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Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: NATIONAL BESTSELLER â?˘ A rollicking and hilarious novel from the bestselling author of Squeeze Me and â??Floridaâ??s most entertainingly indignant social criticâ?ť (New York Times Book Review). Jack Taggerâ??s years in exile at the obituaries desk of a South Florida daily havenâ??t dulled his investigative reporterâ??s nose for a good story. When Jimmy Stoma, the infamous front man of Jimmy and the Slut Puppies, dies in a fishy scuba accident, Jack sees his ticket back to page oneâ??if only he can figure out what really happened. Standing in his way are, just for starters, his ambitious young editor, who hasnâ??t yet fired anyone but plans to â??break her cherryâ?ť on Jack; the rock starâ??s pop-singer widow, whoâ??s using the occasion of her husbandâ??s death to relaunch her own career; and the soulless, profit-hungry owner of the newspaper, whom Jack once publicly humiliated at a stockholdersâ?? meeting. Following clues from the late rock singerâ??s own music, Jack tries to unravel the lies surrounding… (more)
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One afternoon I was going through my father’s bookshelf when I found the worn paperback novel tucked away among some of his other books. I was immediately drawn to it by the cover, which depicted a small graphic of a semi-nude woman being eaten by a large red snake (this turned out to be the tattoo on the murdered rockstar’s chest). I turned the book over to read the back and found out that it was a) a murder mystery about the death of a rockstar which is super cool, b) that it was written from the perspective of disgruntled journalist that was demoted for some reason, and c) that it all took place in South Florida.
I hadn’t read a good mystery book in a while so I was really excited about that before I even started reading the book. Another reason as to why I was excited to read it was that it was about journalism which is something that I really enjoy. Finally, my last reason is because it was taking place in South Florida and I knew from my previous experience with the author that he could create great description for that setting.
The things that I just listed above allowed me to enter the book with a great excitement for it, and I had only read the back cover. The first thing that I noticed was that Carl Hiaasen is pretty funny as a writer, maybe that was because being a teenage boy makes me partial to dry and dirty humor, I don’t know. All that I do know was that I found the crude references and swear words extremely humorous, and that is something that I look for in a book. I want a book that is going to make me laugh and enjoy myself when I read it, and Basket Case certainly delivered in that category.
I also really enjoyed the way that he made the murder and the entire plot so believable. It just shows that the guy really did his research to get all of the legal stuff correct. It also showed that he really went over his story several times because there were no contradictions of details or slip ups that can derail even the best murder mystery novels. When I was reading the novel I couldn’t help but think that I was reading something out of C.S.I. Miami, except that the book was better because the characters and the details in the plot and setting were so much richer.
I thought that the way he built up the different characters was amazing. I would say that he only used 5 or so extremely important characters, but it was the way he created the colorful backgrounds of the 20 or so supporting characters and wove them in with tiny little sub plots that made the story so exceptional. However, I can really take my hat off to him for the way he made you feel for every character and how he made you feel like you had known them for your entire life. I was particularly attached to the main character, he was a down on his luck news reporter that was demoted to obituary writing after he stood up to the owner of the multi-million dollar newspaper agency that bought his tiny local paper and turned it into one of the 30 other quality less papers that he already owned. I really felt for this guy because he stood for what I believe in and he striking out with the ladies which is something that anyone will feel for. I also liked the way that he introduced you to the sister of the dead rockstar and created sympathy for her. But what was more interesting was the way in which he made sure the reader kept that sympathy once they found out that she was a web-cam strip teaser so that she could make ends meet.
I thought that the themes he introduced in the book were some that I particularly found meaning in. The big underlining one that I saw was the one that was anti-corporate and pro-local small business, as well as “sticking it to the man”. The main character was also playing a major “underdog” card so that theme was also present. Towards the end of the novel he really hit on the care and compassion that must be shown and practiced towards those that you love and care about which I always find to be important. Also, the main character was facing such long odds to prove that the murder was in fact a murder that it really showed the ideas of perseverance and determination.
Finally, the newspaper aspect of the novel was awesome (it turns out that Carl Hiaasen was a reporter in South Florida). He really made it realistic and incredibly fun to read for me because I could relate with the main character and the other people working at the paper. This was one of the aspects that contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the novel, along with the wonderful setting of a paradise gone bad that he created.
This was one of my favorite books ever and I am looking forwards to reading more by him. I also really recommend this book for some lazy summer afternoon, because reading it in the winter would be torture. All in all, this was a great book and I am so happy that I found it because I enjoyed it so much. I also feel that the messages that I drew from this book have affected my life and in the way that I look at the world around me.
I have a ton of Hiaasen books in the catalog (hey it was easy) and yes I've read them all, but start with this one. If it entertains you... read on.
Weak, weak, weak climax. The reader knows someone will die and they do, but they do not die as an authentic result of the protagonist's actions.
3 1/2 stars.
Jack Tagger is a veteran newspaper man shuffled to the obit pages by an owner that despises him because of a
The action and story pick up the last 150 pages or so and hooked me to the end. Although I had most of the little twists and turns figured out before they were revealed, I really enjoyed seeing the story unravel to its finish.
I'm definitely going to put another Hiaasen in my TBR pile.
Obit reporter Jack Tagger would love an opportunity to revive his once respected front page reporter status. After messing up a case in a major way and causing
When Jack comes across the obit for Jimmy Stoma he is taken back to the days when he was a big fan of the Slut Puppies. Unfortunately, not many people even remember the band, let alone care about the lead singer kicking the bucket. Jack finds the circumstances of Jimmy Stoma's demise to be wildly suspicious and twists his boss' arm into letting him investigate it further.
The story twists and turns from there. Jack finds himself interested in someone he never thought his candle would burn for. He also finds himself shocked at the news of his former loves engagement, to a real cheesy doodle nonetheless. He also finds out sinister answers to the questions surrounding Jimmy Stoma's death.
Check this book out. I liked it just as much as I liked Skinny Dip. Well written, thoroughly engaging, this book is a must!
Jimmy Stoma and the Slut Puppies, dies in a diving accident in the
Bahamas, no one raises an eyebrow except Jack Tagger, the obit writer at
the Union-Register, a small south Florida daily newspaper. Something
just doesn't smell
Once upon a time he had been a crackerjack reporter, putting his
byline on the front page on a regular basis, until he'd had that
unfortunate run-in with his new boss and called him a slimy little
gut-crawling weasel right there in the middle of a stock holders
meeting. Now he was doomed to forever write obituaries of
semi-interesting people and to be obsessed with death.
Jimmy's death and the utter lack of sadness on the part of his pretty
young widow, Cleo Rio (the one hit wonder who's fading fast on the
charts and in the hearts of her fans) makes Jack wonder what's going on,
but it's when the rest of the Slut Puppies start dying that he begins to
catch on to what's happening.
Like the other Hiaasen books, this one is absolutely delightful,
skillfully written with humor and finesse, introducing characters that
jump of the page and come to life. This can't really be classes as a
mystery because the culprit is revealed early on, but it's all about the
build up to the finish with Hiaasen. You just can't wait to see the bad
guys (and gals) get theirs in the end. There's places where I laughed
out loud (gosh, I love doing that when reading a good book! LOL) and
the finish of this one was satisfying enough.