Flipping Out by Marshall Karp

Woo-hoo... my buddies Lomax and Biggs are back and solving some murders!

I have previously written about my enjoyment of Marshall Karp’s first two books, The Rabbit Factory and Bloodthirsty. Both were outstanding and I am still recommending them to people. Now Marshall Karp’s third novel, Flipping Out, has been published and I have a new book to recommend.

Karp’s previous books took an interesting and amusing look at the world of crime while mixing in some fun knowledge about family theme parks and Hollywood. In Flipping Out he turns his humor towards house flipping. We follow Lomax and Biggs as they try to solve the murders of some fellow cops’ family members who are part of a group that, you guessed it, flip houses. Who’s killing who, and why? Don’t worry, Marshall Karp doesn't disappoint - he plays it straight on the who-done-it aspect of the story, even if there are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right up until the satisfying conclusion.

Set in LA, Flipping Out is populated with some truly memorable characters, including an egocentric mystery writer (whose contribution to the "LA Flippers" is quite unique). To begin this post, I called Lomax and Biggs “my buddies”... and chances are after reading Marshall Karp's books you will too - these are two characters that you would enjoy hanging out with. They are real and, to extend this buddy talk, I feel are quintessential buddy cops who play so well off each other that they will soon become your go-to example if ever referencing buddy cops (come on, you know you are forced to reference buddy cops on at least a weekly basis). Marshall Karp is at his best, and funniest, when his characters are interacting. Karp’s dialogue is sharp and as real as his characters. Besides an eye for character and an ear for dialogue, Karp’s writing is continuously witty and intelligent.

Worried you won’t know what is going on because you haven’t read Karp’s two previous novels? While I recommend them highly, reading them will not be necessary to your enjoyment of Flipping Out - Karp provides just enough back-story to catch you up without slowing down the pace for those of us who have read The Rabbit Factory and Bloodthirsty... a worthy accomplishment that not all writers are capable of. I do, however, recommend you check out his website (a quality author site is something all readers can appreciate) and learn a little more about Karp, Lomax, and Biggs.

Often in today’s world of sleep deprived readers we hear a lot about a book's ability to cause sleep loss... so you might ask yourself if Flipping Out is a “keep you up until the wee hours of the morning” type read? Well, Marshall Karp kept me turning pages long after 3 Advil PM’s should have had me snoring soundly! It’s true. The writing and story are compelling and compulsive, leaving no room for an “I’ll finish tomorrow” thought to creep into your head. Flipping Out is a fast paced, funny, and enjoyable book - it is out in bookstores now... turn off your computer, get in your car, drive to the bookstore, and buy a copy (or at least order it online). You’ll thank me.