"Powder Burn" is Carl Hiaasen's debut novel, penned in the 1980s. It delves into the seedy world of drug activity and its far-reaching consequences in South Florida.

The story follows architect Chris Meadows, who witnesses a tragic event. During a hit carried out by Cuban assassins on Columbian cocaine dealers, his former girlfriend and her daughter are accidentally killed.

Chris is then tormented by one of the killers, a police captain, and others. This persecution drives him to make a bold decision - he decides to take on the drug trade in Miami and bring it down.

The novel features several plot twists, although some parts may seem a bit slow. There are also many moments that require a leap of faith from the reader. Overall, "Powder Burn" earns a rating of 2.5 stars.

It offers an interesting look at the underbelly of society and the lengths one man will go to in the face of injustice. However, it may not be the most gripping or tightly paced novel, but it still has its merits.

POWDER BURN was first published in 1981.

It was a time of slide rules, public pay phones, Betamaxes, and electric typewriters. It was so long ago that Mister Liberryhead was in his first year of librarianship.

Except for an apparent love of Florida, few of the qualities that would later make Carl Hiaasen a popular crime novelist are evident in POWDER BURN.

Two Miami cops are knee-deep in "a new branch of police science. Not homicide, not narcotics, but narcocide" (pg73).

Successful thirty-six-year-old architect Chris Meadows unexpectedly finds himself caught between the cops and the killers, having to decide whether "to run or to retaliate" (pg140).

The criminal 'el jefe' muses: "Competition was as obsolete as democracy. The twenty-first century would be the age of the cartel" (pg252).

In that observation, POWDER BURN was prescient. It seemed to anticipate the changing landscape of crime and power in the years to come.

Although it may not have had all the hallmarks of Hiaasen's later works, it still offered a glimpse into the world of crime and the complex decisions that characters had to make.

Perhaps it was a stepping stone for Hiaasen, leading him to develop his unique style and become the renowned crime novelist he is today.

I recently chose a Carl Hiassan book as my last read.

I was really looking forward to going on one of his crazy and fun adventures, as I have always loved the wackiness and quirky characters in his previous works.

However, to my disappointment, these elements seemed to be missing in action in this particular book.

Maybe it was because it was a collaboration, which could have affected the unique style and charm that I have come to associate with Hiassan's writing.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book per se, but it just didn't meet the high expectations that I have for Hiassan's novels.

I still have a lot of respect for his work and will continue to read his books in the future, hoping to recapture that same sense of excitement and entertainment that his earlier works provided.

Made me nostalgic for the old Crockett and Tubbs Miami Vice episodes. This book offers a pretty good take on the violence that plagued Miami. As the Cubans strived to protect their home-team advantage in drug distribution, the Colombians vied for a bigger slice of the pie as their main supplier. It's truly hilarious to think that in the 1980s, cocaine was lionized by many, even by well-educated, established, and wealthier "straight" members of society. It became the subject of popular songs, some of which now seem rather cringe-worthy. Little thought was given to the true havoc it wreaked in our lives and on the mental health of users. Recognizing this in hindsight is relatively straightforward.

The book would have earned 4 stars if the ending hadn't been somewhat anti-climactic. I believe I prefer the zany, acerbic wit of Hiaasen when he's on his own. Nevertheless, it's still a very entertaining read. It keeps you engaged with its vivid descriptions of the Miami drug scene and the characters involved. The story unfolds with a mix of action, humor, and a touch of social commentary. Despite the flaws, it manages to capture the essence of that era and the chaos that ensued.

This is the very first occasion that we have the opportunity to experience South Florida from the perspective of Carl Hiaasen.

Even though it may not be as uproariously funny as some of his subsequent books, this one still manages to be highly entertaining.

The story follows architect Chris Matthews, who decides to take matters into his own hands when a drug hitman murders his ex-wife.

It is truly fascinating to observe the development of Chris throughout the course of the book. His character undergoes significant changes and growth.

Moreover, his companions also possess their own unique quirks, which add an extra layer of charm and interest to the narrative.

Overall, it is a relatively quick read that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Despite not being as comical as some of Hiaasen's other works, it still offers an enjoyable and captivating experience for fans of his writing.

Ehhhhhh. I truly love Carl Hiassen. However, this particular book fails to meet the expected standard. There could be several reasons for this. Maybe it was an early work of his, and as such, it lacks the polish and refinement that his later books possess. Or perhaps the collaboration aspect was the issue. The story and characters simply didn't have the same level of interest, fun, or quirkiness as those in his other books. It wasn't a terrible read by any means, but if this had been the first of his books that I had picked up, I probably wouldn't have been inclined to read more. Fortunately, I have had the pleasure of reading enough of his works to know that I have a genuine love for his writing style. So, despite this slight disappointment, I will definitely keep going and explore more of his literary offerings.

