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Key West #14
Nacho Unleashed
Key West has a new hero… He weighs four pounds and stands eight inches off the ground. His name is Nacho and he’s the bravest, shrewdest, funniest Chihuahua you will ever meet. He’ll do anything to help his master, the retired Mafioso Bert the Shirt, and his friends—especially the beautiful Rita, with whom Nacho is smitten from the very first time she reaches down to scratch his ears. Wise-cracking Rita, straight out of Jersey, is new in town and needs a job. A gig at Wreckers Rum seems promising, but there’s something, well, a little off about the place. It doesn’t sell much booze, yet maintains a classy tasting room on prime Key West waterfront. Where’s the money coming from? Who’s the oddly chivalrous mobster behind the operation? What’s up with the crazy scientist in flip-flops toiling away in his triple-locked lab behind the distillery? And how might Rita get closer to the irresistible but aloof young chief distiller whose only passion seems to be for making rum? Determined to find both answers and true love, undaunted Rita lands herself in some very hot water—hot rum, actually—and it will take a special kind of devoted and unleashed hero to rescue her. Oh…and one more thing about Nacho. He’s not just brave; he talks, lending plenty of loopy canine wisdom to this rollicking, sun-drenched story of rum and romance, chemistry and crime, friendship, family, and the sacred responsibilities of loyalty.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
461 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Laurence Shames
40 books237 followersLaurence Shames has been a New York City taxi driver, lounge singer, furniture mover, lifeguard, dishwasher, gym teacher, and shoe salesman. Having failed to distinguish himself in any of those professions, he turned to writing full-time in 1976 and has not done an honest day’s work since.
His basic laziness notwithstanding, Shames has published more than twenty books and hundreds of magazine articles and essays. Best known for his critically acclaimed series of Key West Capers--14 titles and counting!--he has also authored non-fiction and enjoyed considerable though largely secret success as a collaborator and ghostwriter. Shames has penned four New York Times bestsellers. These have appeared on four different lists, under four different names, none of them his own. This might be a record.
Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1951, to chain-smoking parents of modest means but flamboyant emotions, Shames did not know Philip Roth, Paul Simon, Queen Latifa, Shaquille O’Neal, or any of the other really cool people who have come from his hometown. He graduated summa cum laude from NYU in 1972 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. As a side note, both his alma mater and honorary society have been extraordinarily adept at tracking his many address changes through the decades, in spite of the fact that he’s never sent them one red cent, and never will.
It was on an Italian beach in the summer of 1970 that Shames first heard the sacred call of the writer’s vocation. Lonely and poor, hungry and thirsty, he’d wandered into a seaside trattoria, where he noticed a couple tucking into a big platter of fritto misto. The man was nothing much to look at but the woman was really beautiful. She was perfectly tan and had a very fine-gauge gold chain looped around her bare tummy. The couple was sharing a liter of white wine; condensation beaded the carafe. Eye contact was made; the couple turned out to be Americans. The man wiped olive oil from his rather sensual lips and introduced himself as a writer. Shames knew in that moment that he would be one too.
He began writing stories and longer things he thought of as novels. He couldn’t sell them.
By 1979 he’d somehow become a journalist and was soon publishing in top-shelf magazines like Playboy, Outside, Saturday Review, and Vanity Fair. (This transition entailed some lucky breaks, but is not as vivid a tale as the fritto misto bit, so we’ll just sort of gloss over it.) In 1982, Shames was named Ethics columnist of Esquire, and also made a contributing editor to that magazine.
By 1986 he was writing non-fiction books. The critical, if not the commercial, success of these first established Shames’ credentials as a collaborator/ghostwriter. His 1991 national bestseller, Boss of Bosses, written with two FBI agents, got him thinking about the Mafia. It also bought him a ticket out of New York and a sweet little house in Key West, where he finally got back to Plan A: writing novels. Given his then-current preoccupations, the novels naturally featured palm trees, high humidity, dogs in sunglasses, and New York mobsters blundering through a town where people were too laid back to be afraid of them. But this part of the story is best told with reference to the books themselves, so please spend some time and explore them.
