Bahamarama

Zack Chasteen #1

by Bob Morris

Two years in a Florida federal prison on bogus charges has made former Miami Dophins linebacker, Zack Chasteen, stir crazy. The first step toward getting his life back together is meeting up with his beautiful magazine mogul girlfriend, Barbara, on Harbor Island in the Bahamas. But making it out of Florida proves to be more trouble than a gator with a toothache--and even deadlier. Zack barely leaves the state alive before he discovers Barbara's been kidnapped and her ex-lover, a photographer, murdered.

Once again trouble has come knocking on Zack's door. But this time he's fighting back, with the help of a Royal Bahamanian police superintendent, his trusted mystical Taino Indian friend Boggy, and a cast of the most colorful characters ever to step into the warm Bahama sun.

As unpredictable as island trade winds, Bahamarama twists and turns its way to a stunning conclusion and announces the arrival of a writer who is sure to surprise and delight mystery fans for years to come.

 


Bahamarama is a 2005 Edgar Award Nominee for Best First Novel.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Robert Morris is an American novelist who writes Caribbean themed mysteries. He is previously known as a columnist for several newspapers and magazines.

Series:
* Zack Chasteen

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florida journalist Bob Morris' first novel and first of this series is marketed towards fans of other Florida writers Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey, both of whom I am big fan. I think this is a very good book, but Morris has more in common with Randy Wayne White or James W Hall (serious Florida thriller writers) than Hiaasen or Dorsey. Hiaasen is the king of the satire thriller, and Dorsey just unleashes a huge grotesque screwball comedy with every book. If anything, Bahamarama most closely resembles the Spenser books of Robert B. Parker, with a similarly likeable, tough and intelligent first-person narrator in former pro football safety Zack Chasteen, recently released from prison on trumped-up charges. Like Spenser, Chasteen has a sense of humor that permeates his narrative, but never dominates the tone. Also like Parker's books, there is an ensemble of a likeable supporting cast, plenty of suspicious characters, and lots of thugs. There is also a strong mystery, great use of short chapters and a thriller pace that makes it next to impossible to put down. Morris' unique touch is jumping off from Florida to Harbour Island, Bahamas with vivid description and great atmosphere. Even if the marketers have it wrong, this is still a great start to what I anticipate to be a terrific series.

[Rod Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wild and twisty Florida Man escapade, clearly reaching for the Carl Hiassen market. Plenty of rich descriptions of local plant and animal wildlife. Not so much a mystery as a kidnapping/ransom drama, and frankly the whole thing falters off about midway through. Never really regains steam.

[J. York · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judging by the cover, title, and marketing, it would be tempting to think this is another in the beloved "South-Florida Wacko" genre defined by the likes of Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey. Actually, other than setting, it has more in common with the earlier, soft-boiled NW mysteries of Earl Emerson, which, much as I love my wacko-books, I don't consider that a bad thing at all.

Morris's protagonist, former pro-football player (be assured, fellow non-sports fans, this is part of his history, not what defines the character) Zack Chasteen also has more than a bit in common with classic TV detective Jim Rockford of "The Rockford Files." He's a likable ex-con, put in prison for a crime he didn't commit, with an entirely reasonable distrust of law-enforcement. He lives by the water, and has an eccentric sidekick who helps him along his adventures, but often not in the way he wants. Like Rockford, he dislikes guns, and seems to get hit in the head a lot.

Again, this is not a bad thing. But while Rockford was a bit of a rumpled low-life, Zack knows how to live well, and manages to do it through most of this book even when it seems he owns nothing but the shirt on his back. I actually found this refreshing, as far too many series detectives spend half their books dodging landlords, bill-collectors and repo-men.

As such, he's probably the most comfortable underdog I've seen in mystery fiction. Even at his lowest moments, he eats and drinks well (and his meals are lovingly described, stock the fridge before you start reading) and lives live in a cafe-free way most of can only dream of. If only living bad were really this good.

