general

After you read this book, go try to summarize some of the humorous parts to a friend ... you'll be laughing and they'll stare at you (and calling you sick and twisted). It's just not the same when you try to explain it.

But it is indeed funny. I wouldn't say it's "dark" and its defiantly not a "mystery thriller" (as I've wrongly heard it described), but it defiantly laughable ... humor, sex, peculiar (yet funny) deaths, a spoof of Geraldo Hererra, a weed whacker, vanity and liposuction, and a funny single man who lives on the beach as the main character.

It's a fast paced, fast and funny read ... I'd recommend it, and since it'll only take you a weekend to read it, you might as well.

This is an extremely entertaining book filled with great quotes and interesting characters. The plot builds as it goes along and the mystery of who's trying to kill who all comes to a clear conclusion.

So what's wrong? The problem is that all of the characters are flat. None of them go beyond a couple sentences of descriptions. The main character, what'shisface swamp guy, is utterly superhuman. He can do everything, know everything, and even when he gets hurt, he's still Superman(TM). After a while, you start to lose a bit of anticipation because you KNOW he'll do everything right and will come out on top with nary a scratch. He's never really challenged by anyone in this book.

Don't get me wrong. You won't regret reading it, because it's very funny and well-plotted. But protagonist's lack of depth was an annoyance.

Sleazy plastic surgeons- stupid criminals- insanely vacuous socialites- all are at home in the South Florida that belongs to Carl Hiaasen.

I love his dark humor and eccentric casts of characters- Skin Tight stands out as a keeper on my bookshelf and one I come back to reread for the fun of it. The energy, pacing , characters all come to life in vivid detail and the situations folks get into--- well I don't understand why all of Hiaasen's books have not adapted to the big screen. At least Nip/Tuck has the flavor of Skin Tight in a wild cable series.