Dave Zeltserman

Julius Katz is a celebrated private detective in Boston; his right-hand “man,” Archie, is a small piece of extremely high-tech software worn as a tie clip and capable of more than any current computer can do. When an obnoxious writer asks Julius to participate in what is essentially a publicity stunt, one that will humiliate Julius, he is of course not inclined to agree, although when the fee offered is increased and includes a rare bottle of wine that Julius covets, he chooses to accept. It is, of course, not long before the writer is murdered, and Archie works hard to solve the murder before Julius does, even though he is lacking an essential part of Julius’s make-up: genius….I have read numerous short stories in the Julius Katz and Archie series, but this is the first novel (published in 2011) that I’ve come across. I’m pleased to say that the premise holds up at novel length as well as it does in shorter forms. This funny and fun series is especially entertaining if you are familiar with Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe, of which this is quite a parody, but even if you don’t know those books, there is still a great deal to enjoy here, from Archie’s rather sarcastic narration to Julius’s extreme avoidance of anything resembling actual work, to the buffoonery of the police; recommended!… (meer)

This book is disgusting and depraved.

It's also one of the most brilliant books I've read in a while and loved it. It's basically the story of Frankenstein told by the monster. I was assigned to read Frankenstein in college and now recognize the Frankenstein as the doctor and not his creation.

The book is filled with of moral gray lines and morbid details to make you think. Like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it's not entirely clear who is the hero and villain. And also like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it's a great book.















… (meer)