Wild Thing (Peter Brown #2)

Jun 15, 2012 RandomAnthony rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apparently Wild Thing is a sequel to Beat the Reaper. According to a review from a couple years back I, uh, liked Beat the Reaper a lot. But I can't remember anything about the book. In fact, I thought Beat the Reaper was Lavelle's Big Machine so I was confused when weird urban religious sects didn't play a role in Wild Thing. In turn I think it's fair to say that you don't need to read Beat the Reaper to like or understand Wild Thing. Although, like I said, apparently I liked Beat the Reaper. S...more

like 9 likes · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Mike Reynolds

Recommended to Mike by: Mike Reynolds

You know who's a wild thing? Mike Reynolds.

like 9 likes · see review

Mar 24, 2012 Alan Houser rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Josh Bazell's previous book, "Beat the Reaper", is awesome. An engaging story peppered with fascinating medical trivia.

This book suffers from several problems:
- It's essentially a left-wing screed wrapped in a novel.
- The story isn't very interesting. (incredibly tame spoiler follows).
(view spoiler)
- The book is _seriously_ difficult to read on Amazon Kindle.

The Kindle issues are two-fold. First, the eBook file is oddly or...more

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 06, 2012 gert rated it 2 of 5 stars

ok, i don't know what happened to mr. bazell between finishing the first book in this series ('beat the reaper') and starting on this one. but i imagine it was severe. perhaps a head injury?

same protagonist, so you'd think it would flow along as quickly as the first. but nope. peter brown feels like a shell of his former self (and not just because he's been stuck as a cruise ship dr. while on the run). the quips aren't as quip-y, he's not as intense or interesting. perhaps we're to rely heavily...more

like 11 likes · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Robin Edman rated it 4 of 5 stars

This guy is the master when it comes to people blasting out dialogue in which the two speakers make no sense to each while the scene still makes perfect sense to the reader. Some of the conversations in this book are like honey-filled black chocolate truffles to an old grouch like me. Two things that aren't so nice by themselves synergize into something wonderful.

Yes, I do know that that is a made up word. We get to do that when we are grannies before we learn that it is not nice to swear so mu...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 25, 2013 Sam Quixote rated it 3 of 5 stars

Josh Bazell's 2009 debut "Beat the Reaper" was a critically acclaimed novel following the adventures of an ex-Mafia hitman turned doctor in a Federal witness protection program. The follow-up, "Wild Thing", is a far less brilliant effort that doesn't measure up to the first book by any stretch of the imagination.

"Wild Thing" catches up with Pietro Brwna aka Peter Brown aka Lionel Azimuth (as he is calling himself in this book) to find him working as the ship's doctor on a cruise liner. That is u...more Josh Bazell's 2009 debut "Beat the Reaper" was a critically acclaimed novel following the adventures of an ex-Mafia hitman turned doctor in a Federal witness protection program. The follow-up, "Wild Thing", is a far less brilliant effort that doesn't measure up to the first book by any stretch of the imagination.

"Wild Thing" catches up with Pietro Brwna aka Peter Brown aka Lionel Azimuth (as he is calling himself in this book) to find him working as the ship's doctor on a cruise liner. That is until Marmoset, maybe the only person he can trust who knows his troubled past, calls him in with an interesting job offer - to escort a palaeontologist to a lake and determine whether or not there is a dinosaur in the lake which is eating people.

For one thing this novel isn't as fast paced as "Beat the Reaper", it takes things at a far more leisurely rate with Azimuth going to the lake, meeting the various characters, chatting, wandering around the lake, etc. etc. without too much happening. There are moments of potential conflict such as the drug dealing café owner with the short fuse, but nothing really happens until the third act when you find out whether or not the hoax is real or not.

And speaking of the ending, it's a real let down. Once you get past the shoot out and find out the real reason for the trip? It's jaw droppingly stupid. At first you think it's a poorly thought out plan, then a caricature of a Scooby Doo cartoon and then like a really dumb childish play.

Bazell does like to stand on his soapbox a lot and we get his views on religion via a conversation between the palaeontologist and the rich hick, followed by an appearance by Sarah Palin (yes THE Sarah Palin) and further ridiculing of religion, particularly Christianity. I didn't find it off-putting as I'm not religious but it does seem very transparent of Bazell to so poorly shoehorn these conversations into the plot for no real reason.

The novel is also followed by 50 pages of Bazell's non-fiction, writing about why America is stupid and expunging his own democratic political ideas. I don't object to his views but I feel they are out of place at the end of a novel.

Overall the novel is a very slow and dull story about some odd people going to the middle of nowhere to find out if there is a prehistoric monster alive and well or not. There aren't many scenes that stick out for their interest though I felt Bazell's depiction of Palin to be amusing enough to remember and realise that this is sadly the highlight of this book. That coupled with the ending killed the book for me and made this a very weak sequel to an excellent first novel. Hopefully Bazell's next book will focus less on making fun of peoples' beliefs and more on developing a story worth reading. (less)

like 2 likes · see review

Feb 26, 2012 Kemper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, crime-mystery, bad-guys-rule, mob, rednecks, monsters, blinded-me-with-science

Well, that was……odd.

In Josh Bazell’s first novel Beat the Reaper we met Dr. Peter Brown, an intern at a large hospital. It turned out that Peter’s real name was actually Pietro Brnwa, and he was a former Mafia hit man. Events had caused him to testify against his former employers, and he was trying to build a new life as a doctor when an old associate recognized him and led to a few problems.

Peter is sporting a new name and a phony medical degree that’s only good enough to get him a job as the d...more Well, that was……odd.

In Josh Bazell’s first novel Beat the Reaper we met Dr. Peter Brown, an intern at a large hospital. It turned out that Peter’s real name was actually Pietro Brnwa, and he was a former Mafia hit man. Events had caused him to testify against his former employers, and he was trying to build a new life as a doctor when an old associate recognized him and led to a few problems.

