Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen is a captivating and complex crime novel. Once you've indulged in literary masterpieces like the Diary of a Provincial Lady, The Dressmaker, and The Pursuit of Love, the exquisite Veuve Clicquot might seem bland, and to some extent, that's what has happened with Tourist Season.

The story is like a roller coaster ride, filled with a captivating, complicated, and outré narrative that's hard to believe. It features a revolutionary group called Noches de Diciembre, or Nachos as they're known. Their leader, El Fuego (Skip Wiley), aims to stop the human disaster that has transformed Florida from a real paradise for animals and the Native Seminole tribe into a concrete jungle for greedy developers.

Alas, the means they use to achieve their goals are rather extreme, including killing a high-profile victim and taking out a tourist to send a message and scare others away. The Noches hope to end the tourist season and bring about the completion of their revolutionary mission.

Brian Keyes, the hero of the story, is a former journalist turned private detective. He's hired to solve various mysteries and protect the Queen of the Orange Bowl Parade, Kara Lynn. The plot is further complicated by a romantic subplot involving Keyes' ex-lover, Jenna, and the Orange Bowl Queen herself.

Overall, Tourist Season is a wild and complex narrative that combines elements of crime, satire, and romance. It's a thought-provoking look at the impact of human greed on the environment and society.

With references to literature, music, and pop culture, it's a novel that will keep readers entertained from start to finish.

This book is a well-crafted one for its particular genre.

I truly enjoyed the plot which focused on the idea of reclaiming South Florida.

However, given that it was written some time ago and is now quite dated, it was rather difficult to accept some of the language use within it.

Particularly, the language around race, ethnicity, and gender seemed inappropriate and outdated.

Moreover, I wasn't very fond of the characters.

They didn't seem fully developed or engaging to me.

The odd romance that was thrown in also didn't add much to the story for me.

In addition, the midsection of the book could have used a decent amount of trimming.

It felt a bit拖沓 and could have been more concise and streamlined to improve the overall pacing and flow of the narrative.

Despite these drawbacks, the book still had some redeeming qualities in its unique plot and setting.

I'm not going to rate this book as I didn't manage to finish it.

I guess it simply doesn't appeal to me. It is supposed to be humorous, and I do enjoy the humor of the 80s. However, when I read that the city editor went home and brutally kicked the shit out of his cocker spaniel, I made up my mind that I was done with it.

There is absolutely nothing funny about such a violent and cruel act. It really turned me off and made me lose all interest in continuing to read the book.

I understand that authors sometimes use extreme or shocking scenarios for comical effect, but in this case, it just crossed the line for me.

I believe there are better ways to create humor without resorting to such offensive and disturbing content.

The book I'm currently re-reading is a Carl Hiaasen novel. I first read it back in the 80s, and this is my second time through. It's around 100 pages too long, but it's still an enjoyable read. The author attempts to ape Elmore Leonard's style, and while the humor can be a bit forced at times, it's a nice enough page-turner. I'm in the process of going through all of my Carl Hiaasen novels again, and this one is no exception. However, I can't recommend this book to just anyone. It's really only for fans of Elmore Leonard. But I would never be the last person to discourage anyone from reading Hiaasen. His writing is unique and engaging, and there's always something new to discover in his books.

I think that even if you're not a die-hard fan of Leonard's style, you might still find something to enjoy in Hiaasen's work. He has a way of creating interesting characters and situations that keep you hooked from start to finish.

So, if you're looking for a good read and you're willing to give Hiaasen a try, I say go for it. You might be surprised at how much you like it.

I am an unapologetic fan of Carl Hiaasen's writing. Before I relocated to Florida, I must admit: I didn't quite understand his work. I believed his stories were filled with improbable plots and utterly unbelievable eccentrics. Well, that all changed completely when I moved to Florida and came to realize that Hiaasen draws inspiration for both his plots and characters directly from the news. As in, the evening news. "Only in Florida," people say, and they are indeed correct.

