by Carl Hiaasen

A Mystery/Thriller, 2002 by Grand Central Publishing, 400 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• The material that focuses on the newspaper business and how it’s being run into the ground by the current owner gets old and redundant quickly.
• There is a 20 year age gap with the romance here, which is a bit cringy.
• The main character is 46. He’s written as if he thinks he’s ancient and has one foot in the grave. 46 is not ancient. It simply didn’t line up. 

What I Did Like:

• The start of this one grabs your attention quickly, which is weird because it starts with something so mundane. I think because the character is relatable right from the jump and the concept of writing obituaries is something we understand, it just started you off well. 
• Funny, as always. Hiaasen has a dry sense of humor but it works for his books and main characters.
• The mystery is satisfying. Parts surprise you, the release of information is controlled, and the resolution works. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Mystery fans who want something with dry humor that’s a little different.
• Obviously, Hiaasen fans may enjoy this one. 

My Rating: 3 Stars

• Overall, not a bad mystery, but some of the storylines could’ve used some tightening.