Books: Sick Puppy

Twilly Spree has problems managing his anger–he blew up his uncle’s bank–and he’s hot on the trail of Palmer Stoat, a lugubrious Florida lobbyist who made the mistake of littering in Spree’s presence. Throw in a spineless Governor, a sleazy real estate deal, a beautiful but dissatisfied young wife (that would be Mrs. Palmer Stoat), a thug named Mr. Gash and the eponymous ill canine, and you’ve got the ingredients for a hilarious novel that moves as quickly as untouched Florida shoreline is vanishing. Hiaasen’s brand of storytelling–a blend of social satire, thriller and investigative journalism–owes as much to Tom Wolfe as it does to Quentin Tarantino. Or do they owe him? No matter. It’s hard not to have a good time with this one.

–By Elizabeth Gleick