DOUBLE WHAMMY

You wouldn’t think someone would stoop to murder to win a bass fishing contest, but then few of us have the imagination of Carl Hiaasen. He creates characters and plots guaranteed to snare your interest and jiggle your funny bone. Then all you need is a George Wilson to inhabit these South Florida denizens and make the most of these unlikely situations, and you’re hooked. R.J. Decker, novice sleuth and professional photographer, wades into this mystery to solve the death of a fisherman looking into dirty doings at tournaments. He mixes with a half-mad sidekick, a larcenous evangelist, his ex-wife, and a lowlife named Thomas Curl, who ends his days with a pit bull’s head clamped to his arm. Wilson becomes each of these (except the pit bull) and easily navigates between them. He has “redneck” down pat. A double whammy, by the way, is a lure. One hopes this review is as well. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]