Reading the first book of an ongoing series is always an iffy thing, as many a successful detective has stumbled out of the gate, only for the writer to find their voice two of three books in. But in this case, I can comfortably recommend starting at the beginning.

This isn't a perfect book by a long shot. There are continuity and logic glitches that should have been cleaned up in editing. (For example, Zack receives some very-visible facial injuries early in the book which are only rarely mentioned later, even though they should be the first thing anybody he meets asks about. The injuries aren't really important to the plot, and could have been minimized, made less visible, eliminated, or even turned into a running joke as he fended off curious questions. As it is, they're just a distraction.)

The pacing can be uneven, and the plot (concerning gangsters, jet-set lowlifes, kidnapping, murder, and lost objects of great-value) seems overly complicated even as I saw the final twist coming well before the end.

Still, the book succeeds in three important things: It made me care about the characters, kept me flipping pages to find out what would happen next, and reached a satisfying conclusion. For this kind of light-mystery, that's meat, potatoes, and dessert right there.

A good start to this mystery series which hopefully will improve as it progresses. I've already ordered "Jamaica Me Dead," the next novel featuring Zack, for my Kindle, so I'll know soon enough.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bahamarama is a silly romp, with a bit of a mystery attached.. okay, a little bit more of a mystery-- and one in which the author is fair with the reader, offering a few clues here and there for just about every aspect of the mystery. You know what I mean, the kind where the reader feels the need to kick himself for not noticing it.

Of course, even the least astute reader probably guessed the most obvious , that is that the injured wheel-chair bound, overly bandaged and unable to speak girl wasn't who she was supposed to be. The writer uses this dangled worm of of an obvious clue to distract the reader from other facts and details in a deft manner.

The hero, a former football player turned charter boat owner who spent two years in prison for passing counterfeit bills (he was set up) has a caustic sense of humor, a cynical attitude that somehow blends with a such-is-life response to problems to create an interesting character. The fact that he is haunted by the ghost of a dead druglord (sort of) and seems almost unconcerned about what this "ghost" wants does seem implausible at times, but really is an effort to show a devil-may-care attitude that is supposed to be endearing.. (but to me was a little annoying)


The author manages to inject some clever humor and a lot of neat one liner. At one point, the hero rejects the sexual advances of a lovely young woman and thinks to himself that he is probably the only guy who just got out of prison who ever rejected a beautiful woman.

This was a fun read, though it was a bit dry in places. At times I wondered why his friends were so faithful to him. I could find no real reasoning for their friendship... Still, I enjoyed this one.

[Victoria Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I am a bit of a Caribbean/Florida mystery book fan and love to escape to the tropics on the page. Bahamarama is the perfect book to do that with. Bob Morris has captured the feel of the islands in his fictional Harbour Island (I'm sure I've been there...) and believable colorful characters in Zach, his ex-Dolphin main character, Lord Downey and Pederson, the refreshingly intelligent inspector investigating a murder. Morris has obviously spent many days in the islands and his love of their nature and beauty leaps from the page. I enjoyed every bit of Bahamarama and am starting his next one, Bermuda Schwartz, tonight.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to get into this Caribbean mystery novel, to get a feel for the author's style, the characters, and the tropical setting, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I already started the next book in the series, Jamaica Me Dead.

[Camilla Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Had read the second in the series recently (for bookclub). Owned this one, but had never gotten around to reading it as I hadn't found any others in the series (at thrift stores, yard sales, etc.); so it was just sitting on the shelf waiting it's turn! Yes, I have quite a few books that way (like probably around 2000 that I own, of which some have been read and I don't plan on getting rid of, but the majority are still unread). Anyway, I found I do enjoy this series. Will get the next one from our library system. I do prefer reading books in order. And, I just ran across the 4th in the series at a thrift store recently, so got it. I used to skip around with authors, but have kind of changed my habit, so will probably finish this series (assuming I find the last book at the library) within the next couple months. Wish there were more than 5 in this series by this author, as I much prefer mysteries over anything else. Definitely a great read, however I did have a couple things figured out quite a bit before the ending! Read and enjoy!

[Larry Hostetler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagine it's tough to write a good mystery. I figured out part of the solution early on, but then I'm very insightful (unless you're talking to my wife.) So the mystery wasn't much of a mystery in part, but there was a lot more to the story.

The book also had moments of humor (which I always look for, particularly when it's touted on the book jacket) and to my delight a lot of information about the Bahamas. When a book can entertain, educate, and challenge your problem-solving skills it's a good read.

It was also a fairly quick read, and I looked forward to returning to it.

So this rated a strong 4 stars (I'd give it a 4.25 were it an option). Not perfect, but very good.

And I have another mystery by Bob Morris, so we'll see if his style grows on me after I've read that one, too.

[Shruts · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a perfect storm here. I had just returned from the Bahamas, where I had consumed more than one (well, many, truth be told) Bahama Mama rum concoction. Topping it off, in the Freeport harbor, there was a cabin cruiser with the name "Bahamamamarama" painted on the stern.

So when I spied the cover of this novel on the shelf in our local library, it was a foregone conclusion: I was reading it, now. Drop everything.

This is written in the vein of Carl Hiaasen's well known South Florida farces. Not on the same plane, but the same vein. Nonetheless, an amusing romp, with all of the usual suspects. A rugged protagonist, his beautiful and brainy steady, sleazy underworld creepies, with a few dimwitted bikini babes thrown in.

A wonderful beach read.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tropical mystery-thriller that has enough action to keep you interested and plenty of humor to keep you amused. There are a few twists and some action, but the amazing thing was that when I was finished, I couldn't believe I had already read over 300 pages. This book is a cross between Peter Benchley's "The Deep" and any of the Travis McGee series. I'm looking forward to Zack Chasteen's next adventure.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a quick, fun read that would be perfect for a weekend getaway. Pretty witty but not the most thought-provoking book I’ve devoured. Would like to read other books from this author/series if traveling.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good quick mystery action story. Morris wrote technically very well with good descriptions, characters and actions. The Boggy character was especially good. A high 3 star book I would recommend as a saner Carl Hiassen read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

well constructed thriller.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me guessing up to the end.

[Scott Stephens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. I skipped from chapter 13 to the end and didn't miss anything. I think I'll pass on the next ones.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed book. Want to read
The rest of series

[Jack ORourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

tropical fun

setting for the story makes it Seem like actual story in an actual place. On to the number two in the series

[Michael Alan Grapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this mystery/thriller to be an entertaining read with relatable characters and a nice mix of surprises.

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

10/10 Bahamarama This book was interesting to me.

I relate to this story because they got in a shipwreck on the Bahamas and I was on a ship when I went to the Bahamas. But we never got in a shipwreck like them.

I relate to this story because they like football.Although I never played foot ball.

Bahamarana is in the tropics the days are long and the nights are filled with murder. Bahamarama is a mystery book. Zachary Zack Chasten, former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, is being released after spending one year, nine months, and twenty-three days in a Florida prison for a counterfeiting crime he knew nothing about. His one interest is getting to his girlfriend, Barbara Pickering, who was supposed to pick him up. Instead, two vehicles are waiting for him at the prison gate, and he knows none of the tough-looking occupants.

Barbara is on Harbor Island in the Bahamas, overseeing a photography shoot, a project called Bahamarama, and thinks she has arranged for Zack to meet her there. Things definitely do not go as either of them planned. Before the end of his first day out, Zack is in a fight with two men at the prison gate, has his passport and papers stolen by the man in the other vehicle, and is later attacked by three men, gets hit in the face with a shovel, knocked unconscious, and tied up with duct tape. Zack manages to escape by strangling one of the men and swimming away from the others. The action continues at a fast pace, with murder, blackmail, and kidnapping interfering with his rendezvous with Barbara. And of course, there is also a hurricane that hits Harbor Island.