Peter is sporting a new name and a phony medical degree that’s only good enough to get him a job as the doctor on a cruise ship. He’s still got enemies and is trying to come up with enough cash and a plan that will let him settle his old business. Peter’s government contact hooks him up with a weird job offer from a reclusive billionaire that involves protecting a beautiful paleontologist named Violet while they investigate rumors of some kind of creature living in a remote lake. And things just get stranger from there.

I absolutely loved Beat the Reaper with it’s original story, gruesome violence and dark sense of humor, so it’s disappointing that Wild Thing isn’t anywhere close to matching it. This one is still entertaining and very funny in spots, but it’s also wildly unfocused. This is a book that asks you to buy into the notion that a former Mafia hit man turned doctor is looking for the equivalent of the Loch Ness monster, but then it’s also engages in a lot of mocking of the lunatic fringe of America’s political right wing as well as throwing random bits of science at you.

Bazell includes an appendix for his sources and it cites papers and books on everything from climate change, corporate and political corruption, canoeing, John Gotti, meth production, Sherlock Holmes, dinosaurs, human cryogenics, Tiananmen Square, Harry Houdini and the number of golf balls at the bottom of Loch Ness. It’s as if Bazell spent a long weekend Googling different subjects and clicking on any link that struck him as interesting and then incorporated all of it into the book.

What’s interesting is that he almost pulled it off, but by the time he added a real political figure into the action, this story was going in too many different directions to come up with a satisfactory resolution.

I half suspect that Bazell may have wanted to do this one as a stand alone book, but used his Peter Brown character at the urging of his publisher since they prefer series these days. Peter really doesn’t fit in this story. He’s still a funny and engaging narrator, but this wild ass plot is just too far removed from the history established in Beat the Reaper. Bazell could have established a new lead character with minimal effort and probably been the better for it.

Still, I prefer to see new writers biting off more than they can chew rather than play it safe and repeat what worked before. There was still a lot I liked in this one, and the ending gives me hope that the next one will return Peter to a story more suited to his unique talents.(less)

like 32 likes · see review

May 15, 2013 Anton rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Wild Thing” is Josh Bazell’s follow-up to his excellent debut novel “Beat the Reaper”. It’s a sequel because it features the same main character, but the situation, supporting cast, and even genre are totally different. Where “Beat the Reaper” was a story of gangsters and the witness protection program set against the backdrop of the medical world, “Wild Thing” is about a monster hunt in Minnesota.

While I applaud Bazell for taking such a dramatic left turn, I would have preferred if he’d just s...more

like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Tanja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nach seinem Abenteuer in Manhattans härtestem Krankenhaus als Dr. Peter Brown, übt Pietro Brwna, ehemaliger Top-Killer der Mafia im Zeugenschutzprogramm jetzt unter dem Namen Dr. Lionel Azimuth seine schon recht fragwürdigen Behandlungspraktiken auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff aus. Er zieht ohne Narkose Zähne, pfeift sich den Bestand der Krankenstation des Schiffes rein, trinkt und langweilt sich fast zu Tode.

Oder zumindest tut er das so lange, bis ein Milliardär ihn über seinen einstigen Lehrer Pro...more Nach seinem Abenteuer in Manhattans härtestem Krankenhaus als Dr. Peter Brown, übt Pietro Brwna, ehemaliger Top-Killer der Mafia im Zeugenschutzprogramm jetzt unter dem Namen Dr. Lionel Azimuth seine schon recht fragwürdigen Behandlungspraktiken auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff aus. Er zieht ohne Narkose Zähne, pfeift sich den Bestand der Krankenstation des Schiffes rein, trinkt und langweilt sich fast zu Tode.

Oder zumindest tut er das so lange, bis ein Milliardär ihn über seinen einstigen Lehrer Professor Marmoset, darum bittet, einen recht ungewöhnlichen Auftrag anzunehmen. Er soll mit Dr. Violet Hurst, der ganz persönlichen Paläontologin des Milliardärs, überprüfen, ob es im White Lake, einem entlegenen See wirklich ein Monster gibt. Und das alles nur, weil Rec Bill, wie Pietro und Violet ihn im Laufe der Geschichte nennen, wohl um zu verdeutlichen, dass es sich bei dieser Person um eine Originalvorlage handelt, nicht mehr lange zu leben hat – was Fachmann Pietro natürlich sofort sieht. (Rec Bill = reclusive billionaire, also einsiedlerischer Milliardär)

Aber noch ehe die beiden sich dem White Lake auch nur ansatzweise genähert haben, knallt’s – und zwar im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Denn mit Pietros ganz klar unfehlbarem Glück stolpern er und Violet natürlich sofort in das einzige Restaurant/Drogenlabor vor Ort, wo es selbstverständlich sofort zu Auseinandersetzungen kommt. Als Pietro auch noch einen Jungen rettet, der im Hinterhof des Drogenrestaurants fast zu Tode geprügelt wird und dabei gekonnt vergisst, dass mehr als ein Dutzend unberechenbarer Teenager dabei mir ihrer Knarre auf ihn zielen, kommt die Geschichte erst richtig in Fahrt.

Denn als sie den Jungen beim örtlichen Arzt abladen, erfahren sie, dass der Sohn der Besitzerin des Restaurants vor einiger Zeit im White Lake zu Tode kam – bei einem Bootsunfall wie es heißt. Als Violet daraufhin loszieht, um in einer Bar etwas zu trinken, erfährt sie, dass vor jenem Bootsunfall, bei dem auch ein anderes Mädchen starb, geplant wurde, mit einer Geschichte um ein Seeungeheuer in White Lake wieder Besucher in das kleine Örtchen zu locken. Bis irgendjemand die drei Männer erschoss, die Hauptplaner dieser Aktion galten – darunter auch der Vater des Mädchens, das im White Lake starb.

Als Violet und Pietro schließlich am Treffpunkt ankommen und dort auf die anderen Teilnehmer der fragwürdigen Expedition stoßen, wird alles noch unwirtlicher. Vor allem, als ein Privatdetektiv Violet und Pietro überwacht und dabei – Pech für ihn – von Pietro erwischt wird. Als dann auch noch die versprochene unparteiische Richterin eintrifft, die bei dem Spektakel beurteilen soll, ob das Monster real ist oder nicht, kann es Pietro nicht glauben. Ausgerechnet Sarah Palin soll beurteilen, was wahr und was falsch ist!

Kurz darauf bricht die Gruppe zum White Lake auf, wobei Pietro seine Angst vor Haien wieder in den Sinn kommt. Haie, die einst den Bruder seiner großen Liebe Magdalena vor den Augen der beiden in Stücke rissen und die eine ganze lange Nacht lang versuchte, auch ihn und Magdalena zu erwischen. Denn was sonst soll im White Lake sein Unwesen treiben? Mit ausgegorenen Killern, wahren Monster ist Pietro in der Vergangenheit bestens fertig geworden. Aber müssen es jetzt wirklich Haie sein …?

Es kam mir wie ein wahre Ewigkeit vor, bis ich nun endlich auch den zweiten Teil der Doc Mafia-Reihe in die Finger bekommen konnte. Und das, obwohl es nur knapp neun Monate waren. Neun lange Monate, oh ja. Na, jedenfalls bin ich gerade mit dem Lesen fertig geworden und muss sagen: I’m undecided. Zum einen bin ich echt enttäuscht und zum anderen bin ich geflasht.

Enttäuscht bin ich, weil ich sechsundfünfzig Seiten als Anhang nun wirklich beschissen finde, wo ich auf diesen Seiten so viel lieber mehr über Petro gelesen hätte. Ich meine – hallo? Vielleicht dachte Josh Bazell, er müsste sich selbst irgendetwas beweisen, indem er einen derart politisch motivierten Anhang von solcher Länge vom Stapel lässt. Aber als Leser ist das ja schon … scheiße.

Geflasht, richtig begeistert hingegen bin ich – wieder einmal – von Pietro. Er war ja – das muss ich wirklich zugeben – bereits seit Schneller als der Tod fester Bestandteil meiner Wish You Were Real-Liste. Im zweiten Abenteuer hingegen wirkt er erstmals richtig erwachsen und selbstsicherer, was seine Fähigkeiten als Arzt angehen. Außerdem wäre noch der typische Doc Mafia-Charme, der auch hier wieder voll zuschlägt.

Da das nun also geklärt wäre, lässt sich wohl auch mein Endresümee nachvollziehen. Keine volle Punktzahl, wegen des mehr als ausufernden Anhangs und aufgrund gewisser Stirnrunzel- beziehungsweise What the fuck?!-Momente. Allerdings verdiente vier Sterne, weil wir hier eben von Doc Mafia reden, verdammt noch mal!(less)

like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved Bazell's first book, Beat the Reaper, and was looking forward to the continuing saga of Pietro Brnwa, former hitman and now doctor in the witness protection program. Here, under the name Lionel Azimuth, he starts the novel working as a doctor on a cruise ship, an unhappy existence. Then he gets asked by a reclusive billionaire to go to a remote lake in the Boundary Waters area between Minnesota and Manitoba to see if the rumours of a legendary water creature are true. His job is to prote...more

like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Cmreinholz rated it 3 of 5 stars

I want to give Bazell's Wild Things four stars. It was good - I plowed through it in a day. It was a page turner. Plus, it was mostly set in the BWCA and included a search for a Loch Ness-type monster. And it featured Bazell's typical wit, pacing and memorable characters and discussions.

But it wasn't nearly as good as Beat the Reaper (which I think I gave 4 stars to, and that was a book closer to 5 than 4). In fact, I had numerous issues with the book. Like a cameo by a politician that was incre...more

like · see review

Jul 29, 2012 Melissa added it

First of all, let me say this: If you're at all sensitive to graphic violence, sex, or cursing, this is not the author for you. Seriously.

With that out of the way, I gotta say, I LOVED these two books (I read the first one yesterday, and the second one today), for two full-on different reasons. Bazell performs the magic trick of creating a series character who exists within completely different genres. Beat the Reaper is a drug-addled crime/Mafia/medicine thrill ride set in Manhattan and New Je...more

like · see review

Jul 22, 2012 Ned rated it 2 of 5 stars

Wild Thing is a perfect example of an author's first book being too successful. Beat the Reaper was so popular (and I did enjoy it, too) that Bazell didn't feel the need to consult an editor for the sequel.

The first act of this theoretical editor would have been to cut the 49 (!) pages of extra material tacked on to the end of the book. 49 pages of blog-level political punditry and some allegedly explanatory notes do not belong at the end of a thriller, let alone one as slight as this. It veers...more Wild Thing is a perfect example of an author's first book being too successful. Beat the Reaper was so popular (and I did enjoy it, too) that Bazell didn't feel the need to consult an editor for the sequel.

The first act of this theoretical editor would have been to cut the 49 (!) pages of extra material tacked on to the end of the book. 49 pages of blog-level political punditry and some allegedly explanatory notes do not belong at the end of a thriller, let alone one as slight as this. It veers way past the realm of self-indulgence and comes to rest firmly in the land of the masturbatory.

While I agree almost completely with Mr. Bazell's myriad political opinions, he frames them in such a condescending and peremptory manner as to alienate even this sympathetic reader. There is no nuance in Bazell-land, either you agree with him or you're an idiot who hasn't read the right books. The contemptuous tone of the appendices of the book is more suited to 10th-grade civics students, or readers who have never heard of a country called Israel.

More troubling than this post-novel indulgence is what it reveals about the narrator, Pietro Brnwa. Namely that there is no authorial distance between the often obnoxious voice of the narrator and his creator. This makes him much less sympathetic as a character.

Even had an editor made quick and painless work of addressing my complaints above (which could have been accomplished with one simple click of the delete button), there are deeper problems with Wild Thing. For some reason, Bazell has chosen to take Pietro Brnwa out of the world of doctors and the mob and plop him down in the wilderness with only the flimsiest of backstories to justify it. The fun of the first book, Beat the Reaper, was listening to the medical asides of the narrator intertwined with a good dose of humor and frenetic action sequences. There is little of that humor or fun in this novel, and very little doctoring to do. The narrator still tries to do his authoritative asides but as they're no longer about medical things, they often fall flat. (Even flatter when you read the excruciatingly detailed source of these asides in the appendix.)

Another poor choice was including a real-life politician as a character in this book, to no real comic effect or benefit. All it did was drag me out of my suspended disbelief. The narrator claims to be sick to death of this politician. So are your readers, author, so why subject us to stale commentary with absolutely no bite?

One can only hope the sales of this book are disappointing enough that Mr. Bazell has to start returning the calls of his editor. Getting Pietro Brnwa back into the medical world may just save his life. People like brusque, imperious doctors when they actually know their stuff (see House). When they're just some asshole in a canoe, not so much.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Jul 10, 2012 Dale rated it 5 of 5 stars

I won an advance review copy of Wild Thing, not knowing what to expect. The prologue wasn't good, and I was put off, and almost didn't go further. But just a little more and I was hooked. Ripped through in record time, and wanted to read it again. So I went and bought his first book, Beat the Reaper, which is even better!

Muscular, powerful prose that's fun, smart, tough, and entertaining. Reminds me favorably of Don Winslow's Savages (now out as a movie). If somebody directs this as a movie, it...more

like 1 like · see review

Jun 08, 2012 Don rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-shelf-that-will-collect-dust

Bazell's first book, Beat the Reaper was a fast-paced maddening thriller
with awesome character's that are spontaneous, raw, ruthless and completely unruly when forced into action. Warning: towards the end of this tale, Dr. Peter Brown wins at all costs including self dismemberment to create weapons against foes. Beat the Reaper is an absolute guaranteed winner, if you can stomach the intensity. And about Wild Thing, the 2nd installment of Dr. Brown, it's pathetic, there is no flow, there is no v...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jun 08, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Josh Bazell, and this book was great. It's certainly not Beat the Reaper (lightning rarely strikes twice), but even with its drawbacks it's better than most of the fiction I read because it doesn't take itself so gosh darn SERIOUSLY. You can be smart and still write fun stuff, and outside of books of NPR essays specifically marketed as humor, it's just so hard to find fun, funny books, especially novels.
The plot of this book serves its purpose better than the casual reader would think. O...more

like · see review

May 04, 2012 Hobart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

A fun read, with a few caveats.

1. Not as good as Beat the Reaper (which I liked a whole lot)
2. Unnecessarily preachy -- the screeds about global climate change and evolution/religion were a big turn-off. Too long, and were directed at straw-man opponents. It's like Bazell asked WWDEKD? ("What Would David E. Kelley Do?"). Pfui.
3. Cheap pot-shots at Sarah Palin. Not my favorite politician by any means, but she (or any other person) shouldn't be treated like that. Have a problem with her politics?...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 20, 2012 Esme rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: noir-hardboiled-pulp

Pietro Brwna alias Peter Brown is back!
Als Lionel Azimuth arbeitet er als Arzt auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff. Aber nicht lange, denn Rec Bill, der vierzehntreichste Amerikaner, möchte Peter Brown (Ich bleibe mal bei diesem Namen, auch wenn er in diesem Buch durchweg als Lionel Azimuth unterwegs ist.) für einen besonderen Auftrag rekrutieren. Er soll die Katastrophenpaläonthologin Violet Hurst auf einer ziemlich bescheuerten Mission begleiten. Im White Lake, Minnesota, soll angeblich ein Seeungeheue...more Pietro Brwna alias Peter Brown is back!
Als Lionel Azimuth arbeitet er als Arzt auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff. Aber nicht lange, denn Rec Bill, der vierzehntreichste Amerikaner, möchte Peter Brown (Ich bleibe mal bei diesem Namen, auch wenn er in diesem Buch durchweg als Lionel Azimuth unterwegs ist.) für einen besonderen Auftrag rekrutieren. Er soll die Katastrophenpaläonthologin Violet Hurst auf einer ziemlich bescheuerten Mission begleiten. Im White Lake, Minnesota, soll angeblich ein Seeungeheuer hausen. Peter soll herausfinden, ob es William (so heißt das Monster) wirklich gibt oder ob hier ein dreister Schwindel aufgeführt wird.

Wild Thing (Einmal durch die Hölle und zurück) startet wie auch schon das Debüt rasant durch, fährt skurrile Typen und Situationen auf. Josh Bazell hat ein phantastisches Gespür für Dialoge, da geht zu wie beim Ping Pong. Er feuert in wahnsinnigem Tempo bissigen Humor und scharfsinnige Beobachtungen ab. Das geht bis zur Ankunft in der kleinen Stadt Ford gut. Die eigentliche Expedition verläuft dann, besonders gemessen am fulminanten Start, relativ unspektakulär. Das Ende besinnt sich dann teilweise wieder auf die Anfänge. Auch wenn schon recht bald klar ist, wer noch in dieser Sache drinsteckt, fand ich die Auflösung um das Seemonster ziemlich gelungen. Und dennoch ist der Schluß zu hastig und etwas lieblos hingeschrieben.

Wie auch schon der Erst- erschien auch der Zweitling zuerst als deutsche Übersetzung vor der amerikanischen Originalausgabe. Und ja, er ist anders. Also was rügen die Fans von Beat the Reaper (Schneller als der Tod) an diesem Buch? Okay, der erste Auftritt von Peter Brown hatte eine Szene, die sich direkt durchs Auge ins Hirn bohrt. Wie man sich ein Messer macht. Aus seinem eigenen Körper. Bazell bleibt seinem Stil treu. Peter Brown ist der Ich-Erzähler, der in seiner lakonischen, manchmal zynischen Art das Geschehen kommentiert. Und die Fußnoten dürfen selbstverständlich auch nicht fehlen. Jede Menge Wissenshäppchen, die im alltäglichen Leben selten von großer Relevanz sein dürften, außer man wird einmal in einer Quizshow mitspielen. Und ich liebe solche unnützen Informationen ja sehr.

