Armadillos & Old Lace

by Kinky Friedman

Book Overview

"If Kinky Friedman does to literature what he has done to music, this nation is in serious trouble."--Dave Barry, humorist, author, and Pulitzer Prize winner Kinky Friedman is living proof that you... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067186923X
• ISBN13: 9780671869236
• Release Date: September 1994
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Crunchy on the Outside, Chewy on the Inside

"Armadillos and Old Lace" is Kinky's seventh novel and is his first to be set away from New York. Instead, the action takes place at 'home' - in and around Echo Hill Ranch, Texas. This means, of course, that Kinky must solve this mystery without the help of people like Ratso, Rambam and John McGovern - though he has brought the cat along with him. While the cat doesn't voice her opinion on their new home - a green trailer - it's obvious that she isn't impressed. Kinky has, once again, cast himself as the PI hero and has continued to use family and friends as the book's supporting characters. Echo Hill Ranch was founded by his parents, Tom and Min, in the early 1950s. Min died in 1985, before the book was written - though Tom does appear and is always referred to by his first name. A summer camp is held on the ranch every year, and Kinky's sister, Marcie, appears as one of the camp counsellors. (It was Marcie's idea that Kinky should start writing mystery novels - I will be eternally grateful to her). Frances Kaiser, Kerr County's Sheriff, and Pat Knox, Kerrville's Justice of the Peace, also appear. The green trailer, Kinky's place of residence in this book, is where he wrote several of his early books. It's now (apparently) home to an armadillo, who presumably answers to the name of Dilly. Much use is also made of Dusty, his mother's old talking car. However, further comparisons with David Hasselhoff and KITT just don't stand up. Though Kinky has returned home for a holiday, Pat Knox has other ideas. She contacts regarding hom the deaths of four old ladies who have died over the previous five months. Although the Sheriff, Frances Kaiser, has found nothing suspicious about any of them, Pat remains convinced they were murdered. She asks Kinky to look over her files and form an opinion - though he initially agrees with the Sheriff. However, his opinion starts to change when a fifth victim turns up - with her lips sewn shut. This is the best of Kinky's books I've read to date - though, admittedly, I haven't read then all. He still delivers a fast-moving book, with more one-liners than you reasonably hope for, but it also has the benefit of a strong story. In addition, he writes with a strong sense of affection form the camp and the people who have helped out there over the years. His quips may not be to everyone's taste, but this is a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

Love him or leave him on the shelf

Look - you either dig Kinky Friedman or not. He is rude, crude, at times lewd, always a dude. His New York digs could get a little claustophobic to me, so I was glad to see him head out to his family's home and kids' summer camp - Echo Hill Ranch. As usual, whatever he turns his hand to somehow evolves into grand highjinks, but everything works out in the end. This time he get's drawn into the suspiscious deaths of 4 little old ladies. No pony for Kinky - he rides the range in Dusty, his late mom's talking Chrysler looking for clues and trying not to join the old ladies on the other side of the rainbow. Needless to say, Justice (and Kinky) triumphs, but not before his usual stirring of the hornets nest investigative style makes him equal numbers of friends and enemies. Oh, go ahead and read it - you know you want to!

A delight to read!

A true Texan, Kinky, draws from the well of his surroundings and brings us a delightful and refreshing drink of murder mixed with humor. His similes were so vividly familiar I laughed with each turn of the page. I've been to Kerrville...in person and again in his book. Murders abound and poor Kinky just wants to settle back and enjoy his vacation on the family ranch/kids summer camp. Somewhat unwillingly he is drawn into solving the murders of four old ladies. With cigar smoking and mouth flapping he better watch his step, or he could be the next victim. Please Kinky, tell me, when does the next book come out? I will be first in line! M. Hauser

The Kinkstah Rules!

I just discovered Kinky about 2 weeks ago and have read the 4 books I could find. Apparently, the other 4 are out of print (alas). As far as I'm concerned, the plot takes a back seat to his delicious dialogue. There were many giggles, chortles, and even guffaws as I read. Here's to the little puppet head, the usual suspects, and his aloof cat companion. I'm off to some used book stores to see if I can quench my Kinky thirst.

One for the Texas Campfire Legends

A who-dunnit with plenty of gruesome murders and enough red herrings to satisfy a starving NY alley cat, but solving the murders is secondary to discovering whether the author, and prodigal native Texas son, will survive the working holiday without losing his cat, his temper and his life-long friends by hightailing it back to the Big Apple. On a trip back to the "Dude" ranch of his youth, Kinky relishes childhood memories, smokes a peace pipe with his cat, coaxes a tempramental talking car to go the distance, and stays just one step behind an odious killer with a penchant for old ladies. In a town that loves to hate outsiders, and, even more, insiders who left for greener big-city pastures, Kinky proves that he hasn't lost his touch when it comes to women, cigars, or picking up the clues that only a jaundiced eye could see