I am launching a new humor mystery and thought it appropriate to write about my new book AIsRYourFriends and humor. I have been writing comedy mysteries for eight years now, and I love it. The creativity involved is intoxicating, and I love to make people laugh. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
As a retired pharmacologist with a career in the serious world of drug development, I thought it would be fun to find some humor in it. Which is why each of my books includes just a smidgeon of pharmacology in the plot. It might be a silly drug side effect or wildly ridiculous drug loosely based on science. Or it could involve use of an absurd prescription drug as a murder weapon. Then there’s corporate espionage in the drug industry, you get the idea. Problem is, this premise raises the obvious question of “what is funny”.That is clearly different from person to person. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
The main characters in my humorous mysteries are Dr. Jason Longfellow, his nurse wife Chelsea, and their three daughters Lizzy, Lilly, and Lucy. Dr. Longfellow worked for the FDA for several years. He became bored, decided to change careers, and got a private eye license online. Turns out he was a pretty good doctor, but he’s a terrible detective. He’s not making any money. They have three daughters to raise, and Chelsea must get involved to make the business work. Of course she’s an excellent detective. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Her main problem is that Jason thinks he’s Sherlock Holmes. He’s more like a neurotic, OCD version of Inspector Clouseau with no filter between his brain and his mouth. Chelsea often spends as much time keeping him out of trouble as she does solving the case. Then there’s the usual issues that can arise between any two people that are married with children. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
So, the humor comes from creative, imaginative, and unique mystery plots. Then there is the challenging relationship between Jason and Chelsea. For example, imagine a mystery plot where there’s a secret new drug in development that can make you younger. But it comes with a very strange and unexpected side effect. Or having a mother-in-law, like Jason’s, who drinks heavily. She has wanted to shoot him from the first moment she met him. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Then there’s Jason’s interrogation techniques that are so irrational and irritating they can literally break the person being interrogated. Or his tendency to blurt things out that are totally inappropriate to the situation. For example, “That gator chewed your husband up so badly his parts were everywhere, destroying all the evidence.” As for family dynamics, Jason has a wife and three daughters. He has learned that they may bicker with each other. But if he opens his mouth they close ranks and all guns point in his direction. When the ladies start to argue, Jason and his tabby cat friend hide in the basement. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
As to that question of what is funny and what is not, I have my own opinion. I like situational humor. For example, Chelsea is jealous and Jason has a roving eye. When the next-door neighbor is a voluptuous blonde who sits in her front yard sunning herself in a tiny bikini, Jason is very willing, one might even say anxious, to take out the garbage. When he sees Chelsea looking out the window, he practically breaks his neck trying not to stare at the neighbor. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Or when Jason tails the bad guy into a stripper bar, and Chelsea tells him he needs to remain inconspicuous. So, he drinks several beers to look genuinely drunk. Then while the bad guy walks out the front door, Jason is busy stuffing dollar bills into one of the stripper’s G-strings. Well, Chelsea told him not to look out of place. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
So, I find situational comedy and the dialogue between two married people to have the potential for humor. And creative, imaginative, and sometimes absurd plots can also result in laugh-out-loud comedy. If you want to get technical with respect to the types of humor recognized by most comedians, I prefer slapstick comedy, exaggeration for the sake of humor, and self-deprecating humor. However, I draw the line at what I call bodily function humor. To me it’s just gross, and I prefer not to see it either in books or on the screen. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
You are probably wondering at this point what the heck this has to do with my new book entitled AIsRYourFriends. In this book the humor partially comes from my recent experiences with artificial intelligence, which appears to be taking over the planet. And as to a murder mystery plot with just a smidgeon of pharmacology, I promise that’s in there too. That’s where my creativity and overactive imagination come into play. The killer and motive for the murders are over the top. This one was really fun to write. Early feedback indicates it’s also a lot of fun to read. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
My recent unfortunate interactions with the current world of AI include Alexa and my I-Roomba vacuums (I now have two). I spent considerable time setting up Alexa to turn the lights in our condo off and on by voice command. I must confess that this is extremely convenient, when it works. However, to make it work one has to get the Alexa app to talk to the Sengled app (that’s the brand of bulb I chose) through your local internet. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
I finally managed to get this to work, and simply named the lights 1st bulb, 2nd bulb, 3rd bulb, and 4th bulb. It served us well until the first thunderstorm. We live in Florida, and there are a lot of those on scalding hot summer afternoons. The first time lightning struck nearby, the internet flickered, and the apps, bulbs, and internet all stopped talking to each other. “Alexa, turn on first bulb.” Alexa’s answer, “No. Please check to see if the bulb has power and is turned on.” In these numerous instances, it would take me a minimum of an hour to reset everything. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Two weeks ago, I told Alexa to turn on first bulb, and I got no response at all. Suddenly none of the bulbs would respond to my commands to turn on the lights. I didn’t even get the sassy voice telling me to check to see if the bulb had power and was turned on. I got nothing. So, I went online and did a google search. Apparently for some unknown (to me) reason someone (I don’t know who) decided to interject a third app into the mess. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Apparently to successfully set up Alexa to interact with these Sengled bulbs one now must download a third app and create yet another account with username and password. Then that app must enter into a conversation with the Alexa app, the Sengled app, and the internet. It’s almost like the first two apps got divorced, and now you need a lawyer (or perhaps a counselor) app to intervene and get the first two to continue to work together. At this point I gave up, and my wife and I now use our hands to manually turn on each light individually, no apps required. It’s app-proof and lightning-proof, unless of course one of us gets struck by said lightning. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Then there’s my experience with our I-Roomba vacuum, or should I say vacuums. A few years ago, I purchased our first AI vacuum cleaner. I downloaded the app, connected everything to the internet, and let the thing map our house. Apparently, there is some security concern involved in this because this product is made in China. The Chinese might discover the layout of our condo. Frankly I’m not too concerned about a guy flying to Florida from China, parachuting out of an airplane, and robbing us. But perhaps I am naive in this regard. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Anyhow, I named my little vacuum cleaner Ferdi and consider him the son I never had. He’s a little too short to play basketball, but he vacuums the heck out of things. Here is something that actually does a decent job at what it’s supposed to do. I considered this a win. I can sit and eat breakfast while Ferdi vacuums the condo. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
This past year we moved to a different condo, one with only a single floor; no stairs for our aging knees. Meanwhile Ferdi developed some squeaks and moans. Unfortunately, I can relate, as my knees and shoulder also squeak and moan. I had already replaced several of Ferdi’s parts, and I probably should replace a few of mine as well. I finally decided to buy a new Ferdi, which I cleverly named Ferdi 2.0. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
When Ferdi 2.0 arrived, I discovered that the company had decided to place his lidar in a tower on top, so this version is taller than the original. As a result, it will not fit under a couple of large cabinets or the dinette chairs in the dining room. So, I decided to keep the old Ferdi in service to vacuum under those cabinets and chairs. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
As it turns out, I’m having fun with this set up. I can use Ferdi 2.0 for all the house except under those cabinets and chairs, where I use the original Ferdi. Much to my wife’s dismay, every now and then I turn both Ferdis loose at the same time in the dining room and watch them battle it out. They mostly zip around each other, but every now and then they crash into each other. It’s kinda like Ferdi bumper cars. You are correct. I need to get a life. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
Most of what I know about self-driving EVs come from reading Car and Driver and Motor Trend magazines. I have read articles in the car magazines suggesting that self-driving EVs, and EVs in general, tend to heat up and burst into flames. There have also been reports of their detection systems not detecting such minor things as a white tractor trailer. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
And it’s scary to think that the AI in the robotaxi might act in a similar manner to Alexa turning on the lights. Me, “Robotaxi, take me home.” Robotaxi, “No. Please make sure your car is plugged into a power supply and turned on.” And I can’t help but wonder what a lightning storm might do to my self-driving taxi as we are cruising down the highway at seventy-five miles an hour. Perhaps a nearby lightning strike might turn off the engine, or short out the internet connection directing the thing, or who knows what. I’m thinking I might start hitchhiking at some point like I did back in the seventies. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
I got some of my ideas for AI faux paus from the above experiences. As to the plot of the book, this mystery occurs at a place where big pharma collides with artificial intelligence. All I’m going to say at this point is that the motive for the murders is…how shall I say…uniquely funny. You’ll have to read the book to learn more about the murders by alligator, motive, and the killer. I can honestly say that this plot will take you where no fan of humor mysteries has ever gone before. And I promise there will be no bodily function humor anywhere. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
I am planning to officially launch AIsRYourFriends at the Ximenez-Fatio House Book Festival in downtown St. Augustine, Florida on Saturday September 19, 2026, 10AM-3PM. Come on down if you happen to be in town. Downtown St. Augustine is a beautiful place, and I’ll be there selling and signing books. If you happen to buy one, please leave me an honest review on Amazon. I promise that you’ve never read a comedy mystery quite like this before, and hopefully it’ll make you want to come back for more. Who doesn’t like to laugh, and a good mystery will get the juices flowing. AIsRYourFriends Book Launch and Humor
For more information, please see my press release at: http://totallystaugustine.com/st-augustine-authors-launches-new-book-at-st-augustine-book-festival/ I am hopeful that you will be able to show up in St. Augustine to buy my book. If you can’t make it, you can get the link to buy a copy from Amazon on my author website at https://johnjjessop.com/new-comedy-mystery. If you like a good mystery, and you like to laugh, you’ll be glad you joined Chelsea Longfellow, PI and Associate in this adventure into absurdity.