Customer Reviews

Shoofly Pie (Bug Man Series #1)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shoofly Pie is a very enjoyable book. Set in rural Holcomb County, North Carolina, where Nick Polchak expects to keep himself out of trouble, the novel sets up nothing but for our hero and his client, Kathryn Guilford. With an ever-increasing body count and bugs swarming everywhere, Polchak and Guilford must find a way to expose a killer before they wind up as just so much Shoofly Pie, themselves.

The pacing of the novel is fast and the dialogue is frequently funny yet still believable. The scientific elements are presented convincingly without weighing down the story with technical details - how accurate they are, I don't know, but it all sounds pretty plausible when you're reading along. Downs runs into some trouble keeping his POVs fixed; when telling things from Kathryn's perspective, for instance, he will often use technical insect names or forensic jargon she herself wouldn't know. Sometimes he'll include a description of something down a hallway that the POV character couldn't see. Minor points, but they keep the book from getting a five-star rating.

Very little Christianity gets presented in the book; it's limited primarily to the presence of an elderly preacher who conducts a couple funerals. He's treated sympathetically (an exception from the way a secular book would likely portray him), but he never preaches a sermon of Christ-oriented salvation (an exception from most evangelical novels). The net result is a message that Christians are okay folks, no need to run and hide when they come around. There's little in the book to offend - no sex, no swearing and "on-screen" violence is limited to a couple fistfights - but Downs doesn't go to the Pollyanna extreme, either.

If you're a fan of any of the CSI programs on television, you'll likely enjoy Shoofly Pie. A few scenes carry descriptions as gooshy as the graphic CSI animations, so if those creep you out - or if you're insectophobic - you might want to give this novel a pass. Otherwise, get ready for an experience unlike anything you've had before. Shoofly Pie is well-worth reading.

With a quirky title and an edgy cover, this book snagged my eye. Twenty pages into it, you know that this mystery is far different than anything else in the Christian fiction market...maggots in a cadaver's eyesockets, bugs crawling everywhere, and lead characters that make you squirm and laugh in the same paragraph. Yeah, this book is its own new species.

I loved every minute. I looked forward to each new chapter. The mystery itself is handled well, particularly in its inclusion of entomology (study of bugs...oooh). The main surprises don't come from the mystery, so much as from the characters themselves. These people think and do things that don't always make sense--kind of like real people! You can't help but love (or despise) the people herein. The Bug Man, in particular, is one of the more colorful leads I've come across in a while.

Read this book if you love a twisting, and twisted, tale. Read it if you like imperfect yet likeable characters, with hints of romance on the side. Don't come expecting a spiritual hammer to hit you over the head--there's no preaching here. But if you believe that God works in subtle ways to change people from within, you'll get the point.

Oh. And watch out for the end, it's got quite a bite. Or should I say, sting?

I would not normally read a book about "bugs" ... but being familiar with Tim Down's communication gifts, I just had to read it. I picked it up to read while I was on vacation this past week-end and once I began, I couldn't put it down ... I even stood at the kitchen counter and read while I was waiting for my bread to toast at breakfast ... lunch ... and dinner. It had that kind of "holding power."

The writing is clever, intelligent, humorous, and suspenseful and the words are so visual that the whole time I was reading I was picturing the book as I would a movie. This would be a great novel to adapt for the Silver Screen. Definitely in the same league with Grisham.

As a result of reading "Shoofly Pie," I am not as freaked out by bees ... not as fond of macaroni and cheese ... and already looking forward to the next "bug man" mystery(smile)!!!

I do have to say that this is one of the most original books I've read in a long time! This was hilarious in spots where you shouldn't even be MAKING jokes, but they still came off as funny and at times I'd sit there and say aloud, "GEEZ!" and almost start rolling on the floor! I have to say one thing... Tim Downs should have started writing fiction a long time ago, because this book was long overdue! This book was fun, funny, sarcastic, suspensful and just plain enjoyable.

Dr. Nick Polchak, (almost sounds like pole cat!) is the bug man! Or, to be literally correct like Nick would be, he is a forensic entomologist, an investigator who studies dead bodies after the bugs start to get to inhabit the body. Here he investigates an apparent suicide. Kathryn Guilford, friend of the victim is not convinced that it is a suicide and feels that there are details being overlooked. The authorities declare it a suicide, but as Nick gets involved, things come to light slowly but surely. This book has a really good twist, with an even better plot. It also has a message in it, without being preachy.

But I'll say this. If you want something different, get this. It isn't just an interesting looking cover, it is a very entertaining read that keeps the pages turning!

Shoofly Pie is one heck of a ride. It's like a twisted CSI TV show with one liners that make you think Jerry Bruckheimer should pick up the movie. I could see David Duchovny playing the main character.

Basic plot is about this guy named Nick Polchak who they call "The Bug Man" because the guy basically knows more about bugs than anyone. It is almost as if he knows what they are thinking and can hear them talking.

Packed with action and some thought-provoking clues and evidence which is mind boggling at times, Shoofly Pie is the latest book to hit my top ten list. The last one was Tim Brown's DaVinci Code if that tells you anything.

If for no other reason, get the book cause it's got one of the coolest book covers out there.

This was an excellent, and well-written first novel featuring the "Bug Man", a forensic entomologist who knows his field, corpses and all. This book had some very serious comical moments- the bug man is down right hysterical with snappy comebacks, and quick wit! But, he has trouble dealing with the human "species". I really hope to see many more bug man novels- I can't wait for the next one! This was one of those books you just don't want to see end.

I highly recommend this book to every mystery lover out there who is interested in forensics, and won't mind the sometimes graphic detail of what those critters do to our bodies once we pass on!

I have read every Grisham novel and loved them all...however, not since The Firm have i enjoyed a book this much...absolutely excellent read...

While no one describes a tomato patch quite like Grisham, no one describes necrophilic-feasting insects chowing down on a decomposing body quite like Downs. I picked this novel up in the bargain bin at my local Kroger store for about $8 and it's probably the best $8 I've ever spent. I was pleasantly surprised with the deft at which Downs crafted this mystery/thriller since it was his first fiction novel. I knew nothing about Downs when I picked it up. But once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I went straight from it to Chop Shop and now have Plague Maker on pre order. Every bit as compelling as Grisham's early work and paced very much like a Dan Brown novel but unnoticeably void of any sex or foul language. I say unnoticeably because it absolutely does not detract from the suspense in any way and makes it a great novel to share with your teen reader.

FIRST OF ALL, I CAN'T BELIEVE OTHER REVIEWERS GIVING THIS ANYTHING LESS THAN 5 STARS. THIS BOOK IS BETTER THAN CSI & TIM DOWNS' SENSE OF HUMOR IS HILARIOUS. I DON'T READ BOOKS TWICE, BUT THIS IS DEFINATELY ONE I'M KEEPING TO READ AGAIN. BE SURE AND READ CHOP SHOP TOO...HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE TO COME.

A hillarious page turner, full of extraordinary detail, believable characters, and masterful writing.