A Man Named Doll

By: Jonathan Ames

Narrated by: Jonathan Ames

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

From the creator of HBO's Bored to Death, a deliciously noir novel about idiosyncratic private detective Happy Doll and his quest to help a dying friend in a sun-blinded Los Angeles as "quirky, edgy, charming, funny and serious" as its protagonist (Lee Child)

Happy Doll is a charming, if occasionally inexpert, private detective living just one sheer cliff drop beneath the Hollywood sign with his beloved half-Chihuahua half-Terrier, George. A veteran of both the Navy and LAPD, Doll supplements his meager income as a P.I. by working through the night at a local Thai spa that offers its clients a number of special services. Armed with his 16-inch steel telescopic baton, biting dry humor, and just a bit of a hero complex, the ex-cop sets out to protect the women who work there from clients who have trouble understanding the word "no".

Doll gets by just fine following his two basic rules: bark loudly and act first. But when things get out-of-hand with one particularly violent patron, even he finds himself wildly out of his depth, and then things take an even more dangerous twist when an old friend from his days as a cop shows up at his door with a bullet in his gut.

A Man Named Doll is more than just a fascinating introduction to one truly singular character, it is a highly addictive and completely unpredictable joyride through the sensuous and violent streets of LA.

©2021 Jonathan Ames (P)2021 Mulholland Books

Critic reviews

"While the macabre seriousness of the crimes and the narrator’s good-nature and sardonic humor might seem to be at odds, Ames makes it work through assured plotting, superb local color, and excellent prose. Readers will happily root for Doll, a good detective and a decent human, in this often funny and grisly outing." (Publishers Weekly)

"I loved this book - it's quirky, edgy, charming, funny and serious, all in one. Very highly recommended." (Lee Child, number one best-selling author of Blue Moon)

“A Man Named Doll is so fun and propulsive I didn’t just read it in one sitting, I read it in what felt like a single breath. Happy Doll is a tremendously likable main character, and the Los Angeles he inhabits is vibrantly alive in every detail. I hope Jonathan Ames has many more adventures planned for the newest P.I. in town.” (Lou Berney, author of the New York Times best-selling November Road)

Decent Story

I enjoyed the story, however the narration was so bland I almost didn't continue listening. I'm glad I did, because the story line was good.

Cruel noir

My preference is for noir that is spoofy rather than dreary. This definitely falls into the latter category. I had only a little over an hour to go when I pulled the cord. I realized I was not being entertained, enthralled, or amused. Just repulsed. Not my choice of scene. Add to that the narrator (who is also the author) who really detracted from the story for me. He sounded as if he was a person who had been handed the book and told to read aloud, for the first time, never having seen the material before. It was flat, plodding delivery. I admit, I have been spoiled by some of the fine pro narrators that audible provides. Zachary Quinto would have done this up right, and I might have even stayed with it till the end.

Beautifully written, intelligent and entertaining!

I loved this book The plot is gripping, and the main character, Happy Doll is immensely likeable. The book is full of humor, empathy and gentle irony.
The passages where Happy talks about his relationship with his dog George are some of the best descriptions of the love between humans and dogs in all English literature.
Beautifully read by the author.
I am rushing to get the second book in the series!

Different and Fun

Moves like a Disney ride. It is smooth and runs at a even pace, then it turns the corner and your on a wild ride.
I was grinning for most of the story.
I plan to check out more of Johnathan Ames books

wow. that was really intense

Boy, talk about never a dull moment, that was it. The characters were interesting and so very real. The narration was really well done. That was one hell of a book. Thank you Mr. Ames.

Pure noir

A great traditional noir tale set in Los Angeles (where else?), with the addition of a modern theme, organ theft. The author's narration is perfect - he has a low, slightly gravelly voice and a laid-back intonation, just right for noir. I am looking forward to listening to (or reading) some of his other books

Not literature

An interesting topic regarding the crime, but the book is hopelessly redundant and repetitive. VERY light reading

Brilliant and fresh

So much more than noir though perfectly satisfying in the context of the genre. Love the narration too. It feels like Ames knows something; like he’s pushing through a boundary. Like he is iterating on what a novel is.

Not perfect but good !

Recommended by audible and "free " with the level of my membership. Yes felt cliche but a good pot boiler plot. Will spring for the next in series. Appreciate the length. It kept on chugging along but wound up at a good pace.

Good listen

I lived the story and the characters (and that he is crazy about his dog), but this would he much better with a professional narrator. I will be looking for more books by this author, but not if he is doing the reading.