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Skink #1
Double Whammy
"Follow the adventures of a news-photographer-turned-private-eye as he seeks truth, justice, and an affair with his ex-wife" (The New York Times) in this hilarious caper from bestselling author Carl Hiaasen.
R. J. Decker, star tenant of the local trailer park and neophyte private eye, is fishing for a killer. Thanks to a sportsman's scam that's anything but sportsmanlike, there's a body floating in Coon Bog, Florida--and a lot that's rotten in the murky waters of big-stakes, large-mouth bass tournaments. Here Decker will team up with a half-blind, half-mad hermit with an appetite for road kill; dare to kiss his ex-wife while she's in bed with her new husband; and face deadly TV evangelists, dangerously seductive women, and a pistol-toting redneck with a pit bull on his arm. And here his own life becomes part of the stakes. For while the "double whammy" is the lure, first prize is for the most ingenious murder.
R. J. Decker, star tenant of the local trailer park and neophyte private eye, is fishing for a killer. Thanks to a sportsman's scam that's anything but sportsmanlike, there's a body floating in Coon Bog, Florida--and a lot that's rotten in the murky waters of big-stakes, large-mouth bass tournaments. Here Decker will team up with a half-blind, half-mad hermit with an appetite for road kill; dare to kiss his ex-wife while she's in bed with her new husband; and face deadly TV evangelists, dangerously seductive women, and a pistol-toting redneck with a pit bull on his arm. And here his own life becomes part of the stakes. For while the "double whammy" is the lure, first prize is for the most ingenious murder.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
Carl Hiaasen
100 books9,919 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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May 20, 2022
As he pushed past the screen door, Decker was amazed by what he saw: books. Every wall had raw pine shelves to the ceiling, and every shelf was lined with books. The east wall was for classic fiction: Poe, Hemingway, Dostoyevsky, Mark Twain, Jack London, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, even Boris Pasternak. The west wall for political biographies: Churchill, Sandburg’s Lincoln, Hitler, Huey Long, Eisenhower, Joseph McCarthy, John F. Kennedy, even Robert Caro’s Lyndon Johnson, though it looked like a book-club edition. The south wall was exclusively for reference books: the Britannica, Current Biography, the Florida Statutes, even the Reader’s Guide. to Periodic Literature. This was the wall of the shack that leaned so precipitously, and now Decker knew why: it held the heaviest books.
“What’re you staring at?” Skink demanded.
“These are great books,” Decker said.
“No Shit.”
Skink is a man who has climbed to the pinnacle of power only to plunge to the depths of a swampy existence in a shack... a shack listing from the weight of books. If I did need to live in a shack that would certainly be the shack for me. I’ve always owned “too many books” and when I used to live in apartments I always worried about the subflooring, whether the support joists were up to code because the walls of my apartment were always lined with bookshelves not just full of books, but bulging with books. I often said a prayer for the poor bastard who lived below me.
Skink does not pay taxes.
”My name is Decker.”
“You from the IRS?” The man’s voice was deep and wet, like mud sliding down a drain.
“No,” Decker said.
“I pay no taxes,” Skink said. He was wearing a rainhat, though it wasn’t raining. He was also wearing sunglasses and the sun was down. “I pay no attention to taxes,” Skink asserted. “Not since Nixon, the goddamn thief.”
Tasty!?!? best when fresh.
Skink eats roadkill.
Skink used to be governor of Florida.
Skink is a bit unhinged.
R. J. Decker is your typical down and out private investigator, who used to have a great job shooting pictures for a newspaper until something happened and he ended up in jail. Now he takes what jobs he can get and when Dennis Gault shows up offering stupid money ($50,000) to catch Dickie Lockhart cheating at a Bass Fishing Tournament, Decker is reeled in. There is big money in Bigmouth Bass fishing. This might have been the beginning of reality TV. (Can it be stopped via time machine?) As one character says in the book, “you mean grown men will sit around all day to watch another man fish.”
It seems like people will sit around all day watching people do just about anything.
Now when you catch a really big ‘un they call them HAWGS.
Now I don’t fish, I’ve tried it all different ways. Well not Marlin fishing, which I have a feeling is the penultimate exhilarating Hemingwayesque fishing experience. The whole time I’m fishing I always feel like I’d much rather be doing something else like praying on my knees on a cold, uneven, cobblestone floor, catching flies with chopsticks, or separating chaff from wheat one golden kernel at a time. Did I mention I don’t fish? So some people might be like me and don’t care to read a book about Bigmouth Bass fishing. You may not feel like Bobby Clinch. ”Guys like Clinch love to catch bass more than they love to screw. You put ‘em on a good bass lake at dawn and they get hard.”
Forget the damn fish. This is Hiaasen we’re talking about here. It is all about the cast of supporting characters.
There is a preacher, well a man who preaches, named Charles Weeb. He has a penchant for prostitutes, fake healings, and screwing people out of every dime he can.
”How much do I owe you?” he asked the lap dancer.
“Nothing, father.” She sounded confused. “I brought my own money.”
“What for?” Weeb looked down; he couldn’t see her face, just the top of her head and the smooth slope of her naked back.
“I got a favor to ask,” the lap dancer said, whispering into his chest hair. “And I wanna pay for it.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“I want you to heal my poppa.” She looked up shyly. “He’s got the gout, my poppa does.”
“No child--”
“Some days he can’t barely get himself out of bed.”
Weeb shifted restlessly, glancing at his wristwatch.
“I’ll give you two hundred dollars.” the girl declared.
“You’re serious?”
“Just one little prayer, please.”
“Two hundred bucks?”
“And a hum job, if you want it, Father.”
Charlie Weeb stared at her, thinking: It’s true what they say about the power of television.
“Come, child,” he said softly, “let’s pray.”
There are stoned hijackers. ”Every pillhead fugitive felon in America winds up in Florida eventually. The Human Sludge Factor--it all drips to the South.”
There is an enforcer with the teeth of a dead pitbull buried in his arm. He named the dog, well the head, Lucas.
There are controversies over bird species. ”The purported reason for the sale was the unfortunate death (from either sexual frustration or old age?) of the only remaining Karp’s Seagrape sparrow, the species for whom the verdant preserve had first been established. With the last rare bird dead, the cabinet reasoned, why continue to tie up perfectly good waterfront.”
Now a theme that is prevalent through all Carl Hiaasen books is the raping of the Florida environment. He shows the devastation through the murky lense of black humor, but you will not come away from his books thinking that Florida developers and Florida politicians are cool guys.
There is seduction.
”In his mind’s eye he could see himself in this cheesy scene out of a cheap detective movie; acting like the gruff cad, awkwardly consoling the weepy long-legged knockout, knowing deep down he ought to play it as the tough guy but feeling compelled to show this warm sensitive side. Decker knew he was a fool but he certainly didn’t feel like letting go of Lanie Gault. There was something magnetic and comforting and entirely natural about holding a sweet-smelling woman in a silken nightie on a strange bed in a strange motel room in a strange town where neither one of you belonged.”
There are LIONS humping LLAMAS. Grab your pitchfork!
Carl I am still laughing and wincing with you.
Ok so Hiaasen is over the top. The terms zany, caustic, surreal, punchy, and colorful have been used to describe his books. They are humorous. You will find yourself laughing out loud quickly followed by a touch of guilt, and the words “that just ain’t right”. I first read Hiaasen back in the late 1980s and I’ve read him off and on ever since. This is probably a three star book, but at the end of a lazy Sunday afternoon I was so sated from laughing, giggling, and chortling that I have to bump it up to four. #Not the best gift for a redneck as they all seem to end up dead or missing body parts.
“What’re you staring at?” Skink demanded.
“These are great books,” Decker said.
“No Shit.”
