Kinky off-the-wall hilarity!


If you've ever had the pleasure of reading a travelogue penned by Bill Bryson, then you'll truly understand what I mean when I say that it's possible to be uproariously hilarious while simultaneously being entirely serious. You'll also grasp the essence of what I'm suggesting when I state that Carl Hiaasen is to fiction and mystery novels what Bill Bryson is to travel literature.


Strip Tease is a rather kinky, completely off-the-wall, yet thoroughly entertaining narrative that delves into the world of murder, blackmail, and political intrigue. The story revolves around Erin Grant, a stripper who laboriously works every night to amass the funds for the legal expenses she's accruing in a custody battle for her daughter. On the other side of the spectrum, we have David Dilbeck, a thoroughly corrupt and entirely imbecilic US congressman whose thought processes seldom venture beyond the realm of hormones and never ascend above the level of what lies between his legs (or whose legs he finds himself between).


When Dilbeck makes the ill-advised decision during an election year to engage in a drunken brawl at the Eager Beaver strip joint where Erin Grant works, the opportunities for blackmail become glaringly obvious. This, in turn, piles on the workload for sleazy political fixers like Malcolm Moldowsky, to the extent that it becomes more than even his expertise can manage.


Hiaasen weaves a web of outlandish coincidences and crafts a series of brilliantly portrayed, absolutely bizarre, and often likeable characters. The entire novel somehow teeters on the knife edge of a sharp ridge, perilously close to tipping over into the domain of slapstick vaudevillian silliness. But miraculously, he manages to hold back and generate genuine laughter over a real story that, believe it or not, can also be quite heartwarming at times! His political commentary and obvious criticism are also entirely intentional and, in this reader's opinion, entirely justified.


Highly recommended.


Paul Weiss

Pretty bad, predictable, but funny at times too.

This description seems to sum up a particular experience or thing. It's not great, as it is quite predictable, which might make it a bit disappointing. However, there are also moments when it manages to bring a smile or a laugh.

One would have expected more from it. Maybe it had the potential to be something really special, but it fell short.

Nevertheless, the fact that it has some funny moments saves it from being a complete disaster.

It's like a mediocre movie that you might watch once and forget about, but for those few minutes of laughter, it was worth it.

Overall, it's a bit of a mixed bag, but it does have its redeeming qualities.

The original article was short and simple, but it had the potential to be more engaging.

To make it more entertaining, I added some details and descriptions to bring the characters to life.

The story now features lively characters who interact in interesting ways.

There is more dialogue and action, which makes the narrative more dynamic.

The expanded article still retains the essence of the original, but it is now more engaging and enjoyable to read.

It invites the reader to immerse themselves in the story and get to know the characters on a deeper level.

Overall, the rewrite has transformed the article into a more entertaining and captivating piece of writing.

It's more or less impossible to say something about this book and not mention the film. So, I'll just get that out of the way right at the start. The film, in my opinion, was undeservedly bad mouthed by critics and some of the public alike. The only major problem I remember having with it was that Rhames was miscast as Shad. But actually, I'm not sure there is or was a real-life actor that would be a good fit for the character. Other than that, it was quite fun. However, it was not terribly true to Hiaasen's book and not as good by a long shot. The book, on the other hand, contains all the trademark Hiaasen black humor, biting satire, quirky characters, and odd situations that you expect. It's a wild ride that takes you through a world filled with absurdity and yet manages to make you think. Hiaasen has a unique way of presenting the most outlandish scenarios in a way that makes them seem almost plausible. The book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a bit of social commentary.

This is my first encounter with Carl Hiassen for grown-ups. A few years back, I eagerly devoured 'Hoot' and 'Flushed'. Now, I am pleasantly surprised and ready to become good friends with Carl Hiassen-for-grownups.

His writing is a strange mix of humor, toughness, and knowledge about seemingly everything related to Florida or the seedy side of life. For the sake of political correctness, I won't say those two are the same. Combined with his talent for creating complex, sprawling plots that always manage to resolve in a satisfying way, and characters that are believably good, bad, crazy, etc., without being shallow, what we have here is a really funny, really entertaining, and highly readable novel. The heroine is a stripper, and the rest of society is revealed as full of frauds, but in a much more engaging and endlessly readable way than that might suggest.

He's like Christopher Moore, but without the angels/giant lizards/zombies, etc. And the fact that he can leave those out and still keep me reading and giggling is a great testament to his skill. Well done, Carl Hiassen!

Incredibly, I find myself leaning towards the much maligned movie version.

It manages to execute the farce in a slightly better manner. Instead of the more stuttering ending in the book, it brings all of the characters to the same place at one time.

This showcases that all of the icky sexism was already ingrained in the story before the screenwriter even had a chance to work on it.

The book does have its funny moments. When it rails against agribusiness, it has a go-for-broke cynical rage that propels it forward.

However, the main character is an idealized cipher, which makes any assessment of sexual attitudes or politics inherently reactionary.

It's easy to make the moral argument for a sex-worker who is only doing it to pay for lawyer's bills to protect her child.

But it's rather cowardly to only engage on that level and constantly denigrate all the other women as "strippers" (with a fair number of harsher words thrown in as well. One has to wonder if Mel Gibson wrote the husbands' dialogue?[1])

[1] See entry one book further along.

It was truly a remarkable diversion from the typical bookclub choices. Carl Hiaasen has an extraordinary talent for crafting and telling the most outrageously crazy tales. His stories are like a wild ride that takes the reader on a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. Each character he creates is unique and vivid, adding to the overall charm and excitement of the narrative. The way he weaves together the plotlines is both masterful and engaging, keeping the reader hooked from beginning to end. Whether it's the zany adventures of the protagonists or the outlandish situations they find themselves in, Hiaasen's writing never fails to entertain and amuse. His work is a refreshing departure from the ordinary, offering a welcome escape into a world of pure imagination and hilarity.

Hilarious commentary on South Florida is masterfully wrapped within the pages of a mystery novel that boasts a truly colorful cast of characters.

There are strippers, politicians, lawyers, and detectives, all交织在一起 in a web of intrigue and humor.

This book might not elicit the same level of laughter from you if you've never had the experience of living in South Florida. However, it is still most definitely worth a read.

It was my very first encounter with a Hiaason book, and I find myself eagerly looking forward to delving into another one of his works.

The unique blend of mystery and humor, along with the vivid portrayal of the South Florida setting and its diverse cast of characters, makes this book a captivating and enjoyable read.

Whether you're a local or not, it offers a fascinating glimpse into a world that is both strange and entertaining.

I highly recommend giving it a try and seeing for yourself what all the fuss is about.

Oh, CARL.

The way he can connect so many diverse elements is truly remarkable. There are the rich people who seem to be bent on destroying Florida, their actions having far-reaching consequences. Then there are the single mothers, struggling to make ends meet and raise their children in a challenging environment. The cops with messy lives, dealing with their own personal demons while trying to maintain law and order.

At least five people who could be aptly called "Florida Man," each with their own crazy and often hilarious stories. The politicians, with their own agendas and power plays, sometimes adding to the chaos rather than resolving it. And let's not forget the other assorted kooks, who bring their own unique brand of eccentricity to the mix.

I just love how CARL manages to weave all these different threads together into a captivating narrative. It's like a tapestry of life in Florida, with all its beauty, ugliness, and everything in between.

This is my third Carl Hiaasen novel, and I'm truly becoming a fan. I haven't seen the Demi Moore movie based on this book, but I highly doubt the movie could have captured the humor and the clever interweaving of so many characters in half a dozen subplots the way Hiaasen does in this novel about the weirdest of states, Florida.

The main plot centers around a white powder worth billions of dollars, which enriches a few magnates at the expense of the underpaid migrant workers who harvest and process it. Powerful men will stop at nothing, even killing those who threaten their profits. And, of course, that white powder is sugar.

Erin, a former FBI agent, now works at a strip club. She has a crazy meth-head ex-husband who managed to get custody of their daughter after bringing the Bible-thumping judge to her place of employment. The judge declared Erin an unfit mother and is now a regular at the club.

