Tailed

by Brian M. Wiprud

Book Overview

Garth Carson has gone legit. Complete with briefcase in hand, he's appraising taxidermy collections for one of the largest insurance companies in the country. But when prominent big-game hunters start dying--apparently slaughtered by their own taxidermy--Garth's shiny new career makes him the FBI's number one suspect. On the run with his gal Angie and their favorite Russian gnome, Otto, Garth finds himself hopscotching across the heartland, from Hell...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440243149
• ISBN13: 9780440243144
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Dell
• Length: 335 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.1" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Hysterical!

This is the first of the series that I have read, however, I will be going back for more - I normally like to start a series at the beginning, but I don't think it mattered with this book. Think Hiaasen - except on speed. Starting with Garth's "profession", moving through a series of murders, aliens, , UFOs, Mexican wrestling, FBI, USAF, puppy anxiety, a nudist mother and other dysfunctional family elements. It never ends and I can't imagine cramming anything more into it!

Garth is in trouble. Again.

Garth Carson owns "Carson's Critters". Otto, his Russian friend, takes care of the shop. So Garth now travels around appraising taxidermy collections for an insurance company. Garth's boss (A.K.A. his handler) is Stella Lombardo. Garth's latest appraisal job for Stella is with Titan Harris III. But when Garth finds Harris dead in his home - apparently mauled to death by his own stuffed bear - Garth knows instantly that his life is about to get weird all over again. Garth is soon on the run from the FBI, the Air Force, and an ancient cult order. To make things stranger still, his nudist mother, Gabby, and his brother, Nicholas, join the adventure. Gabby seems to even know some of the odd characters that recently entered Garth's life. Gabby can explain all about the crackpot Fowler, who believes himself to be a werewolf, the Order of the White Geckos, as well as about the Vuka spirit everyone believes resides within Garth's body. Just an average week for Garth ... ***** After reading all of Brian Wiprud's previous novels, you would think that I would be ready for anything and that nothing could possibly surprise me within the pages of this book. You would also be wrong. Just when I think that I have seen everything, the author shows me, quite vividly at times, that I have not. This time around the author combines all the characters from previous titles into one hilarious adventure. Do not worry. You do not have to read a single previous title in order to thoroughly enjoy this mystery/comic tale of woe. Trust me, I have read everything published by this author and I have yet to figure out if Brian Wiprud is a genius or one sick puppy. (I'm leaning toward the latter.) A delightful way to spend an afternoon! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Wiprud Does It Again!!!

Garth Carson has done something totally unexpected, but extremely sensible. He's taken a job working as a taxidermy appraiser. He has his helper, Otto, run the taxidermy business in New York City. Garth travels the country, doing appraisals and learning a lot about the collector mentality. His love, Angie is working to make her jewelry business take off in a big way, so things are really looking up. And just when life is looking like a bed of roses, an aphid shows up. Garth is in Chicago for an appraisal of a collection belonging to a Bear, of the gridiron variety. When Garth gets to the estate, he finds the body of Sprunty G. Fulmore, who appears to have been clawed to death by his own stuffed bear. To make matters worse, that death makes the authorities take a look at another collector's death that was taken to be an accident. In Texas, another collector was killed by a falling stuffed critter. Since both victims had a white Gecko on their bodies, it seems there is a serial killer at large. Garth is asked to go to Seattle to meet with the FBI, and while there another collector bites the dust. Now Garth is thinking he's being set up, and is not happy about this. He enlists the aid of his brother, Nicholas and takes it on the lam, right after a visit to his mom, Gabby at the nudist colony where she has lived for many years. He meets up with assorted groups of people who may or may not be what they seem. The action culminates in a scene in New Mexico, which has a Roswellian theme, and as much action as you could wish for. Garth and company make sense of a world that seems to have imbibed way to much wacky baccy. Garth keeps his cool, even learning on the spot to drive an assault vehicle. Garth has been through a lot over the past few years, and while I don't wish bad things to happen to anyone, Garth breezes through one catastrophe after another with such ease that I am always anxious to see what is in store for him in the future. Though I do agree with him that seeing his aging mother au natural may be asking too much of this most coolest of dudes. Highly recommended series.

Fun from Start to Finish

Brian Wiprud's new novel is number 3 in the Garth Carson trilogy. This installment finds Garth trying to go straight ... sort of. He's delegated the running of his taxidermy rental business to his Russian sidekick Otto and taken a well paid job for an insurance company as an appraiser of high end taxidermy. Trouble has a way of finding Garth and time around is no exception - bad things start happening to his customers and before you know it Garth is caught up in a three way intrigue between the FBI, the U.S. Air Force, and a bizarre group of cultists who have a made the white gecko an object of almost religious devotion. Weird enough for you? Just wait until the masked Mexican wrestlers make their entrance. This is fun stuff, a perfect mixture of crime and comedy expertly blended with memorable characters. This is great summer reading. Put a copy of "Tailed" in your suitcase when you leave for vacation. Better yet, take along the earlier books in the series, "Pipsqueak" and "Stuffed," as well. You'll be travelling in good company.