In search of something ugly… his friend Declan to tag along for moral support. How difficult can it be for an investigator and the director of a renowned institute to find a single painting in a town the size of a postage stamp?
Neither Brady nor Declan counted on a suspicious sheriff, rival baseball teams with a longstanding grudge, or a clueless kid trying to win his girlfriend with all the wrong gifts.
McDoogal is smack in the middle. But Brady’s biggest dilemma isn’t the disastrous hunt. It’s confessing to Vanessa her painting is the ugliest thing he’s ever seen.
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A Delight from the First Word to the Last
While I’m usually left with goosebumps after reading a Mae Clair story, I find this time I’m left with a smile on my face. In Search of McDoogal is a departure for the author, and I’m happy to say I think she’s every bit as talented at writing a comedy of errors as she is at writing a spine-tingling mystery.
Anyone with a best friend will immediately recognize the camaraderie between the two main characters. Brady and Declan clearly go back a long way, as is evident by their comfortable interactions and witty banter. Clair crafted a lead duo who are eminently likable. I hated for the story to end; I could spend days with these guys and never grow bored.
The supporting cast were also realistic and well-crafted, and they moved the plot along at the perfect pace. Each new obstacle made me giggle, even as Brady grew more desperate. The town reminded me much of my own, the setting adding to my enjoyment of the whole piece.
As for McDoogal? You’ll love the description. And Brady’s revelation. And I won’t say anymore than that. You’ve got to read it for yourself.
In Search of McDoogal was a delight from the first word to the last. I couldn’t put it down. Clair has hinted that she might write more lighthearted stories like this one, bringing back the same colorful cast of characters. I sincerely hope she does and eagerly await more in her IMER series.
In Search of McDoogal is a gem that shimmers amongst the engaging works of Mae Clair, a superb storyteller, with a unique style. I’ve never read a story that could make me smile till the last page. At places, giggles erupted unknowingly, adding a blush to my ears, as I like to laugh loudly but felt guilty, with Kindle in my hand. It is a pleasure to read that McDoogal was the name of Mae’s loving cat whose cherished memory has been encapsulated so lovingly within this story.
Brady’s love for his girlfriend impels him to retrieve the precious painting that he had inadvertently sold to a guy who drove a bright orange Dodge pick up and the whole fun starts. Though Brady is really upset with the situation he is placed in, but Clair turns it into a light-hearted tale with crafty dialogues, funny situations, eccentric characters and names like “Abe Barr,” “Webb,” “Jenks,” “Clark Barr,” who looked like “a rat.” Even names of places evoke humor. I loved the ending, which left me craving for more such stories.
“In Search of McDoogal” is a fun short story. Brady helps his girlfriend, Vanessa, by working in her art studio when she’s out of town. He finds out he sold a painting of a beloved cat that he wasn’t supposed to. So, he grabbed his best friend Declan and headed off to get it back. I loved the easy friendship between the two men and Brady’s fear of disappointing his girlfriend. I smiled many times reading and was wholly entertained. It was funny how Brady disliked the painting, as well as others who had seen it, too. This was a quick read with a surprise twist at the end that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.
In Search of McDoogal by Mae Clair is a fast-read short story. The main characters and the problem were established in the story’s onset. Brady and Declan were best friends from high school. Brad showed up before dawn to ask Declan’s help. The way they communicated with each other was nothing less than that in such a friendship.
It horrified Brady when he sold his girlfriend Vanessa’s cherished painting while watching her shop. He had one day to retrieve it before her return from a trip. The all-day tracking of the painting and the incredible chain of actions bolted me to the seat. The dialogue was hilarious and kept me laughing from the beginning to the end. It felt like these two guys were chasing their hundred-dollar bill got blown away, every time they almost touched it to grab it, another wind swooped it up.
The characters are believable. The mistake Brady made could have happened to anyone. The panicking, the willingness to go all the way in remediation, and the bargaining in saving a situation are so real in life. Yet the story put humor in such seemingly desperate circumstance. I look forward to more short stories from this author and this cast. Highly recommended.
McDoogal came along at a perfect time for me. I always appreciate a short read, but it’s hard to make them fun. McDoogal did not disappoint. It reminds me of one of those comedy films from the 80s in that whatever can go wrong, will. Comedy is something new from Mae Clair, and I certainly hope this isn’t her last foray into it. McDoogal gets five stars from me, and everyone should give it a chance.
The things we do for love…
When Brady Conrad inadvertently sells his girlfriend’s prized painting of her beloved feline, he talks friend Declan into helping in its recovery.
They follow a vague trail of clues leading them to a small town with a suspicious sheriff and a calamity of events that make for entertaining reading. Brady and Declan act more like brothers with their witty dialogue and unending support and the supporting characters are a hoot!
The more we learn of this painting, the curiouser it gets and was a highlight of the story for me.
If you’re looking for a little lighthearted relief from the current world crisis, this book fits the bill!
