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Key West #7
Welcome to Paradise
Before mild-mannered furniture salesman Al Tuschman left New Jersey for a week in Key West, he hadn't an enemy in the world. But a series of puzzling assaults on his privacy, his sanity, and his life has turned his stay at the tasteful Paradise Hotel into Tropical Hell. Maybe it's the humidity. Maybe the Sambuca. Or maybe it's the nickname emblazoned on his license Big Al.
For Big Al Marracotta, Mafia capo, a Florida getaway means outrunning a career in crime and rancid calamari. For Katy Sansone it's a bid for sunshine and self-respect--until a case of mistaken identity pits the confused woman against a bafflement of Als and more danger than any one of them had reason to pack for. Now, if Tuschman doesn't watch his back, somebody's going to be reporting the death of another salesman. . . .
For Big Al Marracotta, Mafia capo, a Florida getaway means outrunning a career in crime and rancid calamari. For Katy Sansone it's a bid for sunshine and self-respect--until a case of mistaken identity pits the confused woman against a bafflement of Als and more danger than any one of them had reason to pack for. Now, if Tuschman doesn't watch his back, somebody's going to be reporting the death of another salesman. . . .
238 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
235 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Laurence Shames
40 books239 followersLaurence Shames has been a New York City taxi driver, lounge singer, furniture mover, lifeguard, dishwasher, gym teacher, and shoe salesman. Having failed to distinguish himself in any of those professions, he turned to writing full-time in 1976 and has not done an honest day’s work since.
His basic laziness notwithstanding, Shames has published more than twenty books and hundreds of magazine articles and essays. Best known for his critically acclaimed series of Key West Capers--14 titles and counting!--he has also authored non-fiction and enjoyed considerable though largely secret success as a collaborator and ghostwriter. Shames has penned four New York Times bestsellers. These have appeared on four different lists, under four different names, none of them his own. This might be a record.
Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1951, to chain-smoking parents of modest means but flamboyant emotions, Shames did not know Philip Roth, Paul Simon, Queen Latifa, Shaquille O’Neal, or any of the other really cool people who have come from his hometown. He graduated summa cum laude from NYU in 1972 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. As a side note, both his alma mater and honorary society have been extraordinarily adept at tracking his many address changes through the decades, in spite of the fact that he’s never sent them one red cent, and never will.
It was on an Italian beach in the summer of 1970 that Shames first heard the sacred call of the writer’s vocation. Lonely and poor, hungry and thirsty, he’d wandered into a seaside trattoria, where he noticed a couple tucking into a big platter of fritto misto. The man was nothing much to look at but the woman was really beautiful. She was perfectly tan and had a very fine-gauge gold chain looped around her bare tummy. The couple was sharing a liter of white wine; condensation beaded the carafe. Eye contact was made; the couple turned out to be Americans. The man wiped olive oil from his rather sensual lips and introduced himself as a writer. Shames knew in that moment that he would be one too.
He began writing stories and longer things he thought of as novels. He couldn’t sell them.
By 1979 he’d somehow become a journalist and was soon publishing in top-shelf magazines like Playboy, Outside, Saturday Review, and Vanity Fair. (This transition entailed some lucky breaks, but is not as vivid a tale as the fritto misto bit, so we’ll just sort of gloss over it.) In 1982, Shames was named Ethics columnist of Esquire, and also made a contributing editor to that magazine.
By 1986 he was writing non-fiction books. The critical, if not the commercial, success of these first established Shames’ credentials as a collaborator/ghostwriter. His 1991 national bestseller, Boss of Bosses, written with two FBI agents, got him thinking about the Mafia. It also bought him a ticket out of New York and a sweet little house in Key West, where he finally got back to Plan A: writing novels. Given his then-current preoccupations, the novels naturally featured palm trees, high humidity, dogs in sunglasses, and New York mobsters blundering through a town where people were too laid back to be afraid of them. But this part of the story is best told with reference to the books themselves, so please spend some time and explore them.
