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I didn't discover Carl Hiaasen in the early 1990s; by then, he had already penned some classics -- TOURIST SEASON, DOUBLE WHAMMY, just to name a few. I've eagerly devouring his novels ever since. A Carl Hiaasen book is almost always wacky, biting, and brilliantly inventive. However, even the best comic wit can dull with time, and a few of Hiaasen's more recent books have started to show such signs. So it was with a little trepidation that I started reading SKINNY DIP. I am very happy to report, however, that my fears were not justified. SKINNY DIP is a great read. The story opens with the heroine falling off the side of a cruise ship. Joey Perrone is not a romantic. She knows that her marriage to Chaz isn't everything she thought it would be. But as she has a string of failed relationships behind her, she is willing to make it work. Since Chaz, her biologist husband hasn't given her any indication that he feels differently, it's something of a surprise then, when he tosses her overboard on their second anniversary. Luckily for Joey, her four years as a college swimming champion and a serendipitous encounter with a bale of marijuana keep her afloat long enough for her to be rescued. Her savior is Mick Stranahan, a former investigator who happens to live on a private island. By the time Joey is on solid ground again, she wants to know only two things. Did Chaz ever love her? And understandably, she'd also like to know why he tried to kill her. Since going to the authorities is likely to result in a his-word-against-hers scenario, Joey opts for a more creative method of problem-solving. Without ruining the story, let me add that SKINNY DIP has the full complement of Hiaasen's trademark off-the-wall characters, as well the usual environmentally conscious plot. What's nice here is that just when you think he's going to resort to an old trick or a tired device, Hiaasen takes it in an unexpected direction. I have seldom had to review a book that left me with no complaints. The only thing that occurs to me is that the reader should know that they may develop a strong aversion to ever setting foot in Florida, but when a book is so funny, the price seems worth it.
Reviewed by Michelle L. Zafron, September 2004
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