Kinky Friedman

Kinky Friedman (1944–2024, born in Chicago, raised in Texas died at Echo Hill Ranch, his family’s historic summer camp and beloved home located in the Texas Hill Country near Medina, Texas) [Iconic American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, and politician. Fondly known as “The Kinkster” due to his curly hair, he built an outsized persona as a cigar-chomping Jewish cowboy who used biting satire to challenge social norms. He heavily modeled his sharp storytelling style after classic American satirists like Mark Twain and Will Rogers. Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Served for two years as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Borneo, Malaysia. Formed the satirical country-rock band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys in 1973. Gained cult fame for pushing boundaries with provocative songs like “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed”. Earned high praise from legendary musicians, eventually touring with Bob Dylan as part of the famous Rolling Thunder Revue in 1976. Shifted his focus to writing in the mid-1980s. He published over 20 offbeat mystery novels featuring a fictionalized, amateur-detective version of himself living in Greenwich Village, New York City. Ran a colorful independent campaign for Governor of Texas in 2006. Using slogans like “Why the hell not?” and “How Hard Could It Be?”, he placed fourth with 12.6% of the vote. Alongside his artistic career, he was a passionate animal lover who founded the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, which saved over 1,000 stray and aging dogs.

Supporting Characters: In the series, Kinky is often aided by a group called the “Village Irregulars,” which includes Steve Rambam, a character based on a real-life investigator who is described in the books as being trained as both a rabbi and a cop.

Cultural Themes: The books frequently feature Jewish cultural references, such as the protagonist’s “Jew-fro” hairstyle and his penchant for comparing his own life of “irritating people” to that of Jesus, whom he also identifies as a “skinny Jew”. [Google/AI]

Kinky Friedman Mysteries

1. Greenwich Killing Time [hc, Beech Tree Books,1986]) 978-0688064099 [pb, Vandam Press, 2000] 978-0970238306
2. A Case Of Lone Star [hc, Beech Tree Books,1987]) 978-0688064105 [pb, Vandam Press, 2000] 978-0970238313
3. When The Cat’s Away [hc, Beech Tree Books,1988] 978-0688075552 [pb, Berkley, 1989] 978-0425118306
4. Frequent Flyer (hc, William Morrow,1989) 978-0688081669 [pb, Berkley, 1990] 978-0425123454
5. Musical Chairs (hc, William Morrow, 1991) 978-0688091484 [pb, Vandam Press, 2000] 978-0970238344
6. Elvis, Jesus & Coca Cola [hc, Simon & Schuster, 1993])  978-0671869229 [pb, Bantam, 1994] 978-0553568912
7. Armadilloes & Old Lace [hc, Simon & Schuster, 1994]) 978-0671869236 [pb, Bantam, 1995] 978-0671869236
8. God Bless John Wayne [hc, Simon & Schuster,1995]) 978-0684810515 [pb, Bantam, 1996] 978-0684810515
9. The Love Song of J. Edgar Hoover [hc, Simon & Schuster, 1996] 978-0684803777 [pb, Ballantine Books, 1997] 978-0345415097
10. Roadkill [hc, Simon & Schuster, 1997] 978-0684803784 [pb] Ballantine Books, 1998] 978-0345416322
11. Blast From The Past [hc, Simon & Schuster, 1998] 978-0684803791 [pb, Ballantine Books, 1999] 978-0345416308
12. Spanking Watson [hc, Simon & Schuster, 1999] 978-0684850610 [pb, Gallery Books] 978-0671047429
13. The Mile High Club [hc, Simon & Schuster, 2000] 978-0684864860 [pb, Gallery Books] 978-0671047436
14. Steppin’ on a Rainbow [hc, Simon & Schuster, 2001]) 978-0684864877 [pb, Pocket, 2002] 978-0671047443
15. Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (hc, Simon & Schuster, 2002) 978-0684864884 [pb, Simon & Schuster] 978-1416578024
16. Curse of the Missing Puppet Head (hc, Vandam Press, 2003) 978-0970238368
17. The Prisoner of Vandam Street (hc, Simon & Schuster, 2004) 978-0743246026 [pb, 2014] 978-1476794525
18. Ten Little New Yorkers (hc, Simon & Schuster, 2005) 978-0743246033 [pb, Simon & Schuster, 2008] 978-1416592723