Miami architect Chris Meadows finds himself in a truly unfortunate situation. He is at the wrong place at the wrong time when he witnesses his ex-wife and her daughter being run over by an automobile. Shocked and concerned, he immediately rushes to assist the driver and the occupants of the vehicle. However, to his horror, members of the Cuban mob recognize him.

This unexpected encounter sets him on a dangerous path of undercover life, filled with both escape and a burning desire for revenge. As is typical of Hiaasen's writing, he manages to inject humor even when describing our hero's escapades, including his bouts with cocaine and his encounters with beautiful women.

While this book may be less outrageous than some of Hiaasen's other works such as "Skin Tight" and "Native Tongue", it is still a highly engaging read. Meadows, with his cunning and resourcefulness, eventually manages to get his revenge and come out clean, leaving readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Overall, it's a thrilling and entertaining story that showcases Hiaasen's unique writing style and ability to create memorable characters and plotlines.

This is a very early Carl Hiaasen work in comparison to others that I have read.

It is lacking in the laugh out loud quality that had previously convinced me to read more of his works. However, the plot was fast-paced and well-woven.

Without the humor, it nearly lost me during the first half. But I persevered and it paid off rather nicely in the end.

The story managed to draw me in with its engaging plot twists and turns, even without the constant stream of humor.

By the time I reached the conclusion, I was glad that I had pushed through the initial lack of humor.

It goes to show that even without one of the author's trademark qualities, his writing still has the ability to hold the reader's attention and deliver a satisfying ending.

Overall, while this particular work may not be my favorite of Carl Hiaasen's, it still has its merits and is worth reading for those who enjoy a fast-paced and well-written story.

**Not His Best**

I have a suspicion that Hiaasen didn't put in a great deal of effort into the writing of this piece. The larger-than-life characters that are so characteristic of his work are noticeably absent, with the exception of Victor who is introduced in the last act. Additionally, his trademark wry and humorous take on South Florida is also lacking. The lead character fails to evoke a sense of real empathy. It's quite difficult to recommend this particular work. I happened to come across it for just $1.99 in BookBub. However, despite the low price, it doesn't quite measure up to what one would expect from Hiaasen. There are moments where the story seems to drag, and the overall narrative doesn't have the same spark and energy that his other works possess. It's a bit of a disappointment, to be honest.

Perhaps, it's a one-off, and Hiaasen will return to form with his next offering. But for now, this book remains a bit of a let-down.

I embarked on reading this book, fully aware that it was his very first one.

While it may lack a bit of the sharpness that was to follow in his subsequent works, it still presented an engaging narrative.

The story delved into the drug trade in Miami during the 1980s, painting a vivid picture of that era.

There were certain hints and glimpses of the direction that Hiaasen was on the verge of taking in his Florida tales.

Thankfully, I'm pleased to see that he indeed pursued that path.

His unique style and ability to craft interesting characters and storylines were already beginning to shine through in this debut work.

It made me eager to explore more of his books and see how his writing would evolve over time.

Overall, despite its slight shortcomings, this first book was a promising start to what would become a great body of work by Hiaasen.

Meh.

Some Hiaasen, but it's just not enough.

What this work really needed was more humanity. It should have delved deeper into the emotions and experiences that make us truly human.

More passion was also lacking. The story could have been set ablaze with intense feelings, making the readers' hearts race.

Sex, too, could have added an extra layer of complexity and realism. It's a natural part of life, after all.

Humor was another element that was in short supply. A touch of lightheartedness would have relieved the tension and made the reading experience more enjoyable.

In short, what was needed was more life. The story should have come alive on the page, transporting the readers into a world that was rich, vibrant, and full of the joys and sorrows of human existence.

Nope. I really didn't have any liking for the writing style, the narration, or the story itself.

I made several attempts to engage with it, hoping that maybe I would grow to appreciate it. However, it just didn't happen.

The more I tried, the more I realized that it simply wasn't clicking with me.

Life is indeed too short to waste on things that don't bring us joy or satisfaction.

There are so many other wonderful books, movies, and experiences out there waiting for us to discover.

So, instead of forcing myself to like something that clearly isn't meant for me, I'm going to move on and explore other options.

Maybe the next thing I encounter will be exactly what I've been looking for.

Who knows? But one thing is for sure, I'm not going to dwell on this any longer.