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Key Weird
Key Weird - A different look at Florida. What do you do when you lose your possum ranch, all your money, and the Dalton Gang is on your trail? If you’re Taco Bob, you head for Florida and end up in tropical Key West hanging out with a collection of colorful and crazy locals, fishing for grunts, and avoiding Daltons. But there’s never a shortage of trouble in paradise. A sexy cult leader hits town looking for a golden idol she is convinced holds psychic powers. She teams up with the aging owner of the local topless bar, who is looking for a fortune in Spanish treasure stolen from him years earlier. Taco Bob’s idyllic tropical lifestyle comes to an abrupt end and he finds himself lost in the Everglades swamps. But he’s not as alone as he thinks, not with a hot cult leader, a cranky treasure hunter, and a mysterious old hermit in the neighborhood.
- GenresHumor
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2005
17 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 4, 2018
Key Weird, the title of Robert Tacoma's first Taco Bob novel, is spot on. I love reading humorous novels and in particular those written by Carl Hiaasen, Chris Moore, Tim Dorsey and now Robert Tacoma. I never realized their stories take place in Florida, 4 writers, how odd. Perhaps they belong to the same club. Taco Bob is odd in a fun way and the other characters in the story are even odder.
Key Weird is a quick read of approx. 50,000 words. I must give credit to Mr. Tacoma's editor (especially if he edited the book on his own). I edit fiction and this is one of the very few times I have read a book that I thought was nearly perfect. If you are tired of reading poorly edited light fiction, Key Weird is bound to put a smile on your face. A few reviewers said Robert's ending sucked. I disagree. His ending, as it should be, is designed to make you come back for more Taco Bob, since this is the first of a series. Tacoma's covers, front and back, are bright and eye-appealing. The font he uses makes for an easy read, no small print there with about 300 words to the page, just right. Key Weird is written with a certain flavor, a Taco Bob possum-like boggy sort of flair. Keep writing Robert Tacoma. I enjoyed Key Weird and laughed my A... off a few times too!
Key Weird is a quick read of approx. 50,000 words. I must give credit to Mr. Tacoma's editor (especially if he edited the book on his own). I edit fiction and this is one of the very few times I have read a book that I thought was nearly perfect. If you are tired of reading poorly edited light fiction, Key Weird is bound to put a smile on your face. A few reviewers said Robert's ending sucked. I disagree. His ending, as it should be, is designed to make you come back for more Taco Bob, since this is the first of a series. Tacoma's covers, front and back, are bright and eye-appealing. The font he uses makes for an easy read, no small print there with about 300 words to the page, just right. Key Weird is written with a certain flavor, a Taco Bob possum-like boggy sort of flair. Keep writing Robert Tacoma. I enjoyed Key Weird and laughed my A... off a few times too!
December 28, 2017
another bubble gum for the brain book. amusing at points and I did want to see what would happen to some of the characters. Had hoped for more but the gum lost its flavor pretty quickly. Not a recommended read. Have to say though- main character is a former possum rancher named Taco Bob. that alone was proof of the title!
January 11, 2018
Relaxing read. Even the action parts were relaxing. Was just the sort of book I was hoping for.
February 20, 2023
fun book.
October 13, 2024
2 1/2 ⭐
August 30, 2011
For years, Robert Tacoma’s series of Key West adventures starring Taco Bob existed on the periphery of my attention. As a Florida fiction obsessive, I knew I needed to give ‘em a chance sooner or later but it was with a mix of trepidation and anticipation I plunked down my money for the Kindle version of Key Weird. After finishing, my first thought is that maybe the Big Six publishers in New York do get it right sometimes whilst sifting the slush pile. While Mr. Tacoma certainly can crank out the words with skill, and even humor now and then, rank this simplistic effort solidly below what a fellow writer with a major book deal can do – such as Tim Dorsey.
Story
The basic plot in Key Weird was straight out of Florida Lit 101. Possum rancher flees Texas with a couple of murderous dim bulb prison escapees in hot pursuit and, oh yeah, barrels of radioactive waste have been popping up in his pond. He meanders his way down the Florida peninsula and spends most of the rest of the book wandering around. Sure, there were some chacmools and cultists thrown in but, even by Florida writing standards, this is a VERY thin plot. My sense of the book was more that it was a very long diary entry and there’s a reason publishers don’t usually print diaries. They’re freakin’ boring! Think about it. Would YOU like to read a book that detailed what you did between breakfast and lunch on the average day? Not likely. Few writers are skilled enough to keep us interested in such minutia.
