I read (listened to) the audiobook version for this entire series. I believe this added to my enjoyment, because I liked the narrator's accent. It was a very personable, homey, southern accent that fit in well with the story.

The story was fairly interesting, but I think it's more a vehicle for the humor, sort of like the Douglas Adams books. I loved some of the terms he used to describe various people and places. Some of the reviewers seemed to miss the point with the humor, and commented on the story being boring, or the characters doing dumb things. I suggest they try to obtain a sense of humor, and don't take everything so seriously. Absent that, they need to be more careful about what they read. ( )

Contrived plot requires implausible actions from undistinguished characters.
Not a great start to a series. I chose this book partly for the setting, but aside from a coal mine, there was nothing to give it a West Virginia sense of place. ( )

http://bactra.org/weblog/algae-2012-02.html#contrary ( )

Okay, it's filled with stereotypes - hillbillies, moonshine, less than smart individuals, revenue runners, etc. but it was still fun!

Contrary, West Virginia has been receiving a federal grant for 4 years for buses to run in their town, but this year when the DOT sends an auditor he ends up dead. Well, the audit has to be finished so DOT sends another - Owen Allison - to Contrary to finish up and he ends up un the middle of a can of worms that nearly gets him killed too.

The problem is just a small error on the request changing 2 buses to 20 buses and the DOT didn't notice so they been sending $500,000 a year. Well, the town of Contrary didn't want to live up to its name so they kept the extra funds and used them for other things. Trouble comes when a "disabled" veteran wants a bus ride to his "job" of guarding the local still.

Well, you can see how this is filled with the stereotypes but they are woven in so humorously, you just keep going with a smile on your face.

An absolutely entertaining read - and perfect for my West Virginia state visit! ( )

As an adopted West Virginian, the typecasting was outright offensive and cheap. ( )