Wild Thing

A Novel

By: Josh Bazell

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, Stephanie Wolfe

It's hard to find work as a doctor when using your real name will get you killed. So hard that when a reclusive billionaire offers Dr. Peter Brown, aka Pietro Brnwa, a job accompanying a sexy but self-destructive paleontologist on the world's worst field assignment, Brown has no real choice but to say yes. Even if it means that an army of murderers, mobsters, and international drug dealers -- not to mention the occasional lake monster -- are about to have a serious Pietro Brnwa problem.

Facing new and old monsters alike, Dr. Brnwa's story continues in this darkly funny and lightning-paced follow up to Josh Bazell's bestselling debut.

The doctor is definitely IN!

I adored Bazell's debut novel, Beat The Reaper. The fresh, distinctive voice of the main character, an ex-hitman in the witness protection program studying to be a doctor, was a flat-out revelation. Like Carl Hiaasen and the Coen Bros., Bazell has a talent for taking wacky situations and bizarre characters and weaving them into a truly unique story. Practically the minute this book was available on Audible, I downloaded it. I could not wait to re-enter Bazell's world.

Pietro Brnwa, aka Peter Brown, aka Lionel Azimuth, is still on the run from mobsters who want to kill him. He is plucked from a rotten job as a cruise ship doctor by a "reclusive billionaire" who wants him to join an expedition to a remote lake in Minnesota to investigate the possible existence of a serpent-like monster. Yes, you read that right--a "lake monster" in the vein of the Loch Ness monster, that may be a leftover from the dinosaur age. He is accompanied by a possibly alcoholic (and, of course, attractive) paleontologist named Violet Hurst.

I'm going to stop right there as far as outlining the plot, because to reveal too much would spoil it. While in some ways it's a more conventional mystery plot than the first book, don't worry--there's still plenty of great banter, hilarious observations by Pietro/Peter/Lionel, wild plot twists and out-there characters.

Bazell does present some very strong political views, very pro-science, which will no doubt turn off some readers. This includes a mind-bending cameo by a real-life political figure that is still making me laugh (though I'm pretty sure some will not see the humor in it).

Robert Petkoff does a stellar job with the narration--he gets the snarky tone of the character just right.

I just hope Bazell doesn't make us wait another three years for the next book!

So much for the sequel

I really enjoyed Beat the Reaper so I gave this a listen but to my dismay, this book wasn't nearly as good as the first part, which was much more clever and thought out. The sequel was definitely missing that creative format, which was so present in Beat the Reaper. With that said, Wild Thing isn't bad, just not as good and I will say this, Josh Bazell is clearly a really smart guy and some of the subjects discussed in the book such as evolution and science and communism are right on the money. TAlso to note: the narrator also does a very good job too.

Wild Thing is completely uncouth. Slight spoiler.

I knew what I was getting into after reading Beat The Reaper, and at once Josh Bazell opens with teen sex and skinning dipping. But right away the carnage begins with a new lake monster eating kids and the action really doesn't slow down. His language is foul, I have no real idea what the main character looks like as he discribes himself looking like a d--k with a fist for a head. I may be paraphrasing, but you get the idea. He's an MD and in Beat The Reaper you learned about what bones are the ones you can impact to break while in the line of deadly assassin work, this book you learn about fossel fuel and how close we are to the edge of no return in the energy world. Anyway he's hired to protect a beautiful girl and hunt a new river monster with some rich people and Sarah Palin. It's fun, I highly recommend it. Narrators are excellent.

Good, but not as good as Beat the Reaper

Hey, if you like the Peter Brown character and Bazell's wittily crude style (which I do on both counts) you'll enjoy this read. Bezell offers more editorial commentary, and it's spot on and well articulated. Republicans beware, you may not like what he has to say about corporations and our blind policies toward demographics and the environmental fate of the Earth. I think you'll find his reasoning difficult to dispute, which may be even more disturbing. The appendix alone is worth the price of the novel. It's not since MacDonald's Travis McGee stuff that I've read such seamless and intelligent social commentary woven in to the plot and beyond.
In Wild Thing though, we get a less compelling and odd ball (not so much in a good way) plot. But the smart ass Peter Brown shines through none the less making me smile often during the performance.

Half as good as "Beat the Reaper"

Half as Good as "Beat the Reaper" which still places it very high on my list. Does not have the intensity or pace of BTR, but is still well-written. I am not rating based on Bazell's Politics. I am not rating his views on Global warming. I am rating the writing and the story. If I can stomach Steven Hunter for the sake of his great story-telling ability, then I suggest "Wild Thing" is just as tasty a dish even if you don't like the color of the napkin. Actually, I think he treated Palin with mild whimsy, compared to Captain Bonobo (Obama) in Hunter's "Soft Target".

I do wish we had stayed on the cruise ship for the whole book. Imagine the fun he could have had. After BTR, you never want to go near a hospital again. Just think of what Josh could have done with our desire to take a nice cruise.

The Narration was great. If it bothers you, beware the profanity