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“Never a dull moment!” " The best Freaky Florida yet!”
“After reading this book and laughing out loud, there is no doubt in my mind that the entire human population of Florida is Ape Shift crazy.”
When Bobbie and Grayson go on the hunt for the legendary Florida Skunk Ape, there’s more than one tangled mystery afoot. Grayson, the man Bobbie’s hung her life and career on, is every bit as evasive as the creature they’re tracking.

At the start of their investigation, a colossally bad judgement call leaves Bobbie wondering just exactly who—or what—the elusive being is. And she doesn’t mean Bigfoot. What she discovers may leave her questioning the entire primate subclass ...

Swamp gas. Batman. Sasquash casserole.

Does ape imitate life, or does life imitate ape? It’s gonna take all of Bobbie’s fledgling investigative skills to figure out that age-old riddle.

Like Steve Higgs? Carl Hiaasen? Christopher Moore? You'll probably love Freaky Florida Investigations, too! The weirdness of The X-Files and the unwashed insanity of My Name is Earl collide to form this deliciously snarky, totally abnormal mystery series. New from the author of the best-selling Val Fremden Mystery Series!

What Readers are Saying about the Freaky Florida

This series cracks me up!” Amazon Review
"This book has plenty of humor, but it is far more than foolishness. It actually (gasp!) makes you think.” Amazon Review
"I have read Tim Dorsey, Carl Hiaasen, and Randy Wayne White. Those writers are funny but they need to watch out for you." J. Heinrich
"I've heard the expression "I laughed so hard I cried" but I never experienced it until I read this book." Amazon Review
"I read a lot, and Kindle suggested this book. Moth Busters is laugh out loud funny. Is everyone in Florida crazy?" Facebook Review
"Not a scary or over the top paranormal book. I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning reading it. It was just that good! I’m a real scaredy-cat, just not into reading about things that go bump in the night. It is filled with quirky characters, mystery and a lot of humor. So if you want to be truly entertained, READ THIS BOOK." Amazon Review
“Full of wacky characters, amazing descriptions, and lots of theories of the unknown, this book makes for a funny mystery.” Amazon Review
“Rampant with humorous banter and fun interpersonal relationships over a solidly bizarre mystery and great characterization.” Amazon Review
“This is a rollicking ride from the very beginning with laugh-out-loud prose, rednecks, weirdos and Tootsie Pops…oh my!” Amazon Review
“I really like the characters--they are different from each other, each unique, and yet they come together to form a crazy but somehow harmonious whole--one that is likely to leave you saying HOLY CRAP.” Amazon Review
“The other forty nine states have Big Foot or Sasquatch. Only Florida has Skunk Ape. All previous theories of evolution are being discarded and forgotten. Only Margaret Lashley can write this mystery and explain it to the reader. Some of the stories of Skunk Ape may be too strange to believe, or they might all be true. Read this book and be ready to laugh out loud.” Amazon Review “
“What can I say but that Margaret Lashley has done it again with a hysterically funny, laugh out loud, story.” Amazon Review

336 pages, Paperback

Published July 3, 2020

283 people are currently reading
69 people want to read

About the author

Margaret Lashley

51 books258 followers
Why do I love underdogs? Well, it takes one to know one.

Like the main characters in my novels, I haven’t lead a life of wealth or luxury. In fact, as it stands now, I’m set to inherit a half-eaten jar of Cheez Whiz…if my siblings don’t beat me to it.

During my illustrious career, I’ve been a roller-skating waitress, an actuarial assistant, an advertising copywriter, a real estate agent, a house flipper, an organic farmer, and a traveling vagabond/truth seeker. But no matter where I’ve gone or what I’ve done, I’ve always felt like a weirdo.

I’ve learned a heck of a lot in my life. But getting to know myself has been my greatest journey. Today, I know I’m smart. I’m direct. I’m jaded. I’m hopeful. I’m funny. I’m fierce. I’m a pushover. And I have a laugh that lures strangers over, wanting to join in the fun.

In other words, I’m a jumble of opposing talents and flaws and emotions. And it’s all good.

I enjoy underdogs because we’ve got spunk. And hope. And secrets that drive us to be different from the rest.

So dare to be different. It's the only way to be!
Happy reading!

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5 stars
268 (58%)
4 stars
145 (31%)
3 stars
42 (9%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Aղցela W..
4,522 reviews320 followers
August 19, 2022
This was book 4 in the "Freaky Florida Mystery" Bobbie and Grayson are on another mission this time to hunt for the legendary Florida Skunk Ape, there’s more than one tangled mystery afoot. This book was full of the wacky weird characters and situations that I about reading this series. Bobbie and Grayson wake up in a sticky situation she has know idea what happened or how they got there. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Cujo.
217 reviews12 followers
October 23, 2023
4th installment in the Freaky Florida Series and surprisingly the 1st one I've read this calendar year. I also believe this one might be my favorite, as it made me chuckle a bit more than the other ones. This was a good story as our main characters set out to find a " friend of a couple friends" who is lost in the swamp and it allegedly being pursued by a skunk ape
Profile Image for Ziggy Nixon.
1,149 reviews36 followers
September 11, 2024
Look out, skunk ape, here we come.

An absolute BEAST of a book! A MONSTER of a good time! You'll WIG out at this latest chapter! This GAS of a story is very explosive! There's a SALE at Penney's! OK, now that I've got that out of my system, let's continue shall we? Margaret Lashley's "Ape Shift (Freaky Florida Investigations Funny Paranormal Mystery Books Book 4)" [noting that will be the last time we spell the bits in parentheses out fully!] is easily the funniest and smoothest read so far in this too-fun-in-the-sun series! Not that I haven't enjoyed my other reads featuring Bobbie Drex, the vulcanesque Nick Grayson or the extremely irritating and quite possibly inbred cousin Earl "Don't Call Me Cankles" Shankles as well. But this time everything seemed to really click. Or grunt. Or gel. Or just plain smell bad but in an interesting and thought-provoking way. Your call. It was right nice like, m'kay?

My life had just hit a new low. I was being dissed by a Wal-martian!

Nope, just so there's no misunderstandin's, "Ape Shift" worked in all its glory, full stop. Why in the vernacular (I'll explain what that means later y'all) of our resident monster truck driver, this one read like flyin' down a backwoods, not-fully-licensed water slide covered in somethin' slicker than greased owl shit. And the little bits and pieces in the form of puns, modern cultural references ("Happy, happy, joy-joy!") and general snarkiness that Lashley throws in this time were just perfect! I mean, are you looking for witty banter? Yeppers, it's here! Worried dialogue that discusses things such as wiping your bummy bits with the wrong plants in the forest? Ouch, but yeah, lessons taught, lessons learned. Heck, we even get a good ol' fashioned he-man "my science strong, your science puny" showdown that'll have you wondering just who will win what can only be considered a true Florida nerd-off. Have I sold the book yet? I mean, not reading it would be … illogical!

Good lord! I look like Marge Simpson meets Bride of Frankenstein!

All kidding aside (don't count on it), the characters really came into themselves in this episode. Bobbie's increasing - is it confidence? Let's say yes and move on… - was a pleasant advancement. I liked her stepping up and embracing the whole empowered 'cadet' role this time where her past and present blended well, even if she did start us off in a strange bed and with barf in her wig (I'm still not convinced we know what REALLY happened there!). And giving Grayson just a little bit more humanity went a long way to enjoying his company more as well. The wee "aside" where we got to meet his folks and find out just what makes him tick was very appreciated. You can carry the "cold and uncaring" demeanor of, quote, "a theoretical physicist out to prove the existence of cryptids and the non-existence of love" only so far before I think folks begin to get severely turned off to their presence. So this was a much more comfortable experience in that regard.

Fear shot through me like a hot-wax enema.

