Book Review – In Search of McDoogal by Mae Clair
My Book Review – In Search of McDoogal by Mae Clair.
I downloaded In Search of McDoogal three weeks ago and was delighted to read it over the weekend.
![In Search of McDoogal by [Mae Clair]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51hxca5DsHL.jpg)
My Review
In Search of McDoogal by Mae Clair is a fast-read short story. The main characters and the problem were established in the story’s onset. Brady and Declan were best friends from high school. Brad showed up before dawn to ask Declan’s help. The way they communicated with each other was nothing less than that in such a friendship.
It horrified Brady when he sold his girlfriend Vanessa’s cherished painting while watching her shop. He had one day to retrieve it before her return from a trip. The all-day tracking of the painting and the incredible chain of actions bolted me to the seat. The dialogue was hilarious and kept me laughing from the beginning to the end. It felt like these two guys were chasing their hundred-dollar bill got blown away, every time they almost touched it to grab it, another wind swooped it up.
The characters are believable. The mistake Brady made could have happened to anyone. The panicking, the willingness to go all the way in remediation, and the bargaining in saving a situation are so real in life. Yet the story put humor in such seemingly desperate circumstance. I look forward to more short stories from this author and this cast. Highly recommended.
About the Author
A member of the Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, Mae Clair is also a founding member and contributor to the award-winning writing blog, Story Empire. She has achieved bestseller status on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with several of her novels chosen as book club selections.
Mae writes primarily in the mystery/suspense genre, flavoring her plots with elements of urban legend and folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail, and cats.
Please contact the author at the links below:
The Showers of Blessings 
If vampires vs. Harry Potter interests you at all, please get your copy of Red Rail Academy for free this weekend. No review required. We just want to get the word out. Here is what the book is about… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03vq4EdK_uU
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great review!!! i will definitely be adding it to my book list!! thank you very much for sharinggg, i love your blog!!!🤍
I am planning on writing my own book about my sister’s journey fighting brain cancer and how I grew up with a sense of fear and hope towards this bittersweet experience, so stay tuned for that if interested!🤗🤗🤗
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Thank you for your comment. 🙂 You may want to add a few things to your blog. 🙂 🙂
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Thanks for sharing this great review Miriam! The plot seems like a lovely one, let’s see if I read.
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Sounds so delightful 😉 I”ll be adding this one to my TBR List 🙂
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Good to hear that, Morgan.😊 How have you been? 😊
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Busy lol. Moved to Virginia, got a new job, wrote two new books, opened a new blog, and the like…lol YOU?
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Busy too. A grandma of two beautiful girls. I haven’t seen the 4 months old because I cancelled the trip for her birth. published one poetry book, one children’s book is in the process of illustration.
I just followed your new blog.
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The new world we live in sure makes travel difficult, I know. At least you are still able to write and share your love of words 🙂
Thanks ever so much for the kind follow. I hope you’ll enjoy the new blog as well!
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I hope to see my granddaughters next month or the following month the latest. 🙂
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I sure hope you”ll be able to!
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Solid review! I’ll be looking to get that book.
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Great to hear that, Kelly! How have you been?
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Doing great! I just got back from Ipoh today from a day drive. 🙂 Restrictions are easing up in Malaysia and today Health Minister says that if in 28 days consecutively we don’t get a single infected case, we will declare Covid-free. I hope that day will come soon!!
How are you doing, Miriam? Coping well?
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Good to hear Malaysia may declare Covid free. We’ve kept social distancing for three months now. We only go shopping every two weeks. We’re required to have masks to go in to any stores. I cancelled my trip in March to visit my daughter when my second granddaughter was born. But some stories are opening. Airline just send me a notice about travel guidelines. I may be able to go see my granddaughters soon. 😊
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I love Mae’s writing style! Though I’m more familiar with her supernatural stories, I have downloaded this one. Great review, Miriam!
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Yes, this is her new genre, Mark! I hope she writes more of this style of stories. I’m so glad you downloaded this one. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
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Great review, Miriam. I can’t wait to read this. Just got to whittle down my tbr pile a little. Congrats to Mae on the wonderful review. ❤ Be well, my friends.
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Thank you for reading and comment, Diana! So glad you’ll be reading this one. And thank you for reblogging Steven Baird’s story. It was a treat reading it. Have a great week, my friend. ❤
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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🙂
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tx for letting us know, Miriam — looks terrific 🙂
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You’re welcome, da-AL. 🙂 How are things in LA? Is the protesting near you?
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all well — yes, protesting is near…
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We have a small group of protesters near by. We’re off the main rad so didn’t see anything.
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we had protest in Lakewood — the civilians were great fortunately, but unfortunately can’t say the same for riot police…
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This is the unfortunate time, da-AL. Many states have new police policy. I hope people will calm down a little.
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people were fine in my town — it was the police who need to tone it down around here
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I’m so happy to see Mae featured here and with a book of hers I haven’t read yet! Thanks for sharing Miriam! 🙂
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Good to see you, Kevin! This is Mae’s new book.It was an enjoyable read. 🙂
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What a positive review. The book sounds fun!
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Thank you for your comment, Norah! It surely was a fun read!
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Wonderful review to share, Miriam! Bravo to Mae! 🙂
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Good to see you stopping by, Natalie! McDoogal was such a lighthearted reading and I surely wanted to share! 🙂
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What a wonderful review, Miriam! I just ordered my copy and look forward to the read. Congratulations, Mae, and all the best to you! ♥
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Thank you for reading my review and ordered your copy, Gwen! You’ll enjoy a good laugh. I’m glad Mae did this short story! Hope all is well with you! ❤
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Oh my gosh, I’ve got to download this short story in my Kindle! I like the idea of publishing short stories for quick amusement and fun reads. I can’t wait to see how Mae accomplishes this. Great review, Miriam.
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Thank you, Pam! McDoogal is surely an entertainment. You won’t be disappointed. Yeah, I read that short story is a trend for some readers. Thank you for stopping by, Pam!
I was watching two mourning doves fixing up a nest outside of my front porch. I think they are looking for some softer stuff to top the old nest. The nest has been reused for three years. 🙂
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A lovely review of this book, Miriam.
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Thank you, Robbie. This is a fun book!
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It sounds like a fun read!
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It was fun reading it, Liz. I’m picky when I go to Improv comedy clubs. McDoogal will make a good show!
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Even more to recommend it!
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Hi, Liz! Thank you for visiting to check it out! 🙂
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You’re welcome, Mae!
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That’s a lovely review Miriam. I am reading it today! What a co-incidence! 🙂
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Hi, Balroop! I loved Miriam’s review and I’m delighted to hear you’re reading McDoogal today. That brings a smile to my face. I hope you enjoy my quirky little story 🙂
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Oh yes, I really enjoyed it. My review is almost ready but will go online next week as many more are waiting. However, I’ll post it at Bookbub faster, as it makes no qualms approving it. 😊
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Aww, thanks so much, Balroop. I really appreciate that. And I understand about blogging reviews. I have a backlog of them right now, too. I did a lot or reading during shelter-in-place!
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Yeah, Balroop, I posted on Goodreads and Amazon. Amazon is temperamental, sometimes it posts my reviews in a instance. This time, it took three days. 🙂
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You are right Miriam, I fail to understand their criteria 😊
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I think it’s just random for Amazon. I write reviews in the same way all the time. They do want a certain format in the review but no everyone follows the format strictly.
When I do a post on my blog, I just wait until the review is posted on Amazon. 🙂
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Yeah, what a coincidence, Balroop! It’s good to hear you’re reading McDoogal. I’ll make sure to read your review. I’m sure you’re giggling through the book. 🙂
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Lovely review of McDoogal by Mae Clair Miriam. 🙂
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Good to see you, Marje. Thank you for reading the McDoogal review and comment.
I’m excited about your new project. 🙂
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Ah my pleasure and thank you re: my new project. 🙂
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I’ll keep an eye out for it, Marje!
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Hi, Marje! Thank you for reading Miriam’s wonderful review. It was such a pleasure to find it today!
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You’re welcome. Reviews truly lift our spirits!
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A wonderful review, Miriam. Thanks for sharing it. Congrats to Mae! ❤
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Good to see you, Vashti. Thank you for reading the review and your comment. Our schools are open on August 20th. Some non essential stores started to open. How about things in your area?
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! ❤
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Pretty much the same down here, Miriam. You have a fabulous weekend too! ❤
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Thank you,Vashti! ❤
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So glad you stopped by to check it out, Vashti. Thank you!
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It’s my pleasure, Mae. 🙂
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Great to see you reviewing McDoogal, Miriam. I absolutely loved this book, and for all the reasons you just stated. It was a fast read, perfect for that space after dinner but before bedtime, and it was funny as could be. I loved the relationship between Brady and Declan, too, just as you describe. Altogether, a wonderful change of pace for an author whose works usually scare me half to death. 😀 Congratulations to Mae, and thanks for the great post, Miriam. 🙂
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LOL! It was kind of weird to go from the Mohtman and the creatures skulking around Hode’s Hill to something lighthearted and silly, but I had a blast with it. And the friendship between Brady and Declan was a joy to write. I’m so glad you enjoyed McDoogal, Marica. Many thanks!!
