Review – Boo Humbug

Local playwright Lois Stepaphanolopolis creates a stir when she rewrites the familiar Dickens Christmas story and includes vampires and a host of other characters that would make Dickens spin in his grave. She dreams of bigger and better plays to come, but first she has to talk the residents of Skary into helping her complete this one.

Alfred Tennison, local Scrooge, can’t stand Christmas. The lights, the carolers, the shopping and crowds – he hates it all. What could be worse than getting roped into help Lois promote her crazy play?

New dad Wolfe Boone hasn’t slept in weeks. His wife Ainsley seems to have no problems with lost sleep, but he can’t get any work done and he’s miserable. When a friend talks him into acting in Lois’ play to get away from home for a few hours each night, he reluctantly agrees.

Will Lois’ play be the success she wants? Will Alfred overcome his hatred of Christmas and find its true meaning? And will Wolfe get the sleep he so deserves, or will his plan blow up in his face?

Gutteridge’s trademark humor makes a splash in Boo Humbug. Her kooky characters with hearts of gold really make the story, and the small town setting is too humorous to be fiction. Great use of dialogue really keeps the story rolling. Oh, and there’s a surprise twist at the end (but I won’t give it away – you’ll have to read it for yourself).