Customer Reviews

Boo Hiss (The Boo Series #3)

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Run straight to the bookshelf and pick up this book. (And if you haven't read its cousins be sure to read BOO and BOO WHO.)
You will be delighted with the fun small time eccentricities and the charming humor that Ms. Gutteridge brings to this small town. A must for your fall reading list!

Get ready to chuckle --- a lot --- as Rene Gutteridge spins her tongue-firmly-in-cheek, humorous tale of small town life in BOO HISS, her third book in an informal series.

In BOO, Gutteridge introduced us to the quirky town of Skary, Indiana. The small town's economic life revolves around famous bestselling horror novelist Wolfe Boone --- or "Boo" --- from the Haunted Mansion restaurant to Spooky's Bookstore. When Wolfe becomes a Christian and chooses to quit writing horror novels, his decision turns the town upside down. In BOO HOO, the little town of Skary is on the edge of bankruptcy, Wolfe has become a car salesman, and his fiancée, Ainsley Parker, is on track to become the next Martha Stewart.

If you haven't read Gutteridge's earlier works, put this book down and read them in order. Although it's not impossible to read this as a stand-alone novel, you'll enjoy it more with some background.

Now, the town has gone "from famous to obscure to a magnet for all things suburban." BOO HISS picks up the story as a two-headed rosy boa named Bob and Fred is on the loose in Skary. (Just for you skeptics, two-headed snakes are possible, though a rarity). The characters juggle other problems. Wolfe is struggling with writer's block. Ainsley longs to have a baby but nothing is happening, and her carefully ordered life is thrown out of kilter when Melb gets pregnant, and Melb and Oliver (improbably) take up temporary residence with Wolfe and Ainsley.

Just-arrived suburban soccer mom extraordinaire Katelyn Downey (mother of the devilish imp, five-year-old Willem) are determined to turn the little town of Skary into the Next Big Thing. A new cell phone tower, soccer field, coffeehouse complete with lattes and frou frou drinks, and some major changes at the church are only a few of the items on her agenda. The gentle Reverend Peck is spinning over all the changes Katelyn brings to his church, and wonders if the new cappuccino bar will be more of an attraction than his sermons. Will Skary lose its small-town values?

Romance is also in the air in the most unlikely places. Martin Blarty (short and contemplating hair implants) and Ainsley's dad, Sheriff Bart Parker (tall and clueless about women), are both attracted to Lois, The Queen of Menopause ("Eccentricity can be attractive, especially when it comes with hot flashes"). Lois has launched a town play and, in the process of casting, finds herself dating both men. As she ponders their flaws, she muses, "As a mature woman, your standards haven't slipped, they've just deepened to include Volvos instead of Covettes." Lois's sleepwalking leads to an unexpected engagement --- and more trouble --- and the play turns into a reality show.

When the strangely named Leonard Tarffeski, a charming snake hunter from New Zealand (where there are no snakes) appears to save the day --- or capture and sell the unusual snake for financial gain --- things quickly disintegrate.

Writers will enjoy some of the lines tossed at Wolfe (his father-in-law says in one aside, "It's not like you work or anything..."). Christian publishing industry folks will also snicker at the subplot involving Wolfe's editor/agent Alfred Tennison's discovery of the "Christian fiction" and his attempts to blend in --- and cash in.

If you're looking for a serious literary read to analyze for character development and plot treatment, look elsewhere. To enjoy this book, you'll have to suspend your disbelief from the earliest pages. However, if you want a book that's pure fun, BOO HISS is it. Relax and enjoy the pure whimsicalness of Gutteridge's imagination.

(...)

Boo Hiss by Rene Gutteridge appears to be the last book in the series, but what a ride it's been! Dustin, the bookstore nerd, has lost his rare two-headed rosy boa constrictor, and the town of Skary, Indiana is turned on its ear during the search. This series is so full of whimsy and eccentric characters, it's almost guaranteed to bring a smile on each page. While Wolfe and Ainsley are each struggling with their own troubles, they, and the rest of the town, come to realize that God is in control, and sometimes you just need to let go. I did miss Missy in this book. There was a spark that she brought to the books that was missing a little in this one. Gutteridge is a terrific writer of humor, and I hope that she writes more of it in the future.

Some of my friends said they didn't like this one as much as the first two, so my expectations were low. But to my surprise, I liked this one much better than Boo Who. I laughed a lot more out loud while reading this and found the snake situation amusing. Another reason for liking this book was the humor poked at the book publishing industry, secular vs. Christian.

There was less Ainsley & Wolfe and more about the other town characters. A few things were wrapped up that had been hanging since the first book; the pastor finding his niche, Melb becoming responsible, Ainsley's dad's realtionships, the town's survival, etc. But of course a few things were left open and probably enough to write another book.

This is a great book to read when you want something light, funny and quirky. There is also a Christian message, but it's not overly stated or preachy. It's how people live out their lives in spite of their crazy circumstances!