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Thank you for your reading and the lovely comment, Marcia!
Brady and Declan remind me of my son-in-law and his best friend. When his friend’s truck broke down in the middle of nowhere passed midnight, he thought, “I know who to call.” He called my son-in-law, and Will said, “I’m coming.” Will drove two hours to rescue his friend. It was so beautiful!
There were several lines in the story kept coming up and made me laugh all over again. It will make anyone’s day!
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Miriam, that is a wonderful story…the kind of amazing friendship I love thinking about and writing about. Love it!
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Exactly, Mae! My son-in-law is a good guy. The first time I met him, my daughter left with with him because she had a class. Will told me his childhood stories one after another. As one said, if you want a friend, be a friend. That’s how he has good friends.
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Very cool. And that line “if you want a friend, be a friend” reminds me of David and Jonathan from the Bible. What a friendship those two had!
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Now you got me choked up just by mentioning David and Jonathan. David kept his promise to Jonathan to spare his sons and he did! We learned a lot from their friendship!
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I can read those passages of the Old Testament over and over, Miriam. There is no truer love between friends than David and Jonathan.
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I know, Mae. It was a true friendship tested over and over but nothing could break the bonding!
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That’s a true friend, Miriam! A great story, too. 🙂 I can see Brady and Declan being just like that! 🙂
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Yes, Marcia, it was a beautiful friendship between David and Jonathan. I want to read that again. Brady and Declan reminded me of that! 🙂
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Excellent review, Mirium. I have this on my Kindle and I may have to move it up in the TBR queue.
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Whenever if surfaces in your TBR, John, I hope you enjoy it. I had fun writing such a quirky tale!
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I hope to finish my TBR and not leave it in my will.
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Haha, you can leave your review in your will, John!
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Thank you, John, for stopping by. McDoogal may say “Excuse me!” So you’ll see it when it makes the way to the front of the queue. 🙂
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So glad to see McDoogal doing this well. I really enjoyed it, and I’m glad you did, too.
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Many thanks, Craig! I loved playing with a comedic slant for this novella—especially after coming off a three-book suspense series. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed McDoogal, Craig. It’s nothing like a good laugh from reading a book like this. Thank you for stopping by!
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I loved this story and hope she writes more. Mae elevated the best friends trope in the most delightful way.
Great review.
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I love buddy fics (and buddy TV shows), Staci. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on McDoogal today. I’m delighted whenever I hear how someone enjoyed it 🙂
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It not only put a smile on my face when I read it; it puts a smile on my face when I think about it. I enjoyed it very much.
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I know, Staci. Having a best friend like Declan is one in a lifetime. It warms my heart to see characters like them.
Thank you very much for your comment.
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This is a great review for McDoogal. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and laughed a lot. Thanks for sharing, Miriam 😊
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So happy my silly little tale made you laugh, Harmony. Mission accomplished 🙂
Thanks for visiting today!
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I appreciate your creation of such gem, Mae. Thank you for your comment, Harmony! 🙂
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Thank you, Harmony! Isn’t it a great comedy? I was glad my husband watches TV with the phone on (so not to disturb me 🙂 ) Thank you for your comment.
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Great review, Miriam. I loved this story and glad the word is getting out on it!
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Thanks, Denise. I so happy to see my silly little story getting time in the spotlight. Miriam made my day 🙂
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Thank you, Denise. The story surely will lighten anyone’s day. My pleasure to share!
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Nice review! I thoroughly enjoyed McDoogle.
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Thanks, Joan. It was such a pleasure to find Miriam’s lovely review today!
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Your welcome, Mae!
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Thank you, Joan. I was still giggling when writing the review. So good to hear you enjoyed McDoogal!
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Thanks, Jan! I was definitely nervous writing something so different from my usual genre. I’m glad I took the time to experiment. Writing McDoogal was a lot of fun and I hope to revisit the characters again. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
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I love your review of Mae’s short story, Miriam. This is such a different style of writing for Mae, and I enjoyed the story very much! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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Thank you for stopping by, Jan. Yes, I found this story entertaining and it’s just what I needed during this time.
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Miriam, what a lovely surprise to find your review of In Search of McDoogal. I’m delighted you found it so enjoyable, and even more so that you took the time to share those thoughts on your blog. Thank you! 🙂
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You’re welcome, Mae! It’s hard not to share such a gem. I was glad to read at the end of the book that you would revisit the cast for the future books. 🤗
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Thank you again for sharing it, Miriam. And yes, I do hope to revisit these characters–plus introduce a few other quirky ones along the way, LOL!
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Aww, Mae, that’s something I look forward to seeing and reading!
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