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Pipsqueak (Garth Carson #1)
New York City taxidermy collector Garth Carson was seconds away from snagging the greatest find of his career—the original Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut, stuffed-squirrel puppet star of his favorite 1950s kiddie TV show—until a biker, a brawny redhead, and a murder derailed his dreams and stole his squirrel. Now Garth would do anything to get Pipsqueak back. Unfortunately, so wo...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
June 1st 2004
by Dell
(first published May 2002)
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It's one of those 'funny' mysteries. Obsessive, quirky, full of cool adjectives and heretofor uncombined adverbs/verbs combos...but it completely falls apart in the second half.
Silliness is one thing, but physical impossibilities are another. ** POTENTIAL SPOILERS** Metalicized hydrogen can't exist on planet earth -- and if it could it would probably not have hypnotic powers that can be transmitted via TV. 'Kay? It starts out funny but just desintegrates in front of your eyes.
It would really t...more
Silliness is one thing, but physical impossibilities are another. ** POTENTIAL SPOILERS** Metalicized hydrogen can't exist on planet earth -- and if it could it would probably not have hypnotic powers that can be transmitted via TV. 'Kay? It starts out funny but just desintegrates in front of your eyes.
It would really t...more
Conspiracy theorists of the world unite! What started out as a basic mystery about a taxidermist and a squirrel, became a multinational conspiracy involving television, flashing colors, sounds, a cancelled children's television show, and the Church of Jive.
Garth seeks taxidermy specimens from local thrift stores, and stumbles across Pipaqueak the Nutty Nut, a squirrel puppet (made from an actual squirrel) from the cancelled General Buster show of his young childhood. As he's negotiating the acqu...more
Garth seeks taxidermy specimens from local thrift stores, and stumbles across Pipaqueak the Nutty Nut, a squirrel puppet (made from an actual squirrel) from the cancelled General Buster show of his young childhood. As he's negotiating the acqu...more
How do a rate this book? In the context of what I normally love, its hard to give it the same number of stars as a something more quote un quote literally. But for an airplane read, I can't think of much better. Fun, strange, surreal, and surprisingly gentle, Pipsqueak is one I'd recommend. Centering around a bizarre conspiracy theory which involves television, rockabilly, and mind control; our main character, a taxidermist who happens upon a childhood puppet, solves a strange mystery with his l...more
So a taxidermist walks into a second-hand shop... No, it's not a joke, that's how this story really begins. Garth Carson walks into a store to purchase a large stuffed penguin when he notices that Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut - a stuffed squirrel puppet from his favorite childhood TV show - is in a glass case behind the register. But before he can get his grubby mitts on this putrescent prize, somebody else breaks into the store and beats him to it.
The cover and the blurbs made me envision a glorious...more
The cover and the blurbs made me envision a glorious...more
When I bought this book, I had dreams of Christopher Moore and Carl Hiaasen dancing through my head. The cover proclaims that Pipsqueak is "Demented and fun!" and "The flat-out coolest mystery I've read in years, not to mention the funniest." My verdict: not funny. Not at all. Other than the occasionally peculiar turn of phrase, this is a rather pedestrian mystery that, frankly, I just didn't give a shit about. The book reminds me of the run-of-the-mill comedies that everyone will rave about an...more
When Garth Carson finds a squirrel puppet from a favorite childhood show, he thinks he's found a nostalgic goldmine. Instead, he soon finds a body and a conspiracy that seems too hard to believe. In fact, that was one problem I had with the book, I just couldn't believe it. The characters were also too thin. And the "comic" part of the comic caper? Not really that funny. I did find the climax over the top yet fun, however.
My full review at Epinions.
My full review at Epinions.
The plotline seemed a little silly, but as far as quirky mysteries go, this one's a winner. There's lots of fun taxidermy and jewelry fabrication details also. Some might be offended by the broadly drawn Russian character.
I'm amused enough to go hunt down the others in the series, anyhow.
I'm amused enough to go hunt down the others in the series, anyhow.
Nov 04, 2010
April1213
added it
A whacky mystery involving a missing TV-idol squirrel puppet, named Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut, a taxidermy collector, named Garth Carson, and a murderous gang of Retro-Rockabilly-types that want to take over the world.
This is a great mystery. It's about a guy who is a taxidermist and who accidently witnesses a murder/theft of a TV show squirrel puppet. It's goofy and fun and overall just plain enjoyable.
This is one of those stories that's too far-fetched to be believable, yet not so far-fetched that I'm willing to suspend disbelief. It's cute, though.
Fun Book. Look forward to know more and read more in this series.
It was fun and cute, and absolutely different.
It is, as they say, delightfully wacky.
Wacky hijinks! Funny but not much a mystery.
I really liked this book. Original plot, interesting characters. Very funny :D
Feb 20, 2008
Jenny Lee Coleman
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
A rockabilly going to the beach
Rather silly though a quick,fun read with retro-rockabilly-swing folk as the evil doers. I bought it on a Sunday afternoon when I had run out of things to read and didn't want to drive to the store, so I walked to my local Safeway. It was the only book without an airbrushed Fabio on it. Ok...and it has a squirrel driving a convertable on the front. Right up my ally.
Sep 20, 2008
Vivian Newkirk
added it
I love the zany characters Brian has in his books. I'm currently rereading this mystery novel that keeps me laughing so hard I can't finish as quickly as other mysteries.If you want same laughs, crazy characters (some like real life ones) read this and all the other Wiprud novels.
I enjoyed this book with it's oddball characters. The premise was a little farfetched, but it was well written and the characters were fun enough that I enjoyed the ride.
Well-paced, clever, and funny. I liked the characters, even the bad ones. The humor is great, and is refreshing as far as murder-mysteries go.
Hilarious
It has such promise and delightful word choice, but I lost interest about mid-way. I don't think I'm cut out for mysteries.
Nov 18, 2007
Naomi
marked it as to-read
Recommends it for:
anyone who drools on comic
Shelves:
bestrecommended
I found it at Powell's Books. And I fall in love at the first sight of its yellow jacket...Want to hunt the book down!
Apr 07, 2013
Garrison Kelly
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2013
Lori
added it
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I went to the Washington D.C. prep school St. Albans, where aside from attaining an expensive education both in academics and the social order, I worked on hot rods and drank Stroh’s.
I had an afternoon job as a Volkswagen mechanic and projectionist at the Wheaton Plaza Triplex. I would credit my time as a projectionist as being the seed from which the urge to write grew because I often came to dis...more
More about Brian M. Wiprud...
I had an afternoon job as a Volkswagen mechanic and projectionist at the Wheaton Plaza Triplex. I would credit my time as a projectionist as being the seed from which the urge to write grew because I often came to dis...more
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