Hiassen has long been a favorite among many readers.

His writing style is indeed somewhat predictable and follows certain themes, yet his stories are simply a source of pure entertainment.

Virtually all of his tales are set in the vibrant and unique landscape of south Florida.

Each story involves a diverse cast of characters, and most of these characters can only be described as "looney-tunes."

There are oddballs and dingbats galore, some harmless and endearing, while others are toxic and even murderous.

Even the most villainous of the bad guys manage to make foolish choices, and this is precisely what makes Hiassen's work such a great read.

"Native Tongue" is a prime example. It features a couple of inept thieves who steal a pair of rare rat-like animals from a Florida theme park.

The initial crime is not as significant as many of the characters seem to believe. Only you, the reader, and a select few of the bad guys truly understand the full picture of what's going on.

From this simple theft, each successive step spirals out of control and grows increasingly worse. Before long, it turns into a complete and utter mess.

Be prepared to find yourself laughing out loud as you delve into the pages of this fine book.

It's a wild and wacky ride that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Take a delightful and wild adventure through a budget amusement park in South Florida.

Join two unlucky burglars as they kidnap the exotic blue-tongue mango volves for both entertainment and financial gain. This is the classic style of Hiassen.

From the sleazy owner, Francis X. Kingsberry, to the steroid-abusing head of security, Pedro Luz, this book is truly hilarious.

Hiassen's hero, Joe Winder, steps in to solve the case, uncovering corrupt deals and chaos that endanger the fragile Florida environment.

I listened to it in audio format, expertly read by the always outstanding George Wilseon.

This book offers a laugh-out-loud experience that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

It's a must-read for fans of humorous mysteries and those who enjoy a unique take on the Florida setting.

Hiassen's vivid descriptions and engaging characters bring the story to life, making it a truly enjoyable read or listen.

Whether you're looking for a lighthearted escape or a thrilling mystery, this book has something for everyone.

So, grab a copy and get ready to be swept away by the antics and adventures in this classic Hiassen novel.

I have returned to Elmore Leonard's more modern and still lively successor, Carl Hiaasen. This guy writes not only crime novels but also makes you think. Specifically, he makes me think about why I so strongly dislike novels about heroic defenders of nature. In reality, I recycle, don't throw away garbage, but the moment I start reading about defenders of mother nature and how they fight against evil capitalists, I'm immediately on the wrong side. Maybe it's because they are always such noble and idealistic guys? Maybe it's because when there is ideology and warriors for some idea in the game, I'm immediately cautious? Or am I a morally defective individual? Maybe it's also because with idealists comes a double standard. When an old lady who leads an ecological struggle shoots three people, it's okay. When someone beats up the same old lady, it's the embodiment of evil.

And then there's the difference that distinguishes Hiaasen from Elmore Leonard (besides the number of pages). Leonard maintained a distance from the characters, measured everyone with the same standard, and even a complete loser could be sympathetic to you. Hiaasen is an example of when you start putting some ideology into a book, it forces you to support it in every way, so its representatives are nice people and those who are against it are repulsive and incredibly stupid beings with a small penis. Unlike Leonard, Hiaasen is a moralist.

The basic story is about how the heroes try to destroy the owner of an amusement park who wants to build the worst thing in the world – a golf course. (There is no better symbol of greedy occupation of nature.) Fortunately, his powerful boss has only incompetent idiots under him, led by a steroid-pumped bodybuilder, which is always a grateful source of humor.

But the fact is that I'm not fair. After all, this is primarily a comical crime novel and satire, so exaggerated figures and falling flat are to be expected. And it's not badly written and as far as the structure is concerned, the gears of the individual characters are set correctly. And for example, the newspaper battle is nice, when the main hero tries to harm the park by sending false news about epidemics and snakes to the newspapers, and the head of the marketing department can't say that it's not true, so he has to come up with another news that explains that the snakes were just toys and that the zoo took them in and gave them a home... it's just a battle between two professional liars.

If we were to summarize it, Hiaasen is Leonard for a new generation... or even better, a mix of Leonard, late Pratchett, and a Greenpeace activist. He bets more on humor and especially on emotions. Maybe it's too educational and dear to me, but I can't deny its quality.

Early Hiasen is truly awesome.

It is a wonderfully written work that, although at times it may seem preachy, is a real romp. The characters in it are outrageously unique, and the dialogue is clever and engaging. The plot is full of fun and excitement, making it a great read.

However, it is quite unfortunate that its message is still relevant today. In a world that is constantly evolving, it is disheartening to see that some of the issues and themes presented in Early Hiasen still persist.

Despite this, the book remains a captivating and thought-provoking piece of literature that continues to attract readers. Its combination of entertaining elements and a meaningful message makes it a valuable addition to any bookshelf.

Early Hiasen awesome.

It’s truly silly and funny, to the point that it made me burst out laughing. The entire premise is completely ridiculous, and as the book progresses, it becomes even more slapstick. However, the progression of this ridiculousness is so gradual that you hardly notice it happening and don't stop to question it.

The storytelling is actually of very high quality. The small hints and subtle foreshadowing are perfect. A couple of times, they completely caught me off guard, but often a small mention of something would have me thinking, “I hope that’s…” and when it turned out to be exactly that, I could only grin with joy.

I have a rather divided opinion on the characters, almost 50/50. The male characters are all well-developed, each with interesting and diverse personalities. On the other hand, the female characters are a real disappointment.

It is extremely frustrating. On one hand, Hiaasen seems to point out and mock the over-sexualized image of women (such as with a grotesquely over-large photograph of a naked woman at the nineteenth hole of a golf course or the dumbing down of a historical show to “show more tits and ass”). But he himself does nothing to make his female characters anything other than typical clichés of this; they serve little to no purpose except as sexual objects for the male characters.

As much as I enjoyed all aspects of the book except the blatant sexism, I will never be able to give Hiaasen more than three stars until he writes more realistic female characters.

My longer review with spoilers can be read at: http://marvelatwords.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/native-tongue/

Native Tongue is indeed an enjoyable read, yet it might not be the absolute best among the Carl Hiaasen books that I have perused.

The fundamental theme here is quite familiar. A somewhat oblivious protagonist gets embroiled in the attempt to stop the further destruction of Florida's natural land and wildlife by a bunch of sleazy developers, charlatans, corrupt politicians, violent enforcers, and the like. This time, the principal threat emanates from a kind of seedy and dishonest sub-Disneyland theme park. The plot unfolds more or less as one would anticipate, but there are some truly amusing moments. Not the least of which comes from a gun-toting older woman for whom the term "feisty" is completely insufficient to describe her.

Hiaasen's books always offer good value. This particular one may not be among the wittiest or most engrossing, but it is highly enjoyable nonetheless. And I can wholeheartedly recommend it to others who enjoy this type of literature.

I really enjoyed this book.

From the very beginning to the very end, it was filled with a wonderful sense of humor that kept me engaged and entertained throughout.

The author has a unique way of injecting humor into the story, which makes it not only a great read but also a source of laughter.

Every page seems to hold a new joke or a witty observation that had me smiling and sometimes even laughing out loud.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, but it's the humor that really sets this book apart.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good laugh and an enjoyable read.

It's a book that you can pick up and lose yourself in, and it will leave you feeling happy and entertained.

I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

A Florida theme park, known as the Amazing Kingdom of Thrills, claims to offer an unforgettable experience that combines animals and nature. However, beneath its光鲜 exterior, this park is actually a breeding ground for crooks, criminals, and all sorts of no-good losers.

Tragedy strikes when endangered blue-tongue voles are kidnapped from the park by a group of inept bunglers, acting on the orders of an environmental extremist. This incident causes panic to spread among the park employees, making the job of former investigative reporter Joe Winder, who is now working as a PR man, nearly impossible.

As events unfold, things quickly spiral out of control, leading to a state of mayhem and chaos. The story is filled with murder, arson, unexpected romances, and even an unforgettable scene in which a male dolphin drowns one of the villains while attempting to have sex with him.

Hiaasen is truly one of the funniest satirical writers, with his ability to turn a phrase in the most wildly comic way and create a zany cast of characters. This book is not only fast-paced and laugh-out-loud funny, but it also makes important statements about the environmental exploitation of native habitats.

Ex-reporter Joe Winder now works as the PR writer for the Amazing Kingdom of Thrills theme park in Key Largo, Florida. He used to be an employee of the competition, Disney. Now, he writes really sweet press releases, the kind that are sugar-coated.

Things take an interesting turn at the Rare Animal Pavilion. The rare, treasured, and last two surviving specimens of the blue-tongued mango vole (which I guess are similar to rats) are carelessly stolen and inevitably killed by two bumbling burglars hired by a 70-year-old member of the Wildlife Rescue Corps.

Francis X. Kingsbury is a land developer who is hiding from his past life in New York. He is the founder, president, and chairman of the park. He is the big cheese. He is also developing Falcon Trace, a waterfront home site and golf club. The Wildlife Rescue Corps is not thrilled about this land development either.

Unlike Jack Tagger, the main character in Hiaasen's "Basket Case," Joe Winder is dragged through the muck and mishaps at the park and into a mystery of multiple levels. His bosses have really pushed him into the investigative driver's seat. Jack Tagger, on the other hand, takes it upon himself, out of curiosity, to get involved. A member of an old band he liked mysteriously drowns, and he really wants to find the truth. Both main characters hold similar jobs, but they are dragged into a PI position, checking out murders, suicides, looking for evidence and clues, basically sticking their noses where they don't belong and risking their lives for a lousy job.

"Native Tongue" was too far-fetched for me. We have a vole doctor killed by Orky the Wale, with the scene set up like a suicide. There is also a girlfriend who "talks dirty" for a living. (Okay, that I believe.) And, Dickie the Dolphin has a wild romp in his tank with a beautiful TV reporter. Far-fetched is fine, but this was really ridiculous. I had a few laughs, I admit, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

The precious blue-tongued mango voles have been stolen from a Key Largo theme park. This theft has left Joe Winder determined to find them and uncover the reason behind it.

Joe Winder is no ordinary detective. He has a reputation for solving the most complex cases. When he hears about the stolen voles, he immediately springs into action.

He begins his investigation by interviewing the park staff. They provide him with valuable information about the security measures in place and any suspicious activity that they may have noticed.

Joe also examines the crime scene carefully. He looks for any clues that might lead him to the thief or the location of the stolen voles.

As his investigation progresses, Joe discovers that there is more to this theft than meets the eye. There are powerful forces at work, and he must use all of his skills and resources to solve the mystery and bring the blue-tongued mango voles back to safety.

I once recommended this book to a large crowd of people in an airport. I was laughing so hard that snot was coming out of my nose. Finally, one lady couldn't help but ask, "WHAT are you reading?!?!". Approximately half of the crowd standing there immediately wrote down the title and author. I really hope they will have the same snot-laughing-experience that I had! This book is truly hilarious and engaging. It has the power to make people forget about their surroundings and just沉浸 in the story. The characters are vivid and the plot is full of twists and turns. Every page is filled with humor and wit. It's the kind of book that you can't put down once you start reading. I'm sure those who wrote down the title and author will not be disappointed. :)

This is the second “Skink” book that I have had the pleasure of reading, and I must say it was an extremely enjoyable experience.

The vivid imagination of Carl Hiaasen never fails to astonish me. The story he weaves is not only highly entertaining but also filled with elements that are truly bizarre.

The characters in the book are so well-developed that they seem to come alive on the pages. Their dialogues are engaging and add to the overall charm of the narrative.

I find myself completely hooked on this series and will definitely continue reading. I can't wait to see what other crazy adventures and unique characters Hiaasen has in store for us in the next installment.

Each book in this series offers a fresh and exciting take on the world of mystery and adventure, and I am eager to explore more.

Overall, I would highly recommend the “Skink” series to anyone looking for a fun and engaging read that will keep them on the edge of their seat.