If Marlowe lived in Minnesota . . . If Spade spouted poetry . . . If the Big Lebowski were a small-time private eye . . . Meet Augie Boyer, private detectiveOnce upon a time, Sam Spade, Miles Roby, and Bill Maher all went to Bart Schneiders laboratory. There was an accidenta spill, a flash of lightningand only one character came out. Schneider named him Augie Boyer. Youll love the big lug.Sean Doolittle, author of The CleanupPrivate eye Augie Boyer is out of sorts. Hes been smoking too much Pontchartrain Pootie, his favorite varietal herb, and scarfing down an excess of fried food. He cant stop thinking of his therapist wife, who left him for another therapist, and despite his new girlfriends best efforts, Augies testosterone levels have sunk lower than the winter temperatures of Minneapolis.On the eve of the Republican National Convention, a beautiful, blond violinist with multiple personalities walks into Augies office. She draws him into a complex case that involves neo-Nazi violin collectors, mind-control specialists, and thousands of antiabortion activists whove come to the Twin Cities for a rally that will bring new meaning to Labor Day. But when Augie uncovers an assassination plot, he must scramble to prevent a deranged act of political violence that strikes dangerously close to home.With wit, compassion, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, Bart Schneider creates a lovable yet flawed character and delivers a thrilling contemporary tale.From the Trade Paperback edition.