Carl Hiaasen‘s latest largely abandons his usual environmental themes for a look at the culture of celebrity. If you like Hiaasen, all I need say is that both Skink and Chemo appear. Skink, former governor of Florida, is now a one-eyed hermit, who lives on road kill. Chemo’s a 6′ 9″, pockmarked ex-con with a short fuse and a weed whacker attached to the stump of one arm. Two of my favorite killers.

Mix in a talentless, out-of-control singer of the Britney ilk, and the actress who serves as her body double for the paparazzi, when the singer’s passed out drunk or otherwise wasted (it’s pretty steady work). The actress is the smart, funny attractive character Hiassen always includes among the slimeballs, tho it’s usually a guy. There’s also a paparazzi, into whose ear Charlie Sheen once peed, who kidnaps the actress, thinking she’s the singer. He wants a series of photos, since she’ll be a hot commodity once she dies, which he figures will be any day now.

Hiaasen delivers his usual over-the-top fun in his first adult novel since 2006′s Nature Girl. --John

From ICPL Staff Picks Blog