Things In Ditches

By Jimmy Olsen

Book Overview

A murder mystery novel. The story of Phillip "Dutch" Cleland, a man with a hidden past and a future about to explode in his face. A seemingly average man whose love for two women drives him to such... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878391584
• ISBN13: 9780878391585
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Hoffman House Pr
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

The heck with the roses. Stop and see what 's in the ditch!

Jimmy Olson's "Things in Ditches" brings to life a small town cast of everyday folks as they deal with a situation that goes from bad to worse (and that includes the weather). It is fast and funny and as bitingly real as the Minnesota winter. I loved it. Tony Canzoneri, author of Cold Trail

Visions of Wile E. Coyote

There are a lot of very interesting things in ditches around the fictitious town of Willow River, Minnesota ("90 miles from St. Cloud.") In this debut "murder mystery novel," Jimmy Olsen takes the reader on a wild, cleverly plotted, tour and introduces us to wonderfully quirky characters along the way.Here are some jewels: After an early season blizzard, the Town Deputy reports in: "Guy from Iowa out on 11 last night. Heading to Fargo. Slides off the road, sits in his car until it runs out of gas, then starts walking. After God only knows how long, he ends up in the middle of Buttonbox Lake. Thinks he's a goner out on the ice when he spots Duane Jorgenson's fishhouse. Breaks in and gets the stove going. Nothing else to do so he opens the hole and hauls in six crappies. Strolls up to Milly's this morning big as you please, knocks on the door and wants to know if he cleans the fish will she make him breakfast. When she called they were playing Double solitaire. He needs a lift. Suppose they ate the fish." To which the Chief of Police replies: "Hope not. They're evidence. Iowa guys aren't licensed to fish in Minnesota."Or here's an Okie trying stealth-driving through the snowdrifts with a Minneapolis yuppie: "' We can chance the truck awhile longer, but don't bang against anything or start yodeling,' Murdock warned. He believed yodeling and consumption of rhubarb endemic to northerners."My favorite character is the power and symbolism of the timberwolf.P.S. I hate rhubarb - but I really enjoyed this book!

"Fargo" revisited?

Perhaps it is the convincingly claustrophobic vision of Minnesota in the winter. Maybe, it has to do with the unselfconsciously quirky characters and their convincingly drawn eccentric reasoning and personalities. Also, it does not hurt to find a mistery plot as unconcerned about mysteries in the conventional sense as this. In this novel the true mistery lies in trying to follow the minds of its protagonists.So why is it that the movie "Fargo" keeps insinuating itself as this book grabs a hold of this reader (and I mean that as a supreme praise!)? I read many novels in the hopes of occassionally finding one as terrific as this author's debut work. A truly rewarding read!

Author's debut makes 'Ditches' come alive

Want to feel the chill of a Minnesota blizzard without leaving your cozy abode? Want to see what Midwestern characters do when their quiet lives suddenly become mixed up and out of control? Want plot twists that make it impossible to guess the end? Then read Things in Ditches as soon as you possibly can. Jimmy Olsen's debut boasts quality story telling in a tone that is decidely northwoods. And you'll read the last page eager to get your hands on anything and everything this talented writer has to offer. Dutch, Charlie the cop and Walleye will stick in your mind and make you want to visit Willow River to see how the town survived Minnesota-style murder and mayhem.

Olsen takes us on a fun trip

Jimmy Olsen's novel, Things In Ditches, is a great book. Follow Dutch as he tries to figure out what to do after killing his former lover! Olsen takes us on an adventure as Dutch tries to deal with the consequences of his actions, while being chased by the law and others. I was on the edge of my seat as I turned the pages wondering how it would turn out in the end! I definitely recommend this one!