Petey's Fiction Review

 

Skinny Dip

by Carl Hiaasen

Fearing that his wife has discovered an elaborate scam, of which he's an essential part, inept marine biologist and faithless husband Chaz Perrone launches his unsuspecting wife over an upper-deck railing of the luxury cruise ship Sun Duchess into the warm, dark Atlantic off the Florida Coast.

But Joey Perrone is an uncooperative murder victim; she doesn't die. Instead, she survives the long night and is found the following day, clinging to a bale of Jamaican pot, by former cop Mick Stranahan, who now lives a life of solitude on a small island near the Florida Keys. While Joey recovers, the two devise the beginnings of a plan to even the score with Chaz. By staying "dead" Joey can screw with Chaz's mind until he comes unraveled.

As Chaz's behavior becomes increasingly more erratic and unpredictable, his cohort in crime, a wealthy agribusiness tycoon, decides to take some action of his own to maintain control over the situation. Not only must he guard against the attentions of a suspicious cop, he must foil the intentions of a would-be blackmailer, too. And who better to act as "bodyguard" to the incompetent Chaz than a peculiar thug named Tool?

In his inimitable style, Hiaasen deftly weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense, using humor and satire to explore the dark side of human character and a warped value system that excuses environmental destruction (in this case, that of the Florida Everglades) for the sake of higher profits. Skinny Dip is classic Hiaasen taken to the next level.

Carl Hiaasen, author of Sick Puppy, Basket Case, Stormy Weather and other works of fiction, writes a regular column for the Miami Herald. He was born and raised in Florida.

Visit Carl's Web site at www.carlhiaasen.com/.

Review by Phil Hanson

Click on the cover image to order your copy of Skinny Dip.

Copyright © 2005 by Phil Hanson
All rights reserved.

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