The Hero of Blind Pig Island and Other Island Stories by Jimmy Olsen

This is a collection of short stories by Jimmy Olsen that I received a copy of in exchange for an honest review.  Honestly, I almost never read short stories, but these were rather fascinating tales ranging from missionaries to diving experiences all the way to vengeful school teachers.  Some were rather intriguing and funny while others were kind of sad.  They all center on island life and most of the inhabitants there live much differently than where I live.  Here everyone seems rather uptight and stressed all of the time (this sometimes includes myself).  In these stories though, it's like a whole different world.  The people like to drink, party, and relax.  They take life as it comes and in some ways I am envious of them.  There were a few stories I found particularly interesting.  There was one about a large hurricane coming through and the people riding it out had a party while it was in full swing!  Not something that I would have ever done, but I found this very amusing!  Also, the one about the vengeful school teachers was quite interesting for me.  It had some rather funny parts to it and I couldn't help laughing in some places while during others I was in total agreement that certain people had gotten what they deserved.  It's a really great collection!



Blurb:

This collection of island stories carries the reader from daring adventures beneath the Caribbean Sea to tense conflict on a deserted island near the Canadian border. Love stories and private eyes, a boy living on a lonely salt cay and a girl's dream of freedom at sea, hurricanes and heroes - all told with humor and the insight that comes from firsthand experience.



Amazon Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Blind-Island-Other-Stories/dp/0980183561/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429120959&sr=8-1&keywords=blind+pig+island

Things in Ditches by Jimmy Olsen

Those of you who like murder mysteries and suspense, this will be the book for you to read!  It's not a new novel, but it is certainly a fascinating one that makes you question the many facets of being guilty of a crime.

Dutch Cleland lived in a small town with his wife, Jean.  Their relationship was still somewhat tumultuous even though it had been quite a while since Dutch cheated on his wife with Vicky.  He fell for Vicky and she told him she loved him.  Eventually, though, the hate, rage, and anger that had been lying beneath the surface so long finally erupts and Dutch finished her off, leaving her in a ditch for another to find.  The story goes viral in such a small town.  Murder isn't something that happens in Willow River.  While Dutch holes himself up in the middle of nowhere, a search commences for him and Vicky's now missing body while a blizzard rages on.  There are more dangers in Willow River than Dutch Cleland.  Vicky's husband, Gordon Murdock, and ex-husband, Carroll Johnson, are both in town and while her ex isn't much to worry about, it seems that her current one is.  He's a "reformed rapist" and out to get Dutch along with everyone else.  Only thing is that Murdock will plow through whoever he must to find him.  All the while, Dutch is tying to figure what exactly to do about the whole situation.  Run or stay and face the music?


I received a paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on it and I think this is a very complex tale of murder and intrigue.  It is really interesting how Olsen made it so it was really hard to decide who was bad and who was good and to what depth of either one they were.  In all honesty, pretty much no one in the book is completely good or bad.  Even the chief of police, Charlie Benson, has his flaws, which includes his temper occasionally besting him and clouding any clear thinking when it comes to certain things, especially this particular case.  Everyone thinks that Dutch committed the crime and have him marked as some mad butcher, which is ironic since he is a butcher by trade.  But the guy has his reasons for finally letting loose on Vicky, which comes to light later on.  No one deserves to die like that, but I can only call this woman one thing and that's a home wrecker.  Plain and simple.  I didn't think so at first, but the more you get into the book, the more you feel kind of sorry for all of the men involved with her and the more you dislike her.  Any woman who has no scruples about being married and sleeping with various other men (mostly married ones) and breaking up or messing up marriages is a home wrecker.  That's Vicky.  The detail in this book is also really in depth and makes the story come alive.  It can just as easily disgust you in some scenes as create awe in others.

A solid 5 star read!!