The Middle Finger of Fate

The Trailer Park Princess, Book 1

By: Kim Hunt Harris

Narrated by: Sandra Murphy

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

When Salem Grimes stumbles onto a dead body on her way to an AA meeting, she does what any self-respecting Christian would do - freaks out and screeches words that would make Jesus blush.

However, learning her ex-husband, Tony, stands accused of the murder spurs Salem into action. Eager to help, she makes the bold decision to investigate the case as an amateur sleuth. What she lacks in skills, qualifications, or a general clue on how to find, well, clues, she makes up for with the genuine desire to help.

With her octogenarian best friend, Viv, and beloved dog, Stump, by her side, can Salem’s faith lead her to answers that will clear Tony’s name? Or will this be one more element of her life she has boggled up?

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal best seller Kim Hunt Harris comes a hilarious and heartfelt mystery full of side-splitting laughs and shocking twists!

©2013 Kim Hunt Harris (P)2020 Kim Hunt Harris

Fun Listen with Unexpected Depth

Salem Grimes is a hapless, imperfect heroine who survives any number of catastrophes merely by getting up more often than she falls down. A recovering alcoholic with a shabby upbringing, she’s finding her way to what she hopes will be a good, maybe even normal, life with the help of her earth angel, Les, and her dog Stump. She lives in TrailerTopia Mobile Home Park, bathes dogs part-time for minimal wages at Bow Wow Barbers, and finds solace in greasy fast food, which is why she can’t figure out what to wear in the morning — most of her clothes no longer fit. She prays a sigh of relief when her wreck of a car starts and prays for help when it doesn’t.

Salem has had scrapes with the law because of her drinking and is still on probation, so finding a dead body at church on the way to her AA meeting creates even more problems, especially since the investigating officer knows Salem from her past record and bad behavior. It’s one thing for Salem to find out her ex-husband, Tony, is the number one murder suspect and another to find out she’s really not quite divorced.

This audiobook version is at times laugh-out-loud hilarious, but it’s also a story about honesty, finding faith, experiencing redemption, and learning to believe in others and oneself.

Narrator Sandra Murphy’s twangy Texas accent is dead-on for Salem and her cronies; the remaining cast of characters have easily distinguishable voices. Viv, Salem’s octogenarian partner in crime (technically the twosome is working to solve the murder, but Viv, especially, doesn’t always color within the lines). Viv is a character gem. She’s pushy, rich, and been married enough times to know how and when to work the system, much to Salem’s horror. They are a perfect twosome as Murphy uses author Kim Hunt Harris’ words to distinguish between the two women’s life experiences, personalities, and modes of operation.

If for no other reason, you need to listen to this one in order to visualize an over-sized, overturned pickle bucket as a driver’s seat in an ice cream truck. Believe me — and do not try this at home!

I was given a review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left a review.

Makes me want the next one!

The short review: I really enjoyed this so much that I want to listen to the next one right away. I could go through these books faster than Salem and Frank go through Star Crunches.

The main character is Salem, who is a recovering alcoholic in AA and a new Christian. When she finds a dead body on the way to her AA meeting, it sets in motion a cozy mystery in the best tradition of them. There are lively side characters, possible love interests, unexpected twists and turns, the works.

This story could have been heavy-handed, but I think the author was deft at creating the world of someone new to sobriety and Christianity. Salem does pray, and she gets help from her AA sponsor and another woman in the program. For me with my life experiences, this is believable and accessible. Salem is doing her best. She struggles, gets knocked down, gets back up, and ultimately wins. She's a heroine you can cheer for.

All of that is without counting Viv, who is a woman who might be old but has been married to enough men to have special skills for any mischief they need to get into. Such as pick-pocketing or method acting the sweats to go with a fake heart attack. Viv is what you'd call a "hoot"!

Definitely recommended. I'll be on the lookout for more audio in this series.

Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Fun listen

This book was such a fun listen. Kim Hunt Harris has crafted some truly memorable characters in Salem and her sleuthing sidekick, Viv. Together with Salem’s canine companion, Stump, in tow, they jump from one shenanigan to another in their quest to solve a murder. It will keep you guessing and laughing all along the way. There is so much to love about this book! Give it a listen and enjoy!

Wait Just A Stumpin' Moment!

Stop and listen to this series. Mystery, laughs, and the human condition of a recovering acholic her trusty sidekick and side pet. There is no want of entertainment with this listen. Audible keep em comin', cause I'm hooked!

Great Christian mystery

Murder mystery and coming to Christ-a great combination to hold your attention throughout.

Sandra Murphy did a good job narrating.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

db

laugh-riot, AA, situational-humor, verbal-humor, murder, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement*****

This is the beginning of a series about Salem Grimes, a recovering alcoholic with a dodgy past and a history of bad choices. But. It's also a story about living in a Texas trailer park, a unique story with a mix of mystery and gospel, about a spoiled dog named Stump, and the much older investigating partner. This is a hilarious tale full of laughs and well worth the money.
Sandra Murphy is a great narrator who really makes the real characters come alive and really adds to the fun and suspense.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway. I win!

The Middle Finger of Fate

This book was a fun listen and kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the church relationships with characters that some people may believe they are beyond saving and seeing how anything is possible. The murder case was so fun watching it be solved by two characters that definitely should not be questioning others since you know they don’t have a clue as to what they are doing. A great book!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Get ready to laugh...

Get ready to laugh your backside off with this romp of a mystery. Clean and sweet, it reminded me of all my relatives (by marriage) who happen to live in West Texas. It is a Christian book, but it wasn't too preachy for me. I highly recommend this book.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Fun, heart-warming read!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, given the title, but what I did expect was that it was going to be a gripping story told with a wicked sense of humor and it didn’t disappoint! And, the title fits it perfectly! Harris tells the heart-warming and hilarious story of Salem Grimes, a recovering alcoholic/born again Christian who, while trying to find herself in her sobriety finds herself embroiled in a murder case that brings back to life all of the things that had plagued her in the past. Together with fellow recovering alcoholic, 80-year-old, zany Viv, and Salem’s best friend and confidant, her dog, Stump, Salem sets out to discover the truth and in doing so, discovers herself, and the true meaning of her Christian faith. I can’t wait to listen to her other books!

The Middle Finger of Fate

This book kept my interest and surprise ending
Love the work that the narrator put into the voices
and character of each person in the story line.
Looking forward to the next in the series