Official Review: Cigar Money by Michael Puterbaugh

Adedayo+23 · Post by **Adedayo+23** » 06 Dec 2020, 18:48

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Cigar Money" by Michael Puterbaugh.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Dean Hunter, a lover of cigars and the proud owner of a reggae bar in Fernandina Beach, Florida, has his off-the-grid life turned upside down with the sudden reappearance of his old college flame, Marcia. Drunk and desperate, Marcia begs Dean to help her find her boyfriend, Jaime. The same Jaime who stole Marcia from Dean back in college. Dean is not keen on finding Jaime, but he still carries a torch for Marcia and is hopeful about the possibility of a second chance.

A former police detective, Dean’s hunt for Jaime takes him from Fort Lauderdale to the Dominican Republic. It soon becomes clear that Dean is not the only one looking for Jaime. It appears Jaime’s disappearance may be linked to some stolen money, money that some rather dangerous people are desperate to get their hands on. Will Dean get to Jaime in time, or has his involvement in trying to find Jaime put a target on his own back?

Cigar Money is an intriguing mystery novel by Michael Puterbaugh. The witty writing and self-deprecating humor of the protagonist made the book a lively and easy read. The characters were animated and often entertaining. Told from a first-person narrative, the reader gets to experience the story from Dean’s often jocular point of view. His obsession with getting back together with his ex-girlfriend dominated his reasoning for the most part of the story. However, when the time came to do what needed to be done, he put Marcia’s happiness ahead of his own.

What I liked most about the book, apart from the witty writing, was the zany and unpredictable twists and turns. In one instance, Dean cleverly and successfully breaks into a house only to be attacked by an insane “monster pit bull-type dog.” Then there was the part where Dean and a friend were cornered and held at gunpoint but were able to get away when Dean threw a well-aimed coconut at the gunman’s face. Almost nothing went the way Dean planned, but he usually managed to find a way to make it work.

My main critique concerns the protagonist’s character development. Since the story played out from Dean’s point of view, the areas where his character was lacking were painfully obvious. Dean often spoke about the fact that he used to be a police detective, but little about his actions in the book lent credence to that fact. It took him way too long to work out obvious clues, he had little to no security concern when it was apparently required, and he never seemed to think his plans through. He simply winged it and hoped for the best. Dean also spent an unhealthy amount of time obsessing about Marcia, like a horny adolescent with a crush. It got tiring after a while because he sounded like a broken record. Nevertheless, my views are subjective, and another reader may view things differently.

The book contained a handful of editing errors that another round of thorough editing and proofreading should rectify. Cigar Money was a fun and entertaining read, and I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. The editing errors were significant enough to compel me to deduct a star. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy their mystery with a side of humor.

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Cigar Money
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Drianie · Post by **Drianie** » 12 Dec 2020, 04:15

Although I like the inclusion of humor in stories, I don't think it will be enough to compel me to read this novel. The concerns mentioned on Dean's character development, along with his non-stop obsession with Marcia, leads me to believe I will have a hard time enjoying his character. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading your insightful and well-written review! Thanks!

Raluca_Mihaila · Post by **Raluca_Mihaila** » 12 Dec 2020, 08:37

Thank you for this engaging review and recommendation! It looks like a page-turner, and I am tempted to read it.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 14 Dec 2020, 09:17

This seems like an intriguing mystery with interesting characters and twists that can keep the readers' attention until the end. Thank you for your great review!

derialist · Post by **derialist** » 14 Dec 2020, 11:23

It sounds like a fun read indeed. I like the humor, and I guess I can overlook the few shortcomings regarding character development. As for the review, it's nice and eloquent. Great job on it.