I love Carl Hiaasen's books. He has the greatest black sense of humor I have ever found in an author. His books are similar to Elmore Leonard's, but I find them infinitely better.

Black Lizard recently published three older Hiaasen novels, and while they share some of the aspects of his later novels (Florida settings, etc.), they lack the humor which define a "Hiaasen" novel. Good reading none the less, but I'm a bigger fan of his last five or six books.

spoonman - can you tell me the titles so that I can try to find them? I'd greatly appreciate it. thanks.

The three novels are "A Death in China", "Powder Burn" and "Trap Line". They are co-authored by Bill Montalbano and all were rereleased by Black Lizard Books about a year ago. Enjoy!

I have lived sans TV for going on six years now—yes, I do miss the Simpsons—and genre (silly?) fiction provides mental escape and the shut-down mode that TV once provided. I was bedridden with pneumonia for ten days last winter, and I re-read the Ross MacDonald canon whenever I could focus. Shortly thereafter, I was made a gift of SKIN TIGHT, and I quickly ran through Hiaasen's popular works. The Sillier the better (I loved DOUBLE WHAMMY.) I have just finished TEAM RODENT, Hiaasen's homage to Disney. I live in Glendale CA and most of my 40 and under neighbors work for Micky and Mike. The sentiment I hear goes like this, "If you can't work Saturday, don't bother showing up for work on Sunday." And it was edifying to learn the EuroDisney origins of "Mousewitz." Hiaasen's take on Florida gives you the meat behind his inspired fictious lunacy. He strikes me as a Molly Ivens for Florida, and makes me wish I could take the Miami Herald. Check out TEAM RODENT, Ballantine:Library of Contemporary Thought 1998.

My husband recently pulled a battered copy of "Tourist Season" off our bookshelf (I'm not sure how it got there or how long it's been there) and now we're on a Hiaasen marathon!

I just checked out Dave Barry's newest book--his first novel (I forgot the name) and it's very Hiaasen-ish. They're both from south Florida and he said he's a Hiaasen fan, so I'm sure it's not an accident. I haven't finished yet, but think if you like Hiaasen, you'll like this.

I just got through reading SKIN TIGHT, and enjoyed it greatly! I love the character of Mick Stranahan, with all his grim humor. A couple of days ago, I found a used copy of TOURIST SEASON; and I can't wait to dive into it headfirst!

"Not many writers can get away with feeding a blue-haired old retiree to a crocodile, and expect you to root for the crocodile," says Carl Hiaasen, who did just that in 1987 with his debut novel, Tourist Season. Nine bestsellers later (including the recent Basket Case and Newberry-award winner Hoot), the author whom Tony Hillerman calls "the Mark Twain of the crime novel" is more popular than ever; Hiaasen's latest, Skinny Dip recently debuted at a stellar number three on the New York Times bestseller list.

Skinny Dip involves a scamming marine biologist who tries to drown his suspicious wife; she survives by using a bale of marijuana as flotation device, and enlists the help of an ex-cop to freak out her malicious husband from "beyond the grave".

Hiaasen's _Stormy Weather_ is one of the best books I have read in 2005. I wish I had read his work back when it was first recommended to me. Damn thee, Demi Moore!

Lit geek that I am, I have written an unruly review of _Stormy Weather_ and posted it on my site: http://www.mickhalpin.com/criticalmick_stormy_weather.htm