When Palmer Stoat notices the black pickup truck following him on the highway, he fears his precious Range Rover is about to be carjacked. But Twilly Spree, the man tailing Stoat, has vengeance, not sport-utility vehicles, on his mind. Idealistic, independently wealthy and pathologically short-tempered, Twilly has dedicated himself to saving Florida's wilderness from runaway destruction. He favors unambiguous political statements -- such as torching Jet-Skis or blowing up banks -- that leave his human targets shaken but re-educated.
After watching Stoat blithely dump a trail of fast-food litter out the window, Twilly decides to teach him a lesson. Thus, Stoat's prized Range Rover becomes home to a horde of hungry dung beetles. Which could have been the end to it had Twilly not discovered that Stoat is one of Florida's cockiest and most powerful political fixers, whose latest project is the "malling" of a pristine Gulf Coast island. Now the real Hiaasen-variety fun begins . . .
Dognapping eco-terrorists, bogus big-time hunters, a Republicans-only hooker, an infamous ex-governor who's gone back to nature, thousands of singing toads and a Labrador retriever greater than the sum of his Labrador parts -- these are only some of the denizens of Carl Hiaasen's outrageously funny new novel.
Brilliantly twisted entertainment wrapped around a powerful ecological plea, Sick Puppy gleefully lives up to its title and gives us Hiaasen at his riotous and muckraking best.
Toni H. (ajsmommy) from TRINITY, FL wrote on 10/1/2008...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I had never read any of Carl Hiaasen's books, but picked this one up on a flight and enjoyed the read. I live in Florida, and am familiar with many scene settings in this book. It was quite humorous, with just enough peculiarity to keep you interested! Definitely NOT for younger readers, as there is some language and situations that are completely adult. I will definitely pick up another book by Mr. Hiaasen whenever I need a good laugh.
Classic Carl Hiaasen! Characters, situations and plot are offbeat to bizarre, but really entertaining.
K. K. from ZELLWOOD, FL wrote on 3/27/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Raucous and plain funny.
Artie B. (Artiebee) from MARSEILLES, IL wrote on 2/20/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Carl Hiaasen at his best. Includes republican hookers, millionaires with a Barbie fetish. Illustrates the money hungry power brokers that have come to dominate southwest Florida these days. And the labrador is the hero of the story.
Carrie H. from PFLUGERVILLE, TX wrote on 2/16/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Hilarious. He's a terrorist, but Twilly terrorizes people who hurt the environment, like litterers.
Velvet V. from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote on 1/12/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Interesting read on enviromental issues in Florida.
Sandra F. (runcysmom) from ST PETERSBURG, FL wrote on 11/3/2006...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is the funniest Carl Hiaasen book I have ever read. I laughed all the way through it. I kind of hate to give it up in case I want to read it again.
Kelly S. (paygirlkhs) from MINNEAPOLIS, MN wrote on 9/18/2006...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book is a typically well written Hiaasen novel. I enjoyed the story line but some of the characters seemed too far fetched. It is a very quick read and worth the day between the covers.
Kim W. from RUSHVILLE, NY wrote on 9/14/2006...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The title says it all when descibing the characters in this book. Made you laugh and how extreme they really were. Makes you wonder about some people and the state of Florida. Good Read
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Barbara M. (LadyExplicate) from NEW YORK, NY wrote on 2/7/2008...
Another great one! Carl Hiaasen writes some of the funniest mysteries I've ever read. I have to concur with the reviewer who noted that he should really be thought of as a satirist. It would not be unusual to find yourelf laughing out loud as you read any of his books. They all take place in Florida, and he must have a monopoly on the greatest number of weirdos to ever populate one work. How he manages to do this continually is amazing. Try one and, promise, you'll be hooked!
AN ECO=TERRORIST WITH A TRUST FUND, TWILLY SPREE IS TAILING A LITTERBUG IN A PURPLE RANGE ROVER WOTH PLATES THAT READ COJONES. BEFORE HE KNOWS IT, SPREE IS UP TO HIS COJONES IN CORRUPT FLORIDA POLITICOS & SOME VERY SICK PUPPIES, INCLUDING A TOYOTA SALESMAN TURNEED GOVERNOR, A REPUBLICANS-ONLY HOOKER, AND A MILLIONAIRE DEVELOPER WITH A FETISH FOR BARBIES,
ZANY...A FROLICKING SEND-UP OF ECOLOGICAL SUBTERFUGE, FLORIDA'S FABLED POLITICS, AND DOWNRIGHT HUMAN FOIBLES.
Maxine M. (MaxM) from HOLIDAY ISLE, AR wrote on 4/18/2007...
love his books! another good one
Linda S. from OAKLAND, CA wrote on 4/6/2007...
Too funny.
Gloria B. from TROY, MT wrote on 3/29/2007...
Funny funny book.
Alan W. from TRAPPE, MD wrote on 3/18/2007...
Very enjoyable read. If you need something light and a bit amusing, this is the one to pick!
Lori K. (WaterOtter) from ROCKPORT, TX wrote on 2/14/2007...
Hilarious as usual! - MMP
Rebecca T. (Thack) from MILFORD, PA wrote on 2/12/2007...
A funny quick read -- typical Hiasen that shouldn't be missed!
Mary P. from ROUND LK BCH, IL wrote on 2/8/2007...
An eco-terrorist with a trust fund, Twilly Spree is tailing a litterbug in a pruple Range Rover with plates that read COJONES. Before he knows it, Spree is up to his cojones in corrupt Florida politicos and some very sick puppies, including a Toyota salesman turned governon, a Republicans-only hooker and a millionaire developer with a fetish for Barbies. But when Spree learns that the fate of on unspoiled island is a stake, he's determined not to be outdone. While defending the toads of Toad Island-not to mention one cheerfully oblivious Labrador-he'll steal a man's wife, gouge out the eyes of big game trophies and even risk his life two or three times in this story
Eloise S. from TOLEDO, OH wrote on 2/4/2007...
An eco-terrorist with a trust fund,Twilly Spree is tailing a litterbug in a purple Range Rover with plates that read "cojones"Before he knows it,Spree is up to his cojones in corrupt Florida politicosand somevery sick puppies.