Rating: 
Summary: You Never Marry the First Person You Watch Casablanca With
Review: "Spanking Watson" is Kinky's eleventh book, and was first published in 1999. As with his other books, Kinky has cast himself as the amateur-PI hero, while some of the other characters have been based on actual friends. As with real-life, the book's Kinky is a cigar-smoking, cat-loving, espresso-guzzling, whiskey-drinking, ex-country and western performer. He shares his loft on Vandam Street with his cat - who he occasionally leaves in charge. Conversations between Kinky and the cat tend to be somewhat one-sided, while the cat consistently refuses to answer the telephone.
Winnie Katz still lives upstairs, and continues to run her lesbian dance classes. While this has never caused Kinky any serious problem before, it's been the cause of a slight inconvenience now : the constant pounding on Winnie's floor has left a rather large hole in the Kinkster's roof. Rambam, a genuine PI and Village Irregular, has arranged for two repairmen to help out - Vinnie and Gepetto, known "associates" of Joe the Hyena. Kinky had received his espresso machine several years earlier from Joe, a token of thanks for rescuing his daughter from a mugger. Vinnie and Gepetto, admiring the machine, tell Kinky there's only one problem : Joe doesn't have a daughter. Obviously, Kinky's curious - but Joe is, of course, the sort of Italian "businessman" you don't get curious about.
On a lonely Friday night, in an anger encouraged by several generous helpings of Jameson's Whiskey, Kinky writes a series of threatening letters to Winnie - never, of course,with any intention of delivering them, never mind acting on them. When Ratso catches sight of them the next day, Kinky decides to put them to good use. He would provide each of the Village Irregulars with a copy of a note, and ask for their help - while asking them to keep their investigations secret from the other members of the gang. The Irregular who successfully solved the "case" would officially become "Watson" to Kinky's "Sherlock". Of course, this plan would have the added bonus of disrupting not only Winnie's life and dance classes.
"Spanking Watson" has much in common with the other books by Kinky I've read. Not an entirely serious 'whodunit', it is a fast moving and easily read book. The story, I felt, is much better than his earlier books, and he still delivers his one-liners. While his quips won't be to everyone's tastes, it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating: 
Summary: Thud!....
Review: .....That reflects both the dramatic letdown I felt reading this after hearing so much praise for this series, as well as the general blandness of this novel. (The weakest of the three I have read)"Zany for people who don't like things too zany" would be my description of this series. I've read review after review about how offbeat and wacky this stuff is, but truly I don't know what they see. Though the characters and style are of a much more colorful effort than most mainstream books, it is FAR from being truly twisted or "out there". It's pretty tame really. To put it to an easy example, it's like expecting "Seinfeld" and getting the bubblegum "Friends". (No, this series is no where as bad as that show, but you get my point) Check out Joe R. Lansdales mystery stories (Mucho Mojo, Two Bear Mambo, etc.) to get real offbeat style. Honestly, not a bad series overall if you don't expect to much from the hype. Read the earlier stuff though, as even Kinky die-hards will tell you "Spanking Watson" isn't up to par.
Rating:
Summary: Thud!....
Review: .....That reflects both the dramatic letdown I felt reading this after hearing so much praise for this series, as well as the general blandness of this novel. (The weakest of the three I have read) "Zany for people who don't like things too zany" would be my description of this series. I've read review after review about how offbeat and wacky this stuff is, but truly I don't know what they see. Though the characters and style are of a much more colorful effort than most mainstream books, it is FAR from being truly twisted or "out there". It's pretty tame really. To put it to an easy example, it's like expecting "Seinfeld" and getting the bubblegum "Friends". (No, this series is no where as bad as that show, but you get my point) Check out Joe R. Lansdales mystery stories (Mucho Mojo, Two Bear Mambo, etc.) to get real offbeat style. Honestly, not a bad series overall if you don't expect to much from the hype. Read the earlier stuff though, as even Kinky die-hards will tell you "Spanking Watson" isn't up to par.
Rating:
Summary: The Kinkstah's back!
Review: A great read! The Kinkstah's back in great form. The plot is good, the humor is great and it is fun to read. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Let down; not as good
Review: Again Friedman writes in a strange and unique voice. Again, as with Parker's Spenser, the plot is subordinate to the characters' interactions and, more importantly here, the voice of the narrator. The plot is slight: Kinky decides to harass the lesbian dance instructor upstairs and, simultaneously, tries to find out about a woman whose life he once saved ~ and wouldn't you know it, she's right upstairs. Curiously, i found this less satisfying than the previous Friedman i've read. I began to find the characters blurring before mine eyes until, at one point, i couldn't tell McGovern from Brennan ~ and discovered i didn't really care. Not a disaster; not even a waste of time; but i no longer have that wonderful feeling that i *will* read the next Friedman i come across.
Rating:
Summary: Friedman at his Kinky best
Review: Fast-talkin, cigar-chewin', shot-killing adventures as only the Kinkstah knows how. Just like Blast From The Past, this is Kinky playing to his strengths. Funny, strange, and about as irreverant as you can get. Made me hoot with laughter (not a lot of spanking, though).
Rating:
Summary: An Acquired Taste
Review: I am a mystery author with my first novel in current release, and as I tour in support of that release, mystery reading groups often refer to Kinky Friedman's work as an acquired taste. It may be, but his novels are also extremely fun take-offs on the mystery genre. SPANKING WATSON is a perfect example of a mature Friedman masterpiece. Its plot is a pure invention--Kinky wants a Watson and he manipulates a situation to force each of his Irregulars into auditioning for the role. The invented situation becomes threateningly real, but that danger doesn't stop Kinky or his hangers-on from going through their usual motions. SPANKING WATSON has everything one expects in a Kinky Friedman, for better and for worse. I'm not Nixoning you.
Rating:
Summary: An Acquired Taste
Review: I am a mystery author with my first novel in current release, and as I tour in support of that release, mystery reading groups often refer to Kinky Friedman's work as an acquired taste. It may be, but his novels are also extremely fun take-offs on the mystery genre. SPANKING WATSON is a perfect example of a mature Friedman masterpiece. Its plot is a pure invention--Kinky wants a Watson and he manipulates a situation to force each of his Irregulars into auditioning for the role. The invented situation becomes threateningly real, but that danger doesn't stop Kinky or his hangers-on from going through their usual motions. SPANKING WATSON has everything one expects in a Kinky Friedman, for better and for worse. I'm not Nixoning you.
Rating:
Summary: Not one of Kinky's best
Review: I approach anything written by Kinky Friedman with some caution. His prose, while addictive, may also be mind-altering. After all, anyone who goes to the bathroom after a big meal and takes a Nixon can't be all bad. The problem with this novel, however, is that the Kinkstah was repeating himself. Yeah, we know he has a good looking neighbor for whom he lusts. Yeah, we know he has a lesbian dance class in the apartment above his. Yeah, we know that a cigar half-smoked and then placed in his vest to age gets gamier, and we even know how he went about lighting it, because every time he lights up, he tells us exactly how it's done. Which doesn't take anything away from him. Kinky's novels are always entertaining and readable, often ribald, and rarely dull. Except for 'Spanking Watson'. I had to push myself to finish it. I didn't care about Kinky's ceiling, or the fact that his ethnic handymen talked him into a fireplace. I didn't really care that his upstairs neighbor was in jeopardy, which she really wasn't--at least, not at first--because Kinky had written the threatening note after downing too many Jameson's. Would I recommend the novel to a friend? Sure, providing he or she was a committed Kinky fan. For a new reader, however, this novel would not be a good place to start. There are lots of places in 'Spanking Watson' where it's too easy to put the book down and not pick it up again. Would I buy the next Kinky novel? Of course I would because I'm a committed fan. I just hope that our amateur sleuth gets back to the kind of amusing capers we've seen in his earlier works.
Rating:
Summary: Not one of Kinky's best
Review: I approach anything written by Kinky Friedman with some caution. His prose, while addictive, may also be mind-altering. After all, anyone who goes to the bathroom after a big meal and takes a Nixon can't be all bad. The problem with this novel, however, is that the Kinkstah was repeating himself. Yeah, we know he has a good looking neighbor for whom he lusts. Yeah, we know he has a lesbian dance class in the apartment above his. Yeah, we know that a cigar half-smoked and then placed in his vest to age gets gamier, and we even know how he went about lighting it, because every time he lights up, he tells us exactly how it's done. Which doesn't take anything away from him. Kinky's novels are always entertaining and readable, often ribald, and rarely dull. Except for 'Spanking Watson'. I had to push myself to finish it. I didn't care about Kinky's ceiling, or the fact that his ethnic handymen talked him into a fireplace. I didn't really care that his upstairs neighbor was in jeopardy, which she really wasn't--at least, not at first--because Kinky had written the threatening note after downing too many Jameson's. Would I recommend the novel to a friend? Sure, providing he or she was a committed Kinky fan. For a new reader, however, this novel would not be a good place to start. There are lots of places in 'Spanking Watson' where it's too easy to put the book down and not pick it up again. Would I buy the next Kinky novel? Of course I would because I'm a committed fan. I just hope that our amateur sleuth gets back to the kind of amusing capers we've seen in his earlier works.
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