3.5 stars

Carl Hiaasen's books are always a source of great hilarity, and this one is no different. It's a wild and wacky ride that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

*****

Despoilers of Florida's beauty had better watch out for Twilly Spree, a slightly crazy twenty-something self-proclaimed environmentalist. He's not one to shy away from taking matters into his own hands when he sees something he doesn't like.

Twilly has already made a name for himself by blowing up his uncle's bank for loaning money to an unethical rock-mining company. So, when he witnesses someone throwing trash onto a Florida highway, he decides to take action.

The culprit turns out to be lobbyist Palmer Stoat, who is not only a litterbug but also engages in some rather shady activities. He 'hunts' exotic game in the local Wilderness Veldt Plantation, which imports elderly animals for bigwigs to shoot.

To teach Palmer a lesson, Twilly goes to extreme lengths. He fills one of the Stoat cars with stinking rubbish, another with rustling dung beetles, and when Palmer still doesn't seem to get the message, he removes the glass eyes from all the trophy heads in the Stoat mansion and arranges them into a pentagram.

But Palmer is a stubborn man, and he still doesn't change his ways. So, Twilly takes things a step further and kidnaps the lobbyist's labrador retriever, Boodle. As it turns out, Palmer's beautiful wife, Desie, is also fed up with her slobby husband and decides to join in on the dog-napping.

At this point, Twilly discovers that Palmer Stoat is involved in a plan to turn Florida's offshore 'Toad Island' into an upscale golf resort called 'Shearwater Island.' The developer, former drug dealer Robert Clapley, has been bribing politicians to make the project happen and has even taken steps to wipe out the toads for which the island is named.

Determined to stop the project, Twilly threatens to harm Boodle. But can the welfare of a dog stand up against the fortunes that are to be made? The story unfolds with one funny and ridiculous predicament after another. A hitman who collects CD's of 911 calls is hired to deal with the opponents of the resort, developer Clapley indulges in some rather strange fetishes, Boodle gets to wear a blindfold, and Florida's former governor, Clinton Tyree (Skink), makes an appearance.

The book builds up to a memorable climax and an appropriate finale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who likes offbeat humorous stories, especially those who are passionate about preserving our natural environment.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

4 stars
This is yet another captivating installment in the "Skink" series penned by Hiaasen.

However, the spotlight in this particular book is predominantly on Twilly Spree. His anger reaches a boiling point when he witnesses a litterbug nonchalantly tossing garbage out of his window on a Florida highway. Twilly, having come into independent wealth through an inheritance, resolves to teach the litterbug a well-deserved lesson.

Little does he know that this seemingly simple act will set off a chain reaction of completely unexpected events. Criminals, real estate developers, and politicians start interacting with each other in a chaotic and comical manner, much like bumper cars in an amusement park.

Let's take a closer look at some of the characters. There's Florida Governor Dick Artemus, who humorously describes himself as "...a people person's people person," although this phrase elicits muted groans from his staff.

Then there's Palmer Stoat, the litterbug himself and a lobbyist for the rich and powerful. His wife, Desie Stoat, finally realizes that Palmer is a bit of a jerk.

And let's not forget Mr. Gash, a hired thug whose favorite pastime is listening to 911 tapes.

I devoured this library book in just 3 days, completely enthralled by its engaging plot and colorful characters.

Independently wealthy eco-terrorist Twilly Spree has a major issue with personal polluters and litterers. He is just as likely to tailgate a random litterer on a highway as he is to take on a corporate polluter. It is his determined pursuit of such a litterer that leads him to be the sole person seeking to prevent the environmental destruction of an island for the construction of a gold course by various conspirators in corporate or government power. What he doesn't know is that he has a significant potential ally in the elusive and rarely seen eco-warrior fanatic, Skink.

As always with Carl Hiaasen's books for me, it is indeed quite funny and innovative with its pro-environment and anti-corporate and government themes. However, all the comedy is rather predictable, and the characterizations are limited to what is necessary for the comedy, so many of them feel quite one-dimensional, including the main protagonists. Despite that, I do find his work very readable and interesting. Maybe it requires a bit of angst and/or pathos to push it to a Three Star rating for me? 6 out of 12. Dog lovers should note that this is not a random book title, as one of the main protagonists is a black Labrador.

