A Fifth for the 4th of July
By Doug Olsen
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Nelson helps Pam get the right old whiskey for her fathers 90th birthday present on the 4th of July. And deal with the con-man who sold her a counterfeit Rebel Yell Bourbon. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Fifth for the 4th of July is a short story about Pam trying to get a very special present for her father’s 90th birthday – a bottle of Rebel Yell Bourbon.
The story begins with author Nelson who “often gets involved with solving mysteries like some detective”. Nelson was craving a buttered French roll from Café La France in Rhode Island, where an old friend, Pam lives. So off goes Nelson for the weekend to have his French roll and a visit with Pam. Pam is fretting over getting a present for her dad’s 90th birthday. Apparently, her data was the inspiration for a top 100 western song, Faster Horses.
“The song is about an old-time cowboy who proclaimed the mystery of life is… Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money.”
So now Pam is on a quest to get a fifth of old Rebel Yell Bourbon (called Stizel juice) Throughout Pam’s journey, the reader is rooting for her – regardless of the obstacles that she encounters. You will have to read this short story on your own to experience the journey as well as the conclusion for yourself.
I must say, it was an okay read that distracted this reader for a short time.
The cover art drew this reader to the book. Reading the biography on Goodreads about the author Doug Olsen led me to discover what a varied past Mr. Olsen has had:
Doug is Chemical Engineer with several patents and has designed several major facilities. He has been a motivational speaker, a bookseller, and for a short time was even a busker, a street musician in Seattle.
Even busking in Seattle (an interesting art form which I enjoy immensely) so I may well pick up one of his full-length novels and give it a try.