Zack is a like able character, with a colorful supporting cast: his enigmatic Taino Indian friend Boggy, Police Inspector Lynfield Peterson, and Barbara Pickering herself.

[Kellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was all right. It didn’t really grab me like some books do. There was humor, suspense and interesting information on the Bahamas. The plot was interesting, although somewhat unbelievable. This was a mystery club choice. Amy picks some really good ones. This one was too shallow. I think it’s going to be difficult to talk much about. As Morris's hard-boiled, edgy debut novel opens, former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zachary Chasteen is being released after serving almost two years in a Florida penitentiary on trumped-up charges. Zack longs to be reunited with Barbara Pickering, his velvet-voiced lover, who is busy in the Bahamas shooting a spread for the magazine she owns. He gets ditched mid-journey by the limo driver she's sent ahead to fetch him and is suddenly on his own, penniless and without ID. Zack hitches a ride to his childhood home, but once there, he's ambushed by the violent lackeys of Victor Ortiz, the man who framed him years before. Zack manages a narrow escape, but is faced with even more trouble. Barbara's ex-fiancé, Brice, is found murdered, and she's been kidnapped with a hefty ransom on her head. Police inspector (and former football player) Lynfield Pederson and Zack put their heads together as Hurricane Curt barrels toward them. After the limo driver who originally deserted Zack is identified as a well-known deadly criminal and the probable source of all things bad, Zack gets a lucky break and speeds off to a bat-filled sea cave to confront his nemesis at the novel's bullet-ridden climax.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Move over, Travis McGee, Florida has a new knight in slightly tarnished armor and his name is Zack Chasteen. Zach is being released from a country club Federal prison. He expects to be met by his lady love, Barbara Pickering, but instead two thugs in an Escalade show up, followed by a guy in a stretch limo. Zach knows the thugs have been sent by Victor Ortiz, the man for whom he took the Federal fall, but he cannot figure out why Victor is still after him; Zach did the time without giving Ortiz up, what more does he want? Zach, as a former Miami Dolphins strong safety knows a trick or two about flattening opponents, so he takes out the thugs and jumps in the limo he believes has been sent by Barbara. Fast forward a few miles and the limo driver abandons Zach along the road, taking all of Zach's identification with him. So, Zach has to sneak into the Bahamas where he soon discovers Barbara has been kidnapped, along with Lord Downey, a friend of Barbara's. At first, Zach belives Ortiz is behind the kidnapping, but it soon becomes clear it is a separate incident. Readers had better fasten their seatbelts for the wild ride that follows. Tons of action, great descriptions of the Bahamas, social commentary on the rich and famous, it's all here and lots of fun to read. I cannot wait to read the next in the seris. Highly recommended!

[Suzanne Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want a comfort read? Bahamarama is a summery romp between Florida and the Bahamas. Zack Chasteen, an ex-NFL player who was framed by smugglers and has just finished doing time as the book begins, is nevertheless a likeable sleuth with a delightful sense of humor. The supporting cast, especially Boggy, Pederson, and Nixon, are the kinds of people you run into in the Bahamas and Florida and nowhere else. Chasteen, just trying to get reunited with his sweetie, Barbara, after those two lonely years in the pen, encounters murderers, kidnappers, tourists, too much rum, palm trees, and a hurricane. When it's all sorted out, Zack turns the tables on the villains, and it's the bad guys' turn go to jail.

Okay, there are cliches and plot holes along the way. Okay, I figured out whodunit before the halfway point. But Bob Morris's voice is compelling and could only have come from a guy who has spent many years in Florida and loves the place very much. You will smell the coconut and conch, folks. I'm a native of South Florida. Bahamarama made me homesick for the steamy, thunderstormy east coast of Florida in August.