One night, a libidinous Congressman goes into a blackout-drunk rage onstage with Erin, nearly clubbing another patron to death. He has to be dragged out by a long-suffering "fixer," who then spends the rest of the book trying to cover up the Congressman's misdeeds before an important vote on sugar subsidies.

The Congressman falls in love with Erin (a phenomenon she's not unfamiliar with, given her job at the strip club), but his actions, both literally and figuratively exposing himself to her, put his political career in jeopardy. The men who have bought and paid for him can't allow that. Erin is smart enough to take care of herself, but she also realizes she's in danger and that being smart and competent isn't enough against the power of Washington lobbyists willing to eliminate inconvenient little people. Fortunately, she has her biker bouncer buddy, Chad, and a police sergeant who takes an interest in the case after his fishing vacation is spoiled by his son's discovery of a "floater" who happens to be one of the inconvenient little people.

Like Hiaasen's other novels, "Strip Tease" weaves trenchant social criticism and cynical political commentary into a colorful cast of characters. There are weirdos, crazies, working-class folks, conniving villains, lecherous creeps, smart chicks, decent cops, corrupt politicians, scheming ex-cons with hearts of gold, and half a dozen subplots that all manage to drive the main plot forward in clever ways. There's the bouncer who is constantly thwarted in his attempts to retire on the proceeds of a lawsuit from a cockroach found in his yogurt, the strip club owner in perpetual labor disputes with his dancers, who range from empty-headed bimbos to very smart women just trying to get by. There are shysters, fixers, and dirty politics galore. And it's all very funny. Erin herself never succumbs to any kind of stereotype as a stripper, and while the villains may be a bit clichéd, who doesn't love seeing a dimwitted, lecherous Congressman get his just deserts?

Long, funny book!

It is truly a great choice for summer reading. You can just relax and enjoy the humorous stories within its pages.

Surprisingly, I have never heard of a movie being made from this book.

I seriously doubt that it could be adapted into a movie without going too far.

The unique charm and humor of the book might be lost in the translation to the big screen.

Maybe the filmmakers would have to make significant changes to fit the story into a movie format, which could potentially ruin the essence of the book.

However, it would be interesting to see if someone could take on the challenge and create a successful movie adaptation.

Until then, we can continue to enjoy the book and let our imaginations run wild.

This is an earlier Hiaasen book. It is good, but not his best as Star Island holds that title.

As is typical in his works, we have a sweet and innocent young woman who has made some bad choices. One of those choices was her husband. And, just like always, we have the evil corporate farmers or fishermen, or some other evil organization. Also, as usual, we have the fool that we have elected to be in the national lawmaking group. Hiaasen loves to showcase lawmakers and attorneys at their very worst, and there are several in this book.

The evil law-breaking former husband is into drugs, stealing, and selling a large number of stolen wheelchairs. He also legally has their child. He had enough friends or money to bribe the judge, so the judge ruled that he has sole custody of their precious child, perhaps a 4-year-old girl. So, our dear heroine has to get a job to pay for her attorney. She ended up getting a job in a strip club in Miami with an awful boss but a sweet, gentle, and kind bouncer who protected Erin.

I can't reveal any more. Let your imagination run wild. This is a typical Hiaasen book with lots of action. People get slapped around, sometimes even murdered. There is often a body to remove from the water or tied to something in the water. After all, this is Miami. In this book, the really evil organization is the sugar growers. They put all the fertilizer and polluted water into the natural streams, rivers, or the ocean, basically polluting the entire earth. And they have bought off the local congressman, who is now the chairman of a committee that hands out subsidies to "farmers." They need his vote.

Hiaasen really dislikes all the growth in Florida, the destruction of natural resources, and most lawyers and elected officials. He started his professional life as a reporter for the Miami Herald, then became a columnist, and now writes books about all the evils he sees in this overdeveloped, over-Disneyed, and absolutely corrupted wonderful natural land in Florida. He is funny, writes well, and always makes it clear who the bad guy is and who the beloved nice one is who has been treated so awfully. Everyone should read at least one Hiaasen book as there will be some character in the book that you will enjoy seeing his evil exposed to the world.