Andrew Yancy former detective for the Miami and Key West Police, has been demoted to restaurant inspector, aka Roach Patrol for assaulting his ex-girlfriend's husband in a unique way. After a strange turn of events Yancy is left with a human arm in his freezer, an arm that was caught by a fisherman. Yancy thinks the explanation for the arm's existence (boating accident) is bogus. He is determined to prove it was murder in hopes that he may win back his old job on the police force. While doing that he has to deal with the crazy ex-girlfriend; a property developer who has ruined the view from his house; the widow of the frozen arm; a voodoo witch whose young lovers tend to end up dead; his new love, a Miami medical examiner; a hurricane; and the Bad Monkey who was once an extra in Johnny Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. It's a convoluted wild ride with hilarious twists. This was the first adult novel of Hiaasen's that I have read after enjoying his children's books. Now I have to go back to read the older ones. I listened to the audiobook version which was read by Arte Johnson (yes, the "Laugh-In" guy) and had lots of laughs while driving to and from work.
Carl Hiaasen provokes frequent and sometimes painfully sincere laughter, especially early in the narrative. He seems to withhold his sense of humor in the later chapters, but his sense of irony comes on strong. If you've read his earlier stories, you will probably enjoy Bad Monkey, but it may not rate as your best ever Carl Hiaasen favorite.
ReplyDeleteHannah
One Hour Device