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Black Lizard #1
Powder Burn
Architect Chris Meadows has the bad luck to see an old girlfriend get hit by a car full of drugland hitmen. He has the worse luck to see the face of her murderers. Because in a town as violent as Miami, a witness doesn't stand a chance--especially when the cops who ought to be protecting him are more interested in dangling him as live bait.
279 pages, Trade Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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1993 people want to read
About the author
Carl Hiaasen
99 books9,830 followersCarl Hiaasen was born and raised in Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, he joined the Miami Herald as a general assignment reporter and went on to work for the newspaper’s weekly magazine and prize-winning investigations team. As a journalist and author, Carl has spent most of his life advocating for the protection of the Florida Everglades. He and his family live in southern Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
July 13, 2015
ehhhhhh. I love carl hiassen but this book is not up to par. maybe because it was an early book....or may be the collaboration was the problem. the story and characters simply weren't as interesting, fun or quirky as his other books. it wasnt terrible, but if this was the first of his books that I read, I would not read more. fortunately, I have read enough to know I love his writing so I will keep going!
August 3, 2023
This is one of three novels that Hiaasen wrote with his friend and fellow journalist, Bill Montalbano. I am a big fan of Hiaasen and really enjoy his off-beat novels full of wacky characters from South Florida. When I found out about the three novels he wrote with Montalbano, I purchased all three from an online bookseller. These were written in the 1980s prior to Hiaasen's first solo novel, Tourist Season. I read one of these a couple of years ago, A DEATH IN CHINA, and thought it was a very good thriller but it did not have the usual humor of Hiaasen's solo works.
I also enjoyed Powder Burn, written in 1981. This one takes place in South Florida and focuses on the drug trade there at the time. The protagonist, Chris Meadows, is a talented architect who witnesses the deaths of a former girl friend and her young daughter when they get caught in a collision of cars during a drug related cross-fire. Meadows witnesses the murderers and he is then targeted by the drug enforcers. But Chris does not go down easy. He is out to find the Cuban head of the drug business in Miami and to try to stop his cocaine business with the Columbians. With a little help he tries to turn the tables on the bloody business that has taken over Miami.
This novel again does not have any of Hiaasen's usual wit but it is rather a straight crime novel. But I did think it was a very good thriller probably written mostly by Montalbano. The novel was dated...no computers or cell phones were anywhere in sight and a lot of hand written note taking was evident. But it was the 1980s after all. I still need to read the third of these novels, TRAP LINE, which I will be looking forward to.
I also enjoyed Powder Burn, written in 1981. This one takes place in South Florida and focuses on the drug trade there at the time. The protagonist, Chris Meadows, is a talented architect who witnesses the deaths of a former girl friend and her young daughter when they get caught in a collision of cars during a drug related cross-fire. Meadows witnesses the murderers and he is then targeted by the drug enforcers. But Chris does not go down easy. He is out to find the Cuban head of the drug business in Miami and to try to stop his cocaine business with the Columbians. With a little help he tries to turn the tables on the bloody business that has taken over Miami.
This novel again does not have any of Hiaasen's usual wit but it is rather a straight crime novel. But I did think it was a very good thriller probably written mostly by Montalbano. The novel was dated...no computers or cell phones were anywhere in sight and a lot of hand written note taking was evident. But it was the 1980s after all. I still need to read the third of these novels, TRAP LINE, which I will be looking forward to.
March 6, 2019
It is a shock whenever I read a book from this decade, the 1980s or those surrounding it. It's modern times but not quite. No cell phones, laptops, tablets. The televisions if mentioned are CRT, not flat screen, the car doors open with keys without an accompanying chirp and most of the windows go up and down with a crank instead of a push of a button.
This is the era of Crockett and Tubbs of Miami Vice. This was the era of marijuana and when cocaine began to become the prominent pleasure drug of choice, even before crack and well before we lucky Americans began the home grown opioid crisis so we no longer had to rely on imports from Latin American countries. Oh yes, America First! (Maybe that wall should be built around big pharma producers?)
I don't remember when I first lucked into discovering Mr. Hiassen; somewhere in the 90s or possibly even the 2000s. I've only read his novels written by himself and dealing with Florida's environment as much as crime, and with a wit that would have someone being decapitated in one paragraph and then cause you to roll on the floor in laughter in the next with Hiassen's wit.
This book didn't have that wit. At the most there were lines of prose that were amusing but hardly knee slapping funny. So that means this book isn't as good as those; right? Welllllll. . . It depends.
