It’s completely possible to read a book, enjoy a book, and then have almost no idea what it’s about. Copping Free by Matthew Carnahan is such a book. I’d be hard pressed to explain exactly what it’s about, although I’m fairly sure that the plot mainly focuses on a thief named Bailey Quinn fleeing for his life after being double-crossed by his partners in crime.

But Copping Free contains so many twisty details, it’s easy to get lost. That doesn’t really matter, though. Enjoying Copping Free doesn’t depend on insignificant things like following the plot. It’s all about the bizarre characters and dark comedy with which Carnahan populates his tale.

There’s the circus sideshow that Bailey and his buddies (I think) hold up for a big score. There’s the legless woman who briefly becomes Bailey’s lover. There are crazed elephants, a beautiful waitress with an overprotective dog, and characters with names like Nik Slave and Xana Calipatria. It’s all such a fun, wild ride, all you can do is go with it and not worry about the details.

Copping Free isn’t a book for those who like their fiction straight ahead and easy to follow. But for those who enjoy the colorful and the strange, it’s a treat.