Tim Downs's Nick of Time ~ Reviewed

Nick of Time
A Bug Man Novel
By Tim Downs
2011
Thomas Nelson
978-1-59554-310-3


Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

The Bug Man is getting married on Saturday…if his fiancée can find him.

Forensic entomologist Nick Polchak lives in a world of maggots and blow flies and decomposing bodies. No wonder he’s still single.

But Nick has finally found a woman as strange as he is—dog trainer Alena Savard, a woman who is odd, reclusive, and can seemingly talk to animals. It was a match made in heaven.

Nick and Alena are scheduled to be married on Saturday—but there’s one small problem. Nick has disappeared.

Caught up in a murder case involving an old friend, Nick finds himself on a manhunt that’s drawing him farther and father from the church where Alena is waiting. But will he make it back in time? Could Nick’s single-minded focus cause him to forget his own wedding? Is he really pursuing a killer, or is he running away from something else?

Quickie review: mmm-mmm-mmm.

Longer version: You know when you have a mosquito bite on your back that you can’t quite reach but it’s itching like a bugger? So you beg someone—anyone—to scratch that one little spot. And when they finally reach it, you know that heaven is a real place and that you’ve died and gone there?

Yep.

That’s exactly how you’ll feel when you read Nick of Time. I’ve been waiting all year for this wedding and I was NOT disappointed. Nick’s as goofy as ever. Alena as cagey. Donovan is a hilarious side-kick whenever he’s in the picture. My-oh-my…this is one crime scene you won’t want to miss.

I can’t wait till Nick and Alena have kids.

Bonus Review:

Nick Polchak is a character, who for women, magnifies, exaggerates and sums up the error of male thinking and communication. When Nick is confused and fumbling he’s oh, so, cute. But when he puts a foot in it, or crosses over those lines, POW!, it’s nice to see him get a little grief. I think men can identify with Nick because he says the things most men know not to say and that’s got to be a vicarious thrill. Regardless. Nick is a bumbling, brilliant, charming, maddening character whom I have grown to love.

I’ll admit to being almost horrified at the end of the Ends of the Earth. When the reader was left hanging over which woman was chosen by Nick. I was very glad that Nick fans voted and chose like I did. Had the other woman been chosen I’m afraid I couldn’t have enjoyed Nick of Time. But, that said, I can also say, I loved, loved, loved Nick of Time.

Nick has chosen his soul mate. And, Nick is Nick, so things go awry and get twisted and people die and maggots are involved. Nick forgets (or never figures out) basic, common sense rules about love and weddings. And Nick gets caught up in thoughts that mess with his mind. I’m not going to say much more about the story because I don’t want to ruin one word for fans. I will say that I was nervous and concerned about how the book would end but was super satisfied at the conclusion, especially because the story is wide open for at least one more good book. A little plot twist was a terrific surprise. And the character interaction and the writing are beautiful things.

Well done, Mr. Downs….keep them coming. Please!

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer