Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

by: Don Bruns

Published by: Oceanview Publishing (September release)

Reviewed by Sara Porter

James Lessor and Skip Moore are back and they are well, not bigger than ever, and definitely not smarter than ever. They’re just back in this hilarious satirical mystery Stuff Dreams Are Made Of. The second installment in Don Bruns’ Moore or Less series, the dynamic duo try their luck at catering. They bring their large white truck to the revival of Rev. Preston Cashdollar (yes that’s his name), and think they will make a few bucks. Instead, they get involved with the murder of a senator, a suspicious group of full timers,(see note below) and a long-ago mystery that Skip has a personal tie to.

Stuff Dreams Are Made Of is a funny and winning book filled with great lines, mostly provided Skip’s sardonic
narration. On the unfortunate name of their company, Moore or Less Catering, Skip remarks “It was James’ idea not mine. His name is Lessor, mine is Moore so he thought it would be clever to…well it was
his idea!”

The two make a unique detective team, more like Abbot and Costello than Holmes and Watson, as they stumble upon body after body–and angry people with guns. They usually don’t find out anything unless it’s in front of them, instead they spend most of the book trying to stay alive. Nevertheless, they make a great team with very interesting idiosyncrasies. Everything from James’ constant quoting of movie lines, to
their endless need for money is explored, making them a very fun identifiable duo.

The mystery plot is really solid and plays on the idea of revivals and religious types who use peoples’ faith to get money. An interesting scene has the originally skeptical duo attend the meeting and are so swayed by Cashdollar’s words that they end up donating money. Cashdollar and his cronies
are a very suspicious bunch, more like mob hit men than Holy Rollers. The mystery itself is very tight with a slightly obvious ending, but nonetheless the whole book plays on religious satire and mocks the idea of revivals and people who look for something beyond themselves to believe in.

NOTE: Full-timers were people who worked for Cashdollar’s revivals by serving food or souveniers full time and were on call whenever he needed them. They were sort of his Brute Squad because they intimidated many of the newcomers like James and Skip and their friend, Daron Styles who worked at Cashdollar’s revival before.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique characters and situation makes for a very fun read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.DonBrunsBooks.com