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Serge Storms #19
Coconut Cowboy
Channeling his inner Easy Rider, Serge Storms saddles up for his most epic, lethal, and hilarious road trip ever as he revvs off to find the lost American Dream . . . starting in the Florida Panhandle.
Obsessed with the iconic Sixties classic Easy Rider, encyclopedic Floridaphile, lovable serial killer, and movie buff extraordinaire Serge A. Storms devises his wildest plan finish the journey begun by his freewheeling heroes, Captain America and Billy, tragically cut short by some shotgun-wielding rednecks.
Setting a course for the Florida panhandle, Captain Serge—with Coleman literally riding shotgun—mounts his classic motorcycle and hits the highway in search of the real the apple-pie-eating, freedom-swilling moms and pops of Main Street USA.
But the America he finds in the rural burgs dotting the neck of the peninsula is a little bit different . . . and a whole lot weirder than anything Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper encountered. In a state where criminal politicians are more common than gators, Serge and Coleman discover one particular speed-trap locale so aggressively inept at corruption that investigators are baffled where to start.
Expect nothing less than madness, mayhem, ingenious homicides, and mind-altering pharmaceuticals when Serge and Coleman’s path intersects with the Sunshine State’s hyper-dysfunctional rusticity.
Where’s Jack Nicholson when you need him?
Obsessed with the iconic Sixties classic Easy Rider, encyclopedic Floridaphile, lovable serial killer, and movie buff extraordinaire Serge A. Storms devises his wildest plan finish the journey begun by his freewheeling heroes, Captain America and Billy, tragically cut short by some shotgun-wielding rednecks.
Setting a course for the Florida panhandle, Captain Serge—with Coleman literally riding shotgun—mounts his classic motorcycle and hits the highway in search of the real the apple-pie-eating, freedom-swilling moms and pops of Main Street USA.
But the America he finds in the rural burgs dotting the neck of the peninsula is a little bit different . . . and a whole lot weirder than anything Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper encountered. In a state where criminal politicians are more common than gators, Serge and Coleman discover one particular speed-trap locale so aggressively inept at corruption that investigators are baffled where to start.
Expect nothing less than madness, mayhem, ingenious homicides, and mind-altering pharmaceuticals when Serge and Coleman’s path intersects with the Sunshine State’s hyper-dysfunctional rusticity.
Where’s Jack Nicholson when you need him?
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2016
457 people are currently reading
1566 people want to read
About the author
Tim Dorsey
36 books1,651 followersTim Dorsey was born in Indiana, moved to Florida at the age of 1, and grew up in a small town about an hour north of Miami called Riviera Beach. He graduated from Auburn University in 1983. While at Auburn, he was editor of the student newspaper, The Plainsman.
From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.
From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
January 21, 2018
Somewhere between two or three stars. The 19th book in the series which started in 1999. I usually laugh when I read them.
If you're unfamiliar with the series it's a mix of fact, Florida history, a opinionated psycho-killer, and his stoned side-kick. The last couple haven't been that great, but maybe the next two will be better.
I liked that bit about free concerts by Tom Petty's and the Mudcrutch Farm. “Today, so many people claim they were at those concerts that they would have been bigger than Woodstock.”
If you're unfamiliar with the series it's a mix of fact, Florida history, a opinionated psycho-killer, and his stoned side-kick. The last couple haven't been that great, but maybe the next two will be better.
I liked that bit about free concerts by Tom Petty's and the Mudcrutch Farm. “Today, so many people claim they were at those concerts that they would have been bigger than Woodstock.”
November 24, 2019
If you don’t know Serge A. Storms, this is all you need to know:
He is a walking encyclopedia about anything Florida, he has a genius IQ and he is always on the move. If he wasn’t such a great guy, he could have been an evil genius, instead of only killing those who offends him or his sensibilities. In fact, he is almost like the MacGyver of murder, using what is available in insanely inventive and effective ways to eliminate those who deserve it.
And in this book Serge has a new mission in life:
He wants to find out where the American Dream went!
So, channeling the inspiration of the classic movie EASY RIDER, he sets off with his trusted friend and sidekick – Coleman. Sure, he will have trouble with the defective kick-stands, but when Serge is involved, a plan can always be made.
On the other side of the coin, we have the story of the small town called Wobbly, and the corrupt leaders who runs everything (phew, so glad this is fiction, because it would be really scary to think that people will elect liars, fraudsters and psychopaths to positions of power, right?).
Not to mention the money laundering of the drug dealers...ahem, maybe I should leave it at that before I give something away.
Anyway, not only is every Serge Storms book entertaining as hell, but there are all those random trivia – and you will be surprised just how much of it is true. Google it, my friend!
Like:
Did you know that in the nineteenth century, for a short period, there was a separate country within the United States? Google Fulwar Skipwith.
