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Shoveling Smoke
Reveling in outrageous shenanigans and hilariously off-kilter characters, Shoveling Smoke (now in paperback) does for East Texas what Carl Hiaasen's novels do for South Florida. Burned-out corporate lawyer Clay Parker chucks it all and moves from Houston to a tiny firm in a dusty small town, searching for his lost integrity and a simpler life. Instead, he lands in the middle of a bungled fraud case defending the disreputable and downright nasty Bevo Rasmussen, accused of torching the stables housing his over-insured thoroughbreds. Immediately confronted with corrupt officials, crazed survivalists, an incompetent hit man, an emu, and a naked county clerk, along with an assortment of vengeful wives and great barbecue, Clay discovers that nothing is what it seems to be. By the end, our hero gets way more than he bargained for, justice (Texas-style) gets served, and the reader gets a laugh-out-loud whodunit.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2003
89 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 7, 2013
I don't even read mystery. But when this came up as a Kindle Daily Deal, and I saw it was about an area I'm familiar with, and was about horses, I bought it.
Oh my gosh, what a good book! The plot is good - I never knew what was coming next. But it's the fresh writing that catapults this to my 'highly recommended' shelf.
You will laugh out loud reading it. My favorite line? (paraphrasing here) 'It was like beating a full house with two deuces and a cat turd.'
The characters are vivid and larger than life.
A simple explanation of this book is, Carl Hiaasen meets Grisham in Texas.
Honestly, I'm going now and buying whatever this guy has written!
Oh my gosh, what a good book! The plot is good - I never knew what was coming next. But it's the fresh writing that catapults this to my 'highly recommended' shelf.
You will laugh out loud reading it. My favorite line? (paraphrasing here) 'It was like beating a full house with two deuces and a cat turd.'
The characters are vivid and larger than life.
A simple explanation of this book is, Carl Hiaasen meets Grisham in Texas.
Honestly, I'm going now and buying whatever this guy has written!
March 3, 2011
I loved this. Why doesn't this guy write another novel? Why can't we have nice things??
April 5, 2023
Pretty good story re: city lawyer - Clay Parker from Houston - gone country. Recommended by my mom.
June 18, 2013
Shoveling Smoke is a fun and easy-to-read crime novel that takes place in small-town Jenks, Texas. Clayton Parker, a Houston tax lawyer, has decided to move to the country in an attempt to escape the big city life. He is intrigued to be joining the law office of one of his law school professors, Gilliam Stroud, who he idolizes.
Clay arrives on the job and finds the office empty of lawyers; the only person there is the dedicated and slightly dejected secretary, Molly Tunstall. Before Clay knows what's happening, he is swept up in a series of hijinks that make up the wildest week of his life--and the full storyline of this book.
As I said, this is an easy read that is fast-paced and enjoyable. The characters are delightful, especially Bevo Rasmussen who dresses in a shark skin suit and had a bonded diamond on his front incisor. My only complaint would be about Sally Dean, the southern girl who deserves a little more credit and a little less slatternly behavior--typical male narrator and writer! This is not fabulously well-written, but it serves its purpose well and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny little crime novel. 3.5 stars.
Favorite quote:
"You know some dangerous women," I told him, taking careful aim with the axe.
"That's the only kind God makes," he replied.
Clay arrives on the job and finds the office empty of lawyers; the only person there is the dedicated and slightly dejected secretary, Molly Tunstall. Before Clay knows what's happening, he is swept up in a series of hijinks that make up the wildest week of his life--and the full storyline of this book.
As I said, this is an easy read that is fast-paced and enjoyable. The characters are delightful, especially Bevo Rasmussen who dresses in a shark skin suit and had a bonded diamond on his front incisor. My only complaint would be about Sally Dean, the southern girl who deserves a little more credit and a little less slatternly behavior--typical male narrator and writer! This is not fabulously well-written, but it serves its purpose well and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny little crime novel. 3.5 stars.
Favorite quote:
"You know some dangerous women," I told him, taking careful aim with the axe.
"That's the only kind God makes," he replied.
