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Mad Dogs
From Brian Hodge, the author of the highly acclaimed Wild Horses, comes his long-awaited second crime novel, which once again finds him careening at whiplash speeds between black humor and the pounding heart of darkness.
Actor Jamey Sheppard may not be starving, but he's definitely struggling. His career has been one piddling role after another with names like Radical Dude #3. Still, as he's road-tripping from Los Angeles to Arizona to reunite with his fiancee for their wedding, the future looks brighter than gold.
Until a liquid lunch deputy turns the best day in his life into the worst.
But Jamey's no criminal. He's only played one on TV.
From the moment he's mistaken for Duncan MacGregor, the real-life renegade he's just portrayed in a re-enactment segment on American Fugitives, Jamey's life can never be the same. And so begins his sun-scorched odyssey through overnight media saturation celebrity and the national fascination with outlaws.
In his hideaway, Duncan MacGregor is watching, too. And he just has to meet the guy who relived his own worst moment in front of a nationwide audience.
Within days, in a twist that even American Fugitives couldn't have seen coming, their fates are intertwined, as they ricochet down a road filled with the world's dumbest bounty hunters, Hollywood deal-makers and wannabes, cops on both sides of the law, a metal-plated ex-con with a prehistoric outlook on life, an impromptu right-wing death squad, a merciless Jay Leno, and the most dangerous people of all when it comes to grudges and
Family.
Staying on the run could be the best career move Jamey's ever made ... if he can just live long enough to sign on the dotted line.
Actor Jamey Sheppard may not be starving, but he's definitely struggling. His career has been one piddling role after another with names like Radical Dude #3. Still, as he's road-tripping from Los Angeles to Arizona to reunite with his fiancee for their wedding, the future looks brighter than gold.
Until a liquid lunch deputy turns the best day in his life into the worst.
But Jamey's no criminal. He's only played one on TV.
From the moment he's mistaken for Duncan MacGregor, the real-life renegade he's just portrayed in a re-enactment segment on American Fugitives, Jamey's life can never be the same. And so begins his sun-scorched odyssey through overnight media saturation celebrity and the national fascination with outlaws.
In his hideaway, Duncan MacGregor is watching, too. And he just has to meet the guy who relived his own worst moment in front of a nationwide audience.
Within days, in a twist that even American Fugitives couldn't have seen coming, their fates are intertwined, as they ricochet down a road filled with the world's dumbest bounty hunters, Hollywood deal-makers and wannabes, cops on both sides of the law, a metal-plated ex-con with a prehistoric outlook on life, an impromptu right-wing death squad, a merciless Jay Leno, and the most dangerous people of all when it comes to grudges and
Family.
Staying on the run could be the best career move Jamey's ever made ... if he can just live long enough to sign on the dotted line.
578 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Brian Hodge
151 books464 followersBrian Hodge, called “a writer of spectacularly unflinching gifts” by Peter Straub, is the award-winning author of ten novels of horror and crime/noir. He’s also written well over 100 short stories, novelettes, and novellas, and four full-length collections. His first collection, The Convulsion Factory, was ranked by critic Stanley Wiater as among the 113 best books of modern horror.
He lives in Colorado, where he also dabbles in music and photography; loves everything about organic gardening except the thieving squirrels; and trains in Krav Maga, grappling, and kickboxing, which are of no use at all against the squirrels.
He lives in Colorado, where he also dabbles in music and photography; loves everything about organic gardening except the thieving squirrels; and trains in Krav Maga, grappling, and kickboxing, which are of no use at all against the squirrels.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 12, 2008
I'm a pretty big fan of Elmore Leonard-esque crime fiction and got turned on to this by a display at my local library. I had heard of Brian Hodge before, having read some of his horror work many years ago. I wasn't sure what to expect; his writing style as I know it does not really lend itself to this sort of material.
I wonder know if I'm thinking of a different Brian Hodge.
This book is awesome! The characters are well-developed. The scenario is intriguing. The dialogue is pitch perfect. It could be argued that the ending might be a bit too convoluted, but that isn't really a distraction. There's only a few ways to wrap up a story with so many plot threads and characters and I think Hodge picked one of the more believable.
A warning to the weak-stomached: the book is pretty gruesome. One robbery sequence in particular has an image that will not be removed from my mind for a while. Another sequence, involving ants, is almost too disgusting for words.
If I do have a complaint about this novel, it would be that the hatred between the protagonist and his sister is a little underdeveloped. This strained relationship is central to the plot, so more should be made of it. Said about it. At the very least, explained.