Skink is a man who has climbed to the pinnacle of power only to plunge to the depths of a swampy existence in a shack... a shack listing from the weight of books. If I did need to live in a shack that would certainly be the shack for me. I’ve always owned “too many books” and when I used to live in apartments I always worried about the subflooring, whether the support joists were up to code because the walls of my apartment were always lined with bookshelves not just full of books, but bulging with books. I often said a prayer for the poor bastard who lived below me.
Skink does not pay taxes.
”My name is Decker.”
“You from the IRS?” The man’s voice was deep and wet, like mud sliding down a drain.
“No,” Decker said.
“I pay no taxes,” Skink said. He was wearing a rainhat, though it wasn’t raining. He was also wearing sunglasses and the sun was down. “I pay no attention to taxes,” Skink asserted. “Not since Nixon, the goddamn thief.”
Tasty!?!? best when fresh.
Skink eats roadkill.
Skink used to be governor of Florida.
Skink is a bit unhinged.
R. J. Decker is your typical down and out private investigator, who used to have a great job shooting pictures for a newspaper until something happened and he ended up in jail. Now he takes what jobs he can get and when Dennis Gault shows up offering stupid money ($50,000) to catch Dickie Lockhart cheating at a Bass Fishing Tournament, Decker is reeled in. There is big money in Bigmouth Bass fishing. This might have been the beginning of reality TV. (Can it be stopped via time machine?) As one character says in the book, “you mean grown men will sit around all day to watch another man fish.”
It seems like people will sit around all day watching people do just about anything.
Now when you catch a really big ‘un they call them HAWGS.
Now I don’t fish, I’ve tried it all different ways. Well not Marlin fishing, which I have a feeling is the penultimate exhilarating Hemingwayesque fishing experience. The whole time I’m fishing I always feel like I’d much rather be doing something else like praying on my knees on a cold, uneven, cobblestone floor, catching flies with chopsticks, or separating chaff from wheat one golden kernel at a time. Did I mention I don’t fish? So some people might be like me and don’t care to read a book about Bigmouth Bass fishing. You may not feel like Bobby Clinch. ”Guys like Clinch love to catch bass more than they love to screw. You put ‘em on a good bass lake at dawn and they get hard.”
Forget the damn fish. This is Hiaasen we’re talking about here. It is all about the cast of supporting characters.
There is a preacher, well a man who preaches, named Charles Weeb. He has a penchant for prostitutes, fake healings, and screwing people out of every dime he can.
”How much do I owe you?” he asked the lap dancer.
“Nothing, father.” She sounded confused. “I brought my own money.”
“What for?” Weeb looked down; he couldn’t see her face, just the top of her head and the smooth slope of her naked back.
“I got a favor to ask,” the lap dancer said, whispering into his chest hair. “And I wanna pay for it.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“I want you to heal my poppa.” She looked up shyly. “He’s got the gout, my poppa does.”
“No child--”
“Some days he can’t barely get himself out of bed.”
Weeb shifted restlessly, glancing at his wristwatch.
“I’ll give you two hundred dollars.” the girl declared.
“You’re serious?”
“Just one little prayer, please.”
“Two hundred bucks?”
“And a hum job, if you want it, Father.”
Charlie Weeb stared at her, thinking: It’s true what they say about the power of television.
“Come, child,” he said softly, “let’s pray.”
There are stoned hijackers. ”Every pillhead fugitive felon in America winds up in Florida eventually. The Human Sludge Factor--it all drips to the South.”
There is an enforcer with the teeth of a dead pitbull buried in his arm. He named the dog, well the head, Lucas.
There are controversies over bird species. ”The purported reason for the sale was the unfortunate death (from either sexual frustration or old age?) of the only remaining Karp’s Seagrape sparrow, the species for whom the verdant preserve had first been established. With the last rare bird dead, the cabinet reasoned, why continue to tie up perfectly good waterfront.”
Now a theme that is prevalent through all Carl Hiaasen books is the raping of the Florida environment. He shows the devastation through the murky lense of black humor, but you will not come away from his books thinking that Florida developers and Florida politicians are cool guys.
There is seduction.
”In his mind’s eye he could see himself in this cheesy scene out of a cheap detective movie; acting like the gruff cad, awkwardly consoling the weepy long-legged knockout, knowing deep down he ought to play it as the tough guy but feeling compelled to show this warm sensitive side. Decker knew he was a fool but he certainly didn’t feel like letting go of Lanie Gault. There was something magnetic and comforting and entirely natural about holding a sweet-smelling woman in a silken nightie on a strange bed in a strange motel room in a strange town where neither one of you belonged.”
There are LIONS humping LLAMAS. Grab your pitchfork!
Carl I am still laughing and wincing with you.
Ok so Hiaasen is over the top. The terms zany, caustic, surreal, punchy, and colorful have been used to describe his books. They are humorous. You will find yourself laughing out loud quickly followed by a touch of guilt, and the words “that just ain’t right”. I first read Hiaasen back in the late 1980s and I’ve read him off and on ever since. This is probably a three star book, but at the end of a lazy Sunday afternoon I was so sated from laughing, giggling, and chortling that I have to bump it up to four. #Not the best gift for a redneck as they all seem to end up dead or missing body parts.
November 1, 2018
If you have read Hiaasen before, you know his mysteries are in Florida and you know that they are weird. This was his second book and I can confirm this pattern has been in place since the beginning! This book is irreverent and bizarre. Some things make no sense while at the same time making perfect sense (make sense?). If you cannot suspend disbelief for a while, you are gonna get lost in the gator swamp with this one.
Everyone in a Hiaasen book is a caricature and I think that is one of the things that make them so entertaining. With caricatures you have a lot of free reign with what you can do – even if it seems ridiculous, you cannot really complain because it is kind of supposed to be ridiculous. I was entertained by every single character – good, bad, dumb, smart, goofy, straight-laced, etc. And, with the characters in this book there is no line (nope, not even a fine line) between law abiding and criminal – anything goes!
Speaking of characters, Skink is introduced in this book. I have only heard of him before as I have not read any other books with him, but I understand he is important in many of Hiaasen’s books. As he is described in the book, I kept thinking of Hayduke from The Monkey Wrench Gang. He has his principles, will do anything to achieve them, and woe to anyone who gets in his way. I am definitely looking forward to more books with him.
I think this book was an improvement over Tourist Season, Hiaasen’s first book. That makes sense as this was the beginning of his career and I am sure he was just getting into his groove. I plan to continue to work my way through his books in publication order and hope to find a few more hidden gems in the swamps and on the beaches of Florida.
Everyone in a Hiaasen book is a caricature and I think that is one of the things that make them so entertaining. With caricatures you have a lot of free reign with what you can do – even if it seems ridiculous, you cannot really complain because it is kind of supposed to be ridiculous. I was entertained by every single character – good, bad, dumb, smart, goofy, straight-laced, etc. And, with the characters in this book there is no line (nope, not even a fine line) between law abiding and criminal – anything goes!
Speaking of characters, Skink is introduced in this book. I have only heard of him before as I have not read any other books with him, but I understand he is important in many of Hiaasen’s books. As he is described in the book, I kept thinking of Hayduke from The Monkey Wrench Gang. He has his principles, will do anything to achieve them, and woe to anyone who gets in his way. I am definitely looking forward to more books with him.
I think this book was an improvement over Tourist Season, Hiaasen’s first book. That makes sense as this was the beginning of his career and I am sure he was just getting into his groove. I plan to continue to work my way through his books in publication order and hope to find a few more hidden gems in the swamps and on the beaches of Florida.
March 11, 2022
Have you ever had the urge to learn everything you can about bass fishing? Well, neither have I, but I did learn quite a bit while reading this satirical, hysterical thriller. This one takes place in Florida, in the small town of Harney.