Or what about the Conch Republic?
Do you know who the patron saint of fainting conditions and rodent control is?
Or where the home of Peavy guitar amplifiers is?
Or what a lithotriptor is?
Or the legislature to pass a law against using food stamps in strip clubs?
Have you heard of Mudcrutch? Or the philosopher Philitas of Cos and his death? Or Lucifer the hippo?
The difference between Psychrophilia and Forniphilia…
I can go on and on about this.
And, if you want OCD explained in a way anybody can understand, go to page 177 (Kindle).
This book was hilarious, like every single one in this series. It even had a little Donald E. Westlake’s Dortmunder feel to it. Loved every second of it, didn’t want it to end!
He is a walking encyclopedia about anything Florida, he has a genius IQ and he is always on the move. If he wasn’t such a great guy, he could have been an evil genius, instead of only killing those who offends him or his sensibilities. In fact, he is almost like the MacGyver of murder, using what is available in insanely inventive and effective ways to eliminate those who deserve it.
And in this book Serge has a new mission in life:
He wants to find out where the American Dream went!
So, channeling the inspiration of the classic movie EASY RIDER, he sets off with his trusted friend and sidekick – Coleman. Sure, he will have trouble with the defective kick-stands, but when Serge is involved, a plan can always be made.
On the other side of the coin, we have the story of the small town called Wobbly, and the corrupt leaders who runs everything (phew, so glad this is fiction, because it would be really scary to think that people will elect liars, fraudsters and psychopaths to positions of power, right?).
Not to mention the money laundering of the drug dealers...ahem, maybe I should leave it at that before I give something away.
Anyway, not only is every Serge Storms book entertaining as hell, but there are all those random trivia – and you will be surprised just how much of it is true. Google it, my friend!
Like:
Did you know that in the nineteenth century, for a short period, there was a separate country within the United States? Google Fulwar Skipwith.
Or what about the Conch Republic?
Do you know who the patron saint of fainting conditions and rodent control is?
Or where the home of Peavy guitar amplifiers is?
Or what a lithotriptor is?
Or the legislature to pass a law against using food stamps in strip clubs?
Have you heard of Mudcrutch? Or the philosopher Philitas of Cos and his death? Or Lucifer the hippo?
The difference between Psychrophilia and Forniphilia…
I can go on and on about this.
And, if you want OCD explained in a way anybody can understand, go to page 177 (Kindle).
This book was hilarious, like every single one in this series. It even had a little Donald E. Westlake’s Dortmunder feel to it. Loved every second of it, didn’t want it to end!
April 13, 2021
Get your motor running!
Serge Storms is taking to the road Easy Rider-style, and exploring the back roads, and small towns of Florida. As the Sunshine State's unofficial righter-of-wrongs, it doesn't take him long to find corrupt cops, rude customers, and obnoxious bullies who need to be taken down a peg or two . . . or even out of the picture entirely.
For a while there this book was only at the three-star level, as Serge seems somewhat subdued in this volume. Part of that stems from the fact that a college student has chosen Serge as his thesis, and our man is taking the high road in an attempt to set a good example for the youth. Thankfully that doesn't last long, and the Serge we all know and love comes roaring back with a vengeance.
Serge shook his head vigorously. "I possess a rare physical constitution that demands I ignore advice."
Truer words were never spoken, and soon the reports of suspicious, albeit, well-deserved deaths are piling up.
"The preliminary coroner's report identifies the cause of death as asphyxiation from a severe lung coating of dust that was an equal mixture of Doritos cool ranch, mesquite barbecue, and sour cream and onion . . . "
Now that I visit the post office regularly as part of my job (I mail books to other libraries), I had to laugh out loud at this bit where Serge and Coleman set up a sting at a P.O. box:
At the next window, someone placed a large ceramic unicorn on the counter. No box, nothing. "Can you help me mail this?"
Serge aimed a thumb sideways. "How often does that happen?"
"More than you'd ever imagine."
It's funny becauseit's true it happens so often. (And, I'm always in line behind those people.)
Anyway . . . I'm a total Serge-head. As long as Dorsey keeps writing these, I'll keep reading them.
"Don't worry," said Serge. "I'm not like anyone you've ever met before."
One thing's for sure - Serge is definitely born to be wild.
Serge Storms is taking to the road Easy Rider-style, and exploring the back roads, and small towns of Florida. As the Sunshine State's unofficial righter-of-wrongs, it doesn't take him long to find corrupt cops, rude customers, and obnoxious bullies who need to be taken down a peg or two . . . or even out of the picture entirely.
For a while there this book was only at the three-star level, as Serge seems somewhat subdued in this volume. Part of that stems from the fact that a college student has chosen Serge as his thesis, and our man is taking the high road in an attempt to set a good example for the youth. Thankfully that doesn't last long, and the Serge we all know and love comes roaring back with a vengeance.
