The Highly Effective Detective Goes to the Dogs

The Highly Effective Detective #2

by Richard Yancey

From the critically acclaimed author of The Highly Effective Detective comes this deliciously funny follow-up featuring the lovable but bumbling P.I. Teddy Ruzak.

After the state shuts him down for practicing detection without a license, Teddy thinks his investigating days are over. Then he discovers the body of a man outside his office, a homeless man whom he had befriended just the day before.

Teddy suspects foul play, but the police think he's barking up the wrong tree. Then his normal befuddlement is exponentially enhanced by two very unexpected--and potentially very dangerous--visitors from the pound.

With his signature wit and gripping suspense, Richard Yancey has written yet another irresistible page-turner. It is sure to win him and Teddy Ruzak a whole new series of fans.

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2008

About the author

Also publishes as Rick Yancey.

Reviews

[Chaitra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the first book in the series, and I was hoping I'd like this one. I mean, there are two cute dogs on the cover. What's not to like? It turns out that Teddy Ruzak gets his licence revoked, a dog (and sex, not with the dog) gets forced on him, and he has some sort of crisis of faith. Oh, and someone gets murdered and YHWH is etched on his forehead. This gives a lot of scope for the crisis of faith to be expressed in a lot of words. Which is tedious and preachy. I liked the bumbling Teddy of the first book better.

There isn't much to the mystery either - the whole thing hinges on only a select few people in the whole of Knoxville knowing what YHWH means. I found that very hard to believe. Having liked the first book, I might check out the remaining books of the series, but I'm not in any hurry.

[Rebecca Douglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Highly Effective Detective is touted on the back cover as being something like Donald Westlake, and I can see the basis for the comparison. Humor is definitely part of the story--as is the incompetence of the protagonist. Teddy Ruzak is the Highly Effective Detective--except that when the story opens he's being shut down because he has once again failed the state licensing exam. He's been calling himself an "investigative consultant" rather than a PI, but the state doesn't seem to think that's good enough. They want him closed down, and now. But when he turns around and finds a body in the alley behind his office, Ruzak can't stop investigating, license or no. That's okay, because no one is paying him.

Like Sam Spade or Guy Noir, Teddy Ruzak is a loner. Unlike the true hard-boiled detective, that seems to be more a failure than a choice. While Ruzak forges on toward a solution to the crime (more by blind stubbornness than any great insight), he contemplates life, women, and God. What? Although the contemplation of God seems to be in part sparked reasonably enough by the mysterious letters of religious significance associated with the corpse, I found the thread to be a little disturbing and out of character with the general tone of the book.

The dog of the title is a rescue from the pound, and given the importance implied by the titling, I kept waiting for him to play a more significant role. He's fine, he's just not that important. I wondered at times if it was just an add-on to allow for a fun title.

In fact, I have been unable to completely decide if I like the book or not. The mystery is fine, Teddy and his troubled relationships are entertaining, but there is a persistent religious theme running throughout that I could live without. It's not that the author is blatantly preaching. Often, it's hard to tell what he really thinks--Ruzak is the narrator, and he clearly doesn't know what to think. Despite this there is at times a preachy feel to the contemplation of God, which doesn't do much for me. To balance that, however, there is the more purely existential question he faces, because his ancient friend Eunice believes that he is a character in the book she is writing, which may have started as a memoir but has become a work of fiction. I thought the subplot with Eunice was probably the best part of the book.

Overall, I give the book 3.5 stars. The writing was entertaining and the plot gripping enough that I had no trouble in plowing through in a few hours (a good thing, given my time frame for reading and reviewing this!). And the contemplation of the nature of the human and divine is not entirely out of place in either a murder mystery or a book set at Christmas, and this is both. It's just that it feels a bit out of place in humor, which this book also is.

[Barbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

very odd murder mystery. slightly entertaining and yet lots of it didn't make sense.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The highly effective detective goes to the dogs is for the dogs. It was one book i didn't enjoy. It's sense of humor was pointless. Granted he solves the crime but i didn't care.

[Deborah Sigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining, very funny. Looking forward to reading the next one.

[Shell Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, for such a whimsical cover, this one was surprisingly dark and philosophical regarding religion, death, and humanity. It covers a lot more than you think with our favorite, weirdo detective Teddy Ruzak.
A homeless man is murdered and left right outside Ruzak's office. A secret name for God is carved on his head. Ruzak was the last person to see this man alive.
This book left me spinning in my thoughts. He has this fascinating comparison between dogs and people. Ruzak also contemplates existence on this plane. It's absolutely wild the way something so casual, and fun can be so heavy and deep. This book is why I seek out Yancey's books. The fun story with the layered thoughts are worth it.
The series and this book isn't for everyone. It's very plot driven and I wouldn't say the characters are compelling or even that flushed out, but man- Yancey does something for me that a lot of authors don't.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea! I really tried to like this book (I finished it because it's for a book club) but I just couldn't. The main character was not likable at all and I wanted to smack him straight every time he went off on one of his spiels! No one cares about all that useless information that you spit out! I thought this was going to be a humorous book but I didn't laugh once. I was able to read it pretty quickly because I skipped a bunch of his nonsense (and I don't feel like I missed anything by doing that).