Characters
Key Weird was populated by the usual mixture of burn outs, whack jobs, and amoral criminals that you expect to wander through a south Florida novel. Problem was that Taco Bob was one of the least interesting. Mr. Tacoma spent more time giving us insight into the thought processes and motivations behind bad guys (and gal) Sam, Butch, and Carol than the alleged star of the show, Mr. Bob. Far be it from me to hold everyone to the Hiassen/Dorsey standard, but if you throw your hat in the ring, the comparisons are obvious and Key Weird comes in a solid step or two below efforts from these familiar names.
Writing
Tacoma’s writing style was simple, clean, and sometimes funny, though not as funny as I’d hoped it would be. After two years of dithering about whether or not to give Key Weird a shot, I found myself plowing through the story, not quite enjoying it and not quite hating it. If you’re gonna call the thing Key Weird, it needs to be a lot weirder than this. After finishing it, I came away with the feeling I had read a sketch more than an actual story. Been served potatoes without the meat. Given the punch line but not the joke.
The Bottom Line
I hate to say this about any Florida writer because, as I said, I obsessively devour any story set down here, it’s not likely I’ll read more of Tacoma’s work unless it is REALLY cheap – like .99 cents – and I’m in the midst of a bout of amnesia. I paid $3.99 for Key Weird, though I see it has dropped in price now. Some Amazon reviewers have given Key Weird the benefit of the doubt and say it is a “fun read” to be devoured in an afternoon between Hiassen and Dorsey books. I’m not quite so forgiving. Key Weird was a bit of a letdown and not as fun as it should have been.
Story
The basic plot in Key Weird was straight out of Florida Lit 101. Possum rancher flees Texas with a couple of murderous dim bulb prison escapees in hot pursuit and, oh yeah, barrels of radioactive waste have been popping up in his pond. He meanders his way down the Florida peninsula and spends most of the rest of the book wandering around. Sure, there were some chacmools and cultists thrown in but, even by Florida writing standards, this is a VERY thin plot. My sense of the book was more that it was a very long diary entry and there’s a reason publishers don’t usually print diaries. They’re freakin’ boring! Think about it. Would YOU like to read a book that detailed what you did between breakfast and lunch on the average day? Not likely. Few writers are skilled enough to keep us interested in such minutia.
Characters
Key Weird was populated by the usual mixture of burn outs, whack jobs, and amoral criminals that you expect to wander through a south Florida novel. Problem was that Taco Bob was one of the least interesting. Mr. Tacoma spent more time giving us insight into the thought processes and motivations behind bad guys (and gal) Sam, Butch, and Carol than the alleged star of the show, Mr. Bob. Far be it from me to hold everyone to the Hiassen/Dorsey standard, but if you throw your hat in the ring, the comparisons are obvious and Key Weird comes in a solid step or two below efforts from these familiar names.
Writing
Tacoma’s writing style was simple, clean, and sometimes funny, though not as funny as I’d hoped it would be. After two years of dithering about whether or not to give Key Weird a shot, I found myself plowing through the story, not quite enjoying it and not quite hating it. If you’re gonna call the thing Key Weird, it needs to be a lot weirder than this. After finishing it, I came away with the feeling I had read a sketch more than an actual story. Been served potatoes without the meat. Given the punch line but not the joke.
The Bottom Line
I hate to say this about any Florida writer because, as I said, I obsessively devour any story set down here, it’s not likely I’ll read more of Tacoma’s work unless it is REALLY cheap – like .99 cents – and I’m in the midst of a bout of amnesia. I paid $3.99 for Key Weird, though I see it has dropped in price now. Some Amazon reviewers have given Key Weird the benefit of the doubt and say it is a “fun read” to be devoured in an afternoon between Hiassen and Dorsey books. I’m not quite so forgiving. Key Weird was a bit of a letdown and not as fun as it should have been.
February 13, 2013
Horrible, horrible book. Definitely TRYING to write like Carl Hiaasen, but failing miserably. No point to the story. Different characters from different areas and walks of life end up in Key West. I thought the story would somehow bring them all together in one story, but no. Stick with Carl Hiaasen if you looking for a decent story with some memorable odd characters.
February 17, 2013
What a fun ride. A great 'Get out of Dodge and find something new, coming of age(ish) tale. Love the Chacmools back story. I am already into the 2nd 'Key Weirder.' If you like Hiaasen and Dorsey, you'll love Tacoma too!
June 2, 2009
I finally found a copy of this at the library. It wasn't exactly worth the wait. Eh. Pick it up while you're laying out by the pool this summer, semi-buzzed.
May 27, 2011
Author seemed to struggle to find a consistent voice at first. The style is reminiscent of Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiaasen, and I really warmed up to it by the end. Plan to read the entire series.
August 3, 2012
An odd mix of characters. Some suspense. I might read another in the series
May 15, 2016
normally if I finish a book it gets at least three stars. I finished this book but don't feel right about giving it three
March 20, 2016
weird is the key word here
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews