Somebody wants Mick Stranahan dead. Mick is sure of this, because he just had to dispatch a pistol-packing intruder with the help of a stuffed marl...
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Oct 06, 2007
Larry
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Carl Hiaasen's books are uniformly fun. The good guys win and the bad guys get what they deserve. They are well worth the reading--and the occasional rereading.
Hiaasen's detective/adventure/action/humor books feature unlikely heros and unlikely--but possible--situations. They are set in a Florida which seems like the perfect place to steal an election on TV.
Skin Tight is one of the better ones. Mick Stranahan just wants to be left alone, but it seems he just can't relax More...
Hiaasen's detective/adventure/action/humor books feature unlikely heros and unlikely--but possible--situations. They are set in a Florida which seems like the perfect place to steal an election on TV.
Skin Tight is one of the better ones. Mick Stranahan just wants to be left alone, but it seems he just can't relax More...
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Oct 13, 2011
Francis
rated it:
Ok, this was my first Carl Hiaasen book. So, after reading a couple of chapters, I'm thinking, it's just another typical seventies kind of detective story. Just another writer acting out a testosterone fantasy. Featuring another tough, macho, independent loner who fights large mean disfigured criminals, while standing knee deep in dead bodies and naked women.
But, this guy is a little too eccentric, a little bit, too loose of a cannon. And the sociopath is a little too psychotic and hi More...
But, this guy is a little too eccentric, a little bit, too loose of a cannon. And the sociopath is a little too psychotic and hi More...
Jun 14, 2009
Ezra
rated it: 
I really enjoyed reading this book but it was a little to cliche. The actual content was one i have read before especially the lines. Skin Tight is about an ex detective type man who is wanted dead by a plastic surgeon who in the past kills a woman during her surgery. The big gist is that he wants to be left alone and will do anything and everything to do so. What i liked alot about the novel were the characters (too funny). Each were their own personality and had nothing in common with one anot
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Aug 22, 2011
Scott
rated it:
If you believe that Florida is the sewer where a majority of the country's human waste ends up, you'll love Carl Hiaasen. A former police reporter for the Miami Herald, Hiaasen clearly has a love-hate relationship with the state he resides in. Mostly hate. But he shares his vitriolic with a smile and laughter. It is hard not to laugh at the inanity of most of the criminals in his books. In "Skin Tight", for example, an incompetent hit-man loses an arm from a barracuda attack, and inste
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Nov 15, 2011
Christina
rated it:
Carl Hiaasen masterfully creates another mystery, adventure packed novel with charismatic characters you can’t help but laugh at. Mick Stranahan, a former Florida state investigator, is in grave danger seeing that most of everyone he comes in contact with is trying to kill him. In one instance he uses a stuffed marlin to defend himself against a man with a pistol. Hiaasen is able to put a comical flair onto his murder mysteries and give it the essence of a light-read. This is a great technique t
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Aug 10, 2009
Alex
rated it:
By now, I'm pretty used to the Carl Hiassen formula: a neurotic hero, a cast of cynical, corrupt, and grotesque characters--including one who normally ends up disfigured in some way--and a multi-layered plot which normally ends in a late-night rendezvous somewhere in the Florida wilderness. Who cares if it's not Shakespeare, and he rarely deviates from it--it's damn entertaining.
This is probably one of his best. The plot is especially inventive and creative in the way it layers mutli More...
This is probably one of his best. The plot is especially inventive and creative in the way it layers mutli More...
Sep 30, 2009
Davis
rated it: 
If you are a Hiaasen fan, this book will not disappoint you. If you have never read one of his books, this is a wonderful place to start. Carl Hiaasen is one of my favorite comedic authors. His brand of humor is over the top and will keep you laughing all of the way. Carl Hiaasen has been an inspiration to me as an author of comedic books!
In order to enjoy this book, you need to have an appreciation for dark humor which is satire at its best. His characters are zany and the scenarios More...
In order to enjoy this book, you need to have an appreciation for dark humor which is satire at its best. His characters are zany and the scenarios More...
Jan 06, 2009
Janelle
rated it:
Carl Hiaasen's works are usually very funny, intelligent, witty, creative, with a happy ending. What could you want more from an entertaining lite read? The imaginative characters, the adventure, the great use of irony and sarcasm, he keeps you guessing how things could possibly all work out for the best, and they do in his books which I like. I always find good qualities to admire in his heros, and can easily despise the villians, cheering when they meet their demise...in whatever creative f
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Sep 30, 2008
Christy
rated it:
This was a fun book to read and didn't take much brain power. It is a little different from other crime novels that I have read because it has a darkly comical undertone. The characters are vivid if a bit cartoonish. I would reccomend this if you are looking for a light easy read with a little humor.