This is the first book I have read in this series and it will be my last!

[Jeannine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating about 2.5 stars. I was up and down with this one. The main character, Teddy Ruzak, is a security guard turned private detective until the state shuts down his agency because he can't seem to pass the test for his PI license. Then he finds a dead body of a homeless man in the alley behind his ex-office and obsesses over the case. While the book has a dry humor that I like, it also gets very philosophical about religion and life and it has some very depressing moments. Sometimes I don't want to search my soul, I just want to be entertained. Hence my mixed feelings about this one.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice quick read. I love the way Teddy's mind works!

[Amanda Garrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was predictable. Wordy, trying to be philosophical for no reason.

[Random_Gamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also great

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

readable, but not really satisfying in the end. do like the characters, but seems unfinished.

[LouAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in the series. I’m going to read the third.

[Emg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Teddy, I like his thoughts, I like the writing but I do not like the stories.

[Brace1737 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The death of a homeless person causes Teddy Ruzak to investigate even without a proper detective license.
Comment: Not a great mystery

[Silvio111 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, like the first book in this series, not the most brilliant plot but I do love the detective character. Most enjoyable reading.

[Bonnie Stinson]

Sadly, this did not live up to the cover. The writing was fine, but I kept waiting for the dogs to become more of the story.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

SO I haven't read a full book in over a month...I picked this book up today from the library, a mystery book...well I'd have to say 2 hours and 85 pages later (I fell asleep, but not from boredom)The book is quite a mystery alright. I still don't have a feel for it; I do like the Farside Cartoon quote "May I be excused? My brain is full..." It's how I feel now...but don't know what my thought will be when I reach page 329, the end of the book...to be continued...
So I finished the book this morning over rice krispies and coffee and find myself sitting here wondering...Huh? Well it was a quick and easy read. It obviously intrigued my attention because I finished it in less than three days, however I felt like I was watching a bad re-run of an old detective murder mystery movie from the past on a Sunday afternoon on channel 57, when it was philly 57 before UPN and now the CW channel, when nothing more interesting was on...thank God for the paid movie channels and cable...
Well I have to say Ruzak was quite the character...obviously does not have a life...doesn't have a girlfriend, doesn't take the offer of the girl who is obviously throwing herself at him, talks to a dog, has an old woman following him around writing a story about his life, etc...um what life would that be...anyway now I find myself wondering, when did private investigations, religion and dogs make sense together? Anyway, just like quoted in the book "So what's next?" That is indeed "a pointless question because it can't be answered"...This was an okay read for me...I will stick to authors like James Patterson for real mysteries and crime solving...I am venturing out to new author, but I just won't go for the books that have "A mystery" written in a picture of a dog's paw...I rest my case.

[JBradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this series so much I went back for the second (the third has just been published, but my library does not have it yet). I am happy to report that the second was even better than the first. Teddy Rusak still has not managed to pass his Private Investigator test, and Mr. Hinton, from the Tennessee Polygraph Bureau has just brought the full weight of state law on h im with a cease-and-desist order, which should give Teddy plenty of time to study for the exam, as his charming secretary, Felicia, keeps reminding him, but meanwhile other nefarious citizens of Tennessee are doing bad things, and Teddy has to get after them, since the police do not seem too interested. Is Teddy finally going to meet Felicia's boyfriend? Now there's a mystery. Yancey introduces a new character in this novel, a pre-law college girl studying philosophy and working part-time in the animal control office, who takes a strong fancy to Teddy and agrees that he should have a dog for companionship, even if his landlord will not allow it ... and who comes along with the dog as part of a package deal. Teddy also gets involved with a female detective, who does not believe his theory about the dead drunk he found in the alley behind his office building when he was watering the ferns, so Teddy has to go after the killer, which gets him into more trouble than he expects. Meanwhile, Eunice Shriver has finally found something useful to do with her time instead of confessing to crimes she did not commit; she is writing an unauthorized biography about Teddy! It's another romp through Knoxville and a few surrounding towns, with Teddy once again bumbling his way to success, of a sort.

[Kayeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a first book with Teddy Ruzak, but I didn't read that. This is in the category of fun reading...and yet, it sort of surprises me since he certainly ponders life and death and how come and such, and yet he is more along the lines of bumbling detective than kick butt. The dog is a bit of an undercurrent the last part of the book and adds a bit to the lighthearted character of this book


From the critically acclaimed author of The Highly Effective Detective comes this deliciously funny follow-up featuring the lovable but bumbling P.I. Teddy Ruzak.

After the state shuts him down for practicing detection without a license, Teddy thinks his investigating days are over. Then he discovers the body of a man outside his office, a homeless man whom he had befriended just the day before.

