A Town Called Potato

by Gary Blaine Randolph

When computer expert Gabriel Lake meets with a new client, he expects them to ask him to develop a new app. He doesn't expect them to ask him to help find a missing person. Not just any missing person. Someone who doesn't belong on Earth. And that's just the beginning of the adventure.

This book felt like A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy crossed with Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the book, the main character admits he has no idea what he is doing, but he is drawing his knowledge from the noir mysteries he loves to read.

Set on several other planets, this book required a lot of worldbuilding. And the author did not disappoint. Perhaps it was his likening it to science fiction shows I had seen, but I could really picture each new location, as well as the aliens who lived there. I also really enjoyed not only the explanation of how the chrono drive worked, but also watching it in motion. The author used some great imagery.

I do have two minor complaints, which is why this is only a four-star review. First, the book is poorly edited. In addition to constant changes in tense and point of view, there are many grammatical errors and countless misspellings. Although irksome, they were not enough to detract from the story. The other complain is that at the beginning of the final chapter (or perhaps it was the end of the one before), Gabe promises a friend he will explain everything that had happened. Yet, the story ends (view spoiler) without him doing so.

Otherwise, I like this character and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would rate this story four quills and place it on my middle shelf.

Ashleigh's Bookshelf