singer-turned private eye, who finds himself becoming disillusioned with his bohemian lifestyle. The two connect just in time for Kinky to take up the case of a possible revenge plot against his friend. Is the FBI settling an old score with Willie? Or is it just one of his 97 former wives? As usual, the Kinkster crashes his way to a comic resolution, with the help of the ever-present Village Irregulars. Kinky makes a practice of populating his novels with the real people in his life (most every character mentioned truly exists), and it's quite touching to find his description of Nelson as a spiritual, centered man at peace with himself - a regular "Zen Texan." The novel will provide Kinky fans with another wonderfully convoluted ride, and perhaps give Willie fans new insights into their hero

Talk about being in a funk (and not being George Clinton). Kinky Friedman's career as the New York City Sherlock Holmes is going no where; his love life has no pulse; and when he looks into a mirror, he sees a street corner philosopher mouthing trivia B.S. staring back at him. Kinky realizes that it is time to put the show on the road to regain his mental health. When his old friend Willie Nelson invites him to go on tour with the band, the Kinkster feels that his life has turned around. However, from almost the minute Kinky enters the surreal world of Willie, it is obvious that something troubles the country legend. Everyone on tour expects Kinky to find out what has upset Willie's karma and fix it. After a little careful sleuthing and a talk with Willie to confirm his findings, Kinky realizes that the man believes that he has been cursed by an Indian shaman and is waiting to die. The Kinkster is determined to pull his friend out his funk, but before he can begin, a band member takes a bullet intended for Willie. Indian curse or something more mundane like a person with a grudge, the private detective plans to ferret out the truth. In a world slowly being bored to death, thank goodness Kinky Friedman periodically writes an entertaining novel that brightens up the mood of the readers. The Kinkster's irreverent humor, political mumbo jumbo, and off-colored jokes are a joy to behold. Though some mystery fans might find ROAD KILL a shade offensive, Kinky delights in being taken stone cold serious as a comedic writer writing a droll mystery. Harriet Klausner