R.J. Decker, a down-on-his-luck ex-con and private investigator, is in Harney, having been hired by Dennis Gault, a wealthy bass fishing aficionado, who is convinced that champion fisherman and host of a popular weekly bass fishing show on the Outdoor Christian Network (OCN), Dickie Lockhart, is cheating in the high-dollar bass fishing tournaments. It is now Decker’s job to find out how the cheating is taking place and obtain photographs of the cheating. Decker teams up with Skink, a very strange hermit with a surprising back-story, who lives in the outskirts of Harney, subsisting on road kill. He has no qualms about shooting intruders, and acts very peculiar whether in public or private.
Hiassen creates other humorous characters to help the story along: Lainie Gault, a sexy swimsuit model with no morals; beautiful and classy Catherine, Decker’s ex-wife, who, although remarried to an incredibly boring chiropractor, keeps in touch with Decker; Ott Pickney, Decker’s old friend and a reporter who should have retired ages ago, and Charlie Weeb (televangelist and owner of OCN) who has problems avoiding prostitutes and enjoys performing fake healings on farm animals on "live satellite television", as well as marketing his development, Lunker Lakes Resort, which is built on a contaminated landfill. Needless to say, even though there are murders, attempted murders, close calls of all kinds, muggings, and intrigue to keep any reader on the edge, Hiaasen has inserted enough of his distinct brand of humor to make this book difficult to put down.
Granted, this is not destined for the “classics” aisle in the library or bookstore, and it won’t be studied in college literature classes, but as far as a light, upbeat, and fast-moving thriller, this one is highly recommended. Hiaasen’s characters are delightful, and this book has an absolutely wicked sense of humor. There were all kinds of situations and moments that even caused me to laugh out loud. Some of those situations were priceless as they poked some very serious holes in several over-the-top stereotypes.
R.J. Decker, a down-on-his-luck ex-con and private investigator, is in Harney, having been hired by Dennis Gault, a wealthy bass fishing aficionado, who is convinced that champion fisherman and host of a popular weekly bass fishing show on the Outdoor Christian Network (OCN), Dickie Lockhart, is cheating in the high-dollar bass fishing tournaments. It is now Decker’s job to find out how the cheating is taking place and obtain photographs of the cheating. Decker teams up with Skink, a very strange hermit with a surprising back-story, who lives in the outskirts of Harney, subsisting on road kill. He has no qualms about shooting intruders, and acts very peculiar whether in public or private.
Hiassen creates other humorous characters to help the story along: Lainie Gault, a sexy swimsuit model with no morals; beautiful and classy Catherine, Decker’s ex-wife, who, although remarried to an incredibly boring chiropractor, keeps in touch with Decker; Ott Pickney, Decker’s old friend and a reporter who should have retired ages ago, and Charlie Weeb (televangelist and owner of OCN) who has problems avoiding prostitutes and enjoys performing fake healings on farm animals on "live satellite television", as well as marketing his development, Lunker Lakes Resort, which is built on a contaminated landfill. Needless to say, even though there are murders, attempted murders, close calls of all kinds, muggings, and intrigue to keep any reader on the edge, Hiaasen has inserted enough of his distinct brand of humor to make this book difficult to put down.
Granted, this is not destined for the “classics” aisle in the library or bookstore, and it won’t be studied in college literature classes, but as far as a light, upbeat, and fast-moving thriller, this one is highly recommended. Hiaasen’s characters are delightful, and this book has an absolutely wicked sense of humor. There were all kinds of situations and moments that even caused me to laugh out loud. Some of those situations were priceless as they poked some very serious holes in several over-the-top stereotypes.
July 10, 2020
Well that was weird! I had to adjust my expectations of this novel as I went along. Having not read this author before, I started the book thinking it was a crime novel, but the majority of the characters are way-over-the-top-caricatures – deliberately so - and the story includes some majorly bizarre incidents, especially in the second half.
I’m not entirely sure how to categorise this book. It’s a sort of surreal farce crossed with a horror novel crossed with a political satire. I did get a few laughs, I will admit, but at other times there was a sort of meanness to the humour, or so it seemed to me. This was particularly true of the scene when the lead character is at the house of his ex-wife and her new husband. I also felt there were several scenes where the author was working through his own political wish fulfilment fantasy.
I understand the author is well known for his support of environmental causes. That much is clear from the novel. Curiously his concern for wildlife doesn’t seem to extend to domestic animals. If you’re a dog lover, I advise you to stay away from this one.
Glancing at the other reviews, I seem to be in the minority in not giving this a more favourable rating.
I’m not entirely sure how to categorise this book. It’s a sort of surreal farce crossed with a horror novel crossed with a political satire. I did get a few laughs, I will admit, but at other times there was a sort of meanness to the humour, or so it seemed to me. This was particularly true of the scene when the lead character is at the house of his ex-wife and her new husband. I also felt there were several scenes where the author was working through his own political wish fulfilment fantasy.
I understand the author is well known for his support of environmental causes. That much is clear from the novel. Curiously his concern for wildlife doesn’t seem to extend to domestic animals. If you’re a dog lover, I advise you to stay away from this one.
Glancing at the other reviews, I seem to be in the minority in not giving this a more favourable rating.
September 6, 2020
If I provided a synopsis of this novel -the 1st Hiaasen novel to feature the recurring character "Skink"- you'd never believe a novel with a fishing tournament sponsored by a Christian mega-church serving as its climax could be so good.
This is a very funny crime story loaded with mayhem (a severed pit bull's head permanently welded to a miscreant's forearm, for instance), assorted murders and deaths by misadventure reminiscent of some of Elmore Leonard's wilder crime yarns and featuring a cast of thousands.
I loved this.
Hopefully you will too.
This is a very funny crime story loaded with mayhem (a severed pit bull's head permanently welded to a miscreant's forearm, for instance), assorted murders and deaths by misadventure reminiscent of some of Elmore Leonard's wilder crime yarns and featuring a cast of thousands.
I loved this.
Hopefully you will too.
May 29, 2013
[7/10]
My second Carl Hiaasen book. After Stormy Weather I decided I want to delve more into the background of Captain Skink, the most interesting character in the book, so I went back to his debut in Double Whammy . I ended up learning more about bayou fishing than I thought possible given my near total lack of interest in the sport. I hold Hiaasen responsible for tranforming this placid and frankly boring pastime into a frenzied and deadly chase (I imagine the trailer for the book with a soundtrack of The Beach Boys singing Bass Fishing in the USA and a video sequence cut along the lines of the opening credits for the movie Top Secret )
The bass is not picky; it is hardy, prolific, and on a given day will eat just about any God-awful lure dragged in front of its maw. as a fighter it is bullish, but tires easily; as a jumper its skills are admirable, though no match for a graceful rainbow trout or tarpon; as table fare it is blandly acceptable, even tasty when properly seasoned. Its astonishing popularity comes from a modest combination of these traits, plus the simple fact that there are so many largemouth bass swimming around that just about any damn fool can catch one.
The lampooning and the sarcasm I expected are all present in here, but the laughs are often accompanied by a guilty feeling, as the issues of environment degradation and political corruption hit too close for comfort.
In structure the book is inspired by the classic down on his luck gumshoe detective who starts on an apparently easy job (prove a champion fisherman is cheating about his catch) only to get caught in a big conspiracy, with the dead bodies multiplying and his own life put on the line. R J Decker makes a credible protagonist, one I am predisposed to like on account of his freelance photographer career:
For Decker, photography was more than just a hobby, it was a way of looking at the world. He had been cursed with a short temper and a cynical outlook, so the darkroom became a soothing place, and the ceremony of making pictures a gentle therapy.
Much of the fun of the novel comes from the wacky characters and the often absurd situations they get tangled in, with Skink as the main chaos inducing element ( He looked like a neon yeti. ), seconded bravely by a couple of ethnic patrolmen - Jim Tile and Al Garcia. The cast is completed with some dangerously volatile rednecks, TV evangelists, chiropractors, plutocrats with a fishing hobby, femme fatales and the occasional bulldog.
