The local bookstore was getting rid of a bunch of older titles that they had many copies of. They were going to throw this book in the trash, but I said, no, I can find a home for it. Luckily a person who had it on their cliff's wish list was also registered at www.rabck.com, so I pulled up the address and am going to send it out today. I hope you enjoy this book. It's kind of worn, but all the pages are intact, so I know it's readable. Enjoy!

I received this today from loneflower in ID ... as a surprise RABCK. This is my first receipt from www.rabck.com =) More excitedly is that it's my 1st book from Idaho. Now I only have 3 more states to receive books from. =) I think the book is in fine condition ... I have seen much worse. I'm so glad you rescued it from the trash.

c. 1986 -- 378 pages -- Paperback -- IMBA's 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century

Back Cover: The only trace of the first victim was his Shriner's fez washed up on the Miami beach. The second victim, the head of the city's chamber of commerce, was found dead with a toy rubber alligator lodged in his throat. And that was just the beginning ... Now Brian Keyes, reporter turned private eye, must move from muckraking to rooting out murder ... in a caper that will mix football players, politicians, and police with a group of fanatics and a very hungry crocodile.

Reserved for Firegirl (6/9/06).

I finished reading this today and enjoyed it. Hiaasen balances the serious with humor and the beauty with the horror. He has a good way of making a point ... about the beauty of Florida being destroyed by developers (I've also read "Hoot"). Instead of sick, mindless murder and terror, Skip Wiley (although insane in his own way) is trying to protect nature. Although I'm not saying that human life is a just trade for human life. It's sad that it takes that extreme to get people's attention.

RELEASE NOTES:

I'm mailing this today to Firegirl in AZ ... as part of a book trade. Thank you for your patience while I read it before sending it to you.

Arrived safely. Thanks for the trade!!

Another rip-through-it romp by Carl Hiaasen!

**POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT**

I've read his books completely out of order, so I'm already rather familiar with Skip Wiley's character. It was definitely enjoyable to see how he became the person he has turned out to be in future novels. I've obviously missed a novel somewhere, though, as I don't know how he got from the end of this book to future story lines. I'm glad to know he pulls through, though, or I'd be horribly upset by the ending!

Having been to southern Florida (Ft. Meyers, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, the Everglades, and all the way down route 1 to Key West), I definitely understand the point Hiaasen is trying to make with this novel. Southern Florida has definitly primarily become a vast expanse of development with rarely a spot of natural wilderness except for the Everglades. I can't condone murder, of course, but I understand the theory behind his character's actions.

In short, enjoyable, as I've come to expect from Hiaasen. Definitely some underlying through-provoking subject matter. I know a couple of people who have lived in South Florida who I think will appriciate this and shall endeavour to see it wind up in their hands.

On an outside table.