Helpful Score: 5
Tim Dorsey is hysterical. Florida Road Kill is a bit more violent than some of his others but in his droll and ironic style, still laugh out loud funny.
Helpful Score: 1
Take two old high school buddies on a fishing vacation away from their jobs and families. Add a fun-loving serial killer with a drugged-up sidekick and a black widow tag-along, a right-wing talk show host turned detective, a crooked insurance company CEO, four vengeful drug smugglers, a real estate scam artist, a three-man unsuccessful biker gang, a development owner that swindles the elderly, and a sexual deviant into Barbie dolls and drowning. Now, throw a suitcase filled with ten million doll...more Take two old high school buddies on a fishing vacation away from their jobs and families. Add a fun-loving serial killer with a drugged-up sidekick and a black widow tag-along, a right-wing talk show host turned detective, a crooked insurance company CEO, four vengeful drug smugglers, a real estate scam artist, a three-man unsuccessful biker gang, a development owner that swindles the elderly, and a sexual deviant into Barbie dolls and drowning. Now, throw a suitcase filled with ten million dollars in the middle, and watch the real fun begin.
Florida Roadkill: A Novel is the first in a long series of novels featuring everyone's favorite obsessive/manic/psychopathic madman, Serge, and his lovable substance abusing sidekick, Coleman. It is also Tim Dorsey's first novel.
As debut novels go, Dorsey nails his audience right out of the gate. While his later books do become slightly more polished and streamlined, there is little in Florida Roadkill that would seem alien to anyone who started with his later works first. Dorsey's voice is consistent and unfaltering.
The key word is Madness. Dorsey's Florida is a land overflowing with criminals, lunatics, swindlers, scumbags, and cold-blooded killers. But he manages to make the this dangerous god-forsaken tourist trap a colorful and humorous at every turn. If you never thought you would find serial killers, drug dealers, real estate scam artists, and violent biker gangs funny, then Florida Roadkill will definitely surprise you. The Riders of Eternal Doom, for example, are the most memorable and laughable biker gang since the Black Widows first attempted to terrorize Clint Eastwood in Every Which Way but Loose.
Dorsey embraces the narrative format of jumping back and forth between seemingly unconnected people and events, all of which eventually tie in together, and in a very non-linear format. But he manages to weave these snippets into a chaotic tapestry that never confuses or discourages. He knows how to keep the readers interested, and exactly how far he can string them along before revealing the connections. In short, he's a storyteller, and a damn good one at that.
Humorous Floridian criminals are not an untapped resource, and Dorsey is well aware of this. He not only knows that he has others authors of such novels to contend with, he acknowledges it by including guest appearances by Carl Hiaasan and Dave Barry. A humbling and tongue-in-cheek tip of the hat, it shows that Dorsey isn't afraid of the competition. He shouldn't be, either, as his writing never borders on imitation. He's carved out his own stomping ground in Florida, and rightfully declared it his own.
The newest book in the Serge series, Nuclear Jellyfish, has just been released. If you start now, you can make it through the series before the next installment hits the stands. I highly recommend you give it a shot.
Florida Roadkill: A Novel is the first in a long series of novels featuring everyone's favorite obsessive/manic/psychopathic madman, Serge, and his lovable substance abusing sidekick, Coleman. It is also Tim Dorsey's first novel.
As debut novels go, Dorsey nails his audience right out of the gate. While his later books do become slightly more polished and streamlined, there is little in Florida Roadkill that would seem alien to anyone who started with his later works first. Dorsey's voice is consistent and unfaltering.
The key word is Madness. Dorsey's Florida is a land overflowing with criminals, lunatics, swindlers, scumbags, and cold-blooded killers. But he manages to make the this dangerous god-forsaken tourist trap a colorful and humorous at every turn. If you never thought you would find serial killers, drug dealers, real estate scam artists, and violent biker gangs funny, then Florida Roadkill will definitely surprise you. The Riders of Eternal Doom, for example, are the most memorable and laughable biker gang since the Black Widows first attempted to terrorize Clint Eastwood in Every Which Way but Loose.
Dorsey embraces the narrative format of jumping back and forth between seemingly unconnected people and events, all of which eventually tie in together, and in a very non-linear format. But he manages to weave these snippets into a chaotic tapestry that never confuses or discourages. He knows how to keep the readers interested, and exactly how far he can string them along before revealing the connections. In short, he's a storyteller, and a damn good one at that.
Humorous Floridian criminals are not an untapped resource, and Dorsey is well aware of this. He not only knows that he has others authors of such novels to contend with, he acknowledges it by including guest appearances by Carl Hiaasan and Dave Barry. A humbling and tongue-in-cheek tip of the hat, it shows that Dorsey isn't afraid of the competition. He shouldn't be, either, as his writing never borders on imitation. He's carved out his own stomping ground in Florida, and rightfully declared it his own.