I enjoyed the ride, but I couldn't help noticing that the plot gets too thin and contrived towards the end, with the author more interested in scoring karma points by arranging spectacular closures and righteous revenge on the evildoers. I felt the comedy got more important than the actual story. But it's OK, because Skink is a fun guy to follow around, as long as you don't get to sample his roadkill cuisine.
My second Carl Hiaasen book. After Stormy Weather I decided I want to delve more into the background of Captain Skink, the most interesting character in the book, so I went back to his debut in Double Whammy . I ended up learning more about bayou fishing than I thought possible given my near total lack of interest in the sport. I hold Hiaasen responsible for tranforming this placid and frankly boring pastime into a frenzied and deadly chase (I imagine the trailer for the book with a soundtrack of The Beach Boys singing Bass Fishing in the USA and a video sequence cut along the lines of the opening credits for the movie Top Secret )
The bass is not picky; it is hardy, prolific, and on a given day will eat just about any God-awful lure dragged in front of its maw. as a fighter it is bullish, but tires easily; as a jumper its skills are admirable, though no match for a graceful rainbow trout or tarpon; as table fare it is blandly acceptable, even tasty when properly seasoned. Its astonishing popularity comes from a modest combination of these traits, plus the simple fact that there are so many largemouth bass swimming around that just about any damn fool can catch one.
The lampooning and the sarcasm I expected are all present in here, but the laughs are often accompanied by a guilty feeling, as the issues of environment degradation and political corruption hit too close for comfort.
In structure the book is inspired by the classic down on his luck gumshoe detective who starts on an apparently easy job (prove a champion fisherman is cheating about his catch) only to get caught in a big conspiracy, with the dead bodies multiplying and his own life put on the line. R J Decker makes a credible protagonist, one I am predisposed to like on account of his freelance photographer career:
For Decker, photography was more than just a hobby, it was a way of looking at the world. He had been cursed with a short temper and a cynical outlook, so the darkroom became a soothing place, and the ceremony of making pictures a gentle therapy.
Much of the fun of the novel comes from the wacky characters and the often absurd situations they get tangled in, with Skink as the main chaos inducing element ( He looked like a neon yeti. ), seconded bravely by a couple of ethnic patrolmen - Jim Tile and Al Garcia. The cast is completed with some dangerously volatile rednecks, TV evangelists, chiropractors, plutocrats with a fishing hobby, femme fatales and the occasional bulldog.
I enjoyed the ride, but I couldn't help noticing that the plot gets too thin and contrived towards the end, with the author more interested in scoring karma points by arranging spectacular closures and righteous revenge on the evildoers. I felt the comedy got more important than the actual story. But it's OK, because Skink is a fun guy to follow around, as long as you don't get to sample his roadkill cuisine.
June 7, 2019
Murder is often dumb as well as horrific, something the author Carl Hiaasen knows very well. By reading his local newspaper closely, he has been able to mine it for those delicious stories of Florida mayhem for which he is now famous. If you ask me, the stories almost write themselves. However, Hiaasen is able to add those fictional touches which makes the horrific murderous stupidity behind many of the crimes fun. Truth can be stranger than fiction, especially in the State of Florida.
'Double Whammy' written in 1987, is the first book of several Hiaasen wrote that includes the character Skink. Skink is a mysterious Everglades hermit who can take care of himself despite a touch of insanity. Given his chosen place of residence - a shack deep in the wilds of southern Florida - it is not a stretch to understand his disaffection with humanity, especially since all four walls of his home are bent with the weight of classic books of literature, philosophy and history.
Main character R. J. Decker has the physique of a linebacker, but he actually worked as a newspaper photographer until a little incident caused by his outsized rage when made angry forced him to branch out into developing other avenues of income. A felony conviction narrowed legitimate job offers and a steady paycheck quite a bit. As the book opens, Decker is being interviewed by a possible client wanting to hire him as a private detective, one of Decker’s new careers. It is good that liking your employers is not a requirement of being hired, because rich Dennis Gault is an evil SOB. Gault also has a gorgeous sister who will do anything for her brother, as well. Anything.
Dennis Gault's major interest is fishing tournaments, specifically those which are about catching largemouth bass. Being rich, he doesn't care about the huge cash awards which the winners of fishing tournaments get. He loves the thrill of competition! But he hates fishing cheaters to death. Literally. Fortunately, all he wants from Decker is to discover how a competitor, Dickie Lockhart, is cheating. However, while Decker has a contact in Harney County, where the next tournament is to be held, he knows nothing about fishing. The contact, a newspaper owner, Ott Pickney, refers him to Skink, a local Everglades guide and madman, to help him learn about bass fishing. Skink also knows how to cook roadkill. He loves eating roadkill. Especially opossum. Waste not, want not.
Dickie Lockhart, host of a well-known and popular TV fishing show, is winning many largemouth bass fishing contests, usually by having caught huge 30-pound bass. Gault has examined those fish closely - and he has spotted that they are actually long dead, not freshly caught. The sport advertisers love that Lockhart wins all of the time and compete with each other to give him free fishing products to advertise on his show for a fee. It is clear WHY Lockhart is cheating, but not HOW.
Lockhart is actually an employee of a TV evangelist, Reverend Charles Weeb. Weeb created the fishing program and runs it on his television station, the Outdoor Christian Network, along with his evangelical religious show. Weeb has had a colorful past, but luckily for him, he finally found a lucrative scam - evangelism. Now he is branching out into real estate and he is in the middle of building and selling new houses in the Everglades for fishing sports lovers, and he doesn't need any scandals which might put off buyers. His financial situation is not good at the moment. Weeb can barely cover the expenses of his hooker habit! And a detective like Decker looking around for cheating is making him nervous. You don't want the Reverend feeling nervous. So. He knows a couple of local thugs who worship Lockhart - and violence.
The Double Whammy is a popular fishing lure, reputed to be a favorite of bass. It is a skirted spinnerbait with twin silver spoons and hook. However, the luster of its reputation is considerably shined up, or make that on, when the body of another investigator hired previously by Lockhart is pulled from a local bass fishing lake.
Oh oh.
Disclosure: as a kid, I used to fish for trout - omg, does fresh trout taste good pan-fried! Just saying. Too bad water pollution and over-fishing is destroying the habitats of all fish.
Humanity is as dumb as Hiaasen makes of his fictional characters. To me, there is more non-fiction than fiction in the author's humorous novels.
'Double Whammy' written in 1987, is the first book of several Hiaasen wrote that includes the character Skink. Skink is a mysterious Everglades hermit who can take care of himself despite a touch of insanity. Given his chosen place of residence - a shack deep in the wilds of southern Florida - it is not a stretch to understand his disaffection with humanity, especially since all four walls of his home are bent with the weight of classic books of literature, philosophy and history.
Main character R. J. Decker has the physique of a linebacker, but he actually worked as a newspaper photographer until a little incident caused by his outsized rage when made angry forced him to branch out into developing other avenues of income. A felony conviction narrowed legitimate job offers and a steady paycheck quite a bit. As the book opens, Decker is being interviewed by a possible client wanting to hire him as a private detective, one of Decker’s new careers. It is good that liking your employers is not a requirement of being hired, because rich Dennis Gault is an evil SOB. Gault also has a gorgeous sister who will do anything for her brother, as well. Anything.
Dennis Gault's major interest is fishing tournaments, specifically those which are about catching largemouth bass. Being rich, he doesn't care about the huge cash awards which the winners of fishing tournaments get. He loves the thrill of competition! But he hates fishing cheaters to death. Literally. Fortunately, all he wants from Decker is to discover how a competitor, Dickie Lockhart, is cheating. However, while Decker has a contact in Harney County, where the next tournament is to be held, he knows nothing about fishing. The contact, a newspaper owner, Ott Pickney, refers him to Skink, a local Everglades guide and madman, to help him learn about bass fishing. Skink also knows how to cook roadkill. He loves eating roadkill. Especially opossum. Waste not, want not.
