Sick Puppy

By ELIZABETH GLEICK

Twilly Spree has problems managing his anger--he blew up his uncle's bank--and he's hot on the trail of Palmer Stoat, a lugubrious Florida lobbyist who made the mistake of littering in Spree's presence. Throw in a spineless Governor, a sleazy real estate deal, a beautiful but dissatisfied young wife (that would be Mrs. Palmer Stoat), a thug named Mr. Gash and the eponymous ill canine, and you've got the ingredients for a hilarious novel that moves as quickly as untouched Florida shoreline is vanishing. Hiaasen's brand of storytelling--a blend of social satire, thriller and investigative journalism--owes as much to Tom Wolfe as it does to Quentin Tarantino. Or do they owe him? No matter. It's hard not to have a good time with this one.

--By Elizabeth Gleick