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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
chrysemys's review against another edition
3.0
I finally realized that, intentional or no, Carl Hiaasen has become a sort of P.G. Wodehouse for our times: wacky but formulaic. Not as prolific, thank god.
Another observation... this book, having been published in the late '80s, is outdated in many particulars which makes it kind of cringe-inducing.
Fun anyway, and refreshing in that for once in Hiaasen's oeuvre, the weird old dude doesn't end up with the girl.
Another observation... this book, having been published in the late '80s, is outdated in many particulars which makes it kind of cringe-inducing.
Fun anyway, and refreshing in that for once in Hiaasen's oeuvre, the weird old dude doesn't end up with the girl.
k1dub's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know this was a murder mystery (I got this book on recommendation and didn't read the jacket) and was passed with the storytelling and sequencing.
dandonovan's review
3.0
Convoluted
Dated. Attempt at zaniness almost succeeds. Couple of like able characters almost successfully carries the story. Ok read, nothing special.
Dated. Attempt at zaniness almost succeeds. Couple of like able characters almost successfully carries the story. Ok read, nothing special.
april_does_feral_sometimes's review against another edition
4.0
One couldn't ask for a more fun summer read. Nobody is playing with a full deck. There are characters who are whacky good people types and those who should be locked up in an insane asylum, but whatever side of law and order they live on, entertaining is most certainly the strongest attribute of everyone involved in the nefarious plot.
It all begins with an accidental death. A Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Rudy Graveline, with more PR talent than actual skills, kills a rhinoplasty patient on the table. Too frightened of getting bad publicity, he decides to enlist the help of his tree trimmer brother who owns a large tree chipper - just the right thing for getting rid of a body. Unfortunately, the nurse, Maggie Gonzalez, who was helping with the surgery, is not so easily handled. Later, in thinking things over, she believes there might be a way of making some money and protecting herself, say, like selling her story to the famous TV journalist, Reynaldo Flemm.
Dr. Graveline does not agree. He decides to call in an assassin. Chemo seems to fit the bill in murderous ability, even if he tends to draw attention to himself, being six foot nine with damaged facial skin looking like rice crispies had been glued on. Dr. Graveline promises to fix his face if he kills the gabby nurse and the ex-cop who is handling the unsolved disappearance of Graveline's patient. Chemo, unaware of Graveline's deficiencies as a surgeon, agrees.
The retired police detective, Mike Stranahan, is living peaceably out on a Florida stilt house, happily fishing from his deck and feeding a pet barracuda which has learned to expect fish entrails dumped into the ocean below Stranahan's wooden house. However, Mike's peace will soon be disturbed by unexpected gun-toting killers arriving on a boat. The barracuda will soon get an unexpected tasty treat, and so will readers......
It all begins with an accidental death. A Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Rudy Graveline, with more PR talent than actual skills, kills a rhinoplasty patient on the table. Too frightened of getting bad publicity, he decides to enlist the help of his tree trimmer brother who owns a large tree chipper - just the right thing for getting rid of a body. Unfortunately, the nurse, Maggie Gonzalez, who was helping with the surgery, is not so easily handled. Later, in thinking things over, she believes there might be a way of making some money and protecting herself, say, like selling her story to the famous TV journalist, Reynaldo Flemm.
Dr. Graveline does not agree. He decides to call in an assassin. Chemo seems to fit the bill in murderous ability, even if he tends to draw attention to himself, being six foot nine with damaged facial skin looking like rice crispies had been glued on. Dr. Graveline promises to fix his face if he kills the gabby nurse and the ex-cop who is handling the unsolved disappearance of Graveline's patient. Chemo, unaware of Graveline's deficiencies as a surgeon, agrees.
The retired police detective, Mike Stranahan, is living peaceably out on a Florida stilt house, happily fishing from his deck and feeding a pet barracuda which has learned to expect fish entrails dumped into the ocean below Stranahan's wooden house. However, Mike's peace will soon be disturbed by unexpected gun-toting killers arriving on a boat. The barracuda will soon get an unexpected tasty treat, and so will readers......
wallymama's review against another edition
3.0
This book includes all the characters and fast paced Florida wry comedic adventures you expect from Carl Hiaasen but it didn’t age well. It’s hard to find the humor in medical malpractice, gun violence and objectification of women.
meganne22's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
My least favorite Carl Haasen revenge novel I've read, probably because of its attitudes being dated.
uncannyem's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a Hiaasen book in a few years. Madcap crime solving. Its a fun read.
mojonjak's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
larochelleville's review against another edition
4.0
Hiaasen creates really wacky character which are fun to read about. (And actually, I have the audio version of this book.)