cover image The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man

The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man

W. Bruce Cameron. Forge, $24.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-7653-7748-7

This offbeat and engaging mystery from humor writer Cameron (8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter) introduces Ruddy McCann, a repo man in Kalkaska, Mich., who's also a bouncer and bartender at the Black Bear Bar, the family business run by his sister Becky. Repossessing autos is often difficult and dangerous (and sometimes very funny) and can cause what is called "Repo Madness." Ruddy thinks that may be happening to him when Alan Lottner, a former real estate agent, takes up residence in his body. Alan finds his new place of residence as confusing to him as it is to Ruddy. Kalkaska is full of odd characters, including Claude and Wilma Wolfinger, a battling couple with unlikely get-rich schemes; handsome, gullible Jimmy Growe; and Kermit Kramer, Becky's improbable suitor who spouts malapropisms. In his attempts to help Alan, Ruddy gets involved in an awkward romance, crosses paths with some greedy bad guys, and puts his life at risk. Readers will look forward to more of Ruddy's good-hearted efforts to protect those he loves in the promised sequel. Agent: Scott Miller, Trident Media. (Oct.)