2022 review

Laugh out loud funny!

The best reason I enjoy reading Carl Hiaasen novels is because I will never be able to conceive of plots (and characters) such as his. His imagination knows no bounds, and it truly astounds me.

In Sick Puppy, he has created a cast of characters that is both diverse and hilarious. Let me see if I can recall most of these characters: a prostitute whose clients are Republicans, a self-sufficient eco-terrorist, a slob lobbyist/big game hunter, a rogue former Florida Governor, a killer with a 9-1-1 call fetish (among several other fetishes), a black Labrador (one of the Sick Puppies alluded to in the title), an entrepreneur with an unnatural love of Barbie dolls, two Eastern bloc real life Barbie dolls, and so on. This list barely scratches the surface of the interesting characters in the book.

Readers will thoroughly enjoy Hiaasen's sense of humor, his quirky characters, and his convoluted plots (which are surprisingly easy to follow!). His writing style is engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Although they pretty much all do, this particular Hiaasen novel reminded me of Donald Westlake's books. Both authors have a talent for creating absurd and entertaining stories that will make you laugh out loud.

Overall, Sick Puppy is a well-written and highly entertaining read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good laugh. It's a book that you won't be able to put down once you start reading it.

One of the funniest books I've ever read is truly a gem.

It represents what enjoyable, escapist fiction should be at its finest.

The character of Twilly Spree is simply outstanding. He is a character that Joseph Heller would have been proud of.

He is a hero in anger management classes, and his exploits are so absurd that they verge on the unbelievable.

However, it is precisely because they take place in the state of insanity known as "Florida" that they somehow manage to be believable.

This book is absolutely fun from start to finish.

It has all the elements that good, escapist fiction should have - humor, adventure, and a touch of the absurd.

It allows the reader to escape from reality and immerse themselves in a world of laughter and entertainment.

NC

What a truly hilarious book this is!

I had the pleasure of listening to it during a road trip. Oh my, we couldn't stop laughing all the way from sunny Florida to beautiful Tennessee.

Carl Hiassen has always been one of my go-to authors whenever I'm in the mood for a touch of mystery combined with an abundance of fun. His writing style is so engaging and entertaining that it keeps you hooked from the very beginning.

The characters in his books are vivid and full of personality, and the storylines are always filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good laugh and an exciting mystery. You won't be disappointed!

You gotta love a dog story, and Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen is truly a gem. It not only captures the essence of a dog with vivid descriptions but also weaves a captivating mystery set in Florida.

Hiaasen's writing makes it clear that he has a deep understanding of dogs. His portrayal of a Labrador retriever is both endearing and accurate. The dog's carefree and fun-loving nature is brought to life in passages like, "That’s the thing about being a Labrador retriever--you were born for fun. Seldom was your loopy, freewheeling mind cluttered by contemplation, and never at all by somber worry; every day was a romp. What else could there possibly be to life? Eating was a thrill.......And everywhere you went were gullible humans who patted and hugged and fussed over you."

However, Sick Puppy is more than just a dog story. It's a biting satire that examines the mistreatment of Florida's environment by real estate developers and politicians in collusion. Hiaasen creates a complex web of characters, including politicians, lobbyists, ex-drug lords turned developers, big game park owners, scientists, and more. He gives them names that are both humorous and fitting, like Twilly Spree, Desirata Stoat, Palmer Stoat, Mr. Gash, Richard Artemus, and Richard Clapey.

I've wanted to read a Hiaasen book for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally did. Sick Puppy was a great read, full of humor, mystery, and social commentary. I can't wait to explore more of his work.

Hmmmm, I really don't know what to think.

My Dad has fallen in love with this particular guy, and as it turns out, Amanda feels the same way. Not only that, but a whole bunch of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Messler side are also smitten with him.

Personally, I'm not completely convinced. However, I have to admit that he is quite handsome. Also, when it comes to reading material suitable for the Florida beach, there isn't much that beats his work. So, those are two aspects that work in his favor.

No sir, I still don't like it! My mom claims that she prefers the articles he's written over his novels. Maybe I should give some of those a try and see if I can understand what all the fuss is about.

Who knows, perhaps after reading his articles, I might change my opinion about this guy. But for now, I remain a bit skeptical.

This was my very first encounter with a Hiaasen novel, and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed.

It had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions. What truly sets his works apart are the characters. They are not one-dimensional; instead, they are multidimensional, complex, and full of surprises.

Take the dog, for example. It basically steals the show with its antics and unique personality.

The plot and storyline are equally captivating. They take countless unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader in a perpetual state of anticipation.

In short, I couldn't bear to put the book down, not even for a minute! Currently, I'm engrossed in Nature Girl, and it seems to hold the promise of being just as thrilling and exhilarating as Sick Puppy.

Hiaasen has quickly become my new favorite author, and I can't wait to explore more of his works.

Skink is truly a remarkable character. Despite being sick, he manages to bring a lot of laughter and amusement.

His unique sense of humor shines through even in his not-so-optimal state of health. It's as if he has an inner strength that allows him to find the funny side of everything.

You can't help but be drawn to his charm and be entertained by his antics. Whether it's his witty remarks or his silly actions, Skink always knows how to put a smile on your face.

Even when he's not feeling well, he doesn't let that stop him from being the life of the party. He has this amazing ability to turn a potentially negative situation into a fun and lighthearted one.

Skink is a reminder that even in the face of illness, there is still room for laughter and joy. Gotta love Skink!

Okay. I'll concede that there are oversimplifications in this book.

The bad guys are irredeemably bad; the good guys are little better than the bad guys. That's true of most of us, isn't it?

The destruction of habitat for condos is a central Hiaasen theme, so don't get your Speedos in a wad.

The characters are too wild and crazy to believe? Have you ever spent time in Florida? Every nutjob who isn't on a survivalist ranch in Idaho picks up their mail in Florida (it used to be California before living there got too expensive).

The amorality in politics? I find that in every state of the Union, so please squash that motion.

In fact, just read the book with an open mind (like you would read a comic book as a child). You'll find, as you go along, that you don't know who will prevail (have you counted how many condos there are in Florida, and how little unspoiled beach remains?); most of all, you will not be able to predict what will happen ten pages ahead.

All of this adds up to an enjoyable, entertaining book for me. The only thing missing is the scene at the end where Geraldo Rivera is hosting a live show featuring the discovery of Blackbeard's treasure chest and what ensues when it is opened. Maybe that will show up in one of Hiassen's later novels.

In fact, I wish Hiassen would take the time and knit together all the disparate characters who populate his books in the style of Wm Faulkner, recycle and shuffle them and tell of their new (mis)deeds and adventures. Not even in the novel format; write a collection of short stories about the intersection of characters from his various books. There is a richness here of setting, character, and irony that I haven't seen since Faulkner and I find myself wanting more... exactly where Hiassen wants me.

This book, despite its flaws, offers a unique and engaging reading experience. The wild and crazy characters, the exploration of important themes like habitat destruction and political amorality, and the unpredictability of the plot all contribute to its charm. While it may not be a literary masterpiece, it is certainly an enjoyable and entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what Hiassen has in store for us in the future.

The greatest pleasure of having a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too. This is the story of two eco-maniacs and a black lab. If you've read any of Hiaasen's other Skink books, you know one of them is named Skink. He's a former Florida governor who had a mental breakdown, walked out of his office years ago, and now haunts the Everglades swamp, dispensing vigilante justice to polluters, corrupt politicians, land developers, and lobbyists. His favorite food is fresh road kill.

In Sick Puppy, a new antihero, Twilly, is introduced. He's a self-styled eco-warrior with serious self-control issues. He gets very upset if litterers don't take the hint the first time. He's bound and determined to teach them a lesson, whether they survive or not. Then there's the sick puppy. It's not clear if it's the black lab Twilly dognaps to coerce the dog's sleazy, littering owner or if it's Twilly himself. It's hard to tell which one is denser - the dog or the dognapper. Note: The dog is funnier.

Carl Hiaasen started as an investigative reporter and knows plenty of corrupt politicians. His portrayal of corrupt politics in this novel rings true, even to someone from Illinois, where political corruption is taken seriously. A 4-year governorship in Illinois is often a training ground for prison. Hiaasen's novel is amusing but nothing new. ★★★★

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“The greatest pleasure of [having] a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you,… he will make a fool of himself, too.”― Samuel Butler