Dickie Lockhart, host of a well-known and popular TV fishing show, is winning many largemouth bass fishing contests, usually by having caught huge 30-pound bass. Gault has examined those fish closely - and he has spotted that they are actually long dead, not freshly caught. The sport advertisers love that Lockhart wins all of the time and compete with each other to give him free fishing products to advertise on his show for a fee. It is clear WHY Lockhart is cheating, but not HOW.
Lockhart is actually an employee of a TV evangelist, Reverend Charles Weeb. Weeb created the fishing program and runs it on his television station, the Outdoor Christian Network, along with his evangelical religious show. Weeb has had a colorful past, but luckily for him, he finally found a lucrative scam - evangelism. Now he is branching out into real estate and he is in the middle of building and selling new houses in the Everglades for fishing sports lovers, and he doesn't need any scandals which might put off buyers. His financial situation is not good at the moment. Weeb can barely cover the expenses of his hooker habit! And a detective like Decker looking around for cheating is making him nervous. You don't want the Reverend feeling nervous. So. He knows a couple of local thugs who worship Lockhart - and violence.
The Double Whammy is a popular fishing lure, reputed to be a favorite of bass. It is a skirted spinnerbait with twin silver spoons and hook. However, the luster of its reputation is considerably shined up, or make that on, when the body of another investigator hired previously by Lockhart is pulled from a local bass fishing lake.
Oh oh.
Disclosure: as a kid, I used to fish for trout - omg, does fresh trout taste good pan-fried! Just saying. Too bad water pollution and over-fishing is destroying the habitats of all fish.
Humanity is as dumb as Hiaasen makes of his fictional characters. To me, there is more non-fiction than fiction in the author's humorous novels.
July 26, 2015
Carl Hiaasen makes Florida sound like one dangerously crazy place. This 1987 mystery revolves around the world of bass sports fishing. The protagonist, a man named Decker, is a former photographer turned private investigator who has been hired by a rich man to catch his rival, a big-name bass fisherman, cheating. Apparently most of the big-name bass fisherman cheat in competitive fishing tournaments, and the rich guy has become obsessed with a celebrity who has his own cable TV show.
Decker, however, soon finds he's been set up, and the plot zigs, zags, and does backflips, involving Decker's ex, a televangelist trying to sell Florida real estate, a bunch of racist Florida rednecks, a crazy former governor now living as a mad hermit, a black state trooper assigned to the most racist hick backwaters of the state, a Cuban police detective who has to learn to fish, and a would-be assassin who spends the latter part of the book staggering around with a rotting pit bull's head clamped onto his arm.
Even Mickey Mouse got a mention. About the only thing that didn't make an appearance was alligators.
Double Whammy is both fun and well-plotted; as zany as the plot twists may seem, Hiaasen actually brings it all together, weaving all these strange, loony, venal, and oddly noble characters together into a story about timeshares, bass fishing, and murder. The fact that Hiaasen actually knows Florida and evidently did copious research on the subject of bass fishing just makes the details shine, though it's the characters and the twists that will really get your attention.
While a bit dated now (the book was written in 1987, as you can tell by all the problems that come up that would be solved nowadays by a cell phone), it was a good read. I've read two books by Carl Hiaasen now, and he has a gift for making Florida sound like the weirdest place on Earth and then sticking an almost-plausible plot into it.
Decker, however, soon finds he's been set up, and the plot zigs, zags, and does backflips, involving Decker's ex, a televangelist trying to sell Florida real estate, a bunch of racist Florida rednecks, a crazy former governor now living as a mad hermit, a black state trooper assigned to the most racist hick backwaters of the state, a Cuban police detective who has to learn to fish, and a would-be assassin who spends the latter part of the book staggering around with a rotting pit bull's head clamped onto his arm.
Even Mickey Mouse got a mention. About the only thing that didn't make an appearance was alligators.
Double Whammy is both fun and well-plotted; as zany as the plot twists may seem, Hiaasen actually brings it all together, weaving all these strange, loony, venal, and oddly noble characters together into a story about timeshares, bass fishing, and murder. The fact that Hiaasen actually knows Florida and evidently did copious research on the subject of bass fishing just makes the details shine, though it's the characters and the twists that will really get your attention.
While a bit dated now (the book was written in 1987, as you can tell by all the problems that come up that would be solved nowadays by a cell phone), it was a good read. I've read two books by Carl Hiaasen now, and he has a gift for making Florida sound like the weirdest place on Earth and then sticking an almost-plausible plot into it.
May 20, 2008
This is officially the Hiaasen book that has proved his genius to me. Never in my wildest imagination would I have guessed that I would not only read a book about bass fishing, but that I would also enjoy it. This book, bass and all, was a hysterically funny who-done-it of the highest caliber. Pro-Sports fishermen are dropping dead, a renegade photographer/PI has been hired to prove there are cheaters in the Bass Tournaments, a loveable crazy hermit turns out to be more than meets the eye. This is a viciously fun romp skewering the pro-fishermen circuit, politicians, the typical “good ol’ whiteboy” mentality, trailer parks, high school sports fanatics, and fashion models among others. His hysterical with and sharp double edged tongue make this a read that will bring tears of laughter to your eyes.
I have only ever read two other Hiaasen books and each I read seems funnier than the last. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a funny, well written read. Read this even if you hate fishing… I can’t stand fishing but couldn’t put this book down until I was done with it.
I have only ever read two other Hiaasen books and each I read seems funnier than the last. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a funny, well written read. Read this even if you hate fishing… I can’t stand fishing but couldn’t put this book down until I was done with it.
May 11, 2017
Fact is stranger than fiction. In Carl Hiaasen's case, this may be up for debate. His fiction surely flavours fact. As an ecological champion native to Florida, he writes what he has lived. Among his multiple protagonists, at least one will be employed in the field of journalism and serve as the straight man.
These are not heroes: they are swept away into a never-ending parade of Sunshine State oddballs who might be your neighbour: the mysantrophic retiree in the overpriced condo, the immigrant drifter, the inland redneck that is the bane of state trooper Jim Tile. Others are larger-than-life caricatures of the forces that be on the edge of the Everglades, ever ready to push virgin land back in the name of progress with the bulldozer.
It's hard not to warm up to Hiaasen's daft eco-Rambo, Skink, who makes his memorable debut here. As for Double Whammy It's also hard not to take a word of caution as a hobbyist in whatever sphere (WWII re-enactment ?) : don't overdo it. Don't be defined by one thing in life, such as a hawg largemouth bass. If a hermit can hang onto a first edition of Marquez' Cien años de soledad, we can live a plural existence. Even without a Fight Club to separate us from our professional roles.
These are not heroes: they are swept away into a never-ending parade of Sunshine State oddballs who might be your neighbour: the mysantrophic retiree in the overpriced condo, the immigrant drifter, the inland redneck that is the bane of state trooper Jim Tile. Others are larger-than-life caricatures of the forces that be on the edge of the Everglades, ever ready to push virgin land back in the name of progress with the bulldozer.
It's hard not to warm up to Hiaasen's daft eco-Rambo, Skink, who makes his memorable debut here. As for Double Whammy It's also hard not to take a word of caution as a hobbyist in whatever sphere (WWII re-enactment ?) : don't overdo it. Don't be defined by one thing in life, such as a hawg largemouth bass. If a hermit can hang onto a first edition of Marquez' Cien años de soledad, we can live a plural existence. Even without a Fight Club to separate us from our professional roles.
