Review: Stein, Stoned

Stein, Stoned by Hal Ackerman

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: “Soft-boiled” mystery/Humorous Mystery Reading Level: Adult

Disclosure: I picked up a free copy on Amazon, then received the 2nd book in the series free from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review. As I result, I’ve decided to go ahead and review this book, too.

Synopsis: In the sixties, Harry Stein was the foremost authority on cannabis; writing the book on indoor cultivation, inventing thirteen different hybrids, and planting “Victory Gardens” across America behind police precincts, legislature courtyards, and legendarily in the rose garden of the Nixon White House.

Flash forward to the 20th anniversary of John Lennon’s death and Stein is now employed by a “product liability re-insurance firm” and spending his 50th birthday counting a warehouse full of shampoo bottles. Although not the revolutionary of the future he once imagined himself to be, staying on the path of the straight and narrow allows Stein to keep that which he holds most precious in his life: joint custody of his teenage daughter, Angie. When Stein comes up 1,000 shampoo bottles short in his count and his investigations lead him to stumble upon the body of a brutally murdered supermodel, he is forced down a trail littered with old friends, new enemies, and one final journey into the world he long since left behind

My Thoughts: I must mention that, if I had spoken to my parents when I was 15 like Angie speaks to her father, I’d have been grounded for months. If she seemed to have some redeeming traits, I’d be inclined to be a bit more forgiving, but she acts like a spoiled brat – getting the dog a present and ignoring her father’s birthday?? On the other hand, I don’t see as Stein has much of a leg to stand on about being upset upon finding a stash of ditch-weed in the house... One thing that bothers me is when parents act like they were perfect – for instance bragging up how wonderful they were when they were their age – when in fact they had the same sorts of problems you have had. I find it much more relateable if they admit they were less than perfect and that’s why they want better for their children. But that’s just a personal trigger that was pushed in the early part of this book...

Another trigger was brought about by Stein’s first murder scene. Instead of backing out, leaving stuff as it was, and calling the caps, he went in, cut down the victim, moved her, cleaned up the mess, went through her stuff, called a friend on her phone … Admittedly, there weren’t quite the plethora of crime-scene shows in 2000, but still, anyone with any common sense knows to leave stuff alone so the cops can solve the crime.

...And that was about the point where I realized I could not finish this book. This guy is Too Stupid To Live and I believe I would end up pulling out my hair if I read any more. Did not finish; did not toss across the room because I value my Kindle, but I do believe I’ll be skipping the sequel, too; never mind that it’s a Vine book; I can leave 20 percent unreviewed. Maybe some day I’ll be feeling tolerant and will try, but for now? Ugh – not recommended at all.



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