There have been signs recently that Hiaasen has taken his unique brand of apocalyptic surrealism about as far as it could go--Sick Puppy (2000), though often hilarious, seemed a little too much like shtick--and, sure enough, this novel finds the author moving in a slightly different, less crazed direction.
The story, about a onetime investigative reporter reduced to writing obituaries, reads much more like mainstream crime fiction than the blend of slapstick nightmare and moral outrage we have come to expect from Hiaasen. But it's a rip-roaringly entertaining tale, as the obit man, Jack Tagger, catches the scent of a real news story in the death notice for Jimmy Stoma, lead singer of the once-notorious Jimmy and the Slut Puppies.
He follows the trail to a not-so-grieving wife and what looks to be a plot to steal Jimmy's comeback CD. When other members of the band die in suspicious circumstances, Tagger sees his chance to get back to the front page. Along the way, there's a surprisingly sweet romance with Tagger's editor and plenty of musing on the sorry state of contemporary journalism.
Readers who love Hiaasen only for the slapstick elements of his work may see this novel as a bit old-fashioned, but others will appreciate the spot-on glimpse of life in today's newsroom. Don't worry, though, there are still a few classic Hiaasen flourishes, like the dead lizard in Tagger's freezer and the running gag about how old various celebrities were when they died.
Another wild Hiaasen romp you're bound to enjoy!
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