Serge shook his head vigorously. "I possess a rare physical constitution that demands I ignore advice."
Truer words were never spoken, and soon the reports of suspicious, albeit, well-deserved deaths are piling up.
"The preliminary coroner's report identifies the cause of death as asphyxiation from a severe lung coating of dust that was an equal mixture of Doritos cool ranch, mesquite barbecue, and sour cream and onion . . . "
Now that I visit the post office regularly as part of my job (I mail books to other libraries), I had to laugh out loud at this bit where Serge and Coleman set up a sting at a P.O. box:
At the next window, someone placed a large ceramic unicorn on the counter. No box, nothing. "Can you help me mail this?"
Serge aimed a thumb sideways. "How often does that happen?"
"More than you'd ever imagine."
It's funny because
Anyway . . . I'm a total Serge-head. As long as Dorsey keeps writing these, I'll keep reading them.
"Don't worry," said Serge. "I'm not like anyone you've ever met before."
One thing's for sure - Serge is definitely born to be wild.
September 10, 2020
“Here’s an all-points bulletin…everyone’s a pervert. It’s just a question of how in fashion your uncontrollable quirks are.”
“Coconut Cowboy” is one of the better attempts recently in Tim Dorsey’s Serge A. Storms series. I was more engaged with this one, and found the blend of comedy, story, and writing to be much more even than in some recent efforts. This installment finds our favorite history buff serial killer trying to take a tour of back country Florida in the spirit of “Easy Rider”.
Author Tim Dorsey creates some really awesome moments in this text, including the invention of the small speed trap town- Wobbley, Florida. Its denizens and small time crook leaders and their intention to “keep it that way” are one of my favorite aspects of the book. I also especially enjoyed a parody of a legislative hearing in chapter 29. It is pure bliss, and spot on!
One of the things I like about these books are that sometimes in the midst of the zaniness a character will say something that is utterly profound. In this text, Serge says at one point, “You can only judge through the context of the times.” If the idiots running around today who think we have reached the epitome of human civilization and empathy would recognize the truth in that statement there would be a lot less fools running around acting like everything in the past is contemptible and human folly. Oh well, as this series has also said, the stupid and rude are “part of the human condition too.”
At one point in “Coconut Cowboy” Serge says, “But after freaking people out, I grow on them.” That just might be the perfect way to sum up this series.
This effort was a good addition to the series. Stronger than a few of its predecessors.
“Coconut Cowboy” is one of the better attempts recently in Tim Dorsey’s Serge A. Storms series. I was more engaged with this one, and found the blend of comedy, story, and writing to be much more even than in some recent efforts. This installment finds our favorite history buff serial killer trying to take a tour of back country Florida in the spirit of “Easy Rider”.
Author Tim Dorsey creates some really awesome moments in this text, including the invention of the small speed trap town- Wobbley, Florida. Its denizens and small time crook leaders and their intention to “keep it that way” are one of my favorite aspects of the book. I also especially enjoyed a parody of a legislative hearing in chapter 29. It is pure bliss, and spot on!
One of the things I like about these books are that sometimes in the midst of the zaniness a character will say something that is utterly profound. In this text, Serge says at one point, “You can only judge through the context of the times.” If the idiots running around today who think we have reached the epitome of human civilization and empathy would recognize the truth in that statement there would be a lot less fools running around acting like everything in the past is contemptible and human folly. Oh well, as this series has also said, the stupid and rude are “part of the human condition too.”
At one point in “Coconut Cowboy” Serge says, “But after freaking people out, I grow on them.” That just might be the perfect way to sum up this series.
This effort was a good addition to the series. Stronger than a few of its predecessors.
December 3, 2023
I am amazed and impressed that Tim Dorsey has written 19 books about his Florida-obsessed serial killer Serge Storms. I am even more amazed and impressed at how good this one is. My favorite remains "Orange Crush," because it's the best satire of Florida politics ever printed. But this one comes in second.
The set-up for "Coconut Cowboy" involves two plots that eventually intersect. The first sees Serge and his perpetually stoned sidekick Coleman buying a chopper and trying to complete the journey to Florida that was the objective of the bikers in "Easy Rider" before their unfortunate demise. This entails visiting such sites as the tree that Tom Petty allegedly planted on the UF campus (which Serge literally hugs). The second involves a naive New York couple who move into a small town in Florida that turns out to be an even bigger speed trap than Waldo or Hawthorne, the state's two most notorious places for nailing motorists on a technicality. Soon it becomes clear that the town, beneath is placid surface, is a hotbed of corruption and graft, and only the fortuitous arrival of Serge can rescue the couple from a rather deadly situation.
