- Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: HarperTorch; Reissue edition (31 Jan 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060556943
- ISBN-13: 978-0060556945
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 801,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Serge Storms and his dope-smoking pal Lenny are back in Dorsey's newest Florida caper, a manic comic novel that's as bipolar as its protagonist and almost as incoherent. It has something to do with Serge's quest to find some missing diamonds and solve the 40-year-old riddle of his grandfather's murder, which not at all coincidentally seems tied into a 1964 heist that made a robber named Murph the Surf and a stone called the Star of India famous. Dorsey's pacing, plotting and flashbacks are as out of control as his characters, who include a couple of Mafia capos, a few FBI agents and some hapless and quite unlucky conventioneers, but Serge's rants do provide the reader with a colourful cultural history of south Florida. --Jane Adams, Amazon.com
Product Description
Serge Storms is a man obsessed. He wants to know the truth about how his grandfather, small-time bookmaker Sergio Storms, died. To unravel the mystery, Serge must take a trip back to 1964 South Florida, a setting redolent of The Beatles, Cassius Clay, Goldfinger, Jackie Gleason and Flipper. It was also the time of New York's infamous Murph the Surf gem heist, the largest in US history. The case was cracked in Miami Beach where the gems were recovered. Almost all of them, that is. A dozen large diamonds are still missing and so begins a deadly search.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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IN 1964 THREE champion surfers committed the biggest jewel heist in U.S. history, knocking over New York City's Museum of Natural History in a daring midnight burglary. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
IN 1964 THREE champion surfers committed the biggest jewel heist in U.S. history, knocking over New York City's Museum of Natural History in a daring midnight burglary. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I personally find Tim Dorsey, to be one of the most amusing writers of this generation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would heartily recommend it to anyone.
Format:Paperback
In the last Dorsey book we finally found out what happened with the suitcase full of money, but now there is a new target for Serge and his "friends". In 1964 there was a big heist in New York and most of the jewels were recovered in Miami Beach, but there are twelve large diamonds that were never found. Guess who will go after them? In this case though, Serge's ultimate goal is not the valuable merchandise, but to find out what really happened to his grandfather. Serge believes his death is related to the diamonds and that he did not kill himself, but that he was murdered instead.
As is normally the case, Dorsey starts the book with an illogical scene, and then without warning us, goes back in time to explain how the characters got there and what is the logic behind the events. A group of salesmen visiting Miami for a convention decide to play a prank on an old friend. But being drunk, they grab the wrong person, who ends up dead in an accident during the "kidnapping". The fact that the victim was a member of the Palermo organization, one of the most powerful families in the Florida mafia, and that Serge was driving the limo, complicate things a little.
Serge has teamed up with Lenny, the weed fiend, and decided to put his knowledge and special personality to use. They start a tour business, which is intended to show the other side of Miami to those willing to take the risk. Once again, besides the hilarious comments and situations, we get a collection of eye-opening tidbits about Florida's history, in this case focused on Miami. The vast amount of things that bother Serge are also a treat to rejoice in; especially because he is right in most of them. For example, he is bothered by bait and switch tactics and by the last episode of "Seinfeld", among many others.
As those that are familiar with the series know, Dorsey consistently delivers an array of outrageous situations that make us laugh out loud. But in this case, there is much more, because part of the book focuses on the past. Yes, on the time previous to the death of Serge's grandfather, who by the way was named Sergio. We get to see who shaped Serge's personality and also the origins of this charming serial killer. I still can see him in my mind as an innocent little boy running around the tables in strip joints. For the Dorsey fans, this is as good as it gets, and for those that have not tried the series yet, I just have to say: What are you waiting for? Go and pick up "Florida Roadkill" right away and embark on this wonderful journey.
As is normally the case, Dorsey starts the book with an illogical scene, and then without warning us, goes back in time to explain how the characters got there and what is the logic behind the events. A group of salesmen visiting Miami for a convention decide to play a prank on an old friend. But being drunk, they grab the wrong person, who ends up dead in an accident during the "kidnapping". The fact that the victim was a member of the Palermo organization, one of the most powerful families in the Florida mafia, and that Serge was driving the limo, complicate things a little.
Serge has teamed up with Lenny, the weed fiend, and decided to put his knowledge and special personality to use. They start a tour business, which is intended to show the other side of Miami to those willing to take the risk. Once again, besides the hilarious comments and situations, we get a collection of eye-opening tidbits about Florida's history, in this case focused on Miami. The vast amount of things that bother Serge are also a treat to rejoice in; especially because he is right in most of them. For example, he is bothered by bait and switch tactics and by the last episode of "Seinfeld", among many others.
As those that are familiar with the series know, Dorsey consistently delivers an array of outrageous situations that make us laugh out loud. But in this case, there is much more, because part of the book focuses on the past. Yes, on the time previous to the death of Serge's grandfather, who by the way was named Sergio. We get to see who shaped Serge's personality and also the origins of this charming serial killer. I still can see him in my mind as an innocent little boy running around the tables in strip joints. For the Dorsey fans, this is as good as it gets, and for those that have not tried the series yet, I just have to say: What are you waiting for? Go and pick up "Florida Roadkill" right away and embark on this wonderful journey.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
38 reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Dorsey Delivers Again!!
17 Dec 2004
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There must be something about the air in Florida..at least as to how it affects some of those who chose to write about the life there, i.e. Carl Hiassen and Tim Dorsey. In this book it is Dorsey's turn and he doesn't miss a zany beat with the return of Serge A. Storms, a one man crime wave. All I can say is, if you want to enjoy yourself, pour a cool one and put on your safety belt before taking off on this adventure. It is non-stop zaniness and the writing is first rate.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Maniac on the loose in Florida!
27 Jan 2005
Format:Hardcover
I swear, Serge A. Storms has to be the funniest character I have ever read. As I was reading this book my wife kept kept asking me what I was laughing so hard about. Obviously, the bounds of reality are stretched a bit as this sociopath careens around Florida on the search for lost gems while dodging the mob, the police, and an unknown assassin. But Serge's sharp insights into the human condition are like a slap in the face coming from a total psycho. In the end, the unlikely Master Plan comes together in a very clever conclusion. A breezy summer read for January!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
I want to have Serge A. Storms' babies!!!!
3 Jan 2005
Format:Hardcover
I love this writer...I love the characters...and I love the devine lunacy behind each and every one of Dorsey's books!
The Sting Ray Shuffle is, in my humble opinion, the BEST of the best [of Dorsey's books]...I laughed my butt off! But I do agree that ALL of Dorsey's books are hilarious. The twists and turns and the flow of the story, the romps through the Sunshine state from the Atlantic coast to the Gulf coast to the Panhandle...its all fast paced and funnier than you can imagine!
If these stories don't crack you up you might want to consider therapy!
The Sting Ray Shuffle is, in my humble opinion, the BEST of the best [of Dorsey's books]...I laughed my butt off! But I do agree that ALL of Dorsey's books are hilarious. The twists and turns and the flow of the story, the romps through the Sunshine state from the Atlantic coast to the Gulf coast to the Panhandle...its all fast paced and funnier than you can imagine!
If these stories don't crack you up you might want to consider therapy!
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