June 13, 2014
In east Texas, Houston tax attorney Clay Parker leaves the big city to go to the boonies. Expecting peace, he joins a two-man law firm, one partner’s being one of Clay’s former college professors. What he finds is an office empty of partners, and when he meets them he finds one has serious alcohol problems, the other skirt-chasing problems. In addition, the story’s main client, Bevo, has elevated prevarication to a high form. Compounding all of this is the pervasive problem of ends vs. means in the area and its legal system. The results are laugh out loud funny very often. Effectively riding the edges of exaggeration, Davis has Parker serve as the straight foil for the numerous near-characterizations in and around town and particularly those in the legal system. The main woman is in the system as the administrator who assigns judges to cases, and also has a rather colorful background and family history, herself. There’s a bit of sex and a bit of violence, but the tone is so light-handed that those moments bring only a smirk in reaction. I’m giving this four stars only because I felt funny giving it five. It succeeds terrifically as a funny, light, enjoyable romp and a very low key tale developing a good ‘who did what?’ story and ending, one all the better if you know attorneys, Texas, or both.
November 24, 2012
Pretty funny tale of a burnt out Houston lawyer who moves to rural East Texas to find a simpler life but gets caught up in madness as soon as he rolls into town. Perhaps tries a bit too hard with the comedy but overall a good read.
September 26, 2014
Oh my goodness! This book is "Fear and Loathing in East Texas." This author has definitely been influenced by Hunter S Thompson. A quick romp through the crazy culture of East Texas-----on steroids!! I enjoyed the read!!
December 26, 2015
This was a fun book with a great twist at the end. Kooky characters, engaging plots and the promise of more to come. Not bad for a first book.
April 12, 2019
Great book!
Laugh out loud funny. Light hearted with unexpected plot twists and colorful characters that will make you spew your sweet tea everywhere. Loved it!
Laugh out loud funny. Light hearted with unexpected plot twists and colorful characters that will make you spew your sweet tea everywhere. Loved it!
March 9, 2020
City lawyer moves to small Texas town to work with two derelict attorneys. His first case is representing a low life who buys a number of horses only to have his barn struck by lightning killing them all. The insurance company is refusing to pay saying he set the fire himself. This kept my attention, but wasn't particularly a great read. The characters are colorful, a lot of sexual innuendos and corruption among all parties. The ending was pretty much as I had suspected all along.
January 3, 2019
Perfect for Netflix
Netflix should option this for a crazy, rough and tumble TV series. Two old lawyers with the young ethical lawyer solving cases. A very entertaining book with good character development. Visualizing the town, and ways things are handled will keep you smiling. Oh yes there is also an emu.
Netflix should option this for a crazy, rough and tumble TV series. Two old lawyers with the young ethical lawyer solving cases. A very entertaining book with good character development. Visualizing the town, and ways things are handled will keep you smiling. Oh yes there is also an emu.
January 2, 2023
The first and apparently only novel by the author is a home run. I have not laughed out loud so often reading a book in a long time. I don’t know anything about the author, but it is obvious that he knows a fair amount about the legal system and a lot about East Texas. I picked this book up on a whim and enjoyed it immensely.
June 7, 2017
Very Funny
January 3, 2019
This was a laugh out loud and outrageous book. It is to bad that the author did not write more in this series.
July 20, 2020
This was a pretty good book. It was entertaining and had a good plot with some twists in it. I really enjoyed reading it as an escape book. Read it in a weekend.
September 6, 2021
A funny little romp of a book. Kind of a waste of time.
February 15, 2023
This was laugh out loud funny, snarky, and downright fun to read!
May 24, 2023
An entertaining story except for the needlessly graphic descriptions of cruelty to animals.
July 17, 2024
Excellent. So true of the east Texas I know!
June 10, 2023
Fun book. Definitely not my norm however it’s one that sits with you. I would for certain recommend to others.
March 1, 2017
Excellent ride!
February 2, 2014
First, check out the cover of the book. Have you ever seen a more fitting picture of the stereotypical lawyer?
Now then. Texas has a reputation for doing things their own way. Apparently East Texas rural lawyers take that to the Nth degree.
To get into the swing of things, one of my favorite quotes comes very early in the book: “The man’s beard looked as if it had exploded, leaving clumps of spiky red hair scattered across his massive jaws.”
This book isn’t highly intellectual. It is highly amusing. Suspend reality (oh, please say this isn’t reality!) and enjoy the perilous ride.
Now then. Texas has a reputation for doing things their own way. Apparently East Texas rural lawyers take that to the Nth degree.
