The Time Machine Did It

Blurb

The Time Machine Did It is a comic novel by American author John Swartzwelder, known for his work on popular cartoon sitcom The Simpsons. The book was published in 2004.
Combining elements of science fiction and detective stories, Swartzwelder presents a comedy full of jokes and humorous situations. The main character is a klutzy detective named Frank Burly and his pursuit of a time machine.
This was Swartzwelder's first book. It was followed by in what became a series of novels featuring Burly: How I Conquered Your Planet, and The Exploding Detective.