It depends on your taste. You may prefer to read about a body found in the trunk of a burning car with no wit involved in the telling, or you might roar with laughter at Skink, the wayward ex governor in Hiassen's later books and enjoy it more. Then again, you may be able to like both books, finding pleasure in reading either genre. I'm lucky enough to be of that later group.
So this was my first foray into Carl's early work with the late William Montalbano. If I had to do more than flip a coin to say which I like best it would probably be the later books, but not by a lot. I enjoyed reading this novel. I enjoyed the intricacies of the plot, the mindset of the various characters both protagonists and antagonists.
So what is this book about? It is about characters with character and characters with no character. It is about death, sometimes of the guilty and sometimes of the innocent who die for no good reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that's not a good reason at all. And it is about people who die because of poor relationship choices.
How does that work? Read the book and find out. If you like intricate plots, good guys who aren't perfect, some bad guys who aren't 100% bad and some who are, the you may well like this book. I did.
This is the era of Crockett and Tubbs of Miami Vice. This was the era of marijuana and when cocaine began to become the prominent pleasure drug of choice, even before crack and well before we lucky Americans began the home grown opioid crisis so we no longer had to rely on imports from Latin American countries. Oh yes, America First! (Maybe that wall should be built around big pharma producers?)
I don't remember when I first lucked into discovering Mr. Hiassen; somewhere in the 90s or possibly even the 2000s. I've only read his novels written by himself and dealing with Florida's environment as much as crime, and with a wit that would have someone being decapitated in one paragraph and then cause you to roll on the floor in laughter in the next with Hiassen's wit.
This book didn't have that wit. At the most there were lines of prose that were amusing but hardly knee slapping funny. So that means this book isn't as good as those; right? Welllllll. . . It depends.
It depends on your taste. You may prefer to read about a body found in the trunk of a burning car with no wit involved in the telling, or you might roar with laughter at Skink, the wayward ex governor in Hiassen's later books and enjoy it more. Then again, you may be able to like both books, finding pleasure in reading either genre. I'm lucky enough to be of that later group.
So this was my first foray into Carl's early work with the late William Montalbano. If I had to do more than flip a coin to say which I like best it would probably be the later books, but not by a lot. I enjoyed reading this novel. I enjoyed the intricacies of the plot, the mindset of the various characters both protagonists and antagonists.
So what is this book about? It is about characters with character and characters with no character. It is about death, sometimes of the guilty and sometimes of the innocent who die for no good reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that's not a good reason at all. And it is about people who die because of poor relationship choices.
How does that work? Read the book and find out. If you like intricate plots, good guys who aren't perfect, some bad guys who aren't 100% bad and some who are, the you may well like this book. I did.
May 23, 2021
Anyone familiar with the 'Miami Vice' TV show of the 1980's will find the plot of 'Powder Burn' by Carl Hiassen (?) and Bill Montalbano likewise exciting! And maybe depressing because it reflects the power America has given drug lords with it's unending demand for illegal drugs. In the 1980's cocaine was absolute King from respectable business restrooms to the garbage-strewn streets in city ghettos. The book writes accurately of that time period but with the exception it doesn't describe graphically the insane violence actually committed by drug lords.
I copied the cover blurb below as it is accurate:
"Chris Meadows has the bad luck to see an old girlfriend get hit by a car full of drugland hitmen. He has the worse luck to see the face of her murderers. Because in a town as violent as Miami, a witness doesn't stand a chance -- especially when the cops who ought to be protecting him are more interested in dangling him as live bait."
Idk about the book's claim about who the authors are - the novel does not seem much like one written by Carl Hiassen - it is missing his cynical satire entirely. But the book is an exciting action thriller!
I enjoyed the fictional action of 'Powder Burn' if not the fact that drug lords often operated with impunity in Florida in the 1970's/1980's because of corruption and the fact drug lords had an overwhelming presence in all sectors of society. The police were kneecapped by political corruption and the peculiarities of some legal procedures which are originally designed to protect the rights of innocents, but which end up protecting drug lords from prosecution. However, imho the police are really unable to stop illegal drugs because of the overwhelming demand by ordinary American people.
I copied the cover blurb below as it is accurate:
"Chris Meadows has the bad luck to see an old girlfriend get hit by a car full of drugland hitmen. He has the worse luck to see the face of her murderers. Because in a town as violent as Miami, a witness doesn't stand a chance -- especially when the cops who ought to be protecting him are more interested in dangling him as live bait."
