Pest Control: An Assassin Bug Thriller (Assassin Bug Thrillers) Paperback – January 3, 2012

Why do I love Bill Fitzhugh's books? I'm a little worried about what that says about me. Pest Control is off-kilter and hilariously disturbing, and I learned way, way more about bugs than I ever wanted to know.The central character, Bob Dillon, wants to create a non-pesticide cockroach killer. What could be more "green" and "environmentally friendly" than a natural cockroach killer? Ok, a genetically enhanced mutant cockroach killer bug, but what could go wrong with that?That's what this book is about. I first read Pest Control back when it was first released in paperback, but recently bought the Kindle version so I can read it whenever necessary.Be sure to read the sequel, The Exterminators, too.

If you’re here for your latest life lesson, it’s this: Don’t ever answer an exterminator ad. You might find your life terminated, after the CIA takes a hit out on you. Sure, the money sounds good and all, but fifty grand ain’t what it used to be. And if I have a choice between life and death, I think I’ll go with life, Bob.PEST CONTROL finds us in the midst of a painful existence of one Bob Dillon (not to be confused with the Bob Dylan) who has some trouble with bugs after he shoves a garden hose up his boss’s nose. Yes, the man has anger management issues, and he’s probably breathed in his share of toxic fumes (which doesn’t really help his cause). What he lacks in employment, though, he more than makes up for in spirit. Or you could just call it gusto. He hops up on desks and shouts to the heavens and breeds beetles in his spare room and deals with one pissed off landlord on a semi-regular basis.If that isn’t bad enough, he also has a hit man named Klaus (not to be confused with Santa) breathing down his neck. There’s also a little person who has a penchant for pink panties, which wouldn’t be so bad except the she is a he; a hit woman (after all we’re equal opportunity employers here) with a fondness for shoving white truffles down the gullet of her latest victim; a cowboy with his own rodeo and a fondness for killing; and other nefarious individuals who shall not be named.If you’re looking for the straight and narrow, you won’t find it here. What you will find are enough strange individuals to fill an entire city block, an over-the-top plot that at times had trouble maintaining believability, dialogue that shuddered, a narrative that might have had a loophole or two in logic and a bit of a jump in time, and pages plastered with dead insects in every possible manner known to the pest community.If you can believe it, this was even musical material. While I’m not sure I understand that particular angle, I did find myself amused at what took place over the course of this tale. If you have a penchant for half-baked tales that could have been composed on the back of a napkin after you (and possibly the author) surrounded yourselves in a smoke-filled haze, then this story’s for you. Just make sure you wash your hands first and then possibly after.Robert DownsAuthor of Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator

Pest Control is a well written, fun adventure of Bob Dillon. Bob is an exterminator who is looking for work, after quitting his job to follow his dream of an all natural pest control. Bob applies to an ad in the paper for an exterminator and this is when the story shifts. The ad was for a professional killer - not a bug hunter.The characters of this story draw you in and create a world that you feel apart of. Even the #1 killer has a hold on you. This story is crazy, out-there, and just enough of reality to keep you believing. A must read!

got a few chuckles out of the book but it was too silly in so many ways. author didn't pull off the Three Stooges or Peter Sellers...........but others might feel differently.

This was a gift for a friend, but I'm reading the same book. The author is brilliant and every paragraph is loaded with more and more laughs. Something very special and enjoyable, but you have to have a creative and appreciative mind to enjoy. That's all I'll say, pick it up for yourself.

Pest Control is a light-hearted book which uses a fast pace and off-the-wall humor to make up for any depth problems.Standard story. Upstart assassin bursts onto the scene, creating mayhem in the world of professional killers. Problem. Upstart assassin can't even fulfill a contract to rid a restaurant of roaches, let alone kill some of the most guarded men in the world.The story of Bob Dillon's flirtation with contract killers is a page-turner. Not really out of suspense, because you can't imagine that Fitzhugh would subject his characters to anything other than a fairy-tale ending, but out of unabated curiosity. You want to know how in the heck Dillon and his cohorts will survive to breed another strain of hybrid bug-eating bugs. Of course Fitzhugh answers with simple and hilarious solutions which are, towards the end of the book, more and more absurd and predictable.Overall, I'm slightly embarrassed that I like this book as much as do. Nonetheless, I would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy and humorous read.

This was Bill Fitzhugh's first book I believe. If you like offbeat, some twisted humor or just love Entomology (bugs) you should enjoy this one. Read his others if you do. They evolve in my opinion. It's been a long time since his last book so if you fall in love with his characters and storylines there seems to be a limit to what will be available. He seems like an interesting person too - look him up if you get hooked. I have only read one Carl Hiaasen's book, Razor Girl, so not an authority but Mr. Fitzhugh trumps for me.