[Leonardo Etcheto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the conversational style of the writing, the Chasteen character that comes through is very appealing: a bit lost, a bit lucky, knows what he wants and likes but takes it all in with a grain of salt, plus he loves boats. The mystic Taino is a new one as a sidekick, though maybe a bit lone ranger. Ditto for the upper crust British nobility gone native. The book is a series of clichés (seems a common theme for Mr. Morris) but he weaves it all together so well that it doesn't matter. New and improved is overrated most of the time anyway.
What I really loved is the patter, lots of wit and back and forth. It is really refreshing to read a modern author of crime fiction that actually has a good grasp of the English language and uses it.
The setting of the Bahamas is one I am not familiar with at all, but it sure sounds lovely. Except for the hurricane bit, that sounds like no fun at all.
About the only thing I didn't like is that people end up dead. Wild west saloon shootouts make for fun reading but for a guy that says he doesn't like guns there was a bit too much killing. Great read for a cool fall day.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, was I excited to find another member of the Carl Hiaasen/Tim Dorsey/Dave Barry cohort, who make Florida corruption, murder, and mayhem hilarious and keep me from reading anything with too much substance. I actually really liked the book's protagonist, a falsely imprisoned former football star named Zach Chasteen, who loves rum, conch sandwiches, his boat, and his woman. The story progression was slow and laid back, which I enjoyed initially, until Morris appeared to realize that he had to finish the book and basically solved the mystery for us in a few shot chapters. I will give him another shot, and I hope the book is better paced.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 in the Zack Chasteen series. The Florida based knight errant / soldier-of-fortune is always ready to help a friend and is not averse to picking up any ill gotten wealth that happens to result, although he is averse to sharing with the IRS. This fun series lasted for 5 entries from its 2004 debut through 2010.

Zack Chasteen, ex-Miami Dolphin safety, is released from prison after being wrongfully convicted of counterfeiting. He is attacked by men working for Ortiz, the gangster who was the counterfeiter, who claims Zach has something of his. Zach goes to Harbour Island to meet his girlfriend but she is kidnapped. Is it Ortiz or does Zack have two big problems?

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carl Hiaasen Lite. Less funny, less scathing, less satirical, less memorable characters... As a huge Florida crime fiction genre fan, I picked it up based mostly upon the blurbs written by Hiaasen, Randy Wayne White and Dave Barry. Admittedly I was pulled along by the story, but it was frustrating to be so far ahead of the protagonists. After pages and pages of heavy handed clues that a twelve year old couldn't miss, our intrepid hero instead realizes that someone is not who she claims to be because she's supposed to be British and didn't cross her Z's and sevens when she wrote!? Please.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zack Chasteen is a charming rascal. The former football pro and charter boat captain, is just released from prison, serving a few years sentence. The story is a hilarious combination of a colorful character as Carl Hiaasen might have invented and the action of Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford novels. All this mixed with the colorful tropic setting of a Bahamian Island and a classic "British" mistery about murder and abduction.

The Book is very nice to read but not exactly amazing, but I will give the next one in the series a chance.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this novel. At first, I was not to sure I was going to like it. It began with the protagonist leaving prison for a "crime he did not do". Hence, sounded cliche. Then some toughs meet him at the entrance and he and they butt heads. Again more cliche. But he intrigued me, and there were enough interesting characters, and scenarios to keep going. Things got better and better as the chapters progressed. I will be reading more of the series. Country Challenge: UK, Bahamas.

[Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was on the "Books about the Bahamas" list that I selected a couple books from. I liked it more than I thought I would- it also helped that I just watched a documentary on the Caribbean which gave some good visuals in my mind. Plot was too predictable but Chasteen was more likeable than you'd expect for a ex-football player who kills a man on his first day out of prison. How did the Bahamas fare? pretty good...boats, caves, beach houses, most friendly locals....

[E.R. Yatscoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would've given 3 stars but a few things irked me. The hurricane was not followed up. It was only convenient when it was convenient. The author should have battened down the hatches on the bat and explained how the fire and smoke was kept going in a rainstorm. Also, Chasteen's injured face was only noticed for a day or two. All the women on the island surely would've commented. But, a decent read. I liked the gold scuba tank smuggling.