Im Anschluß an den Roman folgt ein Anhang von etwas mehr als fünfzig Seiten. Zuerst ein Aufsatz von Violet Hurst. Im Roman sagt sie, wir würden bald Menschenfleich fressen und hier beantwortet sie die Frage, wann denn der Punkt ohne Rückkehr überschritten worden war. Danach noch Anmerkungen vom Autor selbst, über Quellen und vor allem über Umweltzerstörungen und amerikanische Politik und auch über solche Monstrositäten wie William. Wer mit solcher Leidenschaft eine Anklage gegen die Verdummung vorträgt, dessen Anliegen ist es kaum, ein paar Leute zu unterhalten. Der Tarantino-Vergleich auf der Rückseite des Buches weckt da auch falsche Erwartungen. Sicherlich ist das nicht das, was man sich gewöhnlich bei einem Thriller vorstellt oder zu finden hofft.

Bazell legt eigene Regeln des Genres fest. Tja, er läßt sich eben nicht in hübsche Schublädchen einordnen. Läßt man sich aber darauf ein, schafft er es vielleicht auch, ein wenig zum Nachdenken anzuregen. Und das ist doch auch einmal was. Fast Food gibt es schon mehr als genug. In welche Richtung sich Bazell nun entwickeln wird, bleibt abzuwarten. Vielleicht wird es eine Rückbesinnung auf den ersten Teil, obwohl ich nicht unbedingt scharf auf ein Mobster High Noon bin.(less)

like · see review

Apr 09, 2012 Alan rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Angry nerds

Recommended to Alan by: Previous work

Josh Bazell's novel Wild Thing, the sequel to his surprisingly entertaining debut Beat the Reaper, wastes no time at all laying its cards on the table. Explicit teen sex on the first page—in the first paragraph—is followed closely by horror movie-style SFX on the third. And the first footnotes of many appear on page 11.

I was actually kind of embarrassed to be seen reading this in public, with its DayGlo® cover and adult themes, but in the end I'm glad I didn't let that stop me. Wild Thing turns...more

like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-favorite-writer, american-life, couldn-t-put-down, favorite-male-authors, latest-reads, men-would-enjoy, new-author-for-me, paperback-i-own, reviewer-book

Once I got my rather prudish self past the initial parts of the prologue...the whole section grabbed me by the jugular, and I was sunk. There was no turning back, no matter what. A book that wouldn't let me off the hook. Freakish and fiendish as it was, I couldn't take my eyes off the pages. This is strictly a compulsive read.

Warning: if you give it to your husband/wife or friend, just don't expect to see or talk to them for the next day or so.

The summary above does nothing but touch the surf...more

like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Deborah Previte rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once I got my rather prudish self past the initial parts of the prologue...the whole section grabbed me by the jugular, and I was sunk. There was no turning back, no matter what. A book that wouldn't let me off the hook. Freakish and fiendish as it was, I couldn't take my eyes off the pages. This is strictly a compulsive read.

Warning: if you give it to your husband/wife or friend, just don't expect to see or talk to them for the next day or so.

The summary above does nothing but touch the surf...more

like · see review

Mar 22, 2012 Susan Tunis rated it 5 of 5 stars

[Insert Troggs joke here]

Despite my best intentions, I didn’t get around to reading Beat the Reaper until a couple of weeks before the sequel was released. What a refreshing read! Within pages, I became a die-hard Bazell fan.

The follow-up, Wild Thing, is not quite as strong as the debut in some ways, but is stronger in others. Pietro is going by a new name and working a new job when Dr. Marmoset gives him a lead on an unusual short-term assignment for a character identified only as Rec Bill, sho...more [Insert Troggs joke here]

Despite my best intentions, I didn’t get around to reading Beat the Reaper until a couple of weeks before the sequel was released. What a refreshing read! Within pages, I became a die-hard Bazell fan.

The follow-up, Wild Thing, is not quite as strong as the debut in some ways, but is stronger in others. Pietro is going by a new name and working a new job when Dr. Marmoset gives him a lead on an unusual short-term assignment for a character identified only as Rec Bill, short for “Reclusive Billionaire”. And, in the way of reclusive billionaires, this is one doozy of an assignment. It takes Pietro into the wilds of Minnesota in the company of an attractive paleontologist.

I don’t want to describe the plot in detail because it was all so over the top that I’d hate to spoil even a bit of it. I will mention one thing. About half-way through, a real life person enters the story as a major secondary character. And the depiction of that individual is so incendiary and hysterical that I’m wondering if Dr. Bazell will be sued or simply killed. As far as I’m concerned, this sub-plot is worth the price of admission, but I can guarantee that not all readers will agree with me. It’s also worth noting that if you find sentiments like, “Don’t vote Republican, for f---‘s sake” to be objectionable, consider yourself forewarned that the novel gets political. Oh, and you probably know by now that Pietro’s language is not so wholesome.

It is clear that Dr. Bazell is a true polymath, and he appears to be plenty brilliant. The endnotes of the novel comprise a full 15% of the book’s length. The author is prepared to document his research and sources for even the most inconsequential elements of the text. And, yes, it’s interesting.

So, what’s weaker? Honestly, I’m having a hard time putting my finger on it. Beat the Reaper was pretty over the top, but this one is considerably more so. Bring your willing suspension of disbelief. Also, the structure of this novel is more straightforward and linear, and consequently slightly less interesting.

