- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: William Morrow & Company (Feb 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060520450
- ISBN-13: 978-0060520458
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.9 x 2.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,771,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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The race to invent the first mechanical orange harvester was on. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
After "Hammerhead Ranch Motel" Dorsey threw us a curve ball, and went fast forward on "Orange Crush" and then way back on "Triggerfish Twist". In "Orange Crush", we found out that Serge A. Storms, one of the best main characters I have encountered in a long time, had lost his memory, but we had no idea how this happened. Also, there was no further mention of the suitcase with the five million dollars which had captured the attention of all of the characters in the first two books in the series. In this book, we finally get the answers we were looking for, and what a fun path to discovery it is.
At the beginning of the story we find Paul and Jethro once more. They have the suitcase with the money and they are trying to leave the country without being detected. You remember Paul, right? I find it hard to believe you could forget about the Passive-Aggressive Private Eye! Paul and Jethro feel pretty good about their situation, but that is because they do not know that Serge and Lenny are following them, using the signal from a tracking device included in the suitcase. Once the chase starts all hell breaks lose.
The array of characters in this book is perfect, since it allows the author to show his skill for creating hilarious and unbelievable situations. Of course, first of all, we have Serge, the psychopath killer who believes he is moral in his ways and usually makes a pretty good case to that effect. He possess an encyclopedic knowledge of Florida's history and I find his lectures and guided tours extremely interesting. Especially because I lived in Miami for a couple of years and now I live in Tampa, so I can picture in my mind a lot of the places Serge visits. There is also Johnny Vegas; the playboy who is never able to go all the way with women due to a whole myriad of outrageous interruptions. City and Country, the two young females from Alabama that are Thelma and Louise wannabes also contribute their fair share to the story. Finally, the author has the ability to introduce a "special" group of people in each book. For example, in the last installment, it was a group of old ladies that were wizards at finance. In this case we find a group of five women who created a book club and who hold a secret that haunts their existence.
In my opinion, Dorsey has mastered what can be done in this niche. He consistently delivers well-balanced novels, that have the appropriate amount of humor, a story that keeps us interested and maintains a good pace, and a whole bunch of esoteric and lovable characters. This one is another winner.
At the beginning of the story we find Paul and Jethro once more. They have the suitcase with the money and they are trying to leave the country without being detected. You remember Paul, right? I find it hard to believe you could forget about the Passive-Aggressive Private Eye! Paul and Jethro feel pretty good about their situation, but that is because they do not know that Serge and Lenny are following them, using the signal from a tracking device included in the suitcase. Once the chase starts all hell breaks lose.
The array of characters in this book is perfect, since it allows the author to show his skill for creating hilarious and unbelievable situations. Of course, first of all, we have Serge, the psychopath killer who believes he is moral in his ways and usually makes a pretty good case to that effect. He possess an encyclopedic knowledge of Florida's history and I find his lectures and guided tours extremely interesting. Especially because I lived in Miami for a couple of years and now I live in Tampa, so I can picture in my mind a lot of the places Serge visits. There is also Johnny Vegas; the playboy who is never able to go all the way with women due to a whole myriad of outrageous interruptions. City and Country, the two young females from Alabama that are Thelma and Louise wannabes also contribute their fair share to the story. Finally, the author has the ability to introduce a "special" group of people in each book. For example, in the last installment, it was a group of old ladies that were wizards at finance. In this case we find a group of five women who created a book club and who hold a secret that haunts their existence.
In my opinion, Dorsey has mastered what can be done in this niche. He consistently delivers well-balanced novels, that have the appropriate amount of humor, a story that keeps us interested and maintains a good pace, and a whole bunch of esoteric and lovable characters. This one is another winner.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
43 reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
not quite carl hiaasen...
7 Feb 2003
Format:Hardcover
Having just finished Shuffle (after reading Triggerfish Twist),
and now rereading Florida Roadkill, I can say that Dorsey is
better than Hiaasen's weaker novels, but still is a ways from
Hiaasen's best work (Tourist Season, Skin Tight). With Hiaasen's
best work, the characters and events from each novel stick in
mind for years. With Hiaasen's second-tier work, the characters
and events tend to blur together, so at this point I remember
very little about what went on in, say, Sick Puppy. Tim Dorsey's
work comes closer to this latter situation: I can remember some
good bits and pieces, but there's a lot of blurring, even with
Stingray Shuffle, which I just finished last night. That doesn't
bode well.
and now rereading Florida Roadkill, I can say that Dorsey is
better than Hiaasen's weaker novels, but still is a ways from
Hiaasen's best work (Tourist Season, Skin Tight). With Hiaasen's
best work, the characters and events from each novel stick in
mind for years. With Hiaasen's second-tier work, the characters
and events tend to blur together, so at this point I remember
very little about what went on in, say, Sick Puppy. Tim Dorsey's
work comes closer to this latter situation: I can remember some
good bits and pieces, but there's a lot of blurring, even with
Stingray Shuffle, which I just finished last night. That doesn't
bode well.
Like Hiaasen's work, Tim Dorsey's novels are entertaining. filled
with a dark humor and scathing views of some of the less pleasant
aspects of Florida. Dorsey is primarily the Tampa area, in
contrast to Hiaasen's Miami. Both writers have very sharp
and witty episodes with politicians, tourists, businesses that
cater to tourists, the drug-trade side of the state, etc.
Hiaasen's hero-types tend to be reluctant about killing:
Dorsey's Serge Storms (featured in all the novels so far) is an
enthusiast, usually killing in bizarre ways--entertaining in
small quantities, but not quite as appetizing when done several
times in each book. Dorsey is also fond (to the point of
getting a bit tiresome at times) of having Serge Storms digress
at length on historical and cultural details and minutae.
In Stingray Shuffle, he also has some other detail freaks
expounding in the same fashion as Storms--which doesn't help the
novel.
Still and all, it's an entertaining novel, worth reading.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A Must Buy
26 Jan 2005
Format:Hardcover
This whole series of books by Tim Dorsey can be described as a twisted and funny study on the dark side in all of human beings. Tim Dorsey manages to take everyday situations and make them incredibly funny. Based in Florida, the series follows the twisted life of Serge Storms (one of the best characters ever created) and all his sick, violent and disturbed adventures. Of course, along the way you will get to meet every kind of character you can imagine.
The interesting thing about this series is that behind all the funny stories, there are tons of social and political criticisms. I have read all the books in the series, and each one keeps getting better. If you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino movies, or South Park cartoons, you will love these books. A must buy.
The interesting thing about this series is that behind all the funny stories, there are tons of social and political criticisms. I have read all the books in the series, and each one keeps getting better. If you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino movies, or South Park cartoons, you will love these books. A must buy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
The Three Stooges meets Carl Hiaasen
27 Mar 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
'The Stingray Shuffle' by Tim Dorsey is really more of a series of comedy skits than a novel. The so-called plot involves a madcap chase of briefcase containing $5 million in cash. While there are a few gratuitous murders this is hardly be called a crime story. Yet like Carl Hiaasen novels 'The Stingray Shuffle' contains plenty of Florida-isms; locals like me will love the historical references to Henry Flagler, the pioneering railroads of a century ago, etc. Too bad Tim Dorsey doesn't seem to have the satiric wit of Hiaasen. His humour is very childish in comparison.
Bottom line: a very silly yet often funny book. Passable.
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