Idk about the book's claim about who the authors are - the novel does not seem much like one written by Carl Hiassen - it is missing his cynical satire entirely. But the book is an exciting action thriller!
I enjoyed the fictional action of 'Powder Burn' if not the fact that drug lords often operated with impunity in Florida in the 1970's/1980's because of corruption and the fact drug lords had an overwhelming presence in all sectors of society. The police were kneecapped by political corruption and the peculiarities of some legal procedures which are originally designed to protect the rights of innocents, but which end up protecting drug lords from prosecution. However, imho the police are really unable to stop illegal drugs because of the overwhelming demand by ordinary American people.
September 2, 2016
Typical Carl Hiaasen, minus the humor and wackiness, and with all the joy sucked out. I'm glad he found a different approach to write about the plagues of Miami.
March 27, 2024
Here you can travel back to the days of Crockett and Tubbs with Phil Collins singing "Something in the air tonight...." in the background. This is South Florida during the cocaine heyday of the early 1980's seen through the eyes of a cynical cop, a straight-laced cop partner, a chess master-football player dropout, our main character architect, and other somewhat colorful characters. Hiaasen's trademark humor doesn't make an appearance in this first novel. Still, not bad and a quick beachy read. 3 Stars
July 6, 2022
DNF at 22%
This was a free Amazon Prime read. I just saw the author's name and downloaded it but I should have read the synopsis more carefully. I have enjoyed many of Carl Hiaasen's "Florida is full of wacky people and absurdity" novels. I assumed this was along the same lines, but not at all. This is more of a hard-boiled detective novel about the drug wars in Miami. I could have gone with that if it was great, but I didn't find it interesting at all.
This was a free Amazon Prime read. I just saw the author's name and downloaded it but I should have read the synopsis more carefully. I have enjoyed many of Carl Hiaasen's "Florida is full of wacky people and absurdity" novels. I assumed this was along the same lines, but not at all. This is more of a hard-boiled detective novel about the drug wars in Miami. I could have gone with that if it was great, but I didn't find it interesting at all.
October 12, 2023
Powder Burn is another of Hiaasen’s early books. It’s steeped in the cocaine culture of the 1980s, like the show Miami Vice. There’s a little more fun and intrigue here, but no real surprises.
Chris Meadows is an up-and-coming architect with no real ties to the drug trade. That is, until he witnesses a friend and her daughter brutally killed during a violent fight between rival drug gangs. Left alive, he’s soon targeted by the gang as a witness.
The gangs, meanwhile, are at a crossroads. The Colombians and Cubans have been fighting it out for territory. However, there is a plan in place by the head of the Cuban faction to partner with the Colombians and corner the market as well as put an end to most of the violence. Chris will not go quietly, though, and with some help from his friends, and a Cuban-American police detective, he sets out to not only deliver justice to the killers, but also to those at the top who are profiting from all of the violence.
If you grew up in the 1980s, there’s a lot in Powder Burn that is familiar. It seemed that cocaine was everywhere at the time. Chris is a decent guy who has tried to live his life in a good way, but the drug trade in Miami catches up with him. He’s never used cocaine before, but as he’s trying to set up the payoff for his plan, he must act the role and give in to using the drug to look the role of up-and-coming dealer from Atlanta. His reaction isn’t surprising, but it leads him to possibly make some bad choices, particularly when it comes to his love life.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
Chris Meadows is an up-and-coming architect with no real ties to the drug trade. That is, until he witnesses a friend and her daughter brutally killed during a violent fight between rival drug gangs. Left alive, he’s soon targeted by the gang as a witness.
The gangs, meanwhile, are at a crossroads. The Colombians and Cubans have been fighting it out for territory. However, there is a plan in place by the head of the Cuban faction to partner with the Colombians and corner the market as well as put an end to most of the violence. Chris will not go quietly, though, and with some help from his friends, and a Cuban-American police detective, he sets out to not only deliver justice to the killers, but also to those at the top who are profiting from all of the violence.
If you grew up in the 1980s, there’s a lot in Powder Burn that is familiar. It seemed that cocaine was everywhere at the time. Chris is a decent guy who has tried to live his life in a good way, but the drug trade in Miami catches up with him. He’s never used cocaine before, but as he’s trying to set up the payoff for his plan, he must act the role and give in to using the drug to look the role of up-and-coming dealer from Atlanta. His reaction isn’t surprising, but it leads him to possibly make some bad choices, particularly when it comes to his love life.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
July 12, 2020
Carl Hiaasen‘s Powder Burn is a fairly straightforward crime novel with some rather engaging characters that do battle with the 1980s drug lords in Florida. The best aspect of this book is the complicated plot that culminates in a satisfying ending.
