Customer Reviews

Who in Hell Is Wanda Fuca?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I realize this is more of a "me-too" review than any particularly earthshattering revelation about the plot or the author, but as I sit here laughing just thinking about the story, all I can say is "me too"! From Ford's name to his characters (and you'll HAVE to smile when you discover Wanda!), his books are just FUN -- yes, drama, intrigue, suspense, but there's this undercurrent of a man who most of us probably would love to be at least at some point in our lives. In any case, while it's not a great masterstroke of literature, if you're looking for some entertainment for your reading time and money, pick up Wanda. You won't be sorry! :D

I always said I was a Ford person, and I'll forgive G.M. Ford his conflicting name since his writing is some of the best I've seen wash in over the transom in several years. Leo Waterman is a refreshingly original detective who just about everyone with a firm grip on reality can relate to.

When an old disreputable friend of Leo's father makes a request of him that he "can't refuse," Leo delves into the sometimes fanatical realm of environmental politics in search of Caroline Nobel, a spoiled little rich brat without a lick of sense bent on changing the world. With the help of "the Boys" -- a group of aging winos who are his modern day "Baker Street Irregulars" -- Leo fights Native American tribal politics, industrial polution, and psychotic grannies to fulfill his obligation to a friend.

Ford's writing is entertaining, page-turning excitement, with humor and spice sprinkled throughout. If you don't chuckle, you're brain-dead. His writing is vaguely reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen's tongue-in-cheek humor.

And yes, you do find out who Wanda Fuca is.

A wisecracking P.I. is hired by a Mafia don to ride herd on his beautiful nymphomaniac niece (or great niece) who is mixed up with a not so swift bunch of environmental terrorists. Murders by unknown persons occur. What's not to like about this plot line. The writing has an upbeat humorous tone. When describing the possibility of a drive-by shootin in a wealthy neighborhood, Waterman says "The only way there could be a drive by shooing in that neighborhood is if they used a Mercedes seeking cruise missle." On the constant rain in Seattle-"living in Seattle is like being married to a beautiful woman who is always sick.

Although tempted by two beautiful women who propostion him, the hero retains his virtue. (Note to author:this is fiction you will not get an STD.) The description of the environmental convention is humorous-one bumper sticker-"Pregnancy is a sexually transmitted disease."

Waterman uses a group of former upper middle class now alcoholics to do his surveillance. Kind of the Baker Street irregulars but older and drunker. About the fifth time he has a problem with their drinking on the job I wanted to scream-Duh-what do you expect when you hire boozers. However, all in all, a fun read.

Leo Waterman and his cast of misfit street operatives are a riot. This is one of those mysteries that you can't put down for two reasons. First, the plot and mystery are intriguing. Second, you can't wait for the next bit of mayhem from the group of misfits Leo uses as his backup gang of assistants. The characters are well-drawn and the action is tense. You can't go wrong with this book.

(Listen to yourself say it aloud, with your eyes closed.)

A private eye, his Baker-street Irregulars of elderly alcoholic leg-men, a semi-retired Maffiosa, his addled ultra-ecological grand-daughter, and prose you'll call up your friends to read aloud -- if you can stop laughing long enough. It's also a great mystery.

A little heavy on the "green" issues mid-book, but satisfying over all.

Well worth your time.

This was a moderately amusing first novel by G.M. Ford. It was entertaining and fast paced, but it felt a little too much like a "made for TV" movie. There are some funny scenes, but I thought a lot of it was just silly.

You will get a pretty good sense of Seattle and suburbs, and Waterman is an interesting PI. But there isn't enough here to have me rush out and get the next in the series. There is too much better stuff out there. I recommend this only if you are an avid reader of the "hard-boiled PI" genre.

I have just finished reading the whole Leo Waterman series (as of 2003) and must say I enjoyed it greatly. "Wanda Fuca" is a great beginning to a great series.

Having been born and raised in Seattle, but now living in Alaska, I did enjoy follwing the geography as PI Leo Waterman scoots around the Puget Sound region, sort of a nostalgic "old home week", but that was not what held my attention.

What for me sets this book apart from the rest of the "hard boiled PI" genre are the characters that Ford gives us. The are fresh, memorable and we care about them. It would be easy to make Leo's "domestically challenged" team of drunks mere two-dimensional throw-aways, but Ford fleshes them out with humor, without being condescending, and a complexity that I had never considered for "bums". These are multi-leveled people with stories behind them. I found I really same to like "The Boys" and their addition as Waterman's helpers is one of the most compelling aspects to this novel, and to the series as a whole.

If Ford's characters caught my attention, his writing style helped keep it. His action scenes are beleivable; his descriptions are terse, but evocative; and there is a self-depretiation that flows from Ford through Leo Waterman that I found both refreshing as well as compelling.

Great start, then it lapses into an average run of the mill novel with an unusual PI with unbelievable support characters. Certainly not a thriller.

A suicide jumper who lost a custody battle is 14 floors up ready to jump. Leo Waterman private Investigator tries to talk him in.

"Leave me alone" Thomas Grear screams
Leo Waterman says "Come on Grear you don't want to do this. This is no way for your son to remember his dad. Come on in here"
Monica Grear the wife was brought in to help talk him inside.
She leans out the window and yells
"Jump you dumb F*** Go ahead you F***. Jump.
You haven't got the balls, you never had any balls,
go ahead jump you wimp. I got you insured to the teeth"
Leo Waterman barrells into the room not hearing what else she yelled at her husband on the ledge. Leo put his hand over Monicas mouth and lifted her completely off the ground. She struggled and kicked her legs madly. She bit him, he yanked his hand away
"Jump you son of a bit**" she bellowed before he could cover her mouth again. He yarder her into the hall and kicked the door shut.

The beginning of this story was so fast and gripping it was incredible. Other authors should listen to the 1st half CD (20 pages) Wow Wow Wow. I'm so sick of books that after 100 pages they are still not interesting. This teaches other authors how to grab us readers and we are won over instantly.

Mafia head man hires Leo Waterman to find his nymhomanic niece. The action scenes are very believable and the story complelling. I love the group of street alcoholic misfits he uses as his back up to do surveillance.

I'm not a big fan of PI (private investigator) mysteries in general, but this one is definitely worth picking up even if you are a police procedural or cozy mystery reader. G. M. Ford is very good at describing the Seattle setting and Leo Waterman, the main character, is one I definitely want to reach more about.

This book reminds me of of John D. MacDonald's books. If you like Travis McGee, you might want to try Leo Waterman.