April 24, 2017
I love Miami. I love watching tv shows about Miami, being in Miami, and reading books about Miami. The imagery in this book takes me there. This book gets an automatic 2 stars just for that.
The beginning is an introduction of one white male after another and their generic names make them hard to sort out. Then Hiaasen bravely shows the blatant racism that happens in the old boys' club of the south.
The plot is solid. There is cliffhanger after cliffhanger that kept me turning pages.
The beginning is an introduction of one white male after another and their generic names make them hard to sort out. Then Hiaasen bravely shows the blatant racism that happens in the old boys' club of the south.
The plot is solid. There is cliffhanger after cliffhanger that kept me turning pages.
January 18, 2016
I have never read a Hiaasen novel where the characters are not larger than life, and in a very unique way amazingly real! Mr. Hiaasen has a way of writing novels that are not overly complex, that are peopled with characters that seem too crazy to be true, and yet he brings it all together in a very satisfying way that usually teaches the reader something about the human condition, and our world.
Plus, he is funny!
"Double Whammy" is a fine example of these traits.
Private eye R.J. Decker has a checkered past, and seems to have a present that is just as bizarre. Some of the novel's finest writing deals with Decker's passion for photography, and how this passion shapes the way in which he views the world. It is a gift of Hiaasen's to take you from laughter to thoughtful reflection in the same paragraph.
R.J. Decker is a likable character, surpassed only in likeability in this text by the unbelievable, yet intriguingly "real" character named Skink. There are some nice twists in this novel involving this character, which I won't reveal here, and Hiaasen uses Skink as his avenging angel in this text. When people do bad things God's vengeance is quick, and usually comes in the form of this crazy hermit.
And all of this centers around bass fishing?!
There are times that Hiaasen is too stereotypical for my taste with the "redneck" persona of southerners, but he is careful to not paint all people with the same shade, so it is easily forgiven.
Despite their medium length, Mr. Hiaasen's novels are quick reads. They are formulaic but they are also witty, well written, and only rarely disappointing.
Plus, he is funny!
"Double Whammy" is a fine example of these traits.
Private eye R.J. Decker has a checkered past, and seems to have a present that is just as bizarre. Some of the novel's finest writing deals with Decker's passion for photography, and how this passion shapes the way in which he views the world. It is a gift of Hiaasen's to take you from laughter to thoughtful reflection in the same paragraph.
R.J. Decker is a likable character, surpassed only in likeability in this text by the unbelievable, yet intriguingly "real" character named Skink. There are some nice twists in this novel involving this character, which I won't reveal here, and Hiaasen uses Skink as his avenging angel in this text. When people do bad things God's vengeance is quick, and usually comes in the form of this crazy hermit.
And all of this centers around bass fishing?!
There are times that Hiaasen is too stereotypical for my taste with the "redneck" persona of southerners, but he is careful to not paint all people with the same shade, so it is easily forgiven.
Despite their medium length, Mr. Hiaasen's novels are quick reads. They are formulaic but they are also witty, well written, and only rarely disappointing.
February 8, 2016
Another funny romp through the Everglades with, bat crazy, "Skink", the ex-Govenor of Florida. Skink is determined to help a detective who is investigating a possible bass fishing heist. The detective is unsure of this cantankerous, ill humored, homeless guy, but he seems to have some answers that may help him solve his case. Skink is one of a kind, crazy smart and possibly the most offensive character I have read about, but I love his deranged and nutty adventures. I learned a lot about bass fishing in this story, so if that's your thing, you will love this one.
November 25, 2016
The second 'on his own' book features the first appearance of 'Skink', the former mayor! The book is in the vein of the predecessor, Tourist Season, but with more of everything. Very much more of fishing, unfortunately. But that is also the only reason for the lost star. Other than that, it is just what you expect. Only more!
August 11, 2025
DNF. I enjoy this author but this book didn't hold my interest. it's all about bass fishing tournaments and when I was married I was involved in this because my ex was a big time fisherman but now just not enough to hold my interest. I will give the book to him.
August 19, 2015
I'm used to more humor and less scheming by Hiaasen than is presented here. I found this less enjoyable than many of his other novels. 4 of 10 stars
September 5, 2019
I first read this novel back in 2003 and I loved it. I’d just discovered the author (who’s name I can never spell correctly because of dyslexia), and I’m pretty sure I’d read them all out of order. I forget why I’d decided to reread them, but I’m glad I have. Skink is one of the best characters I’ve known for a long time. I adore him and his weird/wonderful ways.
This time I found the audiobook at my local library. The audiobook is narrated by George K. Wilson. He had me glued to my headphones from the beginning. I love his rendition of Skink.
If you haven’t read this series, or any of the author’s novels yet, please do. You’re in for a fantastic treat.
4.5 stars, and recommended to all.
This time I found the audiobook at my local library. The audiobook is narrated by George K. Wilson. He had me glued to my headphones from the beginning. I love his rendition of Skink.
If you haven’t read this series, or any of the author’s novels yet, please do. You’re in for a fantastic treat.
4.5 stars, and recommended to all.
March 4, 2020
A petty tight and nicely weird thriller set to the theme of corporate and personal greed in Miami, centred round… bass fishing! yes I said bass fishing in Miami! 5 out of 12.
January 27, 2016
3.5 Stars
Well, going into this book, as much as I love Carl Hiaasen’s quirky characters, I just didn’t see how he was going to get me to want to read a book about Bass fishing. Even my mad love for Skink and his damn shower cap,(I have had many hot wet dreams about him and that shower cap), wasn’t going to keep my interest. But of course I was wrong. I mean the first 1/3 of the book was getting the mechanics down on profession bass fishing tournaments, but once you threw in a couple of murders, RJ, an ex-photographer-turned-pi, a hot ex-wife that RJ is still in love with and Skink of course then you have quite a fish tale.
I never realized how competitive professional bass fishing was, then you throw in a sleazy Christian network minister, then you have the recipe for disaster. Thank goodness RJ, Skink, Jim Tile and Al Garcia are on the job. I laughed so hard at one point that I snorted, problem was I was in my work lobby sitting in a chair and it really echoed in there. If you have a sensitivity to the N word be aware that Jim Tile is a black State Trooper in Florida and he takes a lot of sh*t to do his job. Him and Skink have been friends for along time and he is about the only one that can keep Skink somewhat under control….maybe.
If you have never read a Hiaasen, I would recommend starting with Sick Puppy, Lucky You or Strip Tease.( This was a movie that Demi Moore made, but the book was better than the movie.) A lot of laugh out loud moments in these books and although I will never love tournament Bass fishing, Hiaasen did make it interesting and funny in the end. The only thing was the ending was too abrupt, as I was hoping that RJ and Catherine was going to get back together.
Well, going into this book, as much as I love Carl Hiaasen’s quirky characters, I just didn’t see how he was going to get me to want to read a book about Bass fishing. Even my mad love for Skink and his damn shower cap,(I have had many hot wet dreams about him and that shower cap), wasn’t going to keep my interest. But of course I was wrong. I mean the first 1/3 of the book was getting the mechanics down on profession bass fishing tournaments, but once you threw in a couple of murders, RJ, an ex-photographer-turned-pi, a hot ex-wife that RJ is still in love with and Skink of course then you have quite a fish tale.
I never realized how competitive professional bass fishing was, then you throw in a sleazy Christian network minister, then you have the recipe for disaster. Thank goodness RJ, Skink, Jim Tile and Al Garcia are on the job. I laughed so hard at one point that I snorted, problem was I was in my work lobby sitting in a chair and it really echoed in there. If you have a sensitivity to the N word be aware that Jim Tile is a black State Trooper in Florida and he takes a lot of sh*t to do his job. Him and Skink have been friends for along time and he is about the only one that can keep Skink somewhat under control….maybe.