However, I digress. What truly astonished me about this book was that the themes remain so current and valid even now, 31 years after the book was originally published. Florida is still teeming with eccentrics and small-time criminals. The Everglades are still suffering, if not being completely strangled to death. Species are still vanishing; corruption is still widespread; integrity and ethics are still sacrificed at the altars of greed and tourism. Random acts of violence (or seemingly random ones) are still occurring almost daily, and terrorists seem to lurk behind every tree.

Is this humorous? No. Not in real life. And yet, the absolute craziness of the plot and characters is so quintessentially Florida (and you can truly only appreciate it as such if you either live or have spent a significant amount of time in the Sunshine State) that it IS funny. I laughed out loud on several occasions, which is a rarity for me when reading.

I could have done without the (minor) romance subplot, and the book ended on kind of a strangely sad note, especially for the unfortunate Osprey Island and its wildlife. But overall, it is an astoundingly and resonantly relevant book even 31 years later. Kudos, Mr. Hiaasen.

"Tourist Season" is an early novel by Hiaasen, and it indeed shows its early stage characteristics.

It lacks certain subtleties and ingenious plot devices that are present in his more mature works. Moreover, the environmental message, which is a constant in Hiaasen's books, is less prominent compared to his recent efforts. I actually appreciate this aspect as it makes the text less overly moralizing and self-righteous.

This book is an enjoyable read, yet not as fast-paced as most of his other works. It begins well, but then the pace slows down, ultimately culminating in a rather weak climax.

For dedicated Hiaasen fans, all of his typical elements are there: the exploitation of the environment by greedy individuals, needless violence, and some humor. The story lags mainly due to the weaker characterization compared to some of his other novels.

However, it is in this first novel of Hiaasen's that the villains are not all painted as uniformly unlikable stereotypes. In fact, the ending seems a bit weak because Hiaasen attempts to make us feel a bit of sympathy and admiration for the novel's villain as he is motivated by environmental concerns. No thank you; I don't like the idea of humanizing a madman.

"Tourist Season" is suitable for a beach read, but it doesn't offer much more than that.

Absolutely amazing!

Once again, the perfect illustration within the text makes it feel as if you are sitting right beside Brian Keyes as the story unfolds.

I can now safely claim that I have cruised along Key Biscayne, run red lights down Collins Blvd, and felt the crushed coral beneath my feet on Osprey Island.

Carl's background in journalism has been the ideal prerequisite for this masterpiece.

Brian Keyes must have been some sort of a reflection of the romantic side of Carl's self, and Skip Wiley the hotshot villain of the newsroom.

Sure to be overlooked by most, the few who discover this book, along with Carl's other works, are certain to be more than satisfied with his wonderful work.

Five stars, without a doubt.

Carl Hiaasen's "Tourist Season" is indeed the quintessential debut novel.

One can see this in every sentence, every chapter, and every plot contrivance.

Hiaasen begins with an interesting premise and employs it to tackle contemporary issues. His targets include consumerism, environmental degradation, overpopulation, political corruption, pollution, and racism.

Admittedly, it's not entirely groundbreaking. Nevertheless, there is the potential for a good to great novel within its pages.

However, Hiaasen isn't quite the author to fully realize this potential. The book is overlong and overly written. The characters lack depth and are rather flat. Additionally, the central conflict doesn't really amount to much.

The author does make clear efforts towards creating a gripping and ironic tale that educates the reader about the world around them. There are multiple perspectives and an omniscient narrator, along with some soapboxing.

Unfortunately, in most respects, it falls short. Even as a diversion, it doesn't quite hit the mark.

I initially began purchasing Hiaasen books from charity shops. The reason behind this was that these are the very books that served as an inspiration for Brookmyre. And I can clearly see the influence. The stories are indeed funny and witty, and they also incorporate elements of crime. However, I couldn't develop the same level of affection for this book as I do for any of Brookmyre's works. And the main reason for this is that it is an American book. If the spellings hadn't irritated me, then it would have been the references that I simply didn't understand. Additionally, Brookmyre's characters are far superior. In this book, I didn't feel any connection or concern for any of the characters. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable read overall.

