Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb
Two, two, two books in one! That is how I’d initially describe the two short novellas, Cachinnation and Doc In A Box , included in the prolific and talented author, William LeRoy’s, latest page-turning book. After you read Cachinnation, simply turn the book over and upside-down, and viola–there is the second novella, Doc In A Box , awaiting your engaged perusal! I thoroughly enjoyed reading both of these novellas, but I’d say, of the two, I give the edge to Doc In A Box. I would add that I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery novels combined with a generous dose of humor. I have read several of LeRoy’s novels before, and I always look forward to reading any new one he has written, and this book is no exception. Purchase Here.
I would also recommend that Cachinnation is read first. That’s because it covers Max Morgan’s case in the month of November, while Doc In A Box covers one in the month of December. Morgan, who is a rather corpulent man, is retired from the Postal Service and is a Notary Public who is unmarried, still lives at his mother’s house at the age of 52, and has as his office a “work station cubicle” at a local “Mister Quickie copy shop” in a small town in Oklahoma.
Morgan doesn’t have many, if any, actual friends, but he does have a lot of acquaintances, like the ones who make up a group of men who call themselves the Furries. The two members of the Furries who play the largest roles in Cachinnation are Possum McGill and Leo Wolfe, two ostensible friends who also have a mutual love interest, Possum’s wife, Lil. The two names, McGill and Lil, sort of reminded me of of a love interest in the Beatles’ song, “Rocky Raccoon,” though this might be coincidental.
Along the course of Cachinnation, Max discovers not only some dirty little secrets of some of the local townsfolk, but also learns how to laugh at himself and others. So, I would say that IMHO Cachinnation is a great start to this two novella combo, which, potential Spoiler Alert, also features a poisoned cupcake and a dead beaver.
In the second novella, Doc In A Box , it is the following month, December. Author William LeRoy’s always intrepid Max Morgan finds himself getting a bit of unwanted attention from his doctor’s wife, Candy Sanders, a “cougar,” who he believes is always on the prowl. Candy has other motives for what she does in Doc In A Box , but Morgan deduces, shall I say, otherwise.
Candy perhaps should be happy with having a doctor as her husband, but her marriage has grown from being one of convenience to inconvenience. She finds herself in an economic position where she uses her job working for her husband to get some of the doctor’s aging male clientele the prostate and ED treatment she strives to convince them that they need.
Dr. Sanders has dreams of retiring to Florida to play golf there and enjoy his retirement years, but he is retiring too early for his wife’s liking. He has not saved up enough money to satisfy her because she is several years younger than him and she wants to make sure her golden years are spent comfortably, with or without her spouse. Also, in Candy’s viewpoint, her husband’s life insurance policy wouldn’t make her golden years comfortable enough, so she doesn’t want him to retire yet.