His basic laziness notwithstanding, Shames has published more than twenty books and hundreds of magazine articles and essays. Best known for his critically acclaimed series of Key West Capers--14 titles and counting!--he has also authored non-fiction and enjoyed considerable though largely secret success as a collaborator and ghostwriter. Shames has penned four New York Times bestsellers. These have appeared on four different lists, under four different names, none of them his own. This might be a record.
Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1951, to chain-smoking parents of modest means but flamboyant emotions, Shames did not know Philip Roth, Paul Simon, Queen Latifa, Shaquille O’Neal, or any of the other really cool people who have come from his hometown. He graduated summa cum laude from NYU in 1972 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. As a side note, both his alma mater and honorary society have been extraordinarily adept at tracking his many address changes through the decades, in spite of the fact that he’s never sent them one red cent, and never will.
It was on an Italian beach in the summer of 1970 that Shames first heard the sacred call of the writer’s vocation. Lonely and poor, hungry and thirsty, he’d wandered into a seaside trattoria, where he noticed a couple tucking into a big platter of fritto misto. The man was nothing much to look at but the woman was really beautiful. She was perfectly tan and had a very fine-gauge gold chain looped around her bare tummy. The couple was sharing a liter of white wine; condensation beaded the carafe. Eye contact was made; the couple turned out to be Americans. The man wiped olive oil from his rather sensual lips and introduced himself as a writer. Shames knew in that moment that he would be one too.
He began writing stories and longer things he thought of as novels. He couldn’t sell them.
By 1979 he’d somehow become a journalist and was soon publishing in top-shelf magazines like Playboy, Outside, Saturday Review, and Vanity Fair. (This transition entailed some lucky breaks, but is not as vivid a tale as the fritto misto bit, so we’ll just sort of gloss over it.) In 1982, Shames was named Ethics columnist of Esquire, and also made a contributing editor to that magazine.
By 1986 he was writing non-fiction books. The critical, if not the commercial, success of these first established Shames’ credentials as a collaborator/ghostwriter. His 1991 national bestseller, Boss of Bosses, written with two FBI agents, got him thinking about the Mafia. It also bought him a ticket out of New York and a sweet little house in Key West, where he finally got back to Plan A: writing novels. Given his then-current preoccupations, the novels naturally featured palm trees, high humidity, dogs in sunglasses, and New York mobsters blundering through a town where people were too laid back to be afraid of them. But this part of the story is best told with reference to the books themselves, so please spend some time and explore them.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 6, 2021
Nacho Unleashed is a fun little Key West yarn made all the better by reading it in Key West.
July 4, 2021
Another great one. Super cute love affair, Bert the Shirt and parts were narrated by Nacho!
February 14, 2019
All the elements but
It's got all the elements of the series, but in the series the dog is held all the time. Now it's told differently. Makes you wonder. I don't like the dog narrating, although he's funny at times. I think buddy would be a better word than master. And the book ends about where most of them would have been 75%into the plot. All in all makes me wonder if our author has a young friend who's being groomed ti take over the series and wrote this. Then again, the language and way of writing are pretty much the same, sí maybe the author was a little bored with doing the same thing and thought writing from one of Bert's dogs' perspective would be better. Not quite as amazing as the others, more 2- dimensional because of the shortness compared to the other books in the series. Like a long short story. I did enjoy hearing about all Bert does, though to get dressed and presentable to the outside world.
It's got all the elements of the series, but in the series the dog is held all the time. Now it's told differently. Makes you wonder. I don't like the dog narrating, although he's funny at times. I think buddy would be a better word than master. And the book ends about where most of them would have been 75%into the plot. All in all makes me wonder if our author has a young friend who's being groomed ti take over the series and wrote this. Then again, the language and way of writing are pretty much the same, sí maybe the author was a little bored with doing the same thing and thought writing from one of Bert's dogs' perspective would be better. Not quite as amazing as the others, more 2- dimensional because of the shortness compared to the other books in the series. Like a long short story. I did enjoy hearing about all Bert does, though to get dressed and presentable to the outside world.
