Review: Plugged by Eoin Colfer

Title: Plugged
Author: Eoin Colfer
Series: Daniel McEvoy #1
Publication: May 1st 2011 by Headline
Genre: Adult ~ Crime
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 4/5

Daniel McEvoy is a scarred ex-Irish Army sergeant who is now the bouncer at Slotz, a seedy small-time casino and he has a problem. His favorite hostess and love interest, Connie, was murdered in the parking lot behind the club. And Zeb, the dubious plastic surgeon who implanted McEvoy's hair plugs, has disappeared. In no time at all McEvoy's got half the New Jersey mob, dirty cops and his man-crazy upstairs neighbor after him. Bullets are flying, everyone's on the take, and McEvoy still doesn't have a clue about what's happening.

Plugged sure was something different from the other books I've read by this author since this one is more for the adult crowd. And I'm really glad that I ended up liking it a lot, though it's not really surprising because it's Eoin Colfer. I would read anything by him.

This book is about the Irish Daniel McEvoy, who works as a bouncer at a crammy club in New Jersey. When the girl he likes, Connie, one of the clubs hostesses is killed is murdered and his good friend Zeb goes missing and possibily killed, Dan starts getting into all sorts of trouble. 

I really enjoyed the main character's voice. I don't know what it was about him but I just liked reading about Dan. I couldn't really help but like him and feel bad for him with all the trouble that was transpiring since Connie got murdered. 

The story was also pretty gritty, which again is so different from Colfer's usual work. I loved that.  And as per usual with Colfers books, it also had a good couple of side characters that you can't help but like.

Overall, Plugged was a great book. The story was solid, the conversations were witty and the characters were all interesting to read about. Although this really isn't my usual genre, I did enjoy the story. I'm pretty much convinced that Eoin Colfer can write anything that I will like. I can't wait to read the second book!

        About the Author:

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Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father (an elementary school teacher, historian and artist of note) and mother (a drama teacher). He first developed an interest in writing in primary (elementary) school with gripping Viking stories inspired by history he was learning in school at the time!

After leaving school he got his degree from Dublin university and qualified as a primary school teacher, returning to work in Wexford. He married in 1991 and he and his wife spent about 4 years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was published in 1998, based on his experiences in Tunisia; it has since been translated into many languages. A sequel followed in 1999, followed by some other books (see below). Then in 2001 the first Artemis Fowl book was published and he was able to resign from teaching and concentrate fully on writing.

He says, “I will keep writing until people stop reading or I run out of ideas. Hopefully neither of these will happen anytime soon. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.