What’s the same? The fact that this tale is completely character-driven, and Pietro Brwna continues to fascinate. His voice is unique, and I’m fairly certain I’ll be willing to follow his exploits for the foreseeable future. There are several other interesting characters introduced in this novel, including the one referenced above, but it’s hard to compete with Pietro’s dynamism.
What’s better? Well, this novel has more overt humor than the last book did. Not everyone will consider it better, but it worked for me. And the book has an unusual and complex plot that will keep readers guessing what the heck is going on, and what’s going to happen next. As for me, I think it’s obvious that I plan to stick around to see what’s going to happen next. (less)

like · see review

Mar 05, 2012 Gloria Feit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Peter Brown, ne Pietro Brnwa [pronounced "Browna"], has become a doctor thanks to the Witness Protection Program in which he was placed several years before the story opens. [His nickname, "Bearclaw," has its own backstory, at which one could never even begin to guess.] Pietro bears rather unusual tattoos, at least in combination: a snake staff on one shoulder, a Star of David on the other. I hasten to add that these are the words with which I opened my review of “Beat the Reaper,” the first...more Dr. Peter Brown, ne Pietro Brnwa [pronounced "Browna"], has become a doctor thanks to the Witness Protection Program in which he was placed several years before the story opens. [His nickname, "Bearclaw," has its own backstory, at which one could never even begin to guess.] Pietro bears rather unusual tattoos, at least in combination: a snake staff on one shoulder, a Star of David on the other. I hasten to add that these are the words with which I opened my review of “Beat the Reaper,” the first, wonderful novel by Josh Bazell which introduced this most unique protagonist; there is little reference to his background in this, the second entry in the series, other than the fact that he was a hired killer who had murdered an impressive number of victims before and is still trying by any means to elude the attempts of his former employers to kill him. As the book opens, his present means of accomplishing this finds him working as a doctor on a cruise ship [not nearly as impressive or desirable a job as it might at first seem].

When he is offered a substantial sum of money by a ‘reclusive billionaire’ to accompany, and safeguard, a gorgeous paleontologist on a trip into the Minnesota woods [and waters] to prove, or disprove, an urban legend, he quickly accepts. Whether or not the whole thing is a hoax - - well, there are several theories put forth, that being only one of them. Basically signing on for a twelve-day canoe trip, the various invited members of the group are seeking to find out if there is actually, as rumored, a Minnesota version of the Loch Ness monster, paying very handsomely for the privilege. This is a whacky, and very funny, tale and, be warned, if profanity disturbs you, this is not the book for you.

Nominally the plot is about the protagonist’s attempt to somehow buy his way out of a mafia vendetta. The book is replete with footnotes, informative and often hilarious. The author concludes with a section titled “Sources,” about forty pages long, which perhaps gives a hint of what has preceded it, and is alone worth the price of the book, material referencing, e.g., critical events from the Reagan and Carter years, and outgrowths thereof, as well as those of the current President of the US; Dick Cheney’s “hunting” incident; discussions of contemporaneous medical/health care issues, including meds prescribed for PTSD and other mental health disorders; corruption among politicians in all levels of government; decisions from the recent past by the US Supreme Court; environmental issues; many of these possibly polarizing but brilliantly set forth, which also describes the book as a whole. One thing is for certain: Very funny and profane as it might be, this is a book that is difficult to describe, but one that will make you laugh, and make you think, and it is recommended.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 04, 2012 christa rated it 3 of 5 stars

When we last saw Peter Brown, he was against the wall. Ripping one of the lesser-essential leg bones from his own body to use as a weapon against a mobster. It was a cackle-inducing scene of yuck that remains one of the highlights of my personal highlight reel of contemporary fiction. Eleven years later, he’s still on the lam. Now he’s working as a doctor aboard a cruise ship. His name is Lionel Azimuth and when he extracts the bum tooth of a cruise ship staff member, it crumbles into a brown li...more When we last saw Peter Brown, he was against the wall. Ripping one of the lesser-essential leg bones from his own body to use as a weapon against a mobster. It was a cackle-inducing scene of yuck that remains one of the highlights of my personal highlight reel of contemporary fiction. Eleven years later, he’s still on the lam. Now he’s working as a doctor aboard a cruise ship. His name is Lionel Azimuth and when he extracts the bum tooth of a cruise ship staff member, it crumbles into a brown liquid. Still with the yuck.

“Wild Thing” by Josh Bazell is the followup to his fantastically hilarious whiz-bang gag trip “Beat the Reaper,” one of the best things that happened in 2010. This one has a lot of the same ingredients -- lunch-gurgling scenes, sassy banter, and some genuine what-the moments. But, while plot doesn’t always have to matter in cases of great entertainment, this one is a little too loose, lacks impact in its bam! moments and goes off-roading to some pretty meh places. See: Completely unnecessary cameo by Sarah Palin.

It all starts on White Lake in the Boundary Waters where two teen couples are engaged in low-level petting, in one case, and full-on yelp mode in the other. Autumn Semmel dips into the lake and her boyfriend follows. When he doesn’t come up from the water, she begins to fear the lake horror of having her leg suddenly grabbed by him. Then he does come spitting up, barfing a rope of blood and not long for life. As for Autumn: “The thing rams into her from behind, clapping shut her rib cage like a book and squirting the life out of her like water from a sponge.”

Uh oh. Scary sea monster skulking in the lake with a taste for human blood and guts.

The character known as Lionel Azimuth is commissioned for a job, part security, part mythbusters -- by a reclusive billionaire called Rec Bill. The doctor is asked to accompany his staff paleontologist Violet in a trip to the lake to discern the truth behind the monster. They are part of a party organized by the owner of an outfitting company in a small town in Northern Minnesota, and the travel team includes a pop star, some persnickity Republicans and a celebrity judge who will verify the legitimacy of the beast, Sarah Palin.

There is a strong sexual attraction between Lionel and Violet, addressed the second they meet when she asks him, with less family friendly phraseology, whether they are going to consummate this thing on this trip. The small town of Ford, Minn., is populated by a bunch of meth makers, meth heads and meth thugs. There is also a mystery surrounding who killed Autumn Semmel’s father less than a week after her bones were crushed. And there is a shout-out to my little Northern Minnesota city:

“Right after we passed Duluth, which turns out to be a bunch of freeway exchanges between new-looking paper factories, every one of them pumpking smog as big and opaque as clouds out of its stacks, we stopped at a Dairy Queen for lunch.”

