Popped Off

September 1, 2012

Moises Huber appears to have embezzled all of the money (several thousand dollars) out of the local soccer team's coffers. He's also cleared out the local church's accounts and stolen all the soccer trophies. Mr. Mom, aka Deuce Winters, and his sometimes-PI partner, midget Victor Doolittle, are on the case, tracking down Moises and following an improbable money trail that leads to Southern Methodist University's sorority row. Add in light subplots involving Deuce's family, and you have a quick, enjoyable read. VERDICT Allen's (Jeff Shelby's alter ego) second cozy entry (after Stay at Home Dead) has a playful touch that will resonate with the suburban Texas set. Self-deprecating humor with gentle pokes at modern culture mixes well with a clever gambling-debts-gone-awry storyline.

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