Ahoy there mateys! I have no idea where I got this book but I really loved it.  Malcolm is trying to start over and moves to a small town in Oregon.  When he gets to his house, he is surprised to find a letter, addressed to him, from Dusha Chuchonnyhoof, who claims to be the real owner of the property.  Chuchonnyhoof also claims to have been jailed for 117 years, that he is innocent, and says he is about to be released from prison soon.  He wants Malcolm's help to prepare.  The town is weird, the house is weird, and the people are weird.  I loved how the ending went against what I was expecting.  Short novella and excellent. Arrrr!