Teddy suspects foul play, but the police think he's barking up the wrong tree. Then his normal befuddlement is exponentially enhanced by two very unexpected--and potentially very dangerous--visitors from the pound.

With his signature wit and gripping suspense, Richard Yancey has written yet another irresistible page-turner. It is sure to win him and Teddy Ruzak a whole new series of fans.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Highly Effective Detective series. Teddy Ruzak wants to be a P.I. but he has failed the state exam twice and in spite of his wining ways shows no inclination to study. His adventures are slapstick - think early Jerry Lewis. Although there is a lot to like, the reverse is also true and some jokes just get carried too far, suck as Eunice Shriver, his octogenarian, demented self-proclaimed biographer. Try it you may like it; I'm not overly fond of the Lisa Lutz "Izzy" Spellman series either.

The Highly Effective Detective series - Lovably inept Teddy Ruzak fails the Tennessee PI licensing exam for the second time and is served notice that he can no longer work as a PI. After shutting down the office, Teddy spots a homeless man on the street and, on impulse, gives him his hat. The next day Teddy finds the man beaten to death in an alley behind his office building. Determined to dig up the truth, Teddy, in his inimitable way, follows the trail. Along the way to a most surprising solution, he finds his life complicated by two unexpected new acquaintances from the dog pound, one four-legged and the other a young woman who finds Teddy very attractive..

[QuietIdea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really bizarre; it wasn't a bad story, it was just weird.

First the writing style is just so young. Which gave me the initial impression that the book had been intended for children until a couple of grope-scenes and dropped F-bombs reversed that line of thinking. Second, we're dealing with an overweight, amateur sleuth, with an A.D.D train of thought and sense of humor...Which again leads me right back to for children... Or adults with childlike attention spans.

I marked this book with three stars because I enjoyed it and it made me laugh. The problem is, I can't tell if Rick Yancey's writing is amateurish or if he was purposely writing a juvenile story for adults because this is his idea of a joke. Airing on the side of generosity, I've decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and say this story is exactly as it was intended: A light, easy, readable, mystery with more laughs than thrills. That said a part of me wonders, if I haven't been overly generous.

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teddy Ruzak is a slippery character to get a handle on. He's obsessive yet easily distracted, empathetic yet emotionally not totally functional, a dedicated detective who can't pass the state PI exam. That he tells us his story in his own words just adds to the feeling that we're very close to him yet fail to understand him. That we can't help but like the hapless Teddy is why this book works. As a mystery, there's not much going on, and there's not much going on in Teddy's personal life either (though there certainly could be) - but there's a lot going on in Teddy's mind. If you don't mind being there with him, then this is a charming book (it was for me), but if you find him annoying, then this is a book you'll put down after a chapter or so.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd novel in the Teddy Ruzak series. Teddy is an overweight, hapless, decent guy who wants to be a PI. Unfortunately he can't pass the test. When he sees a murdered homeless man outside his office window and the police aren't terribly interested, Teddy decides that he must find the killer. This falls into the category of a cozy mystery more than a regular detective mystery so it's not for fans of hard-boiled detective fiction. But Teddy is a sweet man and sometimes funny without meaning to be.

[Rick Yancey]

The thing that is simultaneously delightful and troubling to me about the takes on the book is how differently readers react to my hero. People tend either to find him very endearing or annoying as hell. That he runs either "hot" or "cold" gives me satisfaction, because he is, after all, solely a product of my imagination. As for myself, I have never considered him bumbling at all. He gets the job done, doesn't he?

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the series. Opens with much more promise than the first, and a lot less shilly-shallying. A new visit with Teddy Ruzak, but the ball doesn't get moved very far when it comes to character- or relationship-development. It looks like he is who he is, and nothing much is going to change. A more straightforward plot than the first one, but in some ways less of a mystery. Thankfully, the dogs in the title play a relatively minor role.

[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason, I didn't care for this one as much as the first. I think the writing was just not as compelling or something, but that seems like a vague statement. I do appreciate when writer's create characters that contemplate meaning and truth. Easy to read, on the bright side, but after the first one, you kind of want another dose and this doesn't measure up.

[WhatShouldIRead]

I read the first in this series and enjoyed it very much. However, with this book I felt the hero was in a 'poor me'-type of mood most the way through the book which was tiring after awhile. I felt like he didn't know how to pick himself up and dust himself off and get on with life. I don't think I'll be reading anymore from this series.

[Sue Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick enjoyable read. In his first book he had a very annoying habit of having his characters answer with variations of "Unh-huh" and I was never quite sure if he meant yes or no - in fact I was sure he used the same variation to mean different things! He didn't do that in this book at all.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read. A bit more serious then the first one what with the existential crisis and faith in god issues! I didn't really like the meta aspect of the Eunice character writng a book about Ruzak. Still there were good moments and laugh out loud bits. A little more mystery would be good as sometimes the plot takes a back seat to the musings.