The Rabbit Factory

This is not your typical police procedural - it is a combination of every great book you have enjoyed rolled in to one. The main characters, Lomax and Biggs are perfect - Biggs a frustrated stand up comic, and Lomax, a widower of six months, are pretty smart. And they have snappy dialog that will make you laugh. And they are pretty good detectives too. The plot dealing with a Disney-like empire being terrorized by unknown adversaries, keeps you guessing. Great characters, great dialog, great read. I ordered Bloodthirsty about 75 pages in to this book. The Rabbit Factory is a long book, but it is not a long read - in fact, it is so much fun you don't realize you've read as much as you have in one sitting. If you are a fan of mysteries, thrillers, police procedurals, comedy, drama, love stories, well, you get my drift, this book has a lot of everything a bibliophile will love.

Wow! I always read but never actually write any book reviews but this is not just any book. I could not put it down! Admittedly it is a daunting book to pick up if you base your selections on size alone but once you start reading you wish it were longer! Mr. Karp not only creates a great mystery (enough red herrings to make you think) but his characters are so well drawn I would recognize them on the street. Just when you think he is going to peak and then end with a thud instead of a bang, he throws new stuff into the works. While one of the subplots was a little weak I still did not want to put it down! When I had to, I was thinking about when I could get back to it! I was quite happy to hear Lomax and Biggs will return for more adventures!

I don't usually write reviews, however, after reading this book, I had to. I did not want this book to end, it is FABULOUS! If you are a fan of Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, or Jan Evanovich you will love this author. I am shocked that this is his first novel. The characters in the book are great, the storyline is great and the writing is top notch. I really hope this is going to be a series. Anyone who enjoys detective novels spiced up with some humor, GRAB THIS BOOK!!!!!!!! The book is over 600 pages but take my word for it, you will wish there was more!

Marshall Karp's first novel The Rabbit Factory is a mega-winner that gives a whole new meaning to the police procedural. This novel is a must-read for those looking for something new and original in fiction, especially fans of mystery thrillers. Set in Hollywood's Lamaar Studios "Family Land," (a theme park similar to Disneyland...but NOT), the gruesome murder of Rambunctious Rabbit kick-starts the storyline. Rambunctious is a huge, big-footed hare dressed in signature red, white and blue, (translate the long-eared, burrowing mammal version of Mickey Mouse). Eddie Elkins, a sex offender, child molester and convicted pedophile plays the part of this particular rabbit...but not for long. Elkins, who had paid the proverbial "pretty penny" for a new identity, was only on the job for six weeks before being brutally strangled during a cigarette break. And this is only the first of many murders to come which will effect Lamaar's bottom line, not to mention the victims' families lives. Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs are the duo from LAPD heading the investigation - and these two guys are the BEST!!! Mike is a recent widower whose wife sends him love letters from beyond the grave. And Terry thinks he is a comedian - "Terry the Fun Homicide Cop!" Hah!! The chemistry and humor between the two detectives is fantastic! Minor characters, especially Big Jim, Lomax's hulking teamster father, are well drawn and extremely appealing. The Rabbit Factory is one of the most entertaining books I have read in many a moon. The murder mystery is gripping, filled with suspense, and the characters are compelling as are the subplots. What's not to like?? I predict this one will skyrocket to the top of the bestseller lists...and it deserves too! JANA

I hope Marshall Karp is sitting at the computer right now, clicking away at the next adventures of Lomax and Biggs. If he's not-somebody get the shackles and bind the man to the chair. We need a sequel already. "The Rabbit Factory" is a refreshing change from moody noir or snippy satiric LA novels. It is a nice, big book, suspenseful, sharp, funny, and pleasantly different from most examples of LA detective fic. Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs are the men on the job. Mike is a widower, bearing the loss of his wife with the help of his dad and stepmother. Terry is a transplanted New Yorker, happily married to plump, no-nonsense EMT. They are called to the Lamaar Studios' Familyland amusement park to investigate the murder of the castmember wearing the outfit of Familyland's signature character, Rambunctious Rabbit. The fact that this guy is a convicted pedophile who somehow managed to get a job at a park for little kids is only an indication of what's rotten at Familyland. Employees, visitors, and performers are picked off in very ugly ways, until the detectives are met with a final, outrageous demand. What could Lamaar Studios-a small animation company grown into a huge but beloved conglomerate-have done to piss someone off so badly that they would threaten to kill anyone who had anything to do with Lamaar or its products? Karp is not afraid to allow "The Rabbit Factory's" the length necessary for us to get to know the characters. Fear boredom? Forget it. The plot clips along briskly and is a pleasure to read. You'll be sorry when the books are closed on this case, and hope to open a new book starring Lomax and Biggs soon.