Along the way, of course, Serge deals out his particular brand of whacked-out justice to several miscreants who clearly deserve some sort of comeuppance. My favorite is what he does to the proprietor of a website that features scantily clad women crushing small animals. The punishment Serge dreams up involves the (very real) star animal of Homosassa Springs Preserve State Park.
What elevates this book above the others is the arrival of a character named Matt, a student who has decided to do his thesis on how Florida is a harbinger of the future of America. His discussion of this thesis is both hilarious and completely accurate, and what happens to his thesis at the end is also hilarious and quite believable.
The set-up for "Coconut Cowboy" involves two plots that eventually intersect. The first sees Serge and his perpetually stoned sidekick Coleman buying a chopper and trying to complete the journey to Florida that was the objective of the bikers in "Easy Rider" before their unfortunate demise. This entails visiting such sites as the tree that Tom Petty allegedly planted on the UF campus (which Serge literally hugs). The second involves a naive New York couple who move into a small town in Florida that turns out to be an even bigger speed trap than Waldo or Hawthorne, the state's two most notorious places for nailing motorists on a technicality. Soon it becomes clear that the town, beneath is placid surface, is a hotbed of corruption and graft, and only the fortuitous arrival of Serge can rescue the couple from a rather deadly situation.
Along the way, of course, Serge deals out his particular brand of whacked-out justice to several miscreants who clearly deserve some sort of comeuppance. My favorite is what he does to the proprietor of a website that features scantily clad women crushing small animals. The punishment Serge dreams up involves the (very real) star animal of Homosassa Springs Preserve State Park.
What elevates this book above the others is the arrival of a character named Matt, a student who has decided to do his thesis on how Florida is a harbinger of the future of America. His discussion of this thesis is both hilarious and completely accurate, and what happens to his thesis at the end is also hilarious and quite believable.
January 15, 2016
"Florida.....the nation's pace car of dysfunction."
And driving that car is the inimitable Serge Storms with fellow space cadet Coleman as co-pilot. In their 19th outing (Jeeze Louise, how old am I?), the disturbed duo crisscross the state's backroads in an homage to "Easy Rider". Well, sort of.
Peter Fonda & Dennis Hopper didn't have to deal with crooked politicians, FOX-ish news reporters, lovesick hippos & sinkholes. Lucky for us, all of these & many more are included on this road trip with hilarious & sometimes grisly results.
As we ride shotgun on their trail of carnage, we're treated to Serge's musings on the state of humanity in general. The reader is at risk for mental whiplash as topics careen from the bizarre to possibly true. Example: did you now the Acme Co. of Roadrunner fame was the prototype for Amazon's delivery model? Wonder if they sell anvils. And Serge's address to the crowd at an outdoor concert alone makes this worth your time.
The writing is fast paced & fluid with several story lines unfolding. Each has its' share of quirky characters to keep you entertained as you wait for the inevitable collision of loons in the small town of Wobbly. But at the heart of all the mayhem is Serge. Yes, he's a serial killer but you have to admire his creativity. I mean, why limit yourself to boring old bullets or knives when you can opt for armadillos or Dorito dust?
There's a laugh out loud moment on almost every page so be prepared to be interrupted by those around you asking "What are you reading?"
The author is a master of injecting his stories with a combination of real events & biting cultural references. We can only hope Mr. Dorsey leaves his brain to science to confirm he has twice as many synapses as the rest of us mere mortals. My only complaint is it doesn't come with a soundtrack of the tunes Serge curated for his trip. That would be killer.
And driving that car is the inimitable Serge Storms with fellow space cadet Coleman as co-pilot. In their 19th outing (Jeeze Louise, how old am I?), the disturbed duo crisscross the state's backroads in an homage to "Easy Rider". Well, sort of.
Peter Fonda & Dennis Hopper didn't have to deal with crooked politicians, FOX-ish news reporters, lovesick hippos & sinkholes. Lucky for us, all of these & many more are included on this road trip with hilarious & sometimes grisly results.
As we ride shotgun on their trail of carnage, we're treated to Serge's musings on the state of humanity in general. The reader is at risk for mental whiplash as topics careen from the bizarre to possibly true. Example: did you now the Acme Co. of Roadrunner fame was the prototype for Amazon's delivery model? Wonder if they sell anvils. And Serge's address to the crowd at an outdoor concert alone makes this worth your time.
The writing is fast paced & fluid with several story lines unfolding. Each has its' share of quirky characters to keep you entertained as you wait for the inevitable collision of loons in the small town of Wobbly. But at the heart of all the mayhem is Serge. Yes, he's a serial killer but you have to admire his creativity. I mean, why limit yourself to boring old bullets or knives when you can opt for armadillos or Dorito dust?
There's a laugh out loud moment on almost every page so be prepared to be interrupted by those around you asking "What are you reading?"