A mighty fine movie could be made from this one.
I wonder know if I'm thinking of a different Brian Hodge.
This book is awesome! The characters are well-developed. The scenario is intriguing. The dialogue is pitch perfect. It could be argued that the ending might be a bit too convoluted, but that isn't really a distraction. There's only a few ways to wrap up a story with so many plot threads and characters and I think Hodge picked one of the more believable.
A warning to the weak-stomached: the book is pretty gruesome. One robbery sequence in particular has an image that will not be removed from my mind for a while. Another sequence, involving ants, is almost too disgusting for words.
If I do have a complaint about this novel, it would be that the hatred between the protagonist and his sister is a little underdeveloped. This strained relationship is central to the plot, so more should be made of it. Said about it. At the very least, explained.
A mighty fine movie could be made from this one.
March 10, 2013
Hodge surprised me with this book. Not because of the quality of the book (it was great!) but because he took it in directions I didn't expect. It started off as semi-whimsical or more a comedy of errors. Then at some point it became more heartfelt and real. It was no longer about the chaos that was happening but about the people and how they were changing.
Jamey Sheppard is driving from Los Angeles to Arizona to meet up with his fiancee. While stopped for gas, he gets mistaken for someone else by a cop and one thing leads to another and suddenly the cop is dead and Jamey is running for his life. Then just as things settle down a little, Jamey finds himself in another strange situation. I won't say what so the surprise is not ruined but suffice to say he goes through a couple more awkward but logical situations. By the time everything starts tying up and the climax of all the bad stuff comes together, you really feel and care about all the characters. It's more than finding out what happens; it's wanting to see them come out on top. As I said, it was a surprise to me. I thought I knew the general tone of the book after the first fifty pages or so but I didn't. Very highly recommended!
Jamey Sheppard is driving from Los Angeles to Arizona to meet up with his fiancee. While stopped for gas, he gets mistaken for someone else by a cop and one thing leads to another and suddenly the cop is dead and Jamey is running for his life. Then just as things settle down a little, Jamey finds himself in another strange situation. I won't say what so the surprise is not ruined but suffice to say he goes through a couple more awkward but logical situations. By the time everything starts tying up and the climax of all the bad stuff comes together, you really feel and care about all the characters. It's more than finding out what happens; it's wanting to see them come out on top. As I said, it was a surprise to me. I thought I knew the general tone of the book after the first fifty pages or so but I didn't. Very highly recommended!
April 16, 2021
Wow - talk about a bad couple of days. Don't want to spoil anything. This book is action packed.
September 12, 2010
I have one of only a thousand limited/signed special editions.
Brian Hodge strung me along for a wild ride, never really knowing where I'd wind up (even at any given moment, ja). He put the characters up for inspection in a way that made me care what happened to them, how fate dealt their cards. And it all came down the only way it could, in hindsight.
I particularly like the touching end to it all, at the diner, with the Indian from so long ago (It's a kick, ain't it?).
Thanks, Brian. What else you got?
Brian Hodge strung me along for a wild ride, never really knowing where I'd wind up (even at any given moment, ja). He put the characters up for inspection in a way that made me care what happened to them, how fate dealt their cards. And it all came down the only way it could, in hindsight.
I particularly like the touching end to it all, at the diner, with the Indian from so long ago (It's a kick, ain't it?).
Thanks, Brian. What else you got?
June 23, 2020
hello gang thomas from northern michigan here. i just finished the book mad dogs by brian hodge. wow what a gem this book is.it comes in at 577 pages. this crime thriller has more sub plots going on within this book than a stephen king book. it works excellent. this fantastic author really know how to tell a story. i dont impress easily and this book empressed me. if u have not read this yet stop what u r doing right now and order it. 2 big thumbs up on this one!! chow for now gang. peace out. thomas
March 14, 2008
Brian Hodge is more known for writing horror and is this his first regular thriller. Its mainstream but original. Witty, funny and with lots of action. With a bigger publisher and the rigth kind of promotion, this book could be a million-copy-sale. Seriously.
April 10, 2015
A case of mistaken identity goes out of control in this excellent crime thriller from Brian Hodge. Beyond the excitement there is plenty of black humor and heart. Mr. Hodge doesn't need supernatural elements in his work; it seems he can do anything.
February 18, 2013
He finally wrote about a character he didn't hate more then the antagonists.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews