Discussion » Book identification

This is a read-only copy. The forum ran on iamcal.com from 2000 until its database was lost in 2016, and this topic was rebuilt from copies saved by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Some replies may be missing, and its dates are approximate.
Posted by Brock, around August 2005:
 
Ok. This may be a tough one for you:

I read a book about 3 years ago. I liked it, and the writer was very good and funny. I cannot for the life of me remember his bloody name, though, so I will try and describe the plot (and hope I am not amalgamating several books from my past readings) and see if we can identify him. I want to buy more of his stuff, see. This is more of a brainstorming list of things that leap out at me from my memory, rather than demonstrating any graduated relevance to the plot.

American (author, I think, and story based there)
Book were based in modern times (1980 conceivably, but seem to remember being more current than that)
Comedy/Fiction
Quite an off the wall comedy style
Book was from the point of view of a bloke (private investigator I think but this may be a red herring)
It had something to do with a weird Mid West or deep South style american town.
A woman wins a shit load on the Lottery
She has terrapins that she keeps in a paddling pool on her front lawn.
There is some mention of snakes in cages too.
There was a bloke who lived in a trailer out in the woods. Him having a gun was pertinent to the story.
They lead bloke and the chick with the ticket ended up on a boat and going to one of those swampy places with lots of little islands. I seem to remember them getting caught by the 'baddies', but escaping and leaving them stuck on an island with mud all around it.

I will stop there, as I am a bit concerned I am mixing more than one book (possibly by the same bloke) and confusing the issue.

I seem to remember "Jack" being important, but I'm not sure if that is because it is the lead character, or the Author.

Help?
Posted by Govan, around 5th August 2005:
 
Lucky you by Carl Haaisen. I claim my finders fee!
Posted by Brock, around 5th August 2005:
 
Fucking superb.

Well done! And in only two hours. Impressive.
Posted by Govan, around 5th August 2005:
 
All that, and I do a superb Sean Connery impression.
Posted by Brock, around 5th August 2005:
 
"Tennish? But I don't have a racquet!"
Posted by ellipse, around 6th August 2005:
 
damm i knew that in a second
you pip me at the post again grim
Posted by Saltation_DUPE1, around 7th August 2005:
 
govan = grim ?
Posted by Govan, around 7th August 2005:
 
No, quite cheery actually. :-p
Posted by perclissigi, around 7th August 2005:
 
Jamesh Bondddd?
Posted by Saltation_DUPE1, around 7th August 2005:
 
No, quite cheery. DO try to keep up there, perclissigissigi old boy
Posted by ellipse, around 7th August 2005:
 
durrrr silly me
how unusal, not
Posted by Alfie_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
I totally missed this convo at the time but I knew it too.

Damn.
Posted by Saltation_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
score: 1
time bonus: 500...£(&^$$£$@$%$$@...0
Posted by Alfie_DUPE1, around December 2005:
 
:D