To get into the swing of things, one of my favorite quotes comes very early in the book: “The man’s beard looked as if it had exploded, leaving clumps of spiky red hair scattered across his massive jaws.”
This book isn’t highly intellectual. It is highly amusing. Suspend reality (oh, please say this isn’t reality!) and enjoy the perilous ride.
October 19, 2015
Having lived in East Texas, I was looking forward to reading this--until I actually began to read it. Not good. Not good at all!
Sure, it's fun to hear about East Texas towns and landmarks, but the thrill of that dies very quickly when there's absolutely nothing else worth reading.
1. The plot was juvenile and all over the place.
2. The characters were juvenile and all over the place.
3. The pacing was juvenile and all over the place.
4. The dialog was juvenile and all over the place.
In short, the title is the best part of this book. It goes downhill very quickly after that.
Sure, it's fun to hear about East Texas towns and landmarks, but the thrill of that dies very quickly when there's absolutely nothing else worth reading.
1. The plot was juvenile and all over the place.
2. The characters were juvenile and all over the place.
3. The pacing was juvenile and all over the place.
4. The dialog was juvenile and all over the place.
In short, the title is the best part of this book. It goes downhill very quickly after that.
April 9, 2016
3.75 stars. This book was hilarious! There was a constant stream of craziness, from illness inducing sounds to a man wearing a Batman outfit being beaten up by an emu. There were so many moments I was just, what the heck is going on and why, but it was all tied together by the Rasmussen case and told in a blunt, straightforward style by the narrator, Mr. Clayton Parker. I did not expect to like this story as much as I did, but it was a fun romp through a small piece of East Texas and country law. It's too bad there aren't other novels in this universe available. Davis has a knack for creating some hilarious scenes while throwing in some clever twists and fun lawyer tales.
October 9, 2007
I'll admit to buying this book because of the front cover (something about that horse's tail shooting straight out just made me laugh). Imagine my pleasant surprise in finding out that I really liked this book! Several friends have since read it, and all agree that it's a fun read. It's about a Houston lawyer who walks away from the high-powered career to take a job in a tiny firm in the middle of nowhere Texas. Shenanegans and crazy goings on follow. A fun read.
April 28, 2013
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because all through the book, the discussion was about horses being killed for money and no one ever said what a heinous crime this was.
Otherwise; I was reminded a bit of Carl Hiaasen and his crazy cast of characters. This book made me laugh out loud in a few spots, and there was enough intrigue to keep me guessing how the book would turn out.
I hope he writes more about these guys.
Otherwise; I was reminded a bit of Carl Hiaasen and his crazy cast of characters. This book made me laugh out loud in a few spots, and there was enough intrigue to keep me guessing how the book would turn out.
I hope he writes more about these guys.
July 10, 2013
Wonderful, powerful, poignant story with lessons about life and relationships on so many levels. Mother and son strengthen their bond over love of books while enduring her battle with cancer. She is the "do it all" woman who manages career, family, and a passion for serving others with uncommon grace. It will remain on my heart for a long time. Be prepared to come away with a lengthy list of must read books as well!
October 25, 2012
Hilarious,fast moving, wry and sly and filled with unforgettable characters, this terrifically funny novel about small town lawyerly East Texas shenanigans is sheer delight from start to finish. I didn't want the laugh-a-minute saga to end, and I surely wasn't ready to say good-bye to these wonderfully drawn characters. Like other reviewers here, I'm ready for another Clay Parker novel!
March 29, 2013
This book is The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels of rednecks. Think The Dukes of Hazard but with lawyers. You might even catch a glimpse of Boss Hogg and Daisy. If you can overlook some language, you will laugh your way through the whole book. If the author can keep up this level of tomfoolery, I will certainly read more of his books.
June 27, 2013
[bookcover:Shoveling Smoke|1191138
Clay Parker, a former tax lawyer with a big firm in Houston, finds himself in the small town of Jenks getting his new boss out of jail and appearing in court in a suit and flip flops on his first day on the job.
This is a hilarious book and would recommend eveyone to read it.
Clay Parker, a former tax lawyer with a big firm in Houston, finds himself in the small town of Jenks getting his new boss out of jail and appearing in court in a suit and flip flops on his first day on the job.
This is a hilarious book and would recommend eveyone to read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews