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One question: why am I the first friggin' guy to, whaddayacallit, review, this book, Knowwhaddamean?
The rival clan and FBI come into play, the boss' dumb son arrives from NYC with his likable but confused bimbo to make problems for everyone - starting with himself.
It's jerks vs. decent people and these 2 categories can be found in Mafia and FBI in equal shares. After the spectacular sacrifice the good ones win and the book ends a bit prematurely.
There is a lot of smart observations, quirky characters and the language proves that author really sees the people and places he puts into his text instead of just covering the paper with typed lines.
But still I felt the tinge of disappointment. There was a lot of fuss with having to decide if writing the memoir is such a good idea, with looking for a sympathetic scribe, with FBI and the Mob getting the wind of it. And then... The project is cancelled. Leaving us to think that all that preliminaries were the excuse for introducing us to a bunch of eccentric characters going through their quirky routines with no particular direction and meaning. And then the author just lets the curtain fall when he thinks we've had enough.
Sunburn is a pleasant little affair with minor flaws, quite enjoyable, but it did not linger with me. I hope Laurence Shames was just warming up for something more memorable.
This book might even be better than the last one.
I think this book went out of print because everybody who reads it gives it to his friends to read, and nobody gets to buy their own copy.
As crime fiction writers go, Laurence Shames is in a league of his own. FLORIDA STRAITS pulses with humanity (John Steinbeck meets Elmore Leonard?) His characters are caught up in bigger-than-life situations, but they're all real people. The humor is real. Words like 'farcical' and 'romp' don't apply.
If you're new to Laurence Shames, I suggest you start here. I think it's his best. Mangrove Squeeze, I'm sorry to say, I couldn't finish. The Naked Detective, I haven't read yet. The others, great, but this one outshines them.
I love this book.
That's misleading, but not pejorative. In my opinion, in terms of literary quality, FLORIDA STRAITS, FLORIDA STRAITS ranks up there with, say, Carl Hiaasen's STRIP TEASE, Elmore Leonard's PULP FICTION* or the later Ross McDonald stuff.
But FLORIDA STRAITS has its own voice -- it is no clone; it has its own voice and is well worth reading. All are terrific, all have a voice, but and I have to emphasize.
All the literature I've mentioned above have in common the crime/humor themes of slightly loveable fish-out-of-water oddball protagonists (lead characters),** crazy character side figures, and a mix of danger, huumor and satire.
But in author Larence Shames' FLORIDA STRAITS, not all tourists are uppity jerks, not all bourgeois charcters are Ned Beatty/Ronald cynics who ratify his friends' desire to make money, (looser laws, environmental degradation, etc.) Violence and danger -- of which the strong stuff is relatively free of grisliness or obligatory humor -- nonetheless comes across in intriguing fashion. Fortunately, even though nine years old, FLORIDA STRAITS is enduring enough not to need timlines, excessive camp, or a plenitude of pop-culture refernce. It's hard to define, but the book still has lots of "oomph".
I agree with that perceptive critic whose review appears below, and here I'm praphrasing loosely, that an analogy can certainly be drawn beteen applied to Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Pulp fiction).* Hiassen, too, of course, and I would say the later Ross McDonald.
As my students say, "whatver." FLORIDA STRAITS has interestingly loopy charcters -- the lead chacter is a minor mafioso who leave Noo Yawk for Florida. It's the classic duck-out-of-water scenario: Our (anti-)hero is a skankier, far less intelligent or ethical version of clueless Oliver Wendall Douglas in that camp Sixtiessitcom, "Green Acres." That was only an analogy but the sense of culture shock makes for great humor.
So a cliche publicist might put it, "If you liked STRIP TEASE, PULP FICTION or THE DROWNING POOL, you're going to like FLORIDA STRAITS. Shoot, anyone to the left of Miss Marple should take a look at this neglected apotheosis.
WHY, oh why, has the paperback publisher (whose name ryhmes with 'bell,') N-O-T done more to publicise FLORIDA STRAITS this potential classic entry into the Cops and Crooks/Comic-Satiric/ hall of fame? Even though the book is almost nine years old, it holds up remarkably well.
A minor, (or telling) lack is the absence of even a brief author bio, despite all the praise reviews and colorfulness. This leads to bizarre speculation that the book was ghost-written by Joseph Lieberman, Fran Leibowitz, Jeb Bush or Marilyn vos Savant.
I'm just joking, but really -- a brief paragraph of bio, please.
DID SOMEONE PSEUDONMYOUSLY write FLORIDA STRAITS?? C'mon, tell us in the bio.
But do read FLORIDA STRAITS!!
* Please look at the perceptive review below, that establishes a connection betwee FLORIDA STRAITS and Elmore Leonard's work. It was that person's analogy, I agree with it, and so give due credit.
**
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This book was about a man going through a semi-stage of depression.Murray Zimmelman is going through his second divorce while contemplating suicide.Suddenly he snaps and drives 14 hours non-stop to Key West Florida where he begins a new life.He meets an indian who is fighting for his rights.Murray helps the indian get an island named after his tribe.I would suggest reading this book.
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The plot is neatly turned, the characters well-drawn, and the dialogue extraordinarily deft--I don't know if this is how Mafia people talk, but it's certainly how they should talk.
Unlike many humorous writers, Shames seems to treat his characters with true affection. I look forward to reading more by this writer.
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Although Laurence Shames is one of my favorite authors (especially Scavenger Reef), I was dsappointed by the book. When it arrived I was surprised at how short it was. As I read it, I found it hard to care about Pete Amsterdam. The whole reluctant detective theme didn't work for me. The other characters were all familiar that we have seen in John MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen and Tom Corcoran. I am not drawing comparisons to these three authors (certainly the best in this genre) as that would be unfair. I will still look forward to Shames' next book when he will hopefully get back on track.
Pete Amsterdam never wanted to be a private eye. He only opened Southernmost Detection on the advice from his accountant. A write-off. A legitimate tax dodge. Butt naked in his hot tub, Pete is approached by a woman (who turns out to be a man) looking to hire a detective. Amsterdam declines to take the case and the next day, the would-be client turns up dead on Sunset Key. Coincidence? Pete decides to investigate and find out for himself. The results are both amusing and intriguing. A fast moving mystery that will keep you guessing whodunit up until the very end.
Laurence Shames has a knack for making the reader feel like he's in the middle of the action. It's not as good as some of his previous books, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I am anxiously waiting for the day when he writes a Key West novel featuring all of his memorable characters (Charlie Pont, Bert the Shirt, Ziggy Maxx, Tommy Tarpon, Arty Magnus, Joey Goldman, Sukie Sperakis, etc.) Wouldn't that be a hoot?
The formula for the author's eighth novel is familiar Shames: colorful Key West denizens reluctantly or unwittingly drawn into a zany plot involving farcical criminal capers, with overtures of lust and ever present danger. This book -- as the others -- are simply fun to read. This plot is slightly less farcical than we have come to expect, but the prose, as always, is wonderfully refreshing.
The Naked Detective is somewhat novel for its style, it is the first book Shames has written in the first person, but it showcases his splendid writing skills wonderfully. Shames' descriptive techniques are superlative; spirited dialogues come alive with vibrant descriptions of body gestures, posture and (his specialty) hand movements. And of course there is the ever present artfully drawn tapestry of Key West.
A slight disappointment is that there are no cameo appearances by now familiar characters, such as Joey Goldman or Burt the Shirt, nor are any ailing pets woven into the story line (I hope the chihuahua is still alive), but several new characters are introduced and fans can only hope that one day they will all meet at a Key West sunset cocktail party in a forthcoming Shames story.