Hurricane Punch

so this book is the first book I read in the Tim Dorsey series, of Serge A storms the serial killer and his pot smoking, mescaline snorting friend Coleman. who as you find out in the series got the name Coleman because his dad shoved him in a Coleman cooler, when he was a kid bugging him during a football game. to give you an idea of how goofy the series is. it can get dark but it's also very very funny. now the series is characterized by hilarity and Rube Goldberg sort of contractions and devices that kill people. for example one guy was cooked in a cooler using MRE meal heaters. another guy was killed by being in a giant guitar Amp the size of a house or hotel. I'm not going to go into the story any more than that then just to say it is literally hilarious how they die. they're always bad people usually serial killers, child molesters and rapists Etc and some of the later series they go after people who swindled people out of their money. people who try to Rob old people and various themes on that. Assassin's, Hit man, mafia bosses drug dealers and more I'm just saying in the words of agent Mahoney a character who got a little bit too far inside of sergey's Noggin, and went a tad bit crazy. okay a lot crazy but you get the point '' '' the odds of Sergei escaping things are astronomical but he's so crazy he doesn't even know there are odds''

Many might say, "How can you give 5 Stars to a Tim Dorsey novel?" If I enjoyed relaxing with a Bodice-Ripper,chances are, I would not be attracted to Tim Dorsey and should not be writing a review of his work.There are certain authors who become your favorites. Tim Dorsey is one of those for me. His books cause the reader to suspend reality whilst he weaves his self-medicated protagonist/in and out of time and place, but rarely out of Florida.The humor is dark with Serge or slapstick with Coleman.Often favorite authors run out of material. Dorsey has Florida. Carl Haissen's Florida. A State with a crazy history and crazier present. Hurricane Punch is one more adventure for Serge and a humorous, historic and high speed novel in Tim Dorsey style.

"No Stems, no seeds, I'm a pig in slop" say the character Coleman in "Hurricane Punch" and the same can be said for the reader of this twisted tale. The best books in Tim Dorsey's Serge A. Storms series are those where the humor is in high gear and the plot contrivances simple and straightforward. This text is a prime example of that formula!"Hurricane Punch" opens with a great letter to the editor that Serge writes. Within a few pages you know this text is better than some previous efforts in this series. Dorsey brings back noir detective Agent Mahoney and I enjoy the little details Dorsey includes to round out this character. We are also introduced to a new character, Jeff McSwirley, a sensitive wimpy crime beat reporter who cries incessantly about the events he reports. Dorsey uses both of these characters in a clever way in the text.A thread in "Hurricane Punch" is that 44 year old Serge is undergoing a midlife crisis. The midlife crisis includes a religious search that is hysterical. Serge searches for a belief system that he can buy into, and his journey is a highlight of the novel. Plus, it actually makes some interesting points to boot. Serge's journey also includes an encounter with him returning to the Catholic Church, and Serge's confession (128-131 in the book) is brilliantly funny! Laugh out loud. Again, Dorsey seamlessly weaves this plot twist into the larger story outline in a satisfying manner.An interesting observation about this series (this is the ninth book) is that as it progresses Serge is becoming a man who has a rather high moral code, almost an idealistic one. Yet he can be very unstable, and is a serial killer. It is weird to root for a killer to escape detection, but you find yourself doing just that. Dorsey has given Serge boundless energy and enthusiasm for life, and it is joyful to read. The novel even ends with Serge exclaiming, "Remember the key to life...always act like you deserve to be here.""Hurricane Punch" will increase your laugher and joy, and thus it is a fun read and a great choice for the pool or beach. FYI: The 4 star rating is in comparison to books in a similar vein, not to literature as a whole.

Love Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms books. His humor & writing style are excellent. After reading the first I could not wait to read the whole series to see what adventures Serge, Coleman & the other characters would get into.

Okay, this is a highly biased review. I own twelve copies of Dorsey's books. Nine published editions and three purloined pre-published editions. And someday, I'll do a complete index so that each of us can search back to find specific characters or antics in the life of one Serge A, Storms.A long while back, I wondered aloud whether Tim Dorsey could sustain his main character. Well, the wonder is over, at least for Hurricane Punch, Dorsey's ninth book (lessee... The original, a prequel, and 7 sequels). And in my humble opinion, Dorsey has returned home - Florida - where Serge characters abound and seem to "fit right in." Where hurricanes are a fact of life (and death).Seems tho we got ourselves an imposter calling himself "Eye of the Storm". Serge complains but Agent Mahoney, just released from the booby-hatch, teams up with McSwirley, a Tampa reporter who can't stop crying over spilt blood, is convinced Serge is behind all the mayhem. Meanwhile Serge has a new game - driving in the eye of hurricanes. And picking up wenches along the way. And offing guys the old Serge way. Ingeniously. Coleman, still working the booze and drug circuit, thinks Serge's losing his touch. Getting old. 44. And that's almost 50. And that's almost 60! Maturing. Mellowing. And what about Party Parrot, you ask! Don't ask.Personal opinion. Hurricane Punch is Dorsey's best book since Orange Crush.Final thought: Remember the thriller, Das Boot? Remember how you were warned NOT TO READ THE LAST PAGE BEFORE YOU GOT THERE? If you're a Floridian, or if you are a devotee of the nonsense going on in this nonsensical state, whatever you do, DON'T READ THE LAST PAGE BEFORE YOU GET THERE!

Dorsey’s Serge Storms’ novels are always a zany rollercoaster ride of cartoonish violence and madcap behaviour underlain with a dose of suspect moral philosophy – yes, Serge does terrible, imaginative things to his victims but there’s a logic and natural justice to his actions; though the ultimate price is rarely what most might consider the ‘right’ punishment. In Hurricane Punch he interweaves five main plotlines – storm chasing during a particularly bad hurricane season, his duel with a copycat serial killer, a cop beat journalist’s slow breakdown as he covers murders, the rivalry between competing media outlets, and federal agent Maloney’s attempt to capture Serge. The result is a fast moving tale of madness, destruction, rivalries, and parody of the news industry, that is often amusing and sometimes poignant. As usual the story is peppered with Florida trivia and history. The characterisation is well done, the dialogue snappy, and the plot engaging. As with most comic crime capers realism takes a backseat for much of the time enabling Dorset to set up some great scenes and to twist the tale along. There are a couple of odd moments with the timeline, but overall this is good fun, with some nice observational asides.

To start with, if you are a fan of Serge and Coleman's adventures then you will love this, it's one of the best Tim has put out. If you are new to this series then you will love this book but some of the references may be new. Don't let that put you off though, this is a rollicking good read, action from start to finish with the usual Dorsey mix of mayhem, madness and men with guns.The reason this book stands out in the series is the dialogue. The interplay between Serge, Coleman and whoever is unlucky enough to be with them at any time is wonderful. You can really feel this conversation going on and even see the facial expressions and body language.read this book. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll probably make a cocktail.

I first stumbled across a Tim Dorsey Book Featuring Serge Storms in a charity shop on holiday a few years ago and I am so glad I did. Serge Storms is a serial killer who turns out to be one of the good guys! He has some very inventive ways of disposing of some of society's undesirables. I would consider Tim Dorsey to be the American equivalent of Tom Sharpe - outrageous and funny. I look forward to the next installment.

My first Serge Storms adventure but not my last. Agreeably off the wall, original and entertaining. A wacky road trip - loved it.

This book had me laughing out loud on the bus and getting weird stares from other people.If you are looking for a similar experience, I recommend it fully.