The author is a master of injecting his stories with a combination of real events & biting cultural references. We can only hope Mr. Dorsey leaves his brain to science to confirm he has twice as many synapses as the rest of us mere mortals. My only complaint is it doesn't come with a soundtrack of the tunes Serge curated for his trip. That would be killer.
November 5, 2020
"You've heard the saying"Too bad stupidity isn't painful'?" said just before Serge dispatched another nasty excuse for a human.I learned a lot about Florida from this book.I just hope it's all true.What is it about Florida that newspaper journalists write such funny novels.3.5 stars.
November 28, 2019
What the hell was I thinking? I never like to start a book inside a series, and somehow I managed to grab the latest of a nineteen-volume series. Damn you Tim Dorsey, now I have to backtrack and start at the beginning, made even harder since the local library doesn't have the first few and I'm not wild about electronic. I must say that I was predisposed to enjoying this book, having been raised mostly in Florida and been a fan of the Dexter series. Serge is a Florida trivia buff and an avenging crusader, of sorts, though some may be turned off on the vigilante aspect. I especially love all the cultural references from my generation. So many times I thought, "Oh yeah. I remember that." I laughed out loud, then called my siblings and some of my friends to clue them in as well. I think I may be hooked like a ten-pounder from a sinkhole lake, and I'm happy to be landed. I hope the earlier stories are as enjoyable.
February 8, 2016
My first book by Tim Dorsey and didn't quite expect this. Currently on page 134/Chap. 16 and I have thought about giving up twice. Parts about Wobbly interests me more than Serge's. :/
I'm so glad I kept on reading. It got pretty good and was funny.
I'm so glad I kept on reading. It got pretty good and was funny.
August 4, 2024
Several years ago, I read the first two books in the Serge Storms series by Tim Dorsey. At the time, I compared the books to Carl Hiaasen on steroids with wacky characters engaging in random acts of mindless and reckless behavior including murder and mayhem across the State of Florida. The protagonist of the series is Serge Storms—a serial killer who suffers from mental disorders, but loves Florida history and trivia. He is accompanied by his drug-addled sidekick, Coleman.
I happened to find COCONUT COWBOY, the 19th novel in the series, in a local thrift shop and couldn't resist picking it up to see how Serge is doing after 18 previous adventures. Well Serge has mellowed a little from the first books but not much. In this one he decides to hit the road on a chopper to reenact his favorite movie, Easy Rider. So off he goes with Coleman in a sidecar to rediscover the American Dream. This also included following the trail of a young Tom Petty who grew up in Florida. And of course along the way he encounters some baddies who he takes care of in his usual ways. These include a road rager who follows a young mother and child to their home and calls her a bitch because she pulled out in front of him; the owner of a fetish website that shows women stomping on various animals for kicks; and a rude Ferrari owner who thinks he owns a fast food place by stealing from the tip jar. The novel also focused on a very corrupt small town called Wobbly where the mayor and his crew fleece anyone going through in a speed trap, allow housing projects on unstable ground, pump water to sell to neighboring towns resulting in sink holes, and make deals with the mob to launder drug money through the local bank (which doesn't really happen). The mayor's crew were for the most part very inept and included a pair of brothers nicknamed Slow and Slower. Well Serge doesn't make it to Wobbly until late in the novel but when he does, just desserts are served.
This novel was as usual way over the top. Maybe a little too much. There were some definite laugh out loud moments in the novel as well as the usual violence. And Serge's bottomless pit of trivial knowledge was often entertaining and educational. I have a couple more in this series on my TBR shelves but not sure when I'll get to them. Overall, a mild recommendation for this one.
I happened to find COCONUT COWBOY, the 19th novel in the series, in a local thrift shop and couldn't resist picking it up to see how Serge is doing after 18 previous adventures. Well Serge has mellowed a little from the first books but not much. In this one he decides to hit the road on a chopper to reenact his favorite movie, Easy Rider. So off he goes with Coleman in a sidecar to rediscover the American Dream. This also included following the trail of a young Tom Petty who grew up in Florida. And of course along the way he encounters some baddies who he takes care of in his usual ways. These include a road rager who follows a young mother and child to their home and calls her a bitch because she pulled out in front of him; the owner of a fetish website that shows women stomping on various animals for kicks; and a rude Ferrari owner who thinks he owns a fast food place by stealing from the tip jar. The novel also focused on a very corrupt small town called Wobbly where the mayor and his crew fleece anyone going through in a speed trap, allow housing projects on unstable ground, pump water to sell to neighboring towns resulting in sink holes, and make deals with the mob to launder drug money through the local bank (which doesn't really happen). The mayor's crew were for the most part very inept and included a pair of brothers nicknamed Slow and Slower. Well Serge doesn't make it to Wobbly until late in the novel but when he does, just desserts are served.
This novel was as usual way over the top. Maybe a little too much. There were some definite laugh out loud moments in the novel as well as the usual violence. And Serge's bottomless pit of trivial knowledge was often entertaining and educational. I have a couple more in this series on my TBR shelves but not sure when I'll get to them. Overall, a mild recommendation for this one.
April 10, 2017
“Coconut Cowboy” by Tim Dorsey, published by William Morrow.
Category – Mystery/Thriller/Comedy Publication Date - January 26, 2016.
Here we go again. This is the 20th installment of the continuing saga of Serge A. Storm and Coleman. Those of you who have read these books know that Serge is a serial killer, who kills only those who need to be killed, and that Coleman is his sidekick who is addled on either booze or drugs.
Serge decides that he wants to tour Florida as was done in his favorite movie, “Easy Rider”. Serge trades in his 72 Mercury Comet for a motorcycle with sidecar. Serge is out to find the American Dream which he considers lost. He believes he can find it in small rural towns in Florida.
Serge and Coleman begin to explore small town Florida and encounter anything from drug czars, bodies, and all around wackos. They find one town, in particular, where politics and sleaze are the order of the day. They find corruption, lies, and stupidity everywhere they turn.
Just another stroll through Florida with the kings of comedy, murder, and addiction.
January 27, 2016
There is nothing normal about Tim Dorsey, and that's what makes his novels so much fun! "Coconut Cowboy" lives up to the high bar of quirkiness expected when Dorsey puts pend to paper.
This time Serge Storms, a man with his own view of history, society and justice, wants to travel the road of "Easy Rider." He's searching for a taste of the fading American Dream, an ideal he hopes to find alive and well in small Florida panhandle towns.
"But the America he finds in the rural burgs dotting the neck of the peninsula is a little bit different . . . and a whole lot weirder than anything Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper encountered," according to accurately state PR info.
With Serge on the prowl, what follows - and sometimes leads - is hilarity, mayhem, murder and nuggets of wackiness. Drugs? Yes. Corruption? Oh, yeah. Great read? Of course!
This time Serge Storms, a man with his own view of history, society and justice, wants to travel the road of "Easy Rider." He's searching for a taste of the fading American Dream, an ideal he hopes to find alive and well in small Florida panhandle towns.
"But the America he finds in the rural burgs dotting the neck of the peninsula is a little bit different . . . and a whole lot weirder than anything Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper encountered," according to accurately state PR info.
With Serge on the prowl, what follows - and sometimes leads - is hilarity, mayhem, murder and nuggets of wackiness. Drugs? Yes. Corruption? Oh, yeah. Great read? Of course!
abandoned
March 7, 2016Writing style as if someone consumed a four pack of Red Bull + a movie theater box of Skittles + a pound of chocolate covered espresso beans
November 14, 2017
A good stand-alone story, reminiscent of the first few Serge Storms novels. Two separate tales that careen together in the end.
October 30, 2019
The hilarity never ends. Great book.
February 2, 2016
Dorsey's newest continues the manic escapades of The Sunshine State's most prolific, lovable, and demented serial killer, Serge A. Storms. Aided, somewhat, by his perpetually sauced and stoned sidekick Coleman, Serge again acts as a Fury of Florida, protecting the weak, exploited and preyed-upon, and dispensing wildly creative and ironic forms of justice to a seemingly unceasing number of Floridian miscreants. An obnoxious, noise-polluting road rager gets his comeuppance in the opening pages, for example.
In "Coconut Cowboy", Serge's latest idee fixe involves his quest to rediscover the American Dream by using that seminal 'turn on, tune in, drop out' 1969 road film "Easy Rider" as inspiration.
A walking encyclopedia of Floridian lore, culture, and history, Serge is also the type of individual given to conversational tangents, such as explaining sleepless nights pondering questions like 'What happened to Richie Cunningham's older brother Chuck on the television series Happy Days?'. A semi-recurring character on the first season, Chuck vanishes inexplicably by the start of the second season. Serge, accordingly, postulates a late night, bloody argument in the Cunningham living room, followed by an early morning interment in the Cunningham backyard, as the solution.
As in previous novels, Dorsey rarely finds himself confined by notions of story and structure. His novels are the literary equivalent of sketch comedy, with episodic and humorous interludes punctuating a barely-there narrative. Thus, while Serge and Coleman are motorcycling their "bitchin' chopper" through the back roads of the state in one strand of plot line, in the other, married couple Peter and Mary Pugliese move to the "nice little town" of Wobbly. The name of the town denotes its ethical, legal and governmental footing. Soon Peter is unwittingly participating in the numerous and nefarious enterprises conducted by the 'finer' citizens of the town. It takes Serge, at the last minute, to extricate Peter from these entanglements.
Reliable, but unsurprising, buffoonery from Dorsey.
In "Coconut Cowboy", Serge's latest idee fixe involves his quest to rediscover the American Dream by using that seminal 'turn on, tune in, drop out' 1969 road film "Easy Rider" as inspiration.
A walking encyclopedia of Floridian lore, culture, and history, Serge is also the type of individual given to conversational tangents, such as explaining sleepless nights pondering questions like 'What happened to Richie Cunningham's older brother Chuck on the television series Happy Days?'. A semi-recurring character on the first season, Chuck vanishes inexplicably by the start of the second season. Serge, accordingly, postulates a late night, bloody argument in the Cunningham living room, followed by an early morning interment in the Cunningham backyard, as the solution.
As in previous novels, Dorsey rarely finds himself confined by notions of story and structure. His novels are the literary equivalent of sketch comedy, with episodic and humorous interludes punctuating a barely-there narrative. Thus, while Serge and Coleman are motorcycling their "bitchin' chopper" through the back roads of the state in one strand of plot line, in the other, married couple Peter and Mary Pugliese move to the "nice little town" of Wobbly. The name of the town denotes its ethical, legal and governmental footing. Soon Peter is unwittingly participating in the numerous and nefarious enterprises conducted by the 'finer' citizens of the town. It takes Serge, at the last minute, to extricate Peter from these entanglements.
Reliable, but unsurprising, buffoonery from Dorsey.
February 14, 2016
Serge Storms is an acquired taste but one that has been one of mine for many years now. It has become an annual January tradition for me to meet up with Tim Dorsey at a bookstore signing and pick up his latest autographed release. Tim is not only a nice guy but probably one if the hardest working folks in publishing as shown by his travel schedule. (check it out on his website) While Serge is a serial killer, he only kills those who would harm Florida or Floridians, usually in creative fashion that somehow reflects what the affected party is guilty of committing. (Yea, now and then he takes down some ass who really hasn't harmed anyone but whose personality is such that most of us would duplicate the crime if we could get away with it.) These doings usually occur while Serge is drifting around the state, dispensing historical lore and other trivia about the sunshine state while accompanied by his drug/booze addled companion Coleman and a cast of others. Usually he is making his way in a hopped up Camaro but this trip takes place on a Harley chopper with a sidecar in deference to the 1969 movie "Easy Rider" as Serge and Coleman explore small town Florida to see if they can find if the nostalgia fueled America everyone knew and loved still exists. Like the other 18 or so in the series, a bit of mayhem, a bit of fun, some interesting characters and some dastardly deeds. Check it out.
April 11, 2018
As a devout fan of the movie ‘Easy Rider’, who met Dennis Hopper in person, and also lived in Florida for almost twenty years I was interested in reading/hearing Tim Dorsey’s story.
On my last long distance trip I listened to the audio book but did not make it beyond twenty-five percent.
The book features beautiful, vibrant descriptions of who and what you get to see in Florida (which really is not part of the South). I laughed and giggled about some of them, but the plot moves along too slowly. My favorite was the real estate agent.
I’d encourage writers who seek to improve on descriptions of their characters to read this book. For this purpose ‘Coconut Cowboy” may be a perfect book. The plotline wasn’t to thrilling to me.
3 stars,
Gisela Hausmann, author and blogger
On my last long distance trip I listened to the audio book but did not make it beyond twenty-five percent.
The book features beautiful, vibrant descriptions of who and what you get to see in Florida (which really is not part of the South). I laughed and giggled about some of them, but the plot moves along too slowly. My favorite was the real estate agent.
I’d encourage writers who seek to improve on descriptions of their characters to read this book. For this purpose ‘Coconut Cowboy” may be a perfect book. The plotline wasn’t to thrilling to me.
3 stars,
Gisela Hausmann, author and blogger
February 14, 2016
When your book features Serge Storms and his sidekick, Coleman, you know you're in for a weird time. This one features a corrupt small town, a road trip inspired by classic movie "Easy Rider" and a cast of idiots who scamper along from one madcap adventure to another. Mayhem ensues. The ending intended to tie together all of the loose ends, but it didn't really work. What did you expect. We're talking about Serge and Coleman.
Want to read
November 20, 2015PW Starred: Bestseller Dorsey’s entertainingly picaresque 19th Serge Storms novel (after 2015’s Shark Skin Suite) opens with a scene that sets the comic tone for what’s to follow. A dispute between mascots for competing eateries, a man in a panda suit and one in a gorilla suit, turns violent; at a nearby bank, a would-be thief, who leads a “long, imprecise life footnoted entirely by sighs,” learns to his chagrin that he’s waited in the wrong line to hand in a robbery note. Dorsey deftly brings all his players to life, none more so than his serial killer lead, Serge, a vigilante who has a soft spot for the victims of bad guys other than him, a wide-ranging knowledge of popular culture, and original insights (e.g., that the Amazon delivery model was inspired by the Acme company in the Road Runner cartoons). The major plot thread focuses on geologist Peter Pugliese, who has just moved from New York to the small burg of Wobbly, Fla., and finds himself in shady company. The author’s Kinky Friedman–like voice perfectly suits the engaging story arc. Author tour. Agent: Nat Sobel, Sobel Weber. (Jan.)
June 21, 2016
So I am a little late to the Serge Storms party but I am slowly reading through a list of Florida authors and Tim Dorsey was next. I have read Hiaasen and enjoy the Florida Crime / Noir (aka Florida Glare) writing. Florida is a funky place (google weird Florida news and you are sure to find a plethora of sites) and weird stuff happens down here. Dorsey is great at capturing that weirdness and spinning a tale that connects all this obscurity into a fun, fast-paced read. It's good, clean fun. I will definitely read other books by Dorsey as I continue on my reading adventure of Florida writers.
Some of the sites mentioned above:
- http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/stra...
- https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-1...
- http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/weird/
- http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/we...
Some of the sites mentioned above:
- http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/stra...
- https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-1...
- http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/weird/
- http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/we...
July 13, 2019
I don’t know how I managed to overlook Tim Dorsey for so long. Wow! This book could have been written by Carl Hiaasen, a young Thomas McGuane, or maybe Jack Kerouac ... if they’d all been invaded by the spirit of Hunter S. Thompson and a healthy portion of the drugs of which Thompson habitually and copiously partook.
Coconut Cowboy is brilliant, hilarious, satirical, raucous, outlandish, cerebral, chock-full of trivia, history, and the unexpected, and — most important and incredible — coherent. For all of its lunatic audacity, the story cashes out in perfect, albeit outrageous, sense.
Like cleansing a palate, sometimes you have to read a book like this just to clear your head of common, ordinary nonsense. Hats off to Tim Dorsey. Coconut Cowboy is a treat.
Coconut Cowboy is brilliant, hilarious, satirical, raucous, outlandish, cerebral, chock-full of trivia, history, and the unexpected, and — most important and incredible — coherent. For all of its lunatic audacity, the story cashes out in perfect, albeit outrageous, sense.
Like cleansing a palate, sometimes you have to read a book like this just to clear your head of common, ordinary nonsense. Hats off to Tim Dorsey. Coconut Cowboy is a treat.
October 18, 2015
Tim Dorsey has a strange imagination! There is just no other way to describe the continuing wacky Florida adventures of Serge Storms, the lovable serial murderer whose victims are always the kind of guys we think deserved it and whose methods of punishment are always unique. Serge and his buddy, Coleman who views life as a wonderful journey from one beer to the next drug hit, take us on another Florida-trivia-filled road trip in Coconut Cowboy. The bad guys include Ferrari-driving hedge-fund manager and a Florida state senator.
Another great Serge and Coleman story that should not be missed!
Another great Serge and Coleman story that should not be missed!
February 11, 2016
Serge Storms and his buddy Coleman are out to make Florida a nicer place, one murder at a time. Serge wants to recreate the spirit of the iconic film Easy Rider. He's going complete the film's unfinished journey through Florida, with Coleman in the sidecar of a tricked out chopper. Their activities run parallel to small-town corruption with some not-too-bright good old boys. Needless to say, their paths intersect, eventually. I'd say hilarity ensues, but it's present from start to finish, as it always is in Dorsey's insanely funny series.
July 9, 2017
Another crazy adventure with one of my favorite serial killers with scruples. This time Serge is on an Easy Rider kick to visit Floridian small towns to find the real America. On a second track, one of those small towns is getting itself into some very big trouble. I found the collision between Serge and the small town a bit abrupt, but the lead up was filled with Dorsey's hallmark of Florida history and humor, some laugh-out-loud.
June 6, 2017
Moving right along through Florida with Serge and Coleman - 10 down 10 to go!! This one covered the part of the state I have yet to travel. It addressed 2 current events - sinkholes and the ridiculous Stand Your Ground law. I'm hoping he will write one on Mosaic and the lies and problems related to phosphate, another hidden crime in Florida! This one was a little "cleaner".
July 24, 2017
Serge and Coleman are back, re-living the motorcycle journey of Serge's Easy Rider heroes. Sinkholes, small town government, dirty politicians, and a student writing a thesis all add to Serge's great adventure! 5 out of 10.
February 22, 2019
Absolutely over the top ridiculousness, but so much fun! From revenge murders to small town political corruption, just tons of twists and turns. Great job by the author connecting all the different characters together. If you want a crazy adventure, this book’s for you!
March 29, 2018
Tim Dorsey orchestrated this story with precision.
However, I found his Florida history trivia a little banal.
However, I found his Florida history trivia a little banal.
April 16, 2019
I am having a great time listening to these! Elmore Leonard meets Carl Hiaasen.
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