Murder at Cleaver Stadium: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: very enjoyable
Review: Although I figured out "whodunnit" , I found this book very entertaining . This book , the author's first mystery , whets my appetite for more ! Eagerly awaiting the sequel .

Rating:
Summary: An exciting, yet funny find that shouldn't be passed over!
Review: It's amazing to find that so few people have heard of Douglas Lee Gibboney and this book, MURDER AT CLEAVER STADIUM. He and this book rank up there with the best of the contemporary suspense authors, yet he's a dark humorist as well.

To describe it as just a murder mystery does not do it justice, as this novel is also very funny in places where one would least expect it. It's one of those books that was obviously fun to write from the author's perspective - a book that's not only entertaining and witty, but one with many subtle twists and surprises.

This book is written in the first person, and on the first page the protagonist, James Peters, makes a confession. No, it's not what you would think - it's that he has never been a football fan. After some descriptions on the same page about football and a Ben State coach that will leave you laughing, this book takes off. The character descriptions are lively, real and often humorous. It will not only keep you guessing, but also just when you think you may have figured everything out, a new twist will throw you off track, and often laughing at the same time.

This is not a book that you want to pick up and open as a casual read, as after the first chapter it's difficult to put it down. Each chapter beings either a new twist of a hilarious description of a person or event that will leave you in stitches. To say that there are some surprises here is an understatement.

To add to all of this, James Peters has occasion to play the piano in the course of the plot, and of course the lyrics to the songs he plays are printed. What makes all of this even more interesting is that the author has just released a music CD entitled "Guitars, Girls & Motels." Rumor has it that some of the songs from the book are on this CD. If the music is anything like this book, then it's worth looking into.

If you have a significant other, don't try to read this book in bed. Your partner will not appreciate your waking them up repeatedly with your laughter, and you won't want to put it down. Read it because it's a good suspense novel; read it for the humor; read it because you want to find something that's refreshingly different. You won't be disappointed.

MURDER AT CLEAVER STADIUM is truly a winner, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: James Peters and his public relations firm partner, Woodrow Wilson (Woody) Cox are off on a "work" weekend of cocktail parties, college football and golf at Ben State University. After the first night of heavy drinking and arguing with his partner, James decides to skip the game (he hates football, anyway) and the golf (he doesn't play the game). He leaves Woody a message with the hotel switchboard and heads home. Come Monday morning, Woody doesn't show up for work. He's not at home and he's not at the hotel. He never checked out and his car and clothes are still there. Woody's disappearance becomes a police matter and it doesn't take them long to find his dead body. Who saw him alive, last...his partner, James Peters and now he's the number one suspect in Woody's murder. To make matters even worse, business is bad, James and his wife are separated, he wants her back and she now wants a divorce, a couple of tough guys are after him and he's not sure why and his new TV reporter girlfriend is demanding an exclusive on Woody's murder..... Douglas Lee Gibboney has written a funny, compelling, spectacular murder mystery that has it all. The writing is eloquent and crisp and Mr Gibboney has a great ear for witty and irreverent dialogue. The well paced plot and vivid scenes are full of twists, turns and surprises that keep you off balance and guessing to the very last page of the book. A book, I might add, that you'll have to finish in one sitting. Murder At Cleaver Stadium is a laugh-out-loud joy to read and it's too bad this book didn't get more press. Do yourself a favor and get hold of a copy. You won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Need a mixed star review
Review: Murder at Clever Stadium, in my opinion, rates a 5* for writing and a 3* for plot and characters. Wilson Cox and James Peters are unlikely partners. Cox who walks on the wrong side of most ethical lines disappears and finally "shows up" dead. Peters who pictures himself as a good guy seems to have all the bad stuff in life dumped on him. His wife loves him, but has left him; his partner depended on him but has embezzeled funds from the partnership, his mother probably played around leaving his parentage in question and his mentor or possibly natural father is a bookmaker. Incidental characters come and go are are faily easily killed off. His romantic interest is a shallow newswoman who wants the scoop at all costs. Who killed Wilson Cox is the big question throughout the story, but there was little intensity in the search. I am glad I finished the book, however, because the ending made up for many mundane details in the body of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Need a mixed star review
Review: Murder at Clever Stadium, in my opinion, rates a 5* for writing and a 3* for plot and characters. Wilson Cox and James Peters are unlikely partners. Cox who walks on the wrong side of most ethical lines disappears and finally "shows up" dead. Peters who pictures himself as a good guy seems to have all the bad stuff in life dumped on him. His wife loves him, but has left him; his partner depended on him but has embezzeled funds from the partnership, his mother probably played around leaving his parentage in question and his mentor or possibly natural father is a bookmaker. Incidental characters come and go are are faily easily killed off. His romantic interest is a shallow newswoman who wants the scoop at all costs. Who killed Wilson Cox is the big question throughout the story, but there was little intensity in the search. I am glad I finished the book, however, because the ending made up for many mundane details in the body of the book.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Mystery Debut!
Review: On the back cover of "Murder At Cleaver Stadium" it is stated that Mr. Gibboney is working on the sequel to this book. A publishing date of tomorrow would not be too soon for me. Without a strong recommendation this is a book I would not have picked up, but I am so very glad I did.

"Murder At Cleaver Stadium" is a superbly plotted murder mystery that captures your attention in the first chapter. James Peters is a wonderful character and I can hardly wait to see where Mr. Gibboney takes him from here. Twists and turns are subtle, mysterious and humorous. As I write this we are only in the first week of March but I have already put "Murder At Cleaver Stadium" on my "Best Of The Year" list.

If you like mysteries, do yourself a favor and pick up this book as soon as possible...you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Mystery Debut!
Review: On the back cover of "Murder At Cleaver Stadium" it is stated that Mr. Gibboney is working on the sequel to this book. A publishing date of tomorrow would not be too soon for me. Without a strong recommendation this is a book I would not have picked up, but I am so very glad I did.

"Murder At Cleaver Stadium" is a superbly plotted murder mystery that captures your attention in the first chapter. James Peters is a wonderful character and I can hardly wait to see where Mr. Gibboney takes him from here. Twists and turns are subtle, mysterious and humorous. As I write this we are only in the first week of March but I have already put "Murder At Cleaver Stadium" on my "Best Of The Year" list.

If you like mysteries, do yourself a favor and pick up this book as soon as possible...you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Great first mystery
Review: Things aren't going so well for lobbyist James Peters. First his wife leaves. Now his partner Woodrow Wilson Cox goes missing while they're at Ben State University for a weekend. They went there for a client cocktail party, football game and golf for the weekend. Now James is the police's prime suspect. An attractive TV reporter covering his partner's disappearance begins to pursue James through all of this.

James' business isn't going very well and he has unhappy mobsters to deal with, as well as a corrupt state senator. Can things get any worse? Yes, but you'll have to read the book to find out what happens and how he deals with it.

This is a great book. I enjoyed it. It has lots of twists and turns and plenty of humor as well. The author has done a great job constructing an enjoyable mystery and the characters are wonderful too. You really feel what James is going through. I hope there will be more books in this series. I recommend it.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read!
Review: What a page-turner! If you like a good mystery, then you will like this book! It's fast-paced, and I actually lost track of time and became very ingrossed in the plot. And what a plot! How could one person have so much bad luck? Curl up with this one - you won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: childe harold in murderland
Review: When I started to read this novel I figured I would be sleeping in 10 minutes. Not only did I stay awake I couldn't put it down until I finished the entire book. There were may chuckles and the suspence kept me on the edge of my seat. All I can say about the ending is READ THE BOOK.