Mae Clair’s In search of McDoogal (2020) is fun, quick paced, and clever. It’s not long so I barely started before I felt like it ended too soon. Brady Conrad thinks he has something special with his girlfriend of six weeks, Vanessa, like she could be The One. So he offers to help her out during an emergency, run a sale at her art gallery while she’s taking care of personal business. It all goes well–he does end up selling a lot–but also sells a painting she wanted to keep. How hard can it be to get it back? Brady knows the man’s first name, where he lives, and that his van is bright orange (who else drives an orange van?). He’s about to find out even with that treasure trove of information, it can be nearly impossible.
I’ve read lots of Mae’s prior books and always loved them for their careful plotting and well-developed characters. Despite this one’s brevity, she again does a good job of developing her story with snappy dialogue, a mix of love and action, and a believable plot (I mean, anyone could make the mistake that landed Brandon in hot water). This is an entirely entertaining story I recommend to those who have experience with something so simple going so wrong.
This book was exactly what I needed after a busy week. It’s short. Only a 90-minute read, but those minutes were at the end of the day, right before bedtime, and they were the perfect way to wash away thoughts and make me smile. This story was pure fun and entertainment. The two guy pals sounded like the old friends they were, giving each other grief while constantly being in each other’s corners. The plot was sheer delight. You know the saying, “Things can always get worse?” Well, these guys go from one mishap to the next. They would have been lucky if there really were a Murphy’s Law, because then, after the third mess-up, they’d have been done. No such luck. The humor kept me snickering through the entire thing. If you need something to lift your mood, this is the perfect read.
In Search of McDoogal by Mae Clair is a delightful read. Fast-paced and character-driven, this short story had me from the first few lines. The plot is simple but the intricacies – and delicacies – of the storyline will hold you to the end.
Clair is masterful in developing her characters. They become the guy/girl down the street, someone you say hello to every day. The neighbor you depend upon. Within a few pages, I cared about each person. That is a writing feat!
Will Brady find and return Vanessa’s painting? Clair makes sure you really, really want to know.
Mae Clair is one of the finest writers active today. Her books are well researched, well written, and tend to keep the reader on the edge of the seat. In search of Mc, Doogal is a different kind of book from Ms. Clair’s usual offerings. There are no spooky happenings or mysterious bumps in the night. No monsters jump out and terrify the reader either. What Mc Doogal does have is a delightful story of two dear friends Brady and Declan, on a quest to correct a mistake made by Brady. He was entrusted with a treasured painting by his girlfriend, and he unwittingly sells it to an out of towner. The two friends have a description of the car and the location of the buyer.
As fate dictates, that buyer is four hours down the road so, here we go. You guessed it a chase to catch the buyer and get the painting back before the girlfriend even knows it’s missing. Whoever thinks this is going to be easy, raise your hand. As simple as that sounds, it would not be a Mae Clair story without complications. Oh, and there is a twist in there too. That is very like Mae Clair. Do the boys get the painting back? Well, you’ll just have to read the book. One more thought, if you like to laugh and have fun, this is the book for you.
No good deed goes unpunished as the saying goes and certainly Brady Conrad is willing to go to any lengths to minimise the fallout from an honest mistake he made when helping out his girlfriend. He and his friend meet barriers to the successful completion of this quest at every turn, but it does provide for entertaining reading and the author has created some quirky characters and laugh aloud moments along the way. The book is well written and the escapade flows seamlessly from start to finish.
Certainly an hour well spent and I look forward to more adventures in the future as there is certainly the potential for a series. I can recommend for lovers of lighthearted mysteries who want to take a break from the headlines and give a much needed boost to their sense of humour.
Anytime I see a new release by Mae Clair, I know it’s going to be a fantastic read. Having enjoyed both her Hodes Hill and Point Pleasant series, as well as single titles such as Eclipse Lake, I immediately bought a copy of In Search of McDoogle.
While this story is far different from her usual genre, it didn’t disappoint.
Brady Conrad wants to impress his girlfriend. When he accidentally sells her beloved painting, he enlists the help of his friend, Declan, to help retrieve it.
What follows is a trip to a nearby town in search of the elusive “masterpiece”, a cast of quirky characters, a comedy of errors, and lots of laughs.
A solid five stars for this one.
In this lighthearted novella (about a 90-minute read), Brady and his friend Declan go in search of a painting of an ugly cat named McDoogal. Brady accidently sold his artist-girlfriend’s creation when filling in for her at an art sale, and he’s got one day to hunt it down and buy it back.
A road trip ensues and finding the painting isn’t as simple as it seems. Several colorful characters come into play, and there’s plenty of witty dialog about the feline subject of the artwork. Brady’s deadline keeps the pace moving.
This is a purely feel-good read, fine for the whole family. Definitely check out the author’s Afterword about the real McDoogal – it’s a touching treat for anyone who’s ever loved a cat.