Where “Beat the Reaper” was clever and surprising, this one is more self-conscious in its efforts to be clever and surprising. The big reveal feels like an episode of “Scooby Doo,” something Bazell must have been channeling a bit considering a conversation between Violet and Lionel that has her deconstructing the sexual relationships on the cartoon. For instance, that Velma is sneaking around with Fred on the side and faking gay so Shaggy will lay off of her. (less)

like 2 likes · see review

Mar 03, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bazell has a lot to live up to after his debut novel, Beat the Reaper. As a whole, Wild Thing doesn't achieve the clever mix of mafia and medicine, mostly because the plot involves little of either. Dr. Pietro Brnwa is still wanted by the mob and in WITSEC but he inexplicably ends up on a mission to prove whether or not a deadly creature lives in the lake of a failed Minnesota town. He and sexy paleontologist Violet Hurst have been hired by an eccentric billionaire, presumably to determine wheth...more

like · see review

Mar 01, 2012 Thomas Holbrook rated it 4 of 5 stars

Josh Bazell’s first book, Beat the Reaper, was one of the brightest literary surprises of 2009, as its Best Seller listings indicated. To write a book that is as engaging, entertaining and surprising as was the first takes a level of maturity and imagination that is rare in the realms of “writer types.” Mr. Bazell does an excellent job of resurfacing Pietro Brnwa (a.k.a. too many cover names to mention here) after he leaves the Manhattan Catholic Hospital under . . . ah . . . hum . . . a forced...more Josh Bazell’s first book, Beat the Reaper, was one of the brightest literary surprises of 2009, as its Best Seller listings indicated. To write a book that is as engaging, entertaining and surprising as was the first takes a level of maturity and imagination that is rare in the realms of “writer types.” Mr. Bazell does an excellent job of resurfacing Pietro Brnwa (a.k.a. too many cover names to mention here) after he leaves the Manhattan Catholic Hospital under . . . ah . . . hum . . . a forced relocation. When we see him again, he is a doctor on a cruise ship for two years but that tenure is soon to end. He is called to the residence of “Rec Bill,” a reclusive billionaire who wants him to accompany his (very lovely) Paleontologist, Violet Hurst, as she travels to Minnesota as part of an expedition to prove the existence of an ancient “monster.’
The premise of the plot is that our hero will protect Dr. Hurst from: 1) being eaten by the monster or 2) deceived by a clever fraud and/or 3) falling for someone who is not Rec Bill. The expedition will cost one million dollars IF there is a monster found, nothing if it turns out to be a hoax and, to keep the entire pact “honest,” there will be an unbiased referee who will keep things on the “up and up.” The discovery of the referee is worth both the price of the book and the investment of time needed to read it. Add to this (at point’s hilarious) bizarre safari the reality that “Dr. Azimuth/Brown” is an ex-hit man who worked for the Sicilian and Russian Mafia before turning state’s evidence, a risky career move, after he learned of their betrayal of him and one can expect a read that cannot be anticipated. Dr. Azimuth is a dedicated physician, but he holds to his sociopathology like a security blanket.
This plotting is engaging. Having read his first book, I expected it to be filled with surprises, shocks, blood and more laughs than should be found in such a novel. Mr. Bazell fulfills all these expectations with the exception of the surprises, after learning so much about Dr. Brown/Azimuth in Beat the Reaper, there is little to add to this already colorful, intelligent character. The shocks come in the mystery that is surrounding White Lake, the home of the monster.
The startling point(s) of this novel is the amount of political discourse set forth. There is nothing overt about the political slant, but one does not have to look too closely to see where Mr. Bazell’s heart resides. Having a “Catastrophic Paleontologist,” whose introduction will have to go down as one of the most depressing of future hopes I have ever read, as one of the main characters, having them visit a town who is dying due to the “out sourcing” of the industry that once sustained it and seeing how the locals are making a living (cooking Methamphetamine) leads the reader to intuit that the author is trying to send a message. The identity of the referee is so blatant a political statement that, were it not one of the funniest moments of the book, it could have caused the novel to be a rant. The book does not take itself seriously enough to be a rant, however.
This is NOT a book for children or those easily offended. I am not easily offended and there were points where I felt the author needed a thesaurus so he could use language that was more realistic and not filled with inane vulgarities. This is shaping up to be an on-going series, as this book ends with that possibility being more a reality. I will read the next installment if one is published, but it will need to show more of the intellect displayed in the first novel for me to read any after that one.
(less)

like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Kale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unlike it's predecessor in almost every way, Wild Thing is an entertaining merry-go-round of information expertly blended into a plot, filled with a blur of vivid imagery that will keep you guessing.

Ex-hitman turned hippocratic oath holder Lionel Azimuth, aka Peter Brown, aka Pietro Brnwa has been living with a series of unfortunate events hanging over him, like a cloud of crap constantly raining down on his existence. So when a job offer by a billionaire comes around to go on an expedition with...more Unlike it's predecessor in almost every way, Wild Thing is an entertaining merry-go-round of information expertly blended into a plot, filled with a blur of vivid imagery that will keep you guessing.

Ex-hitman turned hippocratic oath holder Lionel Azimuth, aka Peter Brown, aka Pietro Brnwa has been living with a series of unfortunate events hanging over him, like a cloud of crap constantly raining down on his existence. So when a job offer by a billionaire comes around to go on an expedition with a sexy paleontologist, it can only mean more trouble for Lionel.

As the plot thickens, Dr. Azimuth's sea creature safari quickly becomes a thrilling murder mystery chocked full of unsavory characters and edge-of-your-seat intrigue. Amidst all the chaos it seems someone's on to the good doctor, and it's only a matter of time before the mob comes calling. Lionel's luck sucks, but he beat the reaper once. Can he do it again?

Josh Bazell throws his readers a curve ball. The disorienting world of a well known character plopped into this strange almost paranormal situation feels like a complete departure from Beat the Reaper, and gives Wild Thing an air of being a fish out of water. But what starts out as a surreal hodge-podge of various blockbuster movie ideas is just the misdirection gravy Bazell builds his story under. The cloaking thread along with the deposition-like memoire style storytelling creates a collage of sequenced memories, tasks, trivia, and situations which are used to construct the plot lines, while masking the outcome.

This novel is an insane politically charged page turner. That may turn off quite a few readers. You definitely know where the author stands on several issues by the end of the book. Wild Thing was well written despite being heavily ladened with info dumps, which could have become boring or preachy. Paired with the exquisite narration of Robert Petkoff who's voice and portrayal of all the various characters brought out the life of even the most seemingly mundane monologues. Petkoff was perfection with his attitude and inflections, voicing Bazell's smart, funny, and gritty world wonderfully. He's my new favorite narrator. I read the first book but after hearing the second, I will only be enjoying this series through audiobook from now on. I can't recommend the sound version enough. It's truely what an audiobook experience should be.

