Title: The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man
Author: W. Bruce Cameron
First published September 30, 2014
336 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780765377487 (ISBN10: 0765377489)
Rating: 4.01
Overview
Ruddy McCann is not the kind of guy you want to cross, especially now that he’s Kalkaska’s full-time repo man and part-time bouncer. With his trusty Basset hound by his side, Ruddy is content with his simple life of stealing cars.
That is, until he starts hearing a voice in his head. The voice claims to be a dead realtor named Alan Lottner and he is demanding that Ruddy find his murderers.
Ruddy isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind or if Alan is real, but one thing is for certain: he needs to stay out of trouble. However, trouble seems to find Ruddy when he falls for the girl Alan claims to have loved.
With a town full of quirky characters, a murder mystery, and a lazy but loyal dog, The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man is a hilarious and suspenseful novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
About the Author
Dogs have always held a special place in my heart. I mean, who doesn’t love an animal that will wait for you all day and greet you with unbridled joy when you finally arrive home?
And let’s not forget about the way they sense when we’re feeling down and try to cheer us up with a soggy tennis ball.
I remember the day my dad brought home a 9-week-old Labrador puppy named Cammie. I was playing in the backyard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, and as soon as I saw her, I fell to my knees and opened my arms.
She ran straight into them, and it was love at first sight. That moment is forever etched in my memory and even appears in my book, A Dog’s Purpose.
Cammie was with me through all the ups and downs of my childhood, and losing her was like losing a piece of myself. But years later, while I was out riding my bike, I heard a dog bark and stopped to investigate.
There was a black lab mix on a chain near a house, and when she looked at me, it was like she was seeing right into my soul. For a moment, I wondered if she could be Cammie, back from the other side.
That experience inspired me to write A Dog’s Purpose, the most important thing I’ve ever written. I can’t guarantee that it will make you love your dog more (how could you love them more than you already do?), but I can promise that it will change the way you look at them forever.
Editoral Review
In “The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man,” W. Bruce Cameron takes readers on a thrilling adventure through the eyes of Ruddy McCann, a former college football star turned repo man.
Cameron is an accomplished author known for his heartwarming stories about dogs, but with “The Midnight Plan,” he shows he’s just as talented at crafting an action-packed mystery. The novel opens with Ruddy waking up in the back of a truck with a deer’s carcass beside him and no memory of what happened.
As he tries to piece together the events of the night before, he discovers he can hear the thoughts of a recently murdered woman who’s haunting him. With the help of his best friend, a basset hound named Jake, and a cast of eccentric characters, Ruddy must navigate through a web of deceit and danger to solve the murder and clear his name.
Cameron’s writing style is fast-paced and energetic, and he does an excellent job at keeping readers on the edge of their seats. He has a knack for creating memorable characters, from Jake the basset hound with a talent for tracking to Ruddy’s ex-girlfriend Katie, who adds some romance to the story.
The small-town setting of Kalkaska, Michigan, is also well-done, with vivid and realistic descriptions that add depth to the story. One of the strengths of “The Midnight Plan” is Cameron’s ability to blend humor with suspense.
The banter between Ruddy and Jake is a constant source of comic relief, but it never detracts from the gravity of the situation. Cameron also subtly touches on themes of redemption and forgiveness, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some of the supporting characters could have used a bit more development, and the ending felt a bit rushed and convenient.
Additionally, while the premise of Ruddy having the ability to hear dead people’s thoughts is intriguing, the execution of this supernatural element feels a bit underwhelming. Despite these shortcomings, “The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man” is a fun and entertaining read.
Fans of mystery and suspense will appreciate Cameron’s clever twists and turns, while dog lovers will delight in the central role of Jake the basset hound. Overall, the novel is a strong addition to the genre and a testament to Cameron’s versatility as a writer.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars