Garth returns to his residence in New York City which he shares with his live-in Angie, who creates original jewelry. Now that he’s seen Pipsqueak he cannot abandon the search. He enlists the assistance of a number of his oddball friends, including Otto, a Russian expatriate who sometimes lives with Garth and Angie. When his long-absent brother, Nicholas Palihnic, turns up, Nicky also becomes involved.

But things don’t go as planned. What seemed to be a simple search for a missing puppet turns out to have world domination implications.

Pipsqueak is either intended to be a comedy disguised as a mystery or vice versa. The humor, however, often falls flat. What might work for The General Buster Show generation is often more stupid than funny. The few occasions where it does work (magicians Glenn and Keller save the day) are few and far between.

This is one of those books with pithy comments on the cover and even more on the pages ahead of the title page intended to lure prospective readers. You know the type: “A real pageturner!” (Does that mean I don’t have to use my fingers?) “A rising star!” “Dazzling!” I never pay any attention to them because I often disagree. I’ve got to wonder if all those blurbs aren’t there to convince me subliminally that it’s my fault if I don’t like the book because these big names do.

Two of the blurbs on the cover of Pipsqueak are by Harlan Coben and Steve Hamilton, both authors whose books I’ve enjoyed. I am, however not confident that you can place much value on their remarks. They both write dark, harrowing suspense novels. Having them comment on Pipsqueak is somewhat analogous to asking a member of a barbershop quartet to give his opinion on Italian opera. It may fall into the same broad category, but it’s not in the same concert hall. Now a quote from a writer at MAD magazine ... well, maybe.

Pipsqueak is just plain wacky. The characters are off the wall. The premise is unbelievable and goes downhill from there. The plot is thrown together like mud on a wall – some of it sticks but a lot flops to the floor. I’ve giving it 3 Stars because for what it is - wacky and off the wall –“acceptable” may describe it. But if you’re looking for a gripping mystery that sucks you in and won’t let go until the final page, you’ll think twice before picking up Pipsqueak..

--Lesley Lawrence