Recent Reads: A Murder of Manatees by Larry Correia

A Murder of Manatees by Larry Correia
Series: Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent #2
Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date:  January 2018

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: From Audible Freebies (before they went away and become whatever new thing they are doing now.)

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

The Further Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent

When half your galaxy is unexpectedly sucked into a black hole - when a hitherto-unknown species of space aliens lays waste to your home planet - when disaster rears its ugly head (or heads) - who can you call for faster-than-light appraisals and best-in-the-multiverse customer service? Just one man - Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent.

In this latest chapter of his interstellar exploits, Tom is about to deliver a crushing performance evaluation to Jimmy the Intern, when the unimaginable happens: the beloved Wendell the Manatee has been kidnapped! Armed with his battle mechs and his elite corps of Junior Associates, can Tom find Wendell before he's canned in oil? And can Jimmy, at long last, channel his inner Agent?

A Murder of Manatees will make you quiver with fear, laugh uncontrollably, and wonder whether your deductibles are too high. 

Review: 

Before Audible got rid of their choose your freebies monthly incentive for subscribers, I picked this one up. The title was interesting, but I had no idea what I was in for and no idea that it was a sequel. 

I will disclaimer by also noting that I still...really have no clue what I just listened to...

It was science fiction, it was political, it was weird, it was funny sometimes but also not really. I guess it was ok, but just ok. I listened to it because it was in my Audible Library and it was shorter. I like to listen to audiobooks while doing chores or the puzzle that is always on my dining room table and this one fit into that category. I started listening and was SO confused. 

Tom Stranger is an insurance agent but covers people, animals, aliens alike across dimensions and in this book there is a missing manatee and the other manatees are very upset about the whole thing. As their insurance agent, Tom must jump into action and save the day, which includes shooting up other animals, a leprechaun that grants wishes, and obviously some manatees. The former president makes a few appearances as well.

It really kind of threw me, the first chapter was a full length rant about how the first books ratings were not all great and why people were dumb for leaving them....way to alienate your audience from the very beginning. It was also not relevant to the story at all and such a waste of time.

I gave it 2 stars because there were some laughable moments, still not sure if those moments were actually funny or I was laughing out of discomfort - it was hard to tell.