Helpful Score: 2
When I picked this book out from my Amazon Vine newsletter, I didn't have high hopes. It is definitely a book with an unusual premise & it sounded far too goofy to possibly be good. Honestly, I thought it would be bad, but I had to give it a try. I'm so happy that I did!
"The Unscratchables" by Cornelius Kane, which is an alias for Anthony O'Neill, has what seems on the surface to be a goofy plot: a bull-terrier protagonist who is the tough, cranky & hard-nosed Max "Crusher" McNash. Crusher who is investigating the bloody & violent deaths of two Rottweilers ends up teaming up with the smooth-tongued & polished Siamese Feline Bureau of Investigation agent Cassius Lap, who suspects a rogue feral cat is the culprit.
This is a novel that gives animals all the characteristics of people, both good and bad. It is filled with both really good puns and really bad ones. Kane has captured a "Dragnet" and/or "Mickey Spillane" type of essence in this book, which reminds me of a 1940's or 1950's private detective/crime novel. This book is the first canine/feline noir novel that I've ever seen or read. Perhaps this will be the start of a new breed (pun-intended) of animal crime novels.
Also, this book has a kind of serious side. In a couple of the characters the wacko crime lord Quentin Riossiti and the ambitious media magnate Phineas Raynard, both know how to control the "masses" with propaganda. You'll see some similarities to our own too real human media in there.
Overall, this is a surprisingly fun and quick read. Like I said it isn't my usual reading genre, but, if this turns into a series featuring "Crusher" McNash &/or his feline counterpart "Cassius Lap" I will more than likely read another one. A nice surprise this turned out to be.
"The Unscratchables" by Cornelius Kane, which is an alias for Anthony O'Neill, has what seems on the surface to be a goofy plot: a bull-terrier protagonist who is the tough, cranky & hard-nosed Max "Crusher" McNash. Crusher who is investigating the bloody & violent deaths of two Rottweilers ends up teaming up with the smooth-tongued & polished Siamese Feline Bureau of Investigation agent Cassius Lap, who suspects a rogue feral cat is the culprit.
This is a novel that gives animals all the characteristics of people, both good and bad. It is filled with both really good puns and really bad ones. Kane has captured a "Dragnet" and/or "Mickey Spillane" type of essence in this book, which reminds me of a 1940's or 1950's private detective/crime novel. This book is the first canine/feline noir novel that I've ever seen or read. Perhaps this will be the start of a new breed (pun-intended) of animal crime novels.
Also, this book has a kind of serious side. In a couple of the characters the wacko crime lord Quentin Riossiti and the ambitious media magnate Phineas Raynard, both know how to control the "masses" with propaganda. You'll see some similarities to our own too real human media in there.
Overall, this is a surprisingly fun and quick read. Like I said it isn't my usual reading genre, but, if this turns into a series featuring "Crusher" McNash &/or his feline counterpart "Cassius Lap" I will more than likely read another one. A nice surprise this turned out to be.
Helpful Score: 2
What a fun book! This film-noir style satire was not only hilariously "punny", but a well-written novel with well-conceived, lovable characters and a solid plot. My only real complaint was the lack of Australian Cattle Dogs... so I do hope that any sequels include this breed! And I do hope that there will be a sequel, or maybe even a whole series! This is certainly a strong foundation! Kane is obviously a talented, not to mention funny, writer and I do hope to see more of Crusher and Lap!
Helpful Score: 1
Full of puns, one-liners and outrageous characters, you'll find yourself chuckling over the smallest details in an outrageous parody of formulaic detective crime fiction. Unscratchables never takes itself seriously as it unashamedly hijacks plot points, places and characters from pop culture, myth and legend. A fast read and a quick detour from the daily grind, you'll find yourself laughing out loud over Cornelius Kane's ability to make the most ridiculous jokes highly palatable.