That leaves Earl. Hm, how to describe my feelings about Earl now through 4 books? Well, he didn't get thrown into a wheat thresher so my initial hopes when I first ordered the book didn't come true. But I gotta be honest: this time the unique style of … wait for it … Earl-arity that the author has created worked much, much better in that I had almost no murderous feelings towards him by the end. "Almost no" does not mean zero but we are growing as a person, I promise. No, Earl seemed to be much more in his element this time - what with the coon huntin' and fishin' know-how - and not just there for clichéd and somewhat annoying comic relief. True, I think Drex needs to sometimes use something harder than her elbow to get him to zip his lips when he starts up but otherwise it was a lot more fun this go 'round.

Oh, crap! Margaritas! My kryptonite.

Overall the story worked really in most ways to perfection and was just so damn real, despite everyone's efforts to the contrary. Ochopee was the PERFECT setting, even if keeping Juke, Luke, Mook, Duke, Cuke, and, um, Puke straight was a bit hard on the ol' noggin'*! But let's be honest, and I say this as a bona fiddle southerner: the Skunk Ape was a perfectly delicious cryptid for the whole Florida scene and allowed as well for some more serious points to sneak into the story-line (white man already destroy climate, now we all seriously and very rudely intercoursed). And SKARI, well, it was, too! To that, I would have loved to have seen the big "15 minutes later" reveal be a bit more, well, revealed (I think I avoided spoilers there but if not, don't read it…). But my imagination filled that in quite well and I imagine that scene will return at some point down the road to haunt our daring duo.

*“Your family sounds rather lyrical,” Grayson said.
Juke shrugged. “Naw. They’s mostly Episcopalian.”

And just so you don't think Lashley is paying me for this review (I asked but she low-balled me somethin' fierce!), I kinda wish we could get away from so many chapterlets (73 over about 320 pages is a bit choppy y'all!) but to each their own. Heck when you grow up reading Terry Pratchett - who basically structured his books with "once upon a time" and finished the one and only chapter with "The End" - your flavorin's get a might skewed. Oh and that one "hear" vs. "here" is gonna cost 3/17's of a star in my rating, so … yeah, I'll show her! But this was a great book and I can't wait to read more about Val's - oops, I mean Bobbie's - adventures! Well done, Rattlesteak 'n' Eggs for everyone! Hm, wonder what variety of fried gizzards comes with that as a side …

P.S. 'Nuff said, this is a classy read:
I released a mushroom cloud of gas—a long, loud, flapping fart that sounded like something between a ghostly wolf howl and a drunken tuba solo.

Profile Image for Kirsten Jaster.
37 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2020
Omg I died laughing

Excuse Ghost me writing but I died laughing 37% into the book..incidentally an important number for Star Trek... But holy smokes what a hilarious start to a fabulous book that kept rolling the laughs to the end. Including the but about announcing a flu and people panic buy toilet paper...goat me died and ghost of ghost now exists. We used to chat th in the 90's about roflmaopimp and this book can do it. All before 37% in. Thank you brilliant author for these books, we are not worthy but kindly keep the books coming.
Profile Image for Cheryl Lee.
203 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2022
Another Freaky Adventure

I can’t say enough good things about this author and her imaginative, laugh out loud funny adventures in the magical state that is Florida! As a native with roots in the Sunshine State going back to 1843, I can attest to the fact that “Florida Man” is alive and well in the sun! And yea, I was raised in a small town called Sanford, where the sidewalks were rolled up around 5 pm every day except Saturday when it was 9 pm, the time when the last movie played at the drive-in. I can identify with Bobbie and have a couple of cousin “Earls” as well. Ok, maybe a brother that could give cousin Earl a run for his money 😛. If you like a good mystery mixed with comedic relief you need to read these books.
Profile Image for Sandy.
875 reviews14 followers
July 11, 2020
I’ve come to love this wacky series, and this book is my favorite so far. Non-stop action, hilarious characters, and a travelogue of South Florida backroads kept me turning pages long past my bedtime. It was a great read and I’m looking forward to future installments. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
76 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2020
Good plot and interesting story

I enjoyed the story and the characters in this story. It was interesting and there was an actual real supernatural creature(s)
In the story
I did realize I had some problems with Grayson and his personality, attitude and beliefs
117 reviews3 followers
December 2, 2020
Ape shift

Another delightful funny and entertaining story. I really enjoyed their escapades. I would recommend all of the books I've read so far. Thank you Margaret Langley. On to the next zone
Profile Image for veronica.
8 reviews
December 22, 2020
This book was my favorite out of the series, it was nice to read for once where Bobbie was treated nicely by a man (Billiam), and what was with the electric current that she felt when Billiam took her hand? Overall Margaret Lashley outdid herself with this book can't wait for "Scatman Dues".
Profile Image for Denise.
1,163 reviews
January 26, 2021
Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn

Another fun book in the series. A bit of a slow start for me, but I found myself laughing out load and by the end I was truly enjoying the book and series once again.
Profile Image for Jim.
750 reviews
March 12, 2021
Book 4

If you want to know all about the Florida version of Bigfoot this is the place to start. Bobbie, Nick, Earl, and the rest of the crew are on another humorous adventure. A fun read.
87 reviews
November 8, 2021
Another laugh fest...

I continuously laughed out loud at these books and find it necessary to read whole paragraphs out loud to my husband...
I highly recommend these books they're A-blast
4 reviews
June 10, 2022
Thought-Provoking

This book made me laugh like her series does, but it had a nice ending. A thought-provoking ending regarding human life and the protection of not-so-human life.
57 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2023
Another fine entry in the crazy state of Florida

This book, as with the others, are fun and fast reads. I'm learning more about my home state than ever. Keep up the good work, and I will continue reading,
Profile Image for Julie Eastlick.
300 reviews
October 17, 2023
Another awesome installment of the adventures of Bobbie and Grayson. Not my favorite one of the series but still really good. Lots of funny lines and a plot that keeps you wondering if you’ve really figured it all out yet. I love this series and can’t wait to read the next one.
12 reviews
March 13, 2024
Still funny and straight the next one

I love this series. They keep me laughing, I mean seriously really laugh out loud funny. I do wished all of the series was on Audible. Maybe by the time I'm ready to read the series over again they will all be available on audio.
Profile Image for John Nix.
22 reviews7 followers
September 16, 2025
A really good read

Very creative and vastly enjoyable. My wife and I are really enjoying the series, we read a few chapters every night. Have read in order so far, on to book 5.
378 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2020
laugh out loud funny. read the books in order, so you understand the cast of misfits.
love this series just too, funny!
Profile Image for MRS G .
267 reviews3 followers
December 7, 2020
Tee hee hee!!! Another wise cracking, banter filled adventure - I'm rolling straight onto the next one. 😁
2 reviews
Read
February 11, 2021
Margaret has a hit

I don't know how she does it but every Florida mystery I have read has twist and turns that I didn't see coming.
Profile Image for gojenn.
271 reviews2 followers
February 22, 2021
Eco-mystery and crazy characters and Bigfoot. What could be funnier? Lots of fun!
396 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2021
Ape Shift

Book four was a really great to read. Using the skunk ape as the basis for this adventure was a great idea .
You cannot be disappointed with this book.
10 reviews
July 23, 2021
Best of the series yet

Really starting get invested in these characters. This was the best of the series yet. I love that they're was a big reveal
Great final act
Profile Image for Louise Sorensen.
Author 11 books21 followers
October 24, 2021
Ape Shift, A Review

A great cast of characters and a frank way of speaking are two of the elements I like very much in this series of books. Plus the humour. Hilarious in places.
Profile Image for Lisa Lester.
182 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2022
Funny

These books are always funny and fun to read. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone that wants a light and fun read.
Profile Image for John.
152 reviews
November 7, 2022
The characters continue to grow and make me laugh.
195 reviews4 followers
May 6, 2023
Margaret Lashley has become one of my favorite authors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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