The newest book in the Serge series, Nuclear Jellyfish, has just been released. If you start now, you can make it through the series before the next installment hits the stands. I highly recommend you give it a shot.
Helpful Score: 1
Very gory, was not prepared for the amount of violence in this book. I don't think this is a series I will continue.
Helpful Score: 1
If you haven't experienced Dorsey and his cast of misfits, prepare for a wacky fun ride
Helpful Score: 1
I love this style of cops, murder, drugs, and humor!
Helpful Score: 1
Fun, extreme Hiasson-type reading
Sunshine State trivia buff Serge loves inflicting pain. His drug-addled partner Coleman loves cartoons. Hot stripper Sharon loves cocaine, especially when purchased with rich dead men's money...etc. welcome to Florida!
Excellent introduction to Serge Storms and his sanely crazy antics. A loveable serial killer who predates Dexter by seven years, Serge does the things we wish we could do to those that deserve it most.
This book was slow to warm for me. When I first started reading it, I thought Tim Dorsey would be nothing more than a Carl Hiaasen wanna-be trying to show off. I was almost convinced that was the case when he introduced so many characters and then didn't piece things together for about three quarters of the way through the book. But when things finally started coming together, I couldn't put this baby down! Now I am hooked and am going to start reading the second book in the series. Kudos.
Definitely different...All the Florida references and history would seem to mean much to Floridians. Long time residents will immediately recognize a lot of locales and lifestyles... Worth the effort to read one or more of his stories.
Pretty good, light hearted read.
If you've already read one of Tim's books then you know Serge and Coleman. I love these guys! They're especially funny, adventurous and wacked out all the time. I just couldn't seem to put this or any other of Dorsey's books down. I'm reading all his books.
A mystery described as violent, funny, vulgar and hyperkinetic.
Not really a "light" read but definately has its very funny parts. The story itself is a little choppy to get into but once you catch on...it is very humorous.
Sunshine State trivea buff Serge love inflicting pain. His drug-addled partner Coleman loves cartoons. Hot stripper Sharen Rhodes loves cocaine, especially when purchased with rich dead men's money. On the other hand there's Sean and David, who love fishing and are kind to animals - and who are about to cross paths with a suitcase filled with five million dollars stolen insurance money.
very funny ..
Simply hilarious, especially for Floridians. Bizarre plot, strange characters, a bit twisted.
Outrageous and funny
I couldn't get into this...but it gets rave reviews.
It wasn't bad.
You don't have to be a native Floridian to enjoy this book but it helps make the book that much more enjoyable. I found myself keeping track of all the Florida sites, cities, and attractions that I have visited over my lifetime that are mentioned in the book and the author hits quit a few. The book is a hodgepodge of short intermingled story lines that all come together in a sometimes hilarious and sometimes gruesome manner. I'm looking forward to book two of the Serge A. Storms crime spree
I couldn't even finish this book..horrible.
This book was like reading Carl Hiaasen on steroids! It takes place in the Florida of Hiaasen with a cast of wacky characters who for the most part engage in random acts of mindless and reckless behavior including murder and mayhem across the State of Florida. These include a killer stripper, bikers without bikes, an alcoholic dentist, a despicable retirement community manager, and miscellaneous drug cartel killers looking for $5 million dollars ripped off through an insurance scam. The innocents in the novel are two friends on vacations just looking for some fishing and wanting to see the Florida Marlins play in the 1997 World Series.
Then there is Serge Storms--a serial killer who is also out to get the $5 million and who suffers from mental disorders, but loves Florida history and trivia. He and his buddy Coleman wreck havoc across the State in search of the money.
This novel was entertaining and laugh out loud funny in some spots. It was also extremely violent and meandered all over the place before it came to a conclusion that left you wanting to read the next in the series. Mild overall recommendation.
Then there is Serge Storms--a serial killer who is also out to get the $5 million and who suffers from mental disorders, but loves Florida history and trivia. He and his buddy Coleman wreck havoc across the State in search of the money.
This novel was entertaining and laugh out loud funny in some spots. It was also extremely violent and meandered all over the place before it came to a conclusion that left you wanting to read the next in the series. Mild overall recommendation.
good read
The is the first of the Serge and Coleman novels and it doesn't disappoint. Readers are taken on a wild ride with a Satan-worshipping band, biker gang rejects and cocaine.
This is the first book I have read from this author, and I must say it is quite a hoot. Murder and mayhem everywhere, but it's humorous and engaging.