What could be worse than a two headed huge snake loose in a small town? Try overzealous publicists, pregnant women who don't want to be pregnant, two men in love with the same women, a sleepwalker, a town play in shambles...and that's just the beginning! Wolf wants to start writing again but is looking to show his faith in his books while his publicists gets a little crazy trying to figure out what exactly Christian fiction is. Ainsley wishes she was pregnant but instead has to put up with reluctantly clueless pregnant Melb. Did I also mention there's a huge two headed snake loose in town?

This is one of the few books where I have laughed, cringed, shrieked, gagged, got disgusted, frustrated and thoroughly enjoyed while reading. Yes it is possible to have every single one of these emotions while reading this book. After all this series has been called "Mitford on steroids." I was again worried that since I hadn't read the second book in the series I'd be lost. But not to fear, the story is crazy and funny that you don't feel like you missed out on anything at all. The story is all over the place with many different characters but don't worry everything is connected. While I love most of the characters especially Wolf and Ainsley, I cannot stand Melb. I feel really sorry for Ainsley because of what she has to put up with. I'm sorry, but if I was in her position, I would have lost it. Melb's character just drove me up the wall. Other than that, I really enjoyed the story. If you have a snake phobia, I would suggest not reading this book. The description of a two headed snake make me feel icky all over. I grimace to this day. I also like how the portrayal of the outside world's image of Christian fiction is. Very funny and somewhat sad at the same time. The way this book is written, it's definately not your grandmother's Christian fiction. Highly recommended for hard to put down reading.

Though everyone relishes the sudden appearance of a gourmet coffee shop, the residents of Skary, Illinois are in an uproar when they wake up to find a brand new soccer complex constructed overnight in a vacant lot. However, the townsfolk go berserker when teenager Dustin tells everyone at a meeting that his two headed Boa has escaped. He insists that they are harmless if fed right, but be careful especially with the assertive Bob; Fred is a pacificist in comparison.

As the locals panic seeing snakes everywhere, a pet shop owner explains that Boas eat once a week not everyday although Dustin fed his two snakes with one stomach daily. In other words the serpent is a feeding machine that will soon run out of rodents to dine on even as the people have personal problems to contend with that has nothing to do with sharing a meal with a snake.

The latest Boo tale will thrill readers of the series as everything seems out of control except that the aide of Mayor Wallisworth Martin Blarney knows what is going on. He nervously asks community theater advocate Lois on a date while the sheriff turns jealous. Though the story line seems too serpentine at times, fans will appreciate the eccentric often screwball antics of the residents.

Harriet Klausner

BOO HISS by Rene Gutteridge is the third in the series and my favorite. I don't know how she does it, but Gutteridge turns a 300-page ensemble comedy into a real page turner.

All the characters are back from the first two books (you should probably read those first). The simple plot consists of town panic over a two headed pet snake getting loose and a new couple moving into town bringing unwanted changes. This is all the setup needed to turn the wacky characters loose and let them be themselves.

The silly scenarios don't seem contrived, but instead are believable because they seem to be how each character would really react. This book also shines in the sections where Boone's agent goes to a Christian writer's conference, and where the entire town tries to put on a play.

Comedy isn't normally a genre I read, but this book is a lot of fun, and I recommend the entire series.

I've been a fan of the entire "Boo" series. I think the idea of a horror novelist turning Christian is absolutely brilliant. The characters in the series are so likeable - and quirky. But I think my favorite thing about the books is Rene's sense of humor. And it's out in full form in "Boo Hiss." She has a two-headed boa constrictor lose in town this time, creating panic amongst Skary's residents. She sets up some scenes that are totally hilarious. This is one of the few books I own that makes me laugh out loud. Keep 'em coming, Rene!

OK OK! I admit, I did enjoy this final installment of what started out as simply, "BOO". I just hate to see something so good like this end so quickly. Being a fan of this, I really had a problem with seeing so little of my favorite character... Thief! In the first 2 books, Thief always cracked me up. I saw more of Goose and Bunny than I did of my favorite cat. Hey, I'm sorry, but he absolutely made me HOWL, and my name really IS Wolfe, so that's saying something, amen?! In this one, you get a glimpse of him, and then his name comes up once or twice. Oh well. This was STILL worth the time well spent.

So what's going on in Skary this time? New lady, with possible new plans for the church? Melb gets pregnant and Ainsley doesn't. And on top of that, there is a 2 headed snake on the loose, and a 19 year old boy wants him back. And what's up with the Sheriff? The sucker's in LOVE!!! But somebody else is in love too, and Sheriff Parker is gonna have himself some competition. And what're Wolfe and Butch up to these days? You'll have to find that one out yourself.

I figured that with all that stuff going on, that this would have made a grand finale. But at times it got silly enough to the point that it resembled a soap opera. It got on my nerves a couple of times, but it was still acceptable. Ok, it was a good read! But still love my Skary, and I still say BOO HISS to an ending like this. It just gives me an excuse to find more by Rene Gutteridge and find her other talent!