If you have never read a Hiaasen, I would recommend starting with Sick Puppy, Lucky You or Strip Tease.( This was a movie that Demi Moore made, but the book was better than the movie.) A lot of laugh out loud moments in these books and although I will never love tournament Bass fishing, Hiaasen did make it interesting and funny in the end. The only thing was the ending was too abrupt, as I was hoping that RJ and Catherine was going to get back together.
July 4, 2024
__________________________
You should have seen the one that got away!
I can understand why people enjoy watching sports like baseball, basketball, and football. I enjoy watching them myself. I am pretty sure I understand why people enjoy watching soccer––I’m thinking its inebriation. But I am baffled by the idea that there are many people out there who enjoy watching other people sitting in a boat fishing.
Professional bass fishing is a real sport though and is a major element in Double Whammy (In fact the title of the book is the name of a fishing lure.) Hiaasen excoriates not only this least spectacular spectator sport (next to box opening on Tik-Tok) but also his pet peeves: Florida real estate developers and faux-miracle working, TV evangelical rattlesnake preachers.
As the novel begins Decker, a low rent private detective, is offered a manure wagon full of money to prove that the king of all professional bass fishermen is cheating in tournaments. Decker travels to the lake where the next tournament is being held and hires a giant, green-eyed, 6 foot 6, long-haired, and apparently crazy man named Skink to be his fishing guide. Then people begin to die.
Skink appears in several of Hiaasen’s novels, but this is the first one, and it is my favorite iteration. Skink is as loony as a Canadian dollar in Double Whammy, and he scares the hell out of his ally Decker.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 Just wait until you find out who gets handed his own bass in this superior Hiassen novel.
You should have seen the one that got away!
I can understand why people enjoy watching sports like baseball, basketball, and football. I enjoy watching them myself. I am pretty sure I understand why people enjoy watching soccer––I’m thinking its inebriation. But I am baffled by the idea that there are many people out there who enjoy watching other people sitting in a boat fishing.
Professional bass fishing is a real sport though and is a major element in Double Whammy (In fact the title of the book is the name of a fishing lure.) Hiaasen excoriates not only this least spectacular spectator sport (next to box opening on Tik-Tok) but also his pet peeves: Florida real estate developers and faux-miracle working, TV evangelical rattlesnake preachers.
As the novel begins Decker, a low rent private detective, is offered a manure wagon full of money to prove that the king of all professional bass fishermen is cheating in tournaments. Decker travels to the lake where the next tournament is being held and hires a giant, green-eyed, 6 foot 6, long-haired, and apparently crazy man named Skink to be his fishing guide. Then people begin to die.
Skink appears in several of Hiaasen’s novels, but this is the first one, and it is my favorite iteration. Skink is as loony as a Canadian dollar in Double Whammy, and he scares the hell out of his ally Decker.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 Just wait until you find out who gets handed his own bass in this superior Hiassen novel.
February 5, 2008
As an avid fisherman and native Floridian this was a great read! Hiaasen created one of the most memorable characters in Skink the former Gov and a whole cast that only he could put together. There are some scenes that he describes that had me crying with laughter. Anyone who likes fishing and/or Florida and/or laughing and/or fun needs to read this book. I would imagine that everyone should have a copy of Double Whammy on their shelf.
September 10, 2018
This 1989 novel has all the right ingredients, and it is VERY funny. A panoply of ignorant tourists, gorgeous babes, and large-mouth bass fisherman (one VERY corrupt) must contend with a very intelligent black State Policeman and a crusading journalist in this classic Carl Hiaasen satire. If you're new to Hiaasen, this is a good book to start with. It's also "Skink's" first appearance in a Hiassen novel.
January 17, 2021
“Double Whammy” by Carl Hiaasen, published by G.P Putnam’s Sons.
Category - Mystery/Thriller/Comedy. Publication Date - 1987.
This is Hiaasen’s first book that has the ex-governor of Florida as it’s main character, he disappears from office and is known to live in the Everglades eating road kill and fighting land corruption in Florida. He is now known as Skink.
Amid the amazing lucrative sport of bass fishing that is controlled by TV Evangelist, the Reverend Charles Weeb. Weeb is attempting to skin both Florida and hid parishioners by building a golf course and condominiums by a lake that is supposedly filled with bass.
When Weeb finds himself being espoused as a fraud, bass fishing cheating and murders start occurring. R. J. Decker, a new detective, is hired to look into these occurrences. He finds himself surrounded by millionaires, hucksters, vamps, politicians, developers, grim killers (one with a dead dogs head attached to his arm), and a mad hermit by the name of Skink.
A fun romp through Florida politics and environmental concerns that is not only great comedy but a great satirical mystery.
Category - Mystery/Thriller/Comedy. Publication Date - 1987.
This is Hiaasen’s first book that has the ex-governor of Florida as it’s main character, he disappears from office and is known to live in the Everglades eating road kill and fighting land corruption in Florida. He is now known as Skink.
Amid the amazing lucrative sport of bass fishing that is controlled by TV Evangelist, the Reverend Charles Weeb. Weeb is attempting to skin both Florida and hid parishioners by building a golf course and condominiums by a lake that is supposedly filled with bass.
When Weeb finds himself being espoused as a fraud, bass fishing cheating and murders start occurring. R. J. Decker, a new detective, is hired to look into these occurrences. He finds himself surrounded by millionaires, hucksters, vamps, politicians, developers, grim killers (one with a dead dogs head attached to his arm), and a mad hermit by the name of Skink.
A fun romp through Florida politics and environmental concerns that is not only great comedy but a great satirical mystery.
January 3, 2013
Hot-headed private detective R. J. Decker is hired to prove that TV host Dickie Lockhart cheats to win fortunes in Florida bass-fishing tournaments. Decker soon finds out that the stakes are so high people are willing to kill to keep secrets, but he finds an ally in an apparently deranged, roadkill-eating hermit who calls himself Skink, as well as a couple of honest cops. Adding to the cast are a trio of moron hillbillies, an amoral hottie who seduces Decker and helps frame him for murder, and the good Reverend Weeb, Lockhart's sponsor on the Outdoor Christian Network, whose hobbies include prostitutes, fake faith healing, and land-grabbing.
It’s just as madcap as the summary sounds, with colorful heroes and villains (such as the killer who spends the final scenes of the novel with a decapitated, rotting bulldog’s head clamped on his gangrenous arm). This is the second Hiaasen novel I’ve read, and it’s seems much of a piece with Tourist Season: the same crazed pace and surreal satire, as well as the same dubious plot points (I’m not sure how the gruesome death of Decker’s client, after the death of Lockhart, helps Decker fight the charge of blackmail and murder). It’s not worth dissecting, of course; it’s just manic zany fun.
It’s just as madcap as the summary sounds, with colorful heroes and villains (such as the killer who spends the final scenes of the novel with a decapitated, rotting bulldog’s head clamped on his gangrenous arm). This is the second Hiaasen novel I’ve read, and it’s seems much of a piece with Tourist Season: the same crazed pace and surreal satire, as well as the same dubious plot points (I’m not sure how the gruesome death of Decker’s client, after the death of Lockhart, helps Decker fight the charge of blackmail and murder). It’s not worth dissecting, of course; it’s just manic zany fun.
October 4, 2013
I have been a fan of Carl Hiaasen since his first, Tourist Season. Before we were married, my wife heard him talk at a Journalism convention and Tourist Season had just come out. She bought it and we both read it. I read Double Whammy on our honeymoon. Excellent book. His books always make me laugh out loud (no small feat). Later my wife sent the book off to Carl Hiaasen and surprised me for my birthday. When I opened the cover I found written "To Lance, Best wishes from Florida! Carl Hiaasen 12-94. P.S. Skink lives!" Long live Skink!
July 17, 2022
Just when I thought I could predict all of Carl Hiaasen's plot twists, this book threw me a curveball and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end!