His basic laziness notwithstanding, Shames has published more than twenty books and hundreds of magazine articles and essays. Best known for his critically acclaimed series of Key West Capers--14 titles and counting!--he has also authored non-fiction and enjoyed considerable though largely secret success as a collaborator and ghostwriter. Shames has penned four New York Times bestsellers. These have appeared on four different lists, under four different names, none of them his own. This might be a record.
Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1951, to chain-smoking parents of modest means but flamboyant emotions, Shames did not know Philip Roth, Paul Simon, Queen Latifa, Shaquille O’Neal, or any of the other really cool people who have come from his hometown. He graduated summa cum laude from NYU in 1972 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. As a side note, both his alma mater and honorary society have been extraordinarily adept at tracking his many address changes through the decades, in spite of the fact that he’s never sent them one red cent, and never will.
It was on an Italian beach in the summer of 1970 that Shames first heard the sacred call of the writer’s vocation. Lonely and poor, hungry and thirsty, he’d wandered into a seaside trattoria, where he noticed a couple tucking into a big platter of fritto misto. The man was nothing much to look at but the woman was really beautiful. She was perfectly tan and had a very fine-gauge gold chain looped around her bare tummy. The couple was sharing a liter of white wine; condensation beaded the carafe. Eye contact was made; the couple turned out to be Americans. The man wiped olive oil from his rather sensual lips and introduced himself as a writer. Shames knew in that moment that he would be one too.
He began writing stories and longer things he thought of as novels. He couldn’t sell them.
By 1979 he’d somehow become a journalist and was soon publishing in top-shelf magazines like Playboy, Outside, Saturday Review, and Vanity Fair. (This transition entailed some lucky breaks, but is not as vivid a tale as the fritto misto bit, so we’ll just sort of gloss over it.) In 1982, Shames was named Ethics columnist of Esquire, and also made a contributing editor to that magazine.
By 1986 he was writing non-fiction books. The critical, if not the commercial, success of these first established Shames’ credentials as a collaborator/ghostwriter. His 1991 national bestseller, Boss of Bosses, written with two FBI agents, got him thinking about the Mafia. It also bought him a ticket out of New York and a sweet little house in Key West, where he finally got back to Plan A: writing novels. Given his then-current preoccupations, the novels naturally featured palm trees, high humidity, dogs in sunglasses, and New York mobsters blundering through a town where people were too laid back to be afraid of them. But this part of the story is best told with reference to the books themselves, so please spend some time and explore them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 27, 2021
Shames has a distinctive style, and a signature content. Mobsters from New York find laid-back Key West slow, tropical, and gullible. In this story, the mid-level mobster Big Al is on vacation with his sexy, smarter-than-him girlfriend. Also on vacation is a nice guy from Jersey with the nickname, Big Al. Misidentification happens, and Miami thugs go after the wrong Big Al.
Shames plays his plots for humor--mistakes are made, people try to be who they aren't, and the self-important are brought low. But his writing is more serious than fun, and very character-heavy. Characters share a lot of thoughts, and every object in every scene leads to a simile that makes Shames the master of what he does. Much of the author's humor is a mix of sympathy for human failing, coupled with a wistful smile for the inevitability of greed, jealousy, and dishonesty. His characters are alive, and they can't fail to screw up, or be redeemed.
Here, the plot has a lovely surprise twist at the very end.
Shames plays his plots for humor--mistakes are made, people try to be who they aren't, and the self-important are brought low. But his writing is more serious than fun, and very character-heavy. Characters share a lot of thoughts, and every object in every scene leads to a simile that makes Shames the master of what he does. Much of the author's humor is a mix of sympathy for human failing, coupled with a wistful smile for the inevitability of greed, jealousy, and dishonesty. His characters are alive, and they can't fail to screw up, or be redeemed.
Here, the plot has a lovely surprise twist at the very end.
November 9, 2019
Vanity plates can be dangerous to your health!
Alan Tuschman, furniture salesman extraordinaire wins a trip to the Paradise Hotel in Key West for top sales in dinettes; Big Al Marracotta, Mafia captain, decides to vacation in Key West with his girlfriend and dog. Big Al Marracotta’s New York license plate is “Big Al”; Alan Tuschman’s New Jersey one is “Big Al”. And so begins the hilarious case of mistaken identity when Chop and Sid the Squid decide to make Big Al’s life a living hell. Throw in Big Al’s girlfriend, Katy who crosses paths with the other Al, and it just may be that only one Al survives.
Welcome to Paradise is another fun Key West Caper from author Laurence Shames with great characters and vivid descriptions. Find out what happens to the two Als and as an added bonus, the answer to this question: what would fifty pounds of spoiled calamari do to the interior of a Lexus?
Alan Tuschman, furniture salesman extraordinaire wins a trip to the Paradise Hotel in Key West for top sales in dinettes; Big Al Marracotta, Mafia captain, decides to vacation in Key West with his girlfriend and dog. Big Al Marracotta’s New York license plate is “Big Al”; Alan Tuschman’s New Jersey one is “Big Al”. And so begins the hilarious case of mistaken identity when Chop and Sid the Squid decide to make Big Al’s life a living hell. Throw in Big Al’s girlfriend, Katy who crosses paths with the other Al, and it just may be that only one Al survives.
Welcome to Paradise is another fun Key West Caper from author Laurence Shames with great characters and vivid descriptions. Find out what happens to the two Als and as an added bonus, the answer to this question: what would fifty pounds of spoiled calamari do to the interior of a Lexus?
October 3, 2025
This is the seventh in the Key West series.
Al, a tough New York mobster heads south for a vacation with his stunning girlfriend in tow. His temporary replacement back in the NY fish market wants to ruin Al’s vacation, and hires a couple guys to dog him.
Another Al, a furniture salesman from New Jersey, wins a week-long vacation for selling the most dinettes in a month. He just wants a simple break from work. The inept gangsters in Key West get the two Al’s mixed up, and the furniture salesman is soon besieged with disasters involving fish.
The creativity of the inept harassers makes this another fun read.
Al, a tough New York mobster heads south for a vacation with his stunning girlfriend in tow. His temporary replacement back in the NY fish market wants to ruin Al’s vacation, and hires a couple guys to dog him.
Another Al, a furniture salesman from New Jersey, wins a week-long vacation for selling the most dinettes in a month. He just wants a simple break from work. The inept gangsters in Key West get the two Al’s mixed up, and the furniture salesman is soon besieged with disasters involving fish.
The creativity of the inept harassers makes this another fun read.
November 11, 2017
I'm sorry to say but this one just didn't cut it. I was bored with the cliche characters and the ending was just too obvious! Fun, but not enough fun!
April 13, 2021
What a hoot! This little paperback passed along to me was better than expected. I was unfamiliar with Laurence Shames, but will read more. In the tradition of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, this goofy humor is the perfect antidote to the seriousness of today's world. It's set in sunny Key West, where innocent and unsuspecting former New Jersey football star Al Tuschman won a not-necessarily-desired vacation for being top salesman at his furniture store. At the same time, mafioso Big Al Marracotta, left oversight of the New York fish market in the hands of an underling and headed to Key West with Katy, his latest moll, for his first vacation in many years. Nicky, who had been removed from running the NY fish market and supplanted by Big Al, decided to send a couple of guys make Big Al's vacation miserable. Confusion intervened and hilarity ensued.
March 31, 2021
Laurence Shames' Key West books have just the right balance of serious crime novel and zaniness to keep me coming back for more. They're very well written, with a brisk pace and funny. For my money he compares very well with Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey, both of whom get a little too silly and unbelievable for me to want to read more than one in a good while.
This one centers around a case of mistaken identity where some seriously bad guys go after a poor innocent schlub instead of the mobster of the same nickname who's supposed to be their target. It's a fun book, perfect for reading on vacation.
This one centers around a case of mistaken identity where some seriously bad guys go after a poor innocent schlub instead of the mobster of the same nickname who's supposed to be their target. It's a fun book, perfect for reading on vacation.
December 21, 2021
Big Al Marracoto is a player in the New York City mafia. Big Al Tuschman is a furniture salesman in New Jersey. Their individual state license plates say 'Big Al'. They end up in Key West on vacation at the same time. The guys hired to annoy Big Al Marracoto, get their Big Al's confused. But all this is just a plate for Laurence Shames to serve up another fabulous meal of personalities, accents and plots that are like puzzle games. If you've never read any of Shames' books, treat yourself to any of them. Each is a fabulous treat. Note to author: Love the book but sure missed Bert the Shirt and his 4,000 year old dog. How are they doing?
July 6, 2022
Another Day in Paradise as they say in Key West. Big Al (2 of them ) are going to Fl. for vacations, what a mess when confusion arises among the pathetic grifters who try to bamboozle them with threats and violence. This is my 7th sequential book by Mr. Shames and as always, he does not disappoint. Great narrative, great characters who always come out with a pleasant ending (most that is) and wonderful descriptions of the same haunts of Key West, mornings, sunsets, and unusual characters coming sometime out of nowhere. Another crime caper that ends up on the final pages as always with a great ending. Thanks again Mr. Shames.
May 14, 2024
In our local used book store the alternate clerk (there are only two) pointed me to Laurence Shames when I asked for her recommendation for a light and humorous mystery to give my wife. She said there are a dozen or more in his Key West series and they are enjoyable reads, even though kinda lightweight. And they don’t need to be read in order. Perfect!
I’d bought four (or was it five?) volumes and we each chose one. As was suggested, it’s a light and fun read. I’ll read the ones we have then probably move on to genuine lunacy, e.g. Terry Pratchett or more grounded mysteries like Barbara Hambly’s Benjamin January series.
I’d bought four (or was it five?) volumes and we each chose one. As was suggested, it’s a light and fun read. I’ll read the ones we have then probably move on to genuine lunacy, e.g. Terry Pratchett or more grounded mysteries like Barbara Hambly’s Benjamin January series.
July 4, 2020
I liked Tropical Depression so well, I looked up more from Laurence Shames, but this one is not as good. I found it pretty depressing, actually. Too many characters are creepy and mean, and it's not much fun to read about the poor guy getting stalked for mistaken identity. Plus a very grim scene at the end.
I did enjoy some of the minor details- the guy named "Tony Eggs" cracked me up, for instance- just sounded like such a funny-perfect pretend gangster name.
Glad to see Shames has many others to choose from, and I expect to read more and give them higher reviews than this one.
I did enjoy some of the minor details- the guy named "Tony Eggs" cracked me up, for instance- just sounded like such a funny-perfect pretend gangster name.
Glad to see Shames has many others to choose from, and I expect to read more and give them higher reviews than this one.
June 9, 2017
Two Big Al's head off to Florida for a vacation. One is short, has a big dog and a leggy girlfriend and Mob connections. The other is tall, has a small dog and is only going on vacation at all because that's the prize he won for selling the most dinette suites at Kleiman's furniture in New Jersey. The both have vanity plates that say "BIG AL".
This was book #26 on our 2017 Read-alouds List.
This was book #26 on our 2017 Read-alouds List.
February 24, 2019
Yup... what I expect and not disappointed.
These are light reading books that don’t make you memorize large lists of characters. You can put it down for several days and not have to remember complex plots to get back in. That makes it fun reading and not a chore. If you like Key West and Wise Guys you’ve found your author.
These are light reading books that don’t make you memorize large lists of characters. You can put it down for several days and not have to remember complex plots to get back in. That makes it fun reading and not a chore. If you like Key West and Wise Guys you’ve found your author.
May 26, 2018
This is a great, fast, hilarious read and I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see what happened next. Totally the best beach read when you are in the great sunshine state of Florida while reading it. Love, love,loved it!