March 19, 2019
I love the Laurence Shames Key West stories. At first glance, they are light, superficial and breezy, with caricatures of characters.. They're certainly easy to read and he is clever with weaving different strands of a plot. But he occasionally adds some depth to his characters, fleshing them out with feelings and motivations. I love his philosophical musings and, most importantly, his loving, vivid descriptions of everything about Key West. Makes me want to visit.
I wouldn't call Nacho Unleashed his best work. The dog's narrative voice is a cutesy gimmick, not all that original, which provides only a slightly different point of view of Bert the Shirt. But he succeeds again in weaving a plot and establishing characters that make you anxious to see what happens. And there are a few surprises thrown in for good measure. As always, his writing evokes so much of the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of being there in Key West. I love this author
I wouldn't call Nacho Unleashed his best work. The dog's narrative voice is a cutesy gimmick, not all that original, which provides only a slightly different point of view of Bert the Shirt. But he succeeds again in weaving a plot and establishing characters that make you anxious to see what happens. And there are a few surprises thrown in for good measure. As always, his writing evokes so much of the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of being there in Key West. I love this author
March 1, 2019
It's a stay-cation...
I absolutely adore the Key West series of books written by Lawrence Shames. I think I've read all of them, if not I'll be catching up. He totally captures the essence & diversity of Key West, a place I've visited often and love dearly. Every time I read one of his books, he takes me back there and for that I am most grateful. I especially enjoyed this lasted caper as written from the aspect of the adorable, lovable little Nacho. Please keep these stories coming Mr Shames!
I absolutely adore the Key West series of books written by Lawrence Shames. I think I've read all of them, if not I'll be catching up. He totally captures the essence & diversity of Key West, a place I've visited often and love dearly. Every time I read one of his books, he takes me back there and for that I am most grateful. I especially enjoyed this lasted caper as written from the aspect of the adorable, lovable little Nacho. Please keep these stories coming Mr Shames!
August 14, 2020
A quick, funny read for fans of Shames. Absolutely perfect for wiling away a summer afternoon by the pool! This quirky tale is told mainly from the point of view of Bert the Shirt's chihuahua. Can he save the day when an ex mafia boss, two current mafioso and their henchman, government investigators, a run distiller, and a crazy scientist all come together in Key West? Sidelines include two muscle men who would like to open a florist and a tasting bar manager who cannot find a date. Shames at his best! Can't wait to read his newest book!
October 16, 2023
original and definitely made for TV
While I could easily see any of Shames’ Key West stories as a Caribbean Game of Thrones, minus the dragons, the routine deaths, the nutty women, psychopathic men and that big ice wall, they would make for good TV. Nacho Unleashed in particular. Of all the stories, the novelty of the story told from a canine view about rum, drugs and love would make for an interesting Netflix and Chill event. But you have to read the book first. And read the Nacho parts with Cheech Marin in your head. Especially the heroic Nacho part.
While I could easily see any of Shames’ Key West stories as a Caribbean Game of Thrones, minus the dragons, the routine deaths, the nutty women, psychopathic men and that big ice wall, they would make for good TV. Nacho Unleashed in particular. Of all the stories, the novelty of the story told from a canine view about rum, drugs and love would make for an interesting Netflix and Chill event. But you have to read the book first. And read the Nacho parts with Cheech Marin in your head. Especially the heroic Nacho part.
February 18, 2019
My least favorite of the series
What I've always loved about this series is the underlying madness of the characters that brings a wackiness and fun side to the story. This story lacked that aspect and came off too dark and seriousness for my tastes. While using Nacho as a POV, it still didn't lift the darkness. Hope 15 goes back to the whacky characters we love. Sorry... Just my opinion.
What I've always loved about this series is the underlying madness of the characters that brings a wackiness and fun side to the story. This story lacked that aspect and came off too dark and seriousness for my tastes. While using Nacho as a POV, it still didn't lift the darkness. Hope 15 goes back to the whacky characters we love. Sorry... Just my opinion.
August 14, 2024
This is the most enjoyable of the Key West books we’ve read. The common ground among them is expatriate Northern urban folk trying their hand at Key West living with no great successes growing from their attempts. Not fish-out-of-water stories by any means but certainly people misfit in their newly adopted “home ground”.
Between us my wife and I have read three of Shames’ Key West series and we agree that’s enough. They’re enjoyable but they are departures from our ’druthers.
Between us my wife and I have read three of Shames’ Key West series and we agree that’s enough. They’re enjoyable but they are departures from our ’druthers.
February 23, 2019
Just read nacho good but bring back Joey and Sandra I'm sure they are up to something in the conch republic !!! Or maybe Pineapple and Fred. I loved the first ones
Where is Joey and Sandra ? I loved the first ones I'm sure they are still busy in the conch republic or pineapple and fred?
Where is Joey and Sandra ? I loved the first ones I'm sure they are still busy in the conch republic or pineapple and fred?
April 11, 2019
Burt and Nacho, Together Again
After stumbling into this wonderful series, I have come to regard Burt, Nacho, and the other characters who walk, run, shuffle, and swim into Shames's uber-quirkey Key West as friends. I celebrate the arrival of each new story so I can find out what my friends are up to. Is this number fourteen? I'd say an even 30 sounds about right.
After stumbling into this wonderful series, I have come to regard Burt, Nacho, and the other characters who walk, run, shuffle, and swim into Shames's uber-quirkey Key West as friends. I celebrate the arrival of each new story so I can find out what my friends are up to. Is this number fourteen? I'd say an even 30 sounds about right.
July 9, 2023
Great story
Nacho crushes some PC nuts and master as always gets everyone together in a fantastic way.we all sue over the rum show bad drugs and so many gay things a father is found and another person lands in key West ciao from Costa Rica...
Nacho crushes some PC nuts and master as always gets everyone together in a fantastic way.we all sue over the rum show bad drugs and so many gay things a father is found and another person lands in key West ciao from Costa Rica...
February 10, 2019
Buy It 😊
Excellent and thought provoking book.
The dog (Nacho) in the title is quite philosophical!
You will be quite happy you bought it!
Excellent and thought provoking book.
The dog (Nacho) in the title is quite philosophical!
You will be quite happy you bought it!
February 10, 2019
A must read for fans of Bert the Shirt!!
February 22, 2019
The talking Nacho was a mistake, cute but detracted from a decent well written funny story. Love Burt and the Key West picture that's painted.
May 12, 2019
Another great book
Bert the shirt and his dog nacho get involved in another adventure that keeps the reader entertained. Story line is great and characters are fun.
Bert the shirt and his dog nacho get involved in another adventure that keeps the reader entertained. Story line is great and characters are fun.
February 29, 2020
I’m at the beach and this book is perfect for that. How often do you read a book from a dog’s point of view?
April 5, 2020
Another Wonderful bunch of fun!
Love the topics, setting, people and everything else about this!
Nacho is a load of fun and easy reading and I recommend it highly!
Love the topics, setting, people and everything else about this!
Nacho is a load of fun and easy reading and I recommend it highly!
December 25, 2020
Another fun book in this series.
Makes the reader wish they were in Key West.
Makes the reader wish they were in Key West.
February 5, 2024
I'm not a big fan of Nacho the Chihuahua, but he only narrates some of this one.
April 5, 2024
A bit different from the previous books, but just as good. Bert’s got his shirts and Nacho. As always, bad guys get what’s coming to them and good guys—and dog—get their rewards. Love this series!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews