Cooper's Deale

Having read this author's 2 other books; House of Clouds (one of the best lesfic books out there) and Heart of the Matter, I automatically ordered KI's next book, Cooper's Deale. I've read it twice now. The first time I read it I laughed a lot at the absurdity of the situations that poor Addy gets herself into. The second time I read it I picked up on even more details that made this story a good one. This is simply a solid dark comedy that teaches us that maybe we should just lighten up and see the laughter in some of the most awful situations. What kind of situations? Well, falling space debris for one. Also 3 moronic criminals who will make you laugh, but at the same time are not above murder. Addy's ex runs off with a butch UPS driver and her brother thinks he's a bird. He lives in a tree-house "nest". Fern, the local librarian know-it-all moves in with Addy to help with costs, and brings along her seersucker and a penchant for commenting on much that doesn't concern her. The cast of characters also includes: Karen, a local deputy, who was Addy's girlfriend in highschool before having what Addy refers to as "an affair" with the gym teacher. Liberty McDonald, an environmental FBI agent determined to get to the bottom of some strange radioactivity and a dead reporter. She's not above using her charms to find what she wants. Dee-Dee, A good friend of Addy's. She's the local bartender who isn't adverse to one night stands...at all. Chauncy Velasquez, a retired fisherman who arrived from Mexico 2 years ago, another tenant who moves in with Addy. Does he have his greencard? So - what ensues is a romp, a dark comedy. Aspects of this book reminded me of Fargo and also the recent movie release Burn After Reading. Enjoy it...and laugh at the absurdity of life.

I enjoyed Thompson's first two books so much that buying Cooper's Deale was automatic - but unlike previous reviewers here, I found it easy to relax into this story and smile. Unique plot elements and some eccentric characters, combined with romantic enlightenment and touching angst, all make for an entertaining tongue-in-cheek tale. Thompson's gone the lighthearted route in Cooper's Deale and readers should have no qualms about picking up a copy just for the fun of it.