The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man

Author: Jonas Jonasson

Publisher: William Morrow Books

Release Date: January 15, 2019

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Just plain hilarious!

After wasting away the millions that were in the suitcase discovered by Allan and Julius, they must figure out how to foot the bill of their luxurious hotel in Bali.  But before they do, Julius decides that a birthday surprise is in order for his good friend’s 101^st birthday, complete with a hot air balloon ride.  But what starts off as an innocent day turns out to be anything but when a series of events leaves Allan and Julius alone in the balloon with a broken gas lever and the balloon suddenly whisking them across the Indian ocean.  Once they run out of gas and drop into a seemingly endless ocean with only two flares (make that one as Julius accidentally fires the first one into the ocean), Allan plans to make the best with the bottles of champagne they have.  Amazingly, a ship saw the flare and comes to there rescue, which happens to be a North Korean cargo ship that takes them directly to Pyongyang. Will Allan be able to talk himself and his friend out of this adventure?

So, I’ve not read the first one and can tell that I have definitely missed some back story as well as some hilarious witty banter from Allan.  Even so, this book still read just fine as a standalone, but I think I will likely go back and read the first to understand the whole story of what has happened.  As far as this book is concerned, it was like reading a cross between Forest Gump and a Dirk Pitt novel.  The adventures that these two get themselves into and the world figures that they meet up with is just insane and hilarious at the same time.  The author has taken advantage of pop culture for characterizing different world leaders including Donald Trump, Kim Jong-um, and Angela Merkel just to name a few.  So, if you are easily offended by any off handed characterizations of these individuals, this is probably not the book for you.  However, if you want a fun read that will leave you howling in laughter, then you’re welcome.

There is some strong language throughout the book, so I would not recommended this for young readers.  I would also recommended that you have a decent grasp of current events.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions express within are my own.