RJ Decker is an ex-convict, and has pivoted from photography to private investigating. Most of his cases involve trivial matters, such as a suspicious spouse questioning their partner's fidelity or an insurance company questioning the validity of someone's claim. So, when he is hired to prove that one of the biggest bass fishing stars is cheating, he expects nothing spectacular. However, he is soon sucked into the corrupt world of bass fishing as bodies begin to wash ashore. As Decker starts to find himself in over his head, he enlists the aid of a borderline-insane hermit whose favorite meal is roadkill. Through the course of this novel, Decker will encounter a colorful cast of characters, including a Jewish TV evangelist, a former colleague with the alter ego "Davey Dillo," and a man with a pitbull head hanging off his arm. The stakes are high, with the prize being much more than a hefty hawg.
In classic Hiaasen fashion, this book is an eclectic collection of characters and happenings. I'm not a big mystery reader (mostly because I need to be able to put a book down and enjoy not twisting my stomach into nervous knots), but Hiassen's novels are always a joy to read. They are lighthearted yet grapple with serious topics. I'm also not a fan of "life's not fair" type of endings, and his books always leave me satisfied. The best part of his books is how they bring me back to the swamps of my youth, reminding me of the beauty of my home.
RJ Decker is an ex-convict, and has pivoted from photography to private investigating. Most of his cases involve trivial matters, such as a suspicious spouse questioning their partner's fidelity or an insurance company questioning the validity of someone's claim. So, when he is hired to prove that one of the biggest bass fishing stars is cheating, he expects nothing spectacular. However, he is soon sucked into the corrupt world of bass fishing as bodies begin to wash ashore. As Decker starts to find himself in over his head, he enlists the aid of a borderline-insane hermit whose favorite meal is roadkill. Through the course of this novel, Decker will encounter a colorful cast of characters, including a Jewish TV evangelist, a former colleague with the alter ego "Davey Dillo," and a man with a pitbull head hanging off his arm. The stakes are high, with the prize being much more than a hefty hawg.
In classic Hiaasen fashion, this book is an eclectic collection of characters and happenings. I'm not a big mystery reader (mostly because I need to be able to put a book down and enjoy not twisting my stomach into nervous knots), but Hiassen's novels are always a joy to read. They are lighthearted yet grapple with serious topics. I'm also not a fan of "life's not fair" type of endings, and his books always leave me satisfied. The best part of his books is how they bring me back to the swamps of my youth, reminding me of the beauty of my home.
November 30, 2008
I'd saved this library-sale paperback for a proverbial rainy day -- and so when I came down with my inevitable fall cold, I patted myself on the back for having just the right thing to distract me from sneezing and sniffling. Hiaasen has long been a favorite of mine; his jaundiced view of modern America (more specifially, Florida) dovetails with mine, not to mention his somewhat perverse sense of humor.
Certain things you'll always find in a Carl Hiaasen novel:
- a likeable, down-on-his-luck hero in the mode of Jim Rockford
- a semi-deranged back-to-nature type who is actually NOT as deranged as he seems
- malevolent, greedy, unscrupulous bad guys, who are acting in cahoots (or are themselves) developers
- a lovely, intelligent, gutsy love interest
- rednecks and low-lifes, in all their dimwitted glory
Double Whammy has them all, built upon the disarmingly slim premise of a bass-fishing tournament. Ever wonder about those TV fishing programs? Who on earth watches them and WHY? Well, this engaging novel takes aim at certain sorts of bubbas and their infatuation with big boats, big fish, and big boobs. It's all done in the best Hiaasen tradition.
Certain things you'll always find in a Carl Hiaasen novel:
- a likeable, down-on-his-luck hero in the mode of Jim Rockford
- a semi-deranged back-to-nature type who is actually NOT as deranged as he seems
- malevolent, greedy, unscrupulous bad guys, who are acting in cahoots (or are themselves) developers
- a lovely, intelligent, gutsy love interest
- rednecks and low-lifes, in all their dimwitted glory
Double Whammy has them all, built upon the disarmingly slim premise of a bass-fishing tournament. Ever wonder about those TV fishing programs? Who on earth watches them and WHY? Well, this engaging novel takes aim at certain sorts of bubbas and their infatuation with big boats, big fish, and big boobs. It's all done in the best Hiaasen tradition.
January 26, 2016
Rating: 4.5
Listened to the Audiobook Narrated by: George Wilson
Surprisingly good.
Didn't know the author, just saw the book on a Daily Deal, and it contained elements of bass fishing (an interest of mine).
The story ended up not being about the bass fishing itself for most parts, but simply using it as a stage for the actual story line.
I think even if you know nothing or care nothing for fishing, you can still enjoy this book.
He has some awesome characters. Each one as entertaining as the next.
The humor is excellent. The stereo-types are great. Some parts can be described as weird and gross, but it all adds to the story. The book combines pieces of Mystery, Detective, Murder, Fishing, Private Investigation, Photography, Red-neck, Hill-Billy, Scamming, Cheating, Comedy, Religion, Racism. You really have no idea which direction it is going in next.
Although I enjoyed the narrator a lot, there were some odd sounds occasionally. Him drinking water, or swallowing/breathing loudly. Although this was noticeable, it doesn't really change my opinion about the narrator or the book.
Listened to the Audiobook Narrated by: George Wilson
Surprisingly good.
Didn't know the author, just saw the book on a Daily Deal, and it contained elements of bass fishing (an interest of mine).
The story ended up not being about the bass fishing itself for most parts, but simply using it as a stage for the actual story line.
I think even if you know nothing or care nothing for fishing, you can still enjoy this book.
He has some awesome characters. Each one as entertaining as the next.
The humor is excellent. The stereo-types are great. Some parts can be described as weird and gross, but it all adds to the story. The book combines pieces of Mystery, Detective, Murder, Fishing, Private Investigation, Photography, Red-neck, Hill-Billy, Scamming, Cheating, Comedy, Religion, Racism. You really have no idea which direction it is going in next.
Although I enjoyed the narrator a lot, there were some odd sounds occasionally. Him drinking water, or swallowing/breathing loudly. Although this was noticeable, it doesn't really change my opinion about the narrator or the book.
December 16, 2015
I've read a few other books by Hiaasen, and really liked them. This one was a little less enjoyable for me because I couldn't build any interest up in the bass-fishing aspect of the novel.
One of my favorite characters, Skink, kept me interested as well the detective-noir aspect. This is the novel which introduces Skink, who subsequently appears in several other Hiaasen novels.
The main character, Decker, is your classic P.I. with a questionable history; and in steps the femme fatale, who will either aid in his designated quest or help lead him into a deadly situation.
Added to the mix are the crooks/bad guys who wheel and deal to over-develop Hiassen's beloved Florida and several rednecks and lowlife types. Hiassen's characters are almost always just a bit bizarre and sometimes rather deranged, and yet he gives them enough depth to sound believable.
My biggest draw to Hiassen's novels is his perverse sense of humor. This novel is full of this, which made it entertaining, even though the main subject of the investigation held little interest for me.
One of my favorite characters, Skink, kept me interested as well the detective-noir aspect. This is the novel which introduces Skink, who subsequently appears in several other Hiaasen novels.
The main character, Decker, is your classic P.I. with a questionable history; and in steps the femme fatale, who will either aid in his designated quest or help lead him into a deadly situation.
Added to the mix are the crooks/bad guys who wheel and deal to over-develop Hiassen's beloved Florida and several rednecks and lowlife types. Hiassen's characters are almost always just a bit bizarre and sometimes rather deranged, and yet he gives them enough depth to sound believable.
My biggest draw to Hiassen's novels is his perverse sense of humor. This novel is full of this, which made it entertaining, even though the main subject of the investigation held little interest for me.
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