For Your Benefit

Patrick Canning has created a new subgenre: the screwball comedy detective novel. The traditional detective novel is satirized and spoofed with multiple ridiculous and farcical situations and a cadre of quirky, colorful characters. The dynamics between the multiple protagonists shift in unusual and unexpected ways, utilizing nutty behavior and witty repartee.

At the same time, the misdirection and influencing of the masses are illustrated through the use of propaganda and public relations. At the beginning of each chapter is a meaningful quote from Edward Bernays, an American pioneer in the field of public relations (advertisement) and propaganda. The main protagonists are the adopted twin brothers, Teddy and Ralph Lint. Twenty years ago, they, along with five other children, were rescued from the clutches of cult leader Percival Maw. Thirty years ago, all the children were stolen from maternity wards, held in captivity, and indoctrinated. For thirteen years, their lives were restricted to the walls of an industrial laundromat in Los Angeles. The children were rescued by war veteran and small-time grocer, Dan Karr, who followed the suspicious Maw back to the laundromat.

Teddy has the rare distinction of being the kindest private investigator on the planet. He is affectionately known as the “Black Mr. Rogers” with an eyepatch (Maw had scooped out one of his eyes in a fit of anger). He has an art for listening to people with demonstrable compassion.

The Lint Detective Agency is confronted with a weird case presented by a suspicious, overbearing character who identifies himself as Mr. Woodbine. He contends that he works for the government, specifically the C.I.A. The brothers are perplexed and most assuredly do not believe his bona fides. He insists on their discretion and urgency in a mission that is beyond the scope of the cumbersome government. Apparently, a barrel full of “Royal Jelly” has been found after more than fifty years of being lost. It is the notorious herbicide known as “Agent Orange,” which was used during the Vietnam War to defoliate more than half of the country. This god-awful substance was comparable to Zyklon B and Napalm. It was used in Operation Ranch to eliminate places the Viet Cong could hide, but it destroyed the forests and crops for generations. The remaining herbicide was recalled but somehow lost… it then became irradiated in the deserts of Nevada at the site of nuclear bomb test explosions and then lost again in the Port of Long Beach, California. The present fear is that it will be used to annihilate the citizens of Los Angeles. Woodbine provides two leads on possible groups that have the Royal Jelly: the Janusian Order, a group of disenfranchised artisans, or Sisters in Sync, a cadre of feminists of varied ilk, who are a government reform group insisting that the world order should be under the control of women.

Patrick Canning marvelously weaves together multiple plotlines of farcical characters and situations that incrementally ratchet up intrigue and suspense. Sprinkled with witty repartee and ridiculous situations, this culminates in a weird, satisfying denouement. The Lint brothers will confront devious ad executives, anarchistic Boy Scouts, and an endless array of suspicious crackpots. Thanks to Patrick Canning for supplying an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review. Although this is my first foray into the oeuvre of Canning, it certainly won’t be my last.