Let me tell you, this book is like a Floridian fever dream – in the best way possible. Carl Hiaasen's 'Skinny Dip' had me snorting coffee through my nose at least three times. That's how you know it's good.
The plot? Chef's kiss. A sleazy marine biologist (Chaz) tries to murder his wife (Joey) by tossing her off a cruise ship. Joke's on him – she was a college swimmer and survives. What follows is the most delicious revenge plot since 'Gone Girl,' but with way more alligators and bales of floating marijuana.
Hiaasen's character work is where he really shines. Chaz might be one of the most hilariously pathetic villains I've ever read – the kind of guy who'd sell his grandma for a timeshare. And Joey? She's every woman who's ever thought 'I married an idiot' and then decided to do something about it.
The Florida setting is practically another character. From Boca Raton condos to Everglades tomato fields, Hiaasen skewers the Sunshine State with such precise satire that I kept checking my shoes for swamp water.
Now, fair warning – if you're looking for deep emotional arcs or poetic prose, this ain't it. But if you want a book that reads like Elmore Leonard and Dave Barry had a baby raised by gators? Perfect beach read or bathtub companion.
Minor quibble: Some subplots could've been tighter, and I wanted more of Mick (the retired cop who rescues Joey). But when a book makes you laugh out loud on an airplane (earning weird looks from strangers), that's a win in my book.