Overall I thought it was great fun. It’s also the first in a long series all of which have better reviews on Goodreads, so I’m hopeful for the second, which I shall take away on holiday next month.
I see from the blurb that this was supposed to be a comedy and that is my major problem with this book. I just didn't find it funny AT ALL. So all the over-the-top characters, the grisly happenings and all the horrific murders made it a really unpleasant read as I didn't get the humour.
It's not a hard book to read but I found it a difficult read because it was just SO nasty and gratuitous. None of the characters seemed like real people, I didn't understand the Florida vibe and the story didn't make much logical sense. It reminded me of an Elmore Leonard book or a Tarantino film done really, really badly.
On the plus side I can see the bare bones of a good story and I think with the right screen writer this could make an OK film. They'd have to tone down the nastiness, probably reduce the number of side characters and make the humour funnier but I could definitely see Brad Pitt playing Serge. Can't believe there is a whole series of things! Very much not for me and I won't be trying any of his other books.
I gave this book a 4.
Going back to see if anyone other than GregP enjoyed it
I can't really say thanks to GregP for choosing it but it has inspired me to read another Elmore Leonard and see if I can find Out Of Sight to rewatch so that's something good
As Scott Mariani is to Dan Brown, as Obi-Wan Kenobi was to Qui-Gon Jinn and as Abbott and Costello were to Laurel and Hardy so Tim Dorsey was to Carl Hiaasen, the young padawan, studying at his master’s side and if need be, riffling through his bins for material. In some cases it works brilliantly – just look at Obi-Wan’s skill with a lightsabre for example. Sometimes, not so well, e.g. Scott Mariani’s ongoing struggle with basic grammar. Which will this be? In only 285 pages’ time you will have the answer.
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Book Group
Dec 2024