Chris Meadows begins and ends as a likable character, but somewhere in the middle of the book he becomes rather loathsome. I wasn’t sure if this was an act, or the character had really turned evil. In retrospect, this transformation made sense, but I had to be patient for several chapters.
Hiaasen‘s strengths have typically been his ability to mix zany humor with shocking crime, but there is a very limited amount of the former, and plenty of the latter in this book. Nevertheless, the writing keeps you involved and the story moves quickly. His ability to convey a sense of place is superb, and while reading one can almost hear the buzzing of a mosquito as he describes the Florida Everglades or the steamy humidity that is South Florida. The book itself may not be Hiaasen’s best, but fans of the author will want to include this in their reading. 3 1/2 stars rounded squarely up to four for an entertaining and well constructed story.
Chris Meadows begins and ends as a likable character, but somewhere in the middle of the book he becomes rather loathsome. I wasn’t sure if this was an act, or the character had really turned evil. In retrospect, this transformation made sense, but I had to be patient for several chapters.
Hiaasen‘s strengths have typically been his ability to mix zany humor with shocking crime, but there is a very limited amount of the former, and plenty of the latter in this book. Nevertheless, the writing keeps you involved and the story moves quickly. His ability to convey a sense of place is superb, and while reading one can almost hear the buzzing of a mosquito as he describes the Florida Everglades or the steamy humidity that is South Florida. The book itself may not be Hiaasen’s best, but fans of the author will want to include this in their reading. 3 1/2 stars rounded squarely up to four for an entertaining and well constructed story.
May 25, 2021
Made me nostalgic for old Crockett and Tubbs Miami Vice episodes. A pretty good take on the violence that plagued Miami as the Cubans tried to protect their home-team advantage in drug distribution, while the Colombians vied for a bigger piece of the pie as their main supplier. It’s hilarious to think that in the ‘80s cocaine was lionized by many, even well educated, established, wealthier “straight” members of society. It was made the subject of popular songs - some of which now seem cringe-worthy - without much thought to the true havoc it wreaked in our lives, and on the mental health of users. Recognizing that in hindsight is relatively simple.
Would have earned 4 stars if the ending hadn’t been somewhat anti-climactic. I believe l like the zany, acerbic wit of Hiaasen on his own better. Still, a very entertaining read.
Would have earned 4 stars if the ending hadn’t been somewhat anti-climactic. I believe l like the zany, acerbic wit of Hiaasen on his own better. Still, a very entertaining read.
May 24, 2017
This is decent. I prefer Hiaasen's more humorous works. The full on crime stuff was cool, but it only held my interest so much and it kind of felt like it took a bit to really catch traction. There seemed to be a bit of a disconnect in the protagonist in the latter half of the book as compared to the former as well without enough real justification. It's probably fine for someone looking for a straightforward and creative crime novel, but I thought it could have been better.
September 16, 2014
Very enjoyable read! This book is an early book in Carl Hiaasen' s career and is not the humorous writing that I love in his later works. If I hadn't read his newer books,I would have given it 5 stars for the story and writing!
February 12, 2019
Nope. I didn't care for the writing, narration, or story. I tried it several times, but it's just not working for me. Life is too short.
November 30, 2020
Not very good really. I was disappointed, too long IMO. Not one of Hiaasen’s best.
July 26, 2021
I LOVE Mr. Hiassen's books and have read a lot of them. I am not (regretfully) a Florida native, but my family moved to Central Florida when I was 5 turning 6 and have lived here almost all my life. To me, there's no more wonderful place to live. I appreciate Mr. Hiassen's portrayals of those who have come here and despoiled our beautiful state, which make's his writing all the more appealing to me. I love his sense of humor and his descriptions of both his characters and the beauty of Florida.
Powder Burn was thrilling from the very beginning. The hero was different from other Hiassen heroes, in over his head from the start, but able to persevere. The drug story was both fascinating and horrifying ... and probably true. I remember going on a dive trip and being warned by the Dive Master to stay away from "Square Groupers". A great read. Highly recommended
Powder Burn was thrilling from the very beginning. The hero was different from other Hiassen heroes, in over his head from the start, but able to persevere. The drug story was both fascinating and horrifying ... and probably true. I remember going on a dive trip and being warned by the Dive Master to stay away from "Square Groupers". A great read. Highly recommended
May 1, 2021
No spoilers.
Having thoroughly enjoyed each of the Southern Florida books by Carl Hiaasen as they've appeared, I was curious about his early collaboration with Bill Montalbano. I am curious no more, but now I'm baffled by the existence of any remotely positive reviews of this slice of gator dung.
Quite possibly the worst anything I have ever read, this book shows absolutely no sign of Carl Hiaasen's considerable talent. The most inane dialogue imaginable, consisting largely of "clichés for every occasion;" unlikable characters, thin stereotypes broadly sketched by a few lazy traits; a plot that stumbles from one coincidence to another until it suddenly and without any real payoff deflates itself; and an unmemorable, improbable protagonist whose (yawn) tortured principles flip like a switch when it becomes expedient to advancing this disaster to its conclusion.
Really, seriously, not recommended.
Having thoroughly enjoyed each of the Southern Florida books by Carl Hiaasen as they've appeared, I was curious about his early collaboration with Bill Montalbano. I am curious no more, but now I'm baffled by the existence of any remotely positive reviews of this slice of gator dung.
Quite possibly the worst anything I have ever read, this book shows absolutely no sign of Carl Hiaasen's considerable talent. The most inane dialogue imaginable, consisting largely of "clichés for every occasion;" unlikable characters, thin stereotypes broadly sketched by a few lazy traits; a plot that stumbles from one coincidence to another until it suddenly and without any real payoff deflates itself; and an unmemorable, improbable protagonist whose (yawn) tortured principles flip like a switch when it becomes expedient to advancing this disaster to its conclusion.
Really, seriously, not recommended.
May 30, 2020
Architect Chris Meadows gets caught up in a drug war in Florida when he witnesses an old flame and her daughter get hit (and killed) by a car. He unwittingly ends up the next target, as he was a witness and can identify the people responsible.
Unlike Hiaasen’s other books, this one did not include humour, nor did it have an environmental theme. I do believe this was co-written with someone else, as well. There was one brief “scene” near the end that was somewhat amusing. I don’t think I really liked any of the characters (including Chris, aka “Meadows” (I am also not a fan of referring to characters by last name only)). Not my favourite topic – drugs – and not as good as the others I’ve read by him. At the same time, I’d consider this one “ok”.
Unlike Hiaasen’s other books, this one did not include humour, nor did it have an environmental theme. I do believe this was co-written with someone else, as well. There was one brief “scene” near the end that was somewhat amusing. I don’t think I really liked any of the characters (including Chris, aka “Meadows” (I am also not a fan of referring to characters by last name only)). Not my favourite topic – drugs – and not as good as the others I’ve read by him. At the same time, I’d consider this one “ok”.
December 19, 2019
Being a born and bred Miami native who still lives here, I absolutely appreciated Car Hiaasen’s knowledge of SoFla. I also really enjoyed the criminal element highlighted in the 1980’s drug cartel. It’s such a rich history down here and something that is truly recent history. If you like a thriller with a ton of crime, and set in a well researched Florida background any Carl Hiaasen novel is for you, not just this one.
February 13, 2015
Not one of Hiaasen's better offerings
I ordered and read this book based on a number of other titles I've read by this author. It was not of the same caliber as many of his other novels. Not a real bad read but not one I would encourage a friend to enjoy to introduce them to this author's body of work.
I ordered and read this book based on a number of other titles I've read by this author. It was not of the same caliber as many of his other novels. Not a real bad read but not one I would encourage a friend to enjoy to introduce them to this author's body of work.
March 17, 2019
An intricate and twisty plot snares a hapless architect in the rivalry between Cuban and Colombian drug dealers and corrupt Miami police. Some nicely complex characters in Meadows, Nelson, and Pincus. Multiple authors are usually a red flag for me but this was really hard to put down.
June 1, 2019
As always, entertaining and engaging story from Hiaasen. Ideal lazy summer day read.
March 9, 2025
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/5 🌶️
Carl Hiaasen is one of my favorite comfort reads and I thought I had read all of his work but I hadn't!
Meadows life is pretty peachy when we start off; quaint, comfortable, and easy. Things take a crazy sad turn right away and then Meadows is involved with some dirty Miami cops and the seedy cocaine business of the 80s.
