Sleep with the Fishes: Sleep with the Fishes: A Novel

Ex-New Jersey hit man retires to rural Pennsylvania and goes fishing. The plot is completely off the wall fall on the floor funny. If you can imagine Donald Westlake meets Janet Evanovich meets GOODFELLAS, you have a sketchy idea of the book. Wiprud has a breezy, irreverent style that carries the story along, so you don?t realize how unlikely everything is until you?ve reluctantly turned the last page. Try it. You?ll like it. Even this sense-of-humor-impaired-reviewer laughed.

On the strength of author, Lee Child's blurb, I picked up this book this summer and boy, am I glad that I did! This is a hilarious, original debut from Brian M. Wiprud. I began reading in a ice hockey rink and was immediately pulled in to the fast-paced, quirky, and funny story. Soon after, I was laughing out loud and receiving the odd side glance from other hockey moms and dads! I did not leave the rink until I had finished. I anxiously await more from Sid Bilfulco and the gang. I do hope Mr. Wiprud is living healthily, exercising, eating well and maintaining regular well-checks...I cannot wait for the next installment. Or does he have more fresh, original characters and stories waiting to be published?

Sid Bifulco had been a hit-man for the Palfuttis mob family. He turned all he knew in to the police for amnesty. Instead of Witness Protection, he served his short term and then retired to the Delaware Valley. His next eggs kept him from poverty and let Sid indulge in the hobby he took up during prison, fishing! Russ was Sid's next door neighbor. While he and some friends were driving out to Sid's house (intoxicated) Russ hit and killed Johnny Fest, who had been en route to murder Sid for revenge. Sid made the body disappear, but a camcorder that Bob had been using had been left on and Johnny's death had been video taped. I refuse to tell how, but through some creative writing the author had the tape end up with a trooper that Johnny had recently shot. The trooper was out for some reward money and began hunting Sid and Russ. Then there are the locals at the diner who love making skin-flicks and kept getting involved, unknowingly, with the tape of Johnny. And let us not forget Warden Lachfurst who was coming by Sid's to relax and fish! ***** All-in-all, I found this to be one of the most warped, fascinating, and enjoyable reads this year! Full of irony and humor, readers will not want to put this book down until the last page has been turned! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch

Brian has to be congratulated on a fantastically funny first offering. Sleep With The Fishes reminded me of a Fawlty Towers episode - where for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, funnier than the one before it. Just when you think it can't get any more wild or wacky, it does. It's like one of those elastic powered airplanes...each turn of the page is another plot twist and another turn of the elastic. Brian winds it as tight as he can - you don't think it could get any tighter - then he gives it one last turn and releases it...sending you on one hell of a great ride. Make sure you get to know Sid, Jenny, Russ and the rest of the gang - you will not regret it.

Exciting, amusing, and different. The plot of this fast-moving novel pulls the reader from page to page, concluding in an unexpected, memorable, and action-filled scene. This new mystery writer may well be starting a genre of his own. I can't wait for a sequel. I just hope there will be one!