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Tourist Season

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In "Tourist Season" by Carl Hiaasen, a ragtag terrorist group, led by a well-known journalist, sets out to empty Florida of tourists and immigrants from the north, resulting in a riotous and rollicking tale of murder, mayhem, and bumbling politico-environmental activists in South Florida. The story delves into the absurdity of the situation with a mix of black comedy and satire, highlighting the ever-current problem of the influx of people to South Florida. The plot moves briskly through a series of murders perpetrated by the radical group using carnivorous reptiles as weapons in their attempt to free Florida from greed and environmental destruction.

The narrative unfolds with a caper involving an amateur terrorist organization that aims to end the tourist industry ruining Florida, leading to bizarre crimes and unexpected twists. The characters, including a lunatic Cuban, a former football star, and a wealthy Seminole Indian, collectively form a formidable foe against the backdrop of Florida's lush wilderness, creating a story filled with dark humor, quirky plot pieces, and engaging developments that keep readers entertained and intrigued.

Characters:

The characters are eccentric and flawed, with a mix of quirks; the main character is a flawed private detective while the antagonists display both admirable and hypocritical traits.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by wit and humor, combining dark comedy and absurdity, which complements the fast-paced action.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around an amateur terrorist group attempting to rid Florida of tourists, leading to a series of bizarre murders tied to environmental concerns.

Setting:

The setting is 1980s Florida, emphasizing the negative impact of tourism and urban development on the environment.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally brisk and fast, though some readers felt certain parts were drawn out before reaching the climax.
The Shriners thought so much of Theodore Bellamy that they had paid his plane fare all the way from Evanston, Illinois, to Miami Beach, where a big Shriner convention was being staged. Bellamy and his...

Notes:

Carl Hiaasen's Tourist Season is set in 1980s Florida.
The novel begins with a shocking discovery: a dead mutilated body in a suitcase.
The story features a group of amateur terrorists aiming to rid Florida of tourists.
Characters include a former football player and a newspaper columnist turned terrorist leader.
The plot revolves around the negative impact of tourism on Florida's environment.
Skip Wiley, one of the main characters, is viewed as hypocritical because of his violent methods against tourists.
Hiaasen's writing combines dark humor with environmental themes.
The book critiques capitalism and real estate development in Florida.
Some readers found the characters eccentric and entertaining, while others felt disconnected from them.
Tourist Season is Hiaasen's first solo novel and has loyal fans despite mixed reviews.
The detective in the story grapples with a personal vendetta against a journalist.
The novel contains absurd scenarios, such as using rubber alligators as murder weapons.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for this book include violence, murder, and possible animal cruelty, which may be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance present, particularly in the dynamics between the main characters, but it is not the central focus of the plot.

From The Publisher:

Take a trip to exotic South Florida with this dark, funny book that established Carl Hiaasen as one of the top mystery writers in the game.

The first sign of trouble is a Shriner's fez washed up on a Miami beach. The next is a suitcase containing the almost-legless body of the local chamber of commerce president found floating in a canal…

The locals are desperate to keep the murders under wraps and the tourist money flowing. But it will take a reporter-turned-private eye to make sense of a caper that mixes football players, politicians, and one very hungry crocodile in this classic mystery that GQ called "one of the top ten destination reads of all time."

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (1)

About the Author:

CARL HIAASEN was born and raised in Florida. He is the author of fourteen previous novels, including the best sellers Bad Monkey, Lucky You, Nature Girl, Razor Girl, Sick Puppy, Skinny Dip, and Star Island, as well as six best-selling children's books, Hoot, Flush, Scat,…

 
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