Despite its flaws, there was something about the book that kept me engaged. Maybe it was the unique blend of humor and crime that managed to hold my attention. Or perhaps it was the fact that I was curious to see how Hiaasen's writing compared to Brookmyre's. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I gave it a try.

Although it didn't reach the same heights as Brookmyre's books for me, it still had its own charm and entertainment value. It goes to show that even if a book doesn't completely blow you away, it can still offer some enjoyable moments.

I have come across Carl Hiaasen's books on numerous occasions, and my curiosity has always been piqued to give one of them a try. However, upon reading, I found that his style of storytelling didn't quite resonate with me. The subject matter was indeed interesting and engaging, and the writing itself was of a good standard. The author had a way of creating vivid characters and painting a detailed picture of the settings.

Nevertheless, there were a couple of aspects that I didn't particularly like. There seemed to be a fair amount of cursing and the use of non-PC language, which I felt could have been toned down a little. It didn't necessarily detract from the overall story, but it did make me a bit uncomfortable at times. I understand that some authors use such language to add authenticity or to create a certain atmosphere, but in this case, I think it could have been achieved in a more subtle way.

My first encounter with Hiaasen's work was this particular book, chosen simply because it was his first. Admittedly, my initial anticipation leaned more towards expecting a wild and crazy ride filled with lunacy rather than a story that would tug at my heartstrings with poignancy. And indeed, it is funny, but what a pleasant surprise! It also has its tender moments.

\\tIt seems that the original intention was to lament the destruction of Florida's natural environment by satirizing the entire mess. The story does go a significant way towards achieving this plan. However, as the wounds inflicted upon the environment are just too sensitive, it ultimately cries out with the message, "Even crazy people have feelings."

\\tThe group of so-called "loonies" - or are they really? - who are determined to scare people away from Florida in order to save it consists of Tommy Tigertail, a Seminole who has amassed wealth from a bingo-casino; Jesus Bernal, an anti-Castro bomb-maker; Viceroy Wilson, a former star running back for the Dolphins who has now seen the revolutionary light; and their leader, Skip Wiley, the best columnist on the Miami newspaper. (We are really not supposed to miss the irony of attacking the very source of one's fame and fortune.) They hatch plans and largely carry out message-making attacks. For instance, they literally cut off the knees of the marketing executive for the Chamber of Commerce and drop gift bags of snakes onto a cruise ship. All of this builds up to kidnapping the Orange Bowl Queen to dramatize the development and subsequent death of a natural coral island.

\\tOn the other side of the coin, there is Brian Keyes, a private eye who agrees that Florida should be saved but opposes the group's tactics. He is a former columnist for the newspaper and a friend of Wiley. They share more than just a writerly background; specifically, they have both been involved with the same girlfriend. The question of who will get the girl, survive the war, and maintain their integrity drives the book right up until the very end. This is a superb read that I highly recommend.

2.5 stars.

I believe this is Hiaasen's first novel (1986), and it truly reads like a first attempt. He seemed to stuff an excessive amount of elements into this novel, which is filled with craziness and over-the-top scenarios.

I did have a liking for the main character, Brian Keyes. He had given up his job as a reporter to become a private investigator. There is a crazy group of so-called "terrorists" (and I use that term rather loosely). They are determined to drive people away from South Florida.

The individuals who form this terrorist cell each have their own motives for wanting to instill fear in the population. Some aim to avenge the destruction of the Seminole nation, while others want to stop development and save the area's habitat (as a tree-hugger, I can identify with this one). There are also those who seek to make a name for themselves for an even greater cause, and lastly, some want to drive a stake in the White man's heart.

They commit murders and stage events to bring their names and cause to the forefront. Unfortunately, they are not necessarily in agreement, and one of them is a rather inept bomber. Keyes and Al Garcia (a police officer) attempt to figure out the what, why, and how to stop them. There is a connection with the Miami Sun, tourism, and the Orange Bowl parade and game.

However, there are simply too many characters and minor storylines. I was already extremely eager for it all to end with almost 100 pages remaining.