One wild cartel deal after another while a few others die along the way Meadows keeps his head above water and somehow gets everything to work out and happily falls back into a quiet life with his girl. There are two other books along with this one and I'm excited to read the others to see what other wild and crazy things happen in this world Hiaasen writes so well!
1/5 🌶️
Carl Hiaasen is one of my favorite comfort reads and I thought I had read all of his work but I hadn't!
Meadows life is pretty peachy when we start off; quaint, comfortable, and easy. Things take a crazy sad turn right away and then Meadows is involved with some dirty Miami cops and the seedy cocaine business of the 80s.
One wild cartel deal after another while a few others die along the way Meadows keeps his head above water and somehow gets everything to work out and happily falls back into a quiet life with his girl. There are two other books along with this one and I'm excited to read the others to see what other wild and crazy things happen in this world Hiaasen writes so well!
May 25, 2021
ReedIII Quick Review: Less humor and satire than I expected from Carl Hiaasen which made this story drag. Only an okay revenge – crime novel.
February 16, 2020
I thought this was a thriller from the 1980s and was forgiving of all the hackneyed tropes. But it’s from 2010! I feel less magnanimous now.
March 5, 2022
"Powder Burn" was a great read that kept me up way past bedtime, and I resented having to put it down for such necessities as work. I have always enjoyed, in fact laughed out loud over, Hiaasen's wild and crazy tales of madness in South Florida. This, however, was a smart, reasonably believable, story of the drug trade around 1979-1980, between Columbia and the United States. There was not a lot of hilarity, but the story was gripping, the characters and their relationships were well-developed, the plot had a few branches that eventually resolved, and the climax hung in the balance until the very end. Well done!
November 7, 2018
Usually I give all Carl Hiaasen books a 5 because I enjoy his humor and his anti-establishment characters. This is the first action-crime book he wrote and evidently he hadn’t yet settled on his humorous style. Don’t expect Skink and the gang to show up in this book. It does have the usual Florida drug wars and some odd Miami area characters, but they aren’t as well defined as later books. Still, I enjoyed reading it and it kept my interest, even if it was pretty unbelievable (in his later, humorous books, I don’t really care about the believability) I think I will read the other 2 in this series, trying not to judge it against his later books.
June 30, 2017
The first thing any Carl Hiaasen fan needs to do before reading this or the other two books co-authored with William Montalbano is to not read it as something other than a Hiaasen novel. Nothing about his trademark style and humor is present. In fact, who knows how much of this is Hiaasen and how much is Montalbano?
This is a serious thriller and starts off really good. As it went on, I felt like the authors tried way too hard with plot complexity and different narratives. It was more dense than the scope and story was suited for.
This is a serious thriller and starts off really good. As it went on, I felt like the authors tried way too hard with plot complexity and different narratives. It was more dense than the scope and story was suited for.
April 13, 2018
This is the 12th book I have read by this author and second that I have read written by him and his co-author. I have really enjoyed these two as they are a total departure from Hiaasen’s norm.
This book involves an apparently straight-laced and law abiding architect, Chris Meadows, who watches an old flame and her child get run down by a car being pursued in a drug war. Meadows gets involved and then endures multiple attempts on his own life. The story is well written and the book is an easy read. .
This book involves an apparently straight-laced and law abiding architect, Chris Meadows, who watches an old flame and her child get run down by a car being pursued in a drug war. Meadows gets involved and then endures multiple attempts on his own life. The story is well written and the book is an easy read. .
May 7, 2018
This book has not aged well in the era of #timesup. Women are described as "long-legged" with no other details about who they are and why they all seem so willing to let a man traipse in and out of their lives. It's just a slog of male fantasies.
The only humor is the unintentional humor of descriptions of women.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...
I listened to the audiobook. The reader reads so slowly; it's a good bedtime read.
The only humor is the unintentional humor of descriptions of women.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...
I listened to the audiobook. The reader reads so slowly; it's a good bedtime read.
July 15, 2018
At some point in the mid nineteen nineties I read a few Hiaasen books and always wanted to read them in order because they felt like that they needed to be read that way, from my memory. This was not one of the one's I read, and it is apparently his first novel. and it is very rough around the edges. In fact I would go as far as saying it really wasn't that good. I'm guessing they will pick up, and maybe it was because it was co-authored, or maybe he just had not found his own unique style yet, but this one, to put it bluntly was pretty ordinary.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews