Loony mystery caper filled with screwball characters and long, intense rounds of philosophy and religion. The wrestler as detective story is largely an excuse to spend massive sections discussing either Nietzsche's theories on power, self and success or early dualistic, "Gnostic" theology involving various takes on morality and justice, with some dashes of luck and destiny as well. These very heavy topics and musings are framed within a goofball whodunnit where comedic caricatures repeatedly collide around a New York kidnapping. Not recommended for everybody, but definitely one of the stranger and more unique books I've ever encountered, thoroughly mixing high and low brows. ( )

I approached "The Wrestler's Cruel Study" with enthusiasm and excitement -- and was bitterly disappointed. The novel is an account of a fictionalized version of the World Wrestling Federation that serves as a metaphorical embodiment of the arguments over the nature of good and evil as expressed in the Gnostic Gospels. That could be weird and great. Unfortunately, it's weird and tiresome. ( )

Do not know if this is a good book or not. Strange, for sure. Suggestive of further reading in Christian heresy, etc. Doubt I will read again. ( )