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May 31, 2009
Ruth
rated it:
This is the perfect kind of book for a teacher to read to escape from her end-of-year craziness. It's easy and trashy but there a spark somewhere in there that makes it fun. If somebody told: "Here, read this book- it's about a tough-guy ex-private investigator, a crooked plastic surgeon, an Omish hitman with a strange skin condition, and a slew of other weird and slightly offensive characters", I'd say "Umm, no thanks." But, I picked up this book b/c I have a weakness f
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Apr 04, 2009
Marvin
rated it:
What I learned from Skin Tight...
1. A stuffed marlin makes a good weapon.
2. A ex-Amish hit man with a weed whacker for an arm and a skin condition shouldn't be laughed at.
3. A fictional thinly disquised Geraldo Rivera is as lame as the real one.
4, I want to be Mick Stranahan (without all those people trying to kill him, of course).
5. Wood mulchers are good for mulching other things.
6. How a nose job could kill you.
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1. A stuffed marlin makes a good weapon.
2. A ex-Amish hit man with a weed whacker for an arm and a skin condition shouldn't be laughed at.
3. A fictional thinly disquised Geraldo Rivera is as lame as the real one.
4, I want to be Mick Stranahan (without all those people trying to kill him, of course).
5. Wood mulchers are good for mulching other things.
6. How a nose job could kill you.
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Nov 27, 2011
Beau
rated it: 
Had been reading a lot of crime fiction lately, and was looking for something else in that genre. I read the back of this book, and it sounded promising. Bizarre story, over the top characters, good stuff, right?
The problem was that the writing was awful. Many times I had to re-read paragraphs just to figure out what the author was trying to describe. This was most noticeable during action scenes where I'm sure the author had an idea that made sense in his head, but just could no More...
The problem was that the writing was awful. Many times I had to re-read paragraphs just to figure out what the author was trying to describe. This was most noticeable during action scenes where I'm sure the author had an idea that made sense in his head, but just could no More...
Feb 02, 2011
Don
rated it:
This is my 3rd Carl Hiaasen book (Skinny Dip, Sick Puppy). I was generally not impressed with the first two, but I can honestly say that Skin Tight had me engaged and laughing throughout the whole book. This book is in the typical Hiaasen style - where the good guys always win, even if they have to cross lines to do it. While Hiaasen is not a classic, award winning writer; I find his books to be light-hearted, easy reading that are also entertaining. His books are a good reprieve between hea
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Feb 06, 2012
Frank
rated it:
Another super Hiaasen novel full of wacky characters that inhabit South Florida. This is about the 5th Hiaasen I have read and I would have to say its one of the best. (Others I have read include Tourist Season, Double Whammy, Strip Tease, Lucky You). Hiaasen has a knack for coming up with characters that are so memorable. Chemo and his Weed-whacker prosthesis, the incompetent Dr. Graveline, and Reynaldo Flemm - the Geraldo-like journalist in seach of a scoop are unforgettable. Even though this
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Dec 08, 2010
Ron
rated it:
If you like Elmore Leonard and Nelson DeMille you'll love this book by Carl Hiaasen. The bodies are piling up but the humor keeps everything in check. Exciting action and sharp retorts from the characters makes this a very enjoyable read. We have a six foot nine inch killer with a pock-marked face who is trying to kill the good guys and at the same time trying to get dermabrasion on his face. There is the television talk show host who acts exactly like you would think they really do. Amazing
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Oct 16, 2008
J.S.
rated it:
Carl Hiaasen sometimes teeters back and forth between black humor and just plain black. His situations are occasionally too disturbing to be funny, or simply uncomfortable to read. However, with Skin Tight, he's found his balance (I haven't read many of his other novels, so maybe he's normally like this, but after this one, I'm bound to read more). The characters are all perfectly bizarre, and yet they manage to act like real human beings. Even the hit man burned in an electrolysis accident, who
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Dec 26, 2011
Jessica
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This is one of my favorite authors. Just love his nonchalant main character-Stranahan. There are always crazy Florida side characters revolving around the main character. Chemo, who has a weed whacker as a prosthesis and a crazy lazy money making plastic surgeon are just a few. It always has a sub-plot of love too. His books always make me want to visit Florida. His love of the nature of Florida always comes through. Skinny Dip is one of his funniest though if you haven't read any of his.
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Sep 15, 2011
Stuart
rated it:
For some reason, Hiaasen's books don't age very well. This is an excellent book, funny and memorable characters, detailed plot with just enough twists to make each chapter interesting. However, there are also just enough references to items of a topical nature that when reading it 15 or 20 years later (I think this was published in the early 90s) it just rings oddly. A little too graphic in parts as the story involves a plastic surgeon and mayhem ensues when people start looking into a missin
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May 23, 2011
Claudine
rated it:
I was suggested this book when I asked for more of the same when I ran out of Janet Evanovich numbers books...these writers from Florida all write about the same stuff... and I can appreciate that but there has to be some thing that really captures the reader too. I enjoyed this book because it is light and captivating read, not too descriptive and not too far out in left field, with a little bit of action, romance and good guy / bad guy plot.
