“Roadkill” is Kinky Friedman’s tenth novel and and was first published in 1997. As with his other books, Kinky has cast himself as the amateur-PI hero – though he doesn’t take too many liberties. The book’s Kinky (unsurprisingly) is a cigar-smoking, cat-loving, espresso-guzzling, whiskey-drinking, ex-country and western performer. As usual, Kinky isn’t the only ‘real’ person to appear in the book : Rambam, Ratso and McGovern – Kinky’s ‘Village Irregulars’ – have all been based on actual friends. While the Village Irregulars turn up in most of Kinky’s books, “Roadkill” provides one very notable, non-recurring guest star : Willie Nelson.

As the book opens, it’s clear that Kinky is just not going to have a good day. The fact that his career as a PI has taken a slight downturn, not to mention the continuing absence of Stephanie Dupont (she’s on silent running in Florida), is causing the Kinster a certain amount of misery. However, it’s the conversation he has with Antonio the Indian that adds a healthy dose of panic to his misery. Antonio, who is looking out of the mirror that Kinky is looking into, suggests that now is perhaps the right time for taking a little trip. (Given that Kinky’s talking to a figment of his imagination, this isn’t necessarily bad advice…even if it’s the figment of his imagination who’s providing the advice). Not long afterwards, Kinky receives a phone call from his old friend Willie Nelson. Spookily, Willie is phoning from his tour bus and wants the Kinkster to join him on his travels. Naturally, Kinky packs his bags and hits the road…though it soon becomes clear that Willie’s life is in danger and he might just need the services of a skilled PI.

“Roadkill” is a very enjoyable, easily read book. Like everything else I’ve read by Kinky, it’s not an entirely serious ‘whodunnit’ and it includes plenty of the trademark one-liners. However, he does occasionally wander off-topic and it’s maybe a little more introspective in places than usual. Nevertheless, the book is anything other than a disappointment – if you’ve enjoyed any of Kinky’s other books, you should also enjoy this one.