June 7, 2023
Funny but deadly
This was a good story about loose ends and dumb mobsters death by seafood and all the while it was salmonella funny ending in a drive in and respect to salesmen...ciao from Costa Rica..
This was a good story about loose ends and dumb mobsters death by seafood and all the while it was salmonella funny ending in a drive in and respect to salesmen...ciao from Costa Rica..
July 25, 2024
Vic's Review
Shames is a great story teller. The plot
was delicately contrived to create anxious hope for the good guys against simple minded ruthless mobsters. Good read. Ultimate enjoyable dark humor.
Shames is a great story teller. The plot
was delicately contrived to create anxious hope for the good guys against simple minded ruthless mobsters. Good read. Ultimate enjoyable dark humor.
July 3, 2025
This book in the series still had enjoyable characters and entertaining dialogue.
The story line was not as interesting as prior books, and I missed having at least one character in the story who was in a prior book, even if a cameo appearance.
On to the next in the series.
The story line was not as interesting as prior books, and I missed having at least one character in the story who was in a prior book, even if a cameo appearance.
On to the next in the series.
August 22, 2025
This was one of my favorites by this author. Ever since reading that first book in the series this has been my go to for silliness. This story has just the right balance of plot and wacky with a cute romance thrown into the mix.
January 15, 2018
A case of mistaken identity.
October 21, 2018
An easy light read. A good reading palate cleanser after a serious book.
April 25, 2021
So this was one was pretty heavy on the mafia stuff. Lots of humor etc and of course the obligatory romance.
June 29, 2021
Another amazing Key West caper! I just love how vivid the characters and the settings are!
August 15, 2021
That was fun
A great beach read. Crazy hit men. Mistaken identity. Key west. Two guts named big Al. I needed the laughs.
A great beach read. Crazy hit men. Mistaken identity. Key west. Two guts named big Al. I needed the laughs.
October 24, 2023
it’s the keys
Fun continue of the series. If you don’t believe , you’ve never lived there. Check it out. It’s fun. Yup
Fun continue of the series. If you don’t believe , you’ve never lived there. Check it out. It’s fun. Yup
November 15, 2023
Lots of fun as usual. Missed Bert the Shirt. Maybe next book.
Read
October 28, 2024(E) Totally cliche, but better than nothing. At least the ending was satisfying.
September 3, 2022
A fun mix of Mafia characters in a Key West setting. Listened to audio version which was narrated by one of my all time favorites Ron McLarty.
August 6, 2021
A fun book to read on vacation
Just what I needed. A light and fast read on the beach. Even though I knew where the story was going, I still enjoyed the story.
Just what I needed. A light and fast read on the beach. Even though I knew where the story was going, I still enjoyed the story.
January 1, 2025
No Bert the Shirt, but it's still a silly old time with the Mafia in Key West.
May 1, 2016
Al Tuschman, New Jersey furniture salesman, wins a trip to Key West. Big Al Marracotta, New York mobster, takes a vacation trip to Key West. Both their license tags read "Big Al." Probably not a good thing if you're a furniture salesman and there's a vendetta out against Big Al the mobster.
This was a mostly amusing book with intricate twists and turns, fun (if sometimes scary) characters, and excellent dialog. I dropped a star because I don't like the disrespectful way Shames treats the dogs. That's not amusing.
This was a mostly amusing book with intricate twists and turns, fun (if sometimes scary) characters, and excellent dialog. I dropped a star because I don't like the disrespectful way Shames treats the dogs. That's not amusing.
November 16, 2007
Seriously, as engaging as novels come... But this isn't a serious story. It's pure entertainment, and as zany as a tupperware bikini. Funny, well-written, poignant in parts and goofy in others, but it flows well throughout, has a twisting, intricate and well-developed plot, quirky but very human characters, excellent dialogue, and I dunno, what else is there? Until I read this book, I never really experienced just how much fun reading could be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews