Let There Be Linda
A black comic thriller that tells the tall tale of estranged brothers Mike and Dan Miller - accountant and con-man talent agent respectively - up to their necks in the virtual quicksand of LA's San Fernando Valley during the hottest summer in Southern California history.
The root cause of their problems could be the missing seventy-five thousand dollars, or the sadistic, loan shark dwarf and his vicious giant, or the psycho comedian cop on the case, or the coke-snorting dentist, or the deranged zombie real estate developer. Or perhaps it's the poodle - the poodle is suspect, no doubt. Or maybe it's the grocery store checker who breathes life into death. Oh yes, it could be her too.
And so to repair the head-on collision the Millers have made of their personal and professional lives, the brothers summon their mother back from the dead to clean up the wreckage. But what the Miller men discover is that screwing with the laws of nature is forever and always a violent, bloody, hysterical, and hilarious idea.
PRAISE INDEED
“Think of the most bizarre, broken collection of characters you can possibly dream up, then intertwine them into a story that moves at break-neck speed through the most impossibly insane sequence of nutty twists and turns your mind can fathom. Got it? Okay, now take all of that and intensify it by a factor of ten. Now you’re approaching the level of pure absurdity that Rich Leder has masterfully created in his novel Let There Be Linda. It’s dark as all get out, and funnier than just about anything else you might have read recently. It’s gets pretty raunchy in parts, but it fits with the general insanity of the story. In the wake of their mother’s death, brothers Mike and Dan each experience their lives completely imploding into apparent ruins. Mike is at his wit’s end, but Dan has a plan. About a third of the way through the book, a police detective/comedian summarizes what he knows so far: “And though at first glance the [real estate] zombie was unrelated to the poodle, the accountant in question, the stalkee, had turned out to be the brother of his new talent agent, who was the patient of Greenburg [the coked-out dentist], who was the owner of Chachi [the poodle], who was tossed from the Lexus by Harvey [the evil loan shark dwarf] and Omar [the giant right-hand man of Harvey], who’d recommended his agent.” And that’s without even mentioning the sick clown (Paul the Pervert) or Jenny Stone, the girl who can raise the dead. Intrigued? You should be. You will not be disappointed. Tarantino is a big influence on Leder, but Leder has one-upped him with Let There Be Linda.”
“With the world inundated with chaotic events and the climate change affecting not only our mood but also our way of interrelating, out pops Rich Leder – most assuredly one of the most significant comedic writers of today. Highly Recommended.”
“... dark as all get out, and funnier than just about anything else you might have read...”
“... the most unique book you have ever read.”
“... Just jump on and enjoy the ride... One of the funniest books I have ever read!”
“... one of the funniest, most absurd (in a good way) books I have read in my lifetime.”
“... the most absurd, extremely hilarious story I have read in a while... never a dull moment... the story twists and turns in totally unexpected ways resulting in the funniest-ever journey through dead bodies, piranha aquariums, and a host of other adventures that lead to its satisfying ending.”
“If you enjoy dark comedy, bizarre situations, and well developed characters you should definitely get this book.”
“A breath of fresh air... action and thriller packed to the brim... fast paced read that will keep you turning the pages... Phenomenal writing!”
“... a dark comedy, and a pretty twisted one... If you like something Tarantino-like, gritty but funny at the same time, check this out...”
“If you enjoy laughing and cringing at the same time, read this dark and twisted comedy.”
“I absolutely loved this story... I laughed so much, more than in any book I’ve read in a long time...
It’s an insane ride from the start... I can’t recommend Let There Be Linda enough, it’s awesome.”
“... an amazing experience... read this book, trust me, you haven’t read anything like it.”
“...the funniest-ever journey through dead bodies, piranha aquariums, a pawn shop, and half-a-million dollars payback with a happy-end. Ingenious!”
“Zany...hysterical...irreverent...occasionally lethal”
“A hugely entertaining book from one of the more inventive crime writers to come along in a while.”