Mar 26, 2009
this is my favorite book so far.
Mick's character is awsome and if he asked me to marry him after the first time sleeping together (which is what he has done with his preivous wives) i would be very tempted to say yes.
best part was when he ran the guy through with the stuffed marlin head in the beginning of the book.
definetly would recomend this book for anyone to read because it's brillent.
Mick's character is awsome and if he asked me to marry him after the first time sleeping together (which is what he has done with his preivous wives) i would be very tempted to say yes.
best part was when he ran the guy through with the stuffed marlin head in the beginning of the book.
definetly would recomend this book for anyone to read because it's brillent.
Dec 31, 2011
Dixie
rated it:
When I was first introduced to this author in our book club, I couldn't stand reading his books! I think this is about the 4th one I've read and I am finally finding him hilarious! Maybe it's because in a few short weeks we'll be vacationing again in Florida that makes it even funnier to me, or I've just lightened up when I read! I hope you find him as enjoyable as I do...now!
Aug 18, 2010
April
rated it: 
I finished this quickly, but wasn't all that impressed by the end. I kept reading because I've really liked some of his other books. I enjoy Hiaasen's 'younger' books, like Hoot, but his adult novels are kind of hit or miss. This one was written at the end of the 80's, so maybe that influenced it's tone quite a bit. There was a lot of unnecessary language, violence and nudity. Weird.
Jan 11, 2009
Jaime
rated it:
Carl Hiaasen creates the craziest characters. I would expect no other author to create an ex-Amish hit man with a horrible facial disfigurement and a weed whacker for a hand replacement, and make him believable. Unlike some of Hiaasen’s other novels, the situation here isn’t completely outrageous… just the cast (including Reynaldo Flemm, who is so obviously patterned after Geraldo Rivera in his early days of being attacked by white supremacists). Someone is trying to kill Mick Stranahan, and
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Sep 19, 2010
Mary
rated it:
This is more a man's book. There is a lot of violence (although most is humorous) and more action than characterization. It did keep my interest because one unbelievable event leads to another quickly. The hero is a "retired" private investigator who lives in a beach house in Miami. Crooked cops and seedy characters make me want to stay away from southern Florida.
Sep 03, 2009
Brian
rated it:
Great book! Hiaasen has created a wonderful character in Mick Stranahan. The humor in this book does seem a bit...angry, though. It is not a laugh-out-loud story, though there are some very funny sections. Go into it knowing that this is Hiaasen, it's set in Florida, there will be humor, but somehow, someway, someONE is going to suffer for man's $in$ again$t the land.
Apr 15, 2009
el_quijote
rated it:
Skin Tight
Carl Hiaasen
1989
Have you ever read a Carl Hiaasen novel? If not then this is a good one with which to start.
Hiaasen, once a reporter for the Miami Herald, has made a vocation out of writing humorous semi-mystery novels that tear the political and social fabric of South Florida wide open.
This is not a serious read. It is a rambunctious romp through life. Don’t expect to take anything away from this novel except an entertaining read and a More...
Carl Hiaasen
1989
Have you ever read a Carl Hiaasen novel? If not then this is a good one with which to start.
Hiaasen, once a reporter for the Miami Herald, has made a vocation out of writing humorous semi-mystery novels that tear the political and social fabric of South Florida wide open.
This is not a serious read. It is a rambunctious romp through life. Don’t expect to take anything away from this novel except an entertaining read and a More...
Dec 17, 2009
Thea
rated it:
This was my first introduction to Carl Hiaassen and it remains my favorite. I've re-read it several times and would recommend it to those who enjoy books that embrace a sarcastic and slightly jaded sense of humor, with a dash of mystery. Though characters and subplots seem divergent at first, they all come together for a great climax and conclusion. Hiaasen creates indelible characters that stick with you--my personal fave is the villian, Chemo. Many of Hiaasen's characters make cameos in his o
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Oct 06, 2011
Dave
rated it:
Hiassen over reaches himself and allows a bit too much cynicism to rule his humour. As he tries to exploit his dark comedic edge he drowns in its depths. I suspect this is due to formulaic pressures as his writing relies on rent-a-crowd characters as Hiassen has his own commedia dell arte crew.
Entertaining. Easy to read. Evocative of a Florida far away.
Wouldn't want to live there.
Entertaining. Easy to read. Evocative of a Florida far away.
Wouldn't want to live there.
Aug 16, 2011
Rick
rated it:
I gave this book five stars, not in the sense that one gives five stars for beautiful writing; but because it's hellaciously entertaining. The characters are unforgettable, serious and hilarious. The plot is very well envisioned. "Chemo" may be one of the strangest, dumbest and funniest uber villains I've ever read. It is the perfect summer beach read. I can't wait to get some more of Carl Hiaasens novels. "Happiness is a warm gun."
