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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780446615129
ISBN number: 0446615129
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 512
Printing Date: May 01, 2006
Publishing house: Grand Central Publishing
Sale Popularity Level: 18489
Studio: Grand Central Publishing
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Product Description:
Charles 'Chaz' Perrone fancies himself a take-charge kind of guy. So when this 'biologist by default' suspects that his curvaceous wife, Joey, has stumbled onto a profitable pollution scam he's running on behalf of Florida agribusiness mogul Red Hammernut, he sets out right away to solve the problem--by heaving Joey off the deck of a luxury cruise liner and into the Atlantic Ocean, far from Key West. But--whoops!--Joey, a former swimming champ, doesn't drown. Instead, as Carl Hiaasen tells in his 10th adult novel, Skinny Dip, she makes her way back to shore, thanks both to a wayward bale of Jamaican marijuana and lonerish ex-cop Mick Stranahan (Skin Tight, 1989), and then launches a bogus blackmail campaign that's guaranteed to drive her lazy, libidinous hubby into a self-protective frenzy.You've got to hand it to Hiaasen: He's perfected a formula for crisply written, satirical crime fiction that makes the best use of imaginatively repulsive villains, as well as less thoroughly venal scoundrels and victims who ultimately overcome their antagonists, all while stumping for the preservation of Florida's environment, particularly the Everglades. In Skinny Dip, we find Chaz (who'd rather be golfing than puttering around the 'hot, buggy, funky-smelling and treacherous' reaches of nature) falsifying water samples to help Hammernut turn the 'Glades into 'God's septic tank.' That scheme, though, is endangered not just by Joey's sudden disappearance, but by the suspicions of a python-loving police detective and Chaz's own outstanding inability to tame his Viagra-enhanced tumescence. Even by assigning Chaz a baby-sitter--the hulking, hirsute, and painkiller-addicted Tool--Hammernut can't keep his pet biologist out of trouble. As Joey and Stranahan unfold their revenge plot, and Tool's conscience grows in competition with Chaz's ego, the reader can only marvel at the extent of the train wreck ahead.As much fun as Hiaasen has delivering Chaz his climactic comeuppance, what's missing from Skinny Dip is a more complex, more credible development of Mick Stranahan's character and the relationship he builds with the much younger Joey Perrone. Like Erin Grant, fromStrip Tease, Joey has far more going for her than her bra-cup size; but 'hero' Stranahan is of far less interest here than any of his fellow players. --J. Kingston Pierce
Amazon.com:
Charles 'Chaz' Perrone fancies himself a take-charge kind of guy. So when this 'biologist by default' suspects that his curvaceous wife, Joey, has stumbled onto a profitable pollution scam he's running on behalf of Florida agribusiness mogul Red Hammernut, he sets out right away to solve the problem--by heaving Joey off the deck of a luxury cruise liner and into the Atlantic Ocean, far from Key West. But--whoops!--Joey, a former swimming champ, doesn't drown. Instead, as Carl Hiaasen tells in his 10th adult novel, Skinny Dip, she makes her way back to shore, thanks both to a wayward bale of Jamaican marijuana and lonerish ex-cop Mick Stranahan (Skin Tight, 1989), and then launches a bogus blackmail campaign that's guaranteed to drive her lazy, libidinous hubby into a self-protective frenzy.
You've got to hand it to Hiaasen: He's perfected a formula for crisply written, satirical crime fiction that makes the best use of imaginatively repulsive villains, as well as less thoroughly venal scoundrels and victims who ultimately overcome their antagonists, all while stumping for the preservation of Florida's environment, particularly the Everglades. In Skinny Dip, we find Chaz (who'd rather be golfing than puttering around the 'hot, buggy, funky-smelling and treacherous' reaches of nature) falsifying water samples to help Hammernut turn the 'Glades into 'God’s septic tank.' That scheme, though, is endangered not just by Joey's sudden disappearance, but by the suspicions of a python-loving police detective and Chaz's own outstanding inability to tame his Viagra-enhanced tumescence. Even by assigning Chaz a baby-sitter--the hulking, hirsute, and painkiller-addicted Tool--Hammernut can't keep his pet biologist out of trouble. As Joey and Stranahan unfold their revenge plot, and Tool's conscience grows in competition with Chaz's ego, the reader can only marvel at the extent of the train wreck ahead.