With his exciting way of storytelling, Bazell doesn't fall into the usual traps and devices overused by many authors. His writing style is cleverly crafted, witty, and just as equally informative as it is entertaining, marking Wild Thing and Bazell a stand out among their contemporaries.(less)

like · see review

Feb 04, 2012 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, work-review-related-reading

This book picks up some time after the events of Blazell's first book, "Beat The Reaper", with the former mob hitman turned doctor via the witness protection program (though he's escaped that too) who is now calling himself Dr. Lionel Azimuth. He is getting by working as a cruise ship doctor these days. At least until he is summoned to meet with a notoriously reclusive billionaire (called Rec Bill throughout the whole novel). He is offered a huge amount of money to go check out what could be som...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 19, 2012 Themistokeles rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt: Pietro, ein Ex-Auftragsmörder, ist wegen seiner Vergangenheit unter einem Decknamen auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff als Schiffsarzt untergetaucht. Jedoch bekommt er dort über einen alten Bekannten ein Angebot von einem mysteriösen Milliardär: Er soll die Geschichte zu einem Video überprüfen, welches dem Milliardär zugesandt wurde. In diesem Video ist die Rede davon, dass im White Lake in Minnesota ein Monster leben würde, dass schon Menschen getötet hat und aussieht wie eine große Seeschlange...more Inhalt: Pietro, ein Ex-Auftragsmörder, ist wegen seiner Vergangenheit unter einem Decknamen auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff als Schiffsarzt untergetaucht. Jedoch bekommt er dort über einen alten Bekannten ein Angebot von einem mysteriösen Milliardär: Er soll die Geschichte zu einem Video überprüfen, welches dem Milliardär zugesandt wurde. In diesem Video ist die Rede davon, dass im White Lake in Minnesota ein Monster leben würde, dass schon Menschen getötet hat und aussieht wie eine große Seeschlange. Im Zusammenhang mit dem Video werden mehrer Milliardäre dazu eingeladen auf einer Tour dem Mythos auf den Grund zu gehen. Pietro erhält daher zusammen mit der attraktiven Paläontologin des Milliardärs, Violet, den Auftrag der Geschichte auf dem Video nachzugehen und bei der Tour mitzumachen. Durch das Antreten dieser Tour jedoch begegnen sie Wahnsinn und Gewalt und müssen erkennen, wie groß die Kreise sind, die die Geschichte um den White Lake zieht.

Meinung: Was an der Geschichte sehr schnell auffällt, ist die Eigenart, dass in dieser sehr viele Fußnoten benutzt werden. Die dienen dazu eine Anmerkung zu erläutern oder den Protagonisten das Geschehen kommentieren zu lassen. Mich haben diese Fußnoten im Lesefluss sehr gestört, da häufig eine Fußnote über mehr als eine Seite lief und es dazu kam, dass man umblättern musste, um die Fußnote zu lesen und dann wieder, um auch dem Text folgen zu können, da man nach knapp anderthalb Seiten Fußnote schon vergessen hatte, worum es eigentlich grade ging. Irgendwann habe ich dann das Lesen der Fußnoten eingestellt, weil es einfach zu viele, mit zu unwichtigen Nebeninformationen wurden.
Ansonsten handelt es sich bei dem Roman um eine Variation der Geschichte um Nessi, die einfach nach Minnesota verlegt wurde, denn auch das Erscheinungsbild des Monsters erinnert sehr an die Beschreibungen von Nessi. Allein diese Ähnlichkeiten machen die Geschichte noch nicht schlecht oder uninteressant, da sie eindeutig noch mit vielen weiteren Kleinigkeiten gewürzt ist. Auch der Charakter des Pietro ist auf seine Weise interessant, auch wenn ich manche Handlungen, mag es auch an meiner Unkenntnis des ersten Teils liegen, nicht nachvollziehen kann.
Manche Anspielungen und Wortwitze sind für den deutschen Leser jedoch auch nur schwer zu verstehen, wenn man nicht einiges über die USA und deren Politik weiß. Zudem gab es in dem Buch auch an einigen Stellen Ausdrücke, die mir nicht ganz so sehr zugesagt haben.
Ansonsten fand ich das Ende ein wenig unbefriedigend, denn weder war des Rätsels Lösung interessant, spannend oder mysteriös noch war das eigentliche Ende nachvollziehbar. Auch gab es Anhänge, die Schriften von der Paläontologin Violet darstellen sollten, die in keinem richtigen Zusammenhang mit dem Buch standen. Einzig gut waren noch die Erläuterungen des Autors zur Verwendung mancher Themen, die das Buch abschlossen.
Alles in allem fand ich das Buch durch den Sprachgebrauch, sowie die unterschiedlichsten Verwendungen von Fußnoten oder Anmerkungen bezüglich Begebenheiten innerhalb der USA an manchen Stelle nicht sonderlich gelungen, aber trotzdem, bei weglassen der Fußnoten lesbar. Auch die Thematik kann nur bedingt fesseln und das versprochene Inferno aus Wahnsinn und Gewalt konnte ich in der Geschichte leider nicht finden.(less)

like · see review

Feb 11, 2012 Margo rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved Beat the Reaper, and really liked this one as well, but there was something missing. The humor is there, the craziness, and the just plain fucked upness is all there. Just wasn't AS good. But Beat the Reaper was so amazing, i wasn't expecting it to be as good. so I'm happy.

like 1 like · see review

title link	preview: Wild Thing
avg rating	preview: Wild Thing Goodreads rating: 3.29 (1245 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11421775-wild-thing?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329185320l/11421775.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11421775-wild-thing?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Wild Thing by Josh Bazell[/url]

Wild Thing (Peter Brown #2)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (17)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Josh Bazell

Books by Josh Bazell

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Einmal durch die ...

Quotes from Wild Thing