Stein, Stoned: A Harry Stein Soft-Boiled Murder Mystery

by Hal Ackerman

Book Overview

A soft-boiled detective story where "The Big Lebowski" meets "Fletch." In the sixties, Harry Stein was the foremost authority on cannabis, writing a book on indoor cultivation and inventing thirteen... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1935562142
• ISBN13: 9781935562146
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Tyrus Books
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Kiss Kiss Bong Bong

I loved Stein, Stoned. Stein is a Philip Marlowe for the pot generation, trying to put his weed-laden youth behind him for the sake of parenting, but clearly more of an expert on the former than the latter. He is a fresh character of rare insight and even rarer expertise; watching him examine a marijuana bud and determine its heritage from shape, color, thickness and fragrance is like watching an expert in rare art verify a Rembrandt. He gets caught up in a Los Angeles based mystery worthy of Raymond Chandler, and like Chandler's hero he has plenty of chances to simply walk away from the case but can't seem to do so, until he is in so deep he has to see it through. The writing is rich, the dialogue crisp, and the mystery takes turns you definitely don't see coming. Most important of all, it is frigging funny. Stein's skewed view on the world and the world's skewed view of him is fresh and hysterical. My only complaint, as a successful screenwriter, is that Ackerman will probably want to adapt Stein, Stoned to the screen himself.

"CANNABIS TALES" from UCLA's Hal Ackerman!!!

Move over Chaucer, because UCLA's "Ab fab", Hal Ackerman, has written his own "Cannabis tales" and with STEIN, STONED, you take a journey that even Chaucer would have enjoyed. Stein is a character that I identified with immediately as his 1960's era was my own, and to bring him into the LA world of today, made the book such a great read. All the characters who take this "cannabis" journey are remarkable in their personalities and their own set of issues. I loved the relationship with his teen age daughter and the problems he had with the ex wife and attempting to raise her his way. What really got the book going for me was when he discovers the beautiful model in her home-I kept picturing way up in Laurel canyon-and the trip he takes from there and how "cannabis" propels the story forward from Los Angeles to Amsterdam. The variety of characters in STEIN, STONED, is so very "LA", and yet at the same time, they could be anywhere where a middle aged man is attempting to overcome his past for the sake of his daughter whom he truly loves. As Hal taught me in the UCLA Professional Screenwriting program, I kept thinking of what Hal would say, "WHAT DOES STEIN WANT?"; what are his WANTS? and for me, it is Stein's love for his daughter, his wanting to separate himself from his "cannabis past" for the love of his daughter. Coming from a divorced family, that theme was so real to me. Then there is the murder element thrown into the story which includes a cast of characters that even West Hollywood would run away from. An amazing ending.. However, the most emotional and powerful scenes are in the last chapter of the book, where a man becomes a real hero in saving his family. That last scene will stay with me forever. So Hal, I say, as your fan and a student of writing, thank you for STEIN STONED, and always, "GO BRUINS"!

THIS BOOK ROCKS!!!

This is a book that I didn't want to finish, didn't want it to be over -it's a trip!! Very creative on many levels and so entertaining!!! Written by a true wordsmith. Hoping for a new Stein adventure soon!! Great read!!

A wonderfully, funny mystery

One of the best books I have read in a long time. Great characters & story. Generated many laughs along the way. Hal Ackerman's writing style is wonderful. He paints with words. Drew me into to story right away. Couldn't put the book down.

Most surprising book I've come across this year!

In Hal Ackerman's debut novel we are introduced to a new kind of hero. Harry Stein is like "Fletch" goes "Up in Smoke" with Cheech & Chong and along the way solves a mystery type of hero. He is trying his best to live a straight life and be the kind of dad his teenage daughter needs but his colorful past is hard to dim. We get a great image of the present Stein being reminded of his past in the first chapter where he is talking to his daughter, Angie, about a history assignment she has due comparing "Woodstock I to Woodstock II" to which he asks his daughter "Your school legitimizes Woodstock II?!!?"... They proceed to get into a mini-debate that will feel very familiar to any parent. The whole relationship dynamic between parent and child is well depicted and the character development in general was very well crafted. The twists and turns in the plot were completely entertaining and though there were serious issues Ackerman incorporated a healthy dose of humor into the mix. From Los Angeles to Amsterdam we follow Stein as he tracks down the stolen cannabis and gets reacquainted with the past he thought he'd left behind. Stein Stoned is a very clever story and the most surprising novel I have read this year!