As much fun as Hiaasen has delivering Chaz his climactic comeuppance, what's missing from Skinny Dip is a more complex, more credible development of Mick Stranahan's character and the relationship he builds with the much younger Joey Perrone. Like Erin Grant, from Strip Tease, Joey has far more going for her than her bra-cup size; but 'hero' Stranahan is of far less interest here than any of his fellow players. --J. Kingston Pierce
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Although not the very first one written, this is the very first one I read. Again - stranded at an airport. It's interesting and made me laugh. The characters are so unbelivably unbelievable! I could've done without all the Florida preservationist hooplah, but a great, funny read, nevertheless.
Rated by buyers 
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This was my very first Hiaasen. Gotta say, I was captured from the very first paragraph. Really, get out of your robe (or even better, stay in it) and go to the bookstore right now and read that opening page. You'll thank me later.
I've seen some other reviews citing that our lead good guy here isn't as compelling or developed as he should be. Perhaps, but I didn't have a problem with that. He is more of an action-based character anyway and Hiaasen generally focuses this tale around the bad guy, Chaz. And Yow! what a great depiction of that doofus. Hilarious!
Hiaasen writes well with simple language that gets straight to the point quickly and effectively. His pacing is great and the man is just a crack up to read. To break up some of your more serious dramatic fiction, Skinny Dip is a perfect answer.
Rated by buyers 
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This is a funny, comical novel about a selfish, arrogant biologist (said loosely) name Chaz, who pushes his wife, Joey, off a cruise ship because he thinks she's figured out he has been doctoring water samples from the Everglades he tests for his job with a local farm. What he doesn't know is, she doesn't die. She is rescued by a former cop, Mick, who is living on an island off the coast. Joey decides she wants to seek revenge on her husband and recruits Mick to help her. Add to the mix Chaz's girlfriend, Ricca, the investigating detective, Karl, and the bodyguard/babysitter, Tool and you have yourself a slapstick comedy. I enjoyed this book. It is full of wit and humour with a little bit of political rant regarding the protection of the Everglades. It was subtle enough to not take away from the enjoyment of the novel. I recommend this and may try another one of Hiaasen's novels.
Rated by buyers 
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Carl Hiassen's latest blend of satire and crime fiction is no better or worse than his previous efforts. It's basically more of the same. Same cast of loveable losers, including the noxious cad, the thug with a heart of gold and the feisty, sexy woman who is really a man's fantasy. Same loose plotting and topical environmental themes. Same overbearing, ironic humour that undermines Hiassen's occasional attempts at poignancy. The biggest problem with "Skinny Dip" is that it never picks up steam after a semi-interesting "woman left for dead" premise. The most entertaining character in this revenge fantasy is the hapless, much put-upon bad guy. The other players remain types. If you want taut, crisp crime fiction with bite, pick up any novel by Elmore Leonard or by Hiassen's fellow Floridian Charles Willeford.
Rated by buyers -
If you have ever wanted to get even with an ex-boy friend or ex-husband, this book will give you some laughs. Although Chaz does enough damage to himself with his own stupidity. Mick Stanahan helps Joey understand why her husband Chaz tried to kill her. Then there is Ricca the hairdresser and Chaz's sidekick, who ends up with a thirty-eight-caliber hole in her leg and dumped in the swamp only to be saved by a Vietnam vet with one eye and I'll let you read the end to see how Chaz feels about meeting this same character. This is a fun/fast read, great to take on a vacation.
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