Skinny Dip is a highly pleasurable reminder that Carl Hiaasen is one of the most quirky and entertaining of modern crime writers. His shadow on the genre has been so massive that his idiosyncratic, brittle-edged prose and sardonic humour may be found served up in the work of a host of imitators. There is no doubt that Hiaasen is at the top of the tree in his chosen field ? and if a certain faltering has been evident of late, admirers were more than ready to be patient. Skinny Dip is a signal that the worries of Hiaasen admirers are at an end ? the Master is back on form.

The protagonist here is a woman, the luckless Joey Perrone. Joey has not made the wisest matrimonial choice, and her lowlife spouse Chaz has dumped her in the briny from the deck of a luxury cruise liner. She survives ? but is her first action to shop her treacherous husband to the police? No, Joey has other ideas. She opts to maintain the fiction that she is now fish food, and inaugurates a little canny retaliation. Utilising her own support group ? along with several individuals who have no love for Chaz ? she begins to even the score.

This is vintage Hiaasen, with all the old splenetic energy back in place, along with the scorching one-liners that were the author?s traditional stock-in-trade. Joey is a wonderful heroine, and the off-the-wall gallery of characters she encounters in her fightback against her husband are well up to the colourful standards we expect. --Barry Forshaw

A hilarious full throttle ride through the Florida Everglades by the most original, offbeat crime writer working today.

Joey Perrone is a woman with a mission. She's just been pushed overboard from a cruise liner by Chaz, her scumbag husband, and survived to tell the tale. But rather than reporting him to the police, she decides to stay dead and - with a little help from her friends and a few of Chaz's enemies - instead of getting mad, she's going to get even. Filled with a host of endearingly offbeat characters, and a narrative that is hilarious, romantic and thought-provoking by turns, "Skinny Dip" takes us on a journey through the warped politics of Southern Florida and through the madness created by the human heart.

Joey Perrone is a woman with a mission. She?s just been pushed overboard from a cruise liner by Chaz, her scumbag husband, and survived to tell the tale. But rather than reporting him to the police, she decides to stay dead and - with a little help from her friends and a few of Chaz's enemies - instead of getting mad, she's going to get even.

Carl Hiaasen:
Carl Hiaasen was born and raised in Florida. He is the author of nine previous novels, including Sick Puppy, Lucky You, Stormy Weather and Basket Case. He also writes a twice weekly metropolitan column for the Miami Herald.

2008-04-23 I love this guy, all his books are brill, funny crime capers!

Carl Hiaasen is a comedy crime genius with a conscience.

I have adored his books ever since I read 'Native Tongue' years ago. They are so funny, with amazing characters, sharp satire and excellent plots, often culmulating in fantastical set pieces. And there is nearly always some environmental message that is wise and sensible, never over the top.

'Skinny Dip' sees the welcome return of unlucky in love Mick Stranahan, from 'Skin Tight'. The main character however, is the vengeful Joey. Shes been tossed off a cruise ship by her scumball husband, yet she is saved by a handy floating bale of hash! He wants her out of the picture as she might know too much about his dodgy science goings on.( He really, really doesnt like the everglades!) She lets her evil hubby think she is dead, so she haunts him, heheheh, with help from Mick and his dog. Big time criminals get involved and theres a lot of corrupt politics, plus some green pubic hair and one very big hairy goon! As usual, the bad guys meet varied and innovative demises....

Overall another excellent novel! Read all his others too!