Hammerhead Ranch Motel (Serge Storms Series #2)

Over-the-top mayhem. In a good way.

I read Dorsey's first Serge Storms novel, "Florida Roadkill," a few years back. I didn't remember being extremely enamored with the character, but I did enjoy it, so I recently decided to revisit the series with the follow-up, "Hammerhead Ranch Motel."

Over-the-top is putting things lightly. All of the characters are big-time, and very few have any true redeeming qualities. It speaks novels to Dorsey's (hopefully) fictionalized Florida that a homicidal maniac who just happens to know everything there is to know about his state is the clear protagonist, even when he's dispatching his victims in some of the most absurd, yet clever, ways imaginable.

The story is fast-paced, with dozens of sub-plots that all tie together very nicely by the end of the story, while also setting in motion the plot of Book Three of the series, which I am certain to dive into in the very near future.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Unlikely hero.

I did not like this particularly well. Too much over the top things happening. It was hard to keep track of all the character.

Really excellent, a must read.

Bizarre almost surreal gripping action, Serge is unforgettable.

Highly recommended

Very fun to read, fast action with great characters. I just ordered the next in the series, cant wait to read..

Outstanding

I laughed my way through most of this book, and have purchased every book Dorsey has released since. He has a brilliant way of tying characters and incidents together in a completely hilarious way. It's like a Seinfeld episode on caffine overload.

Vintage Florida

How Serge A. Storm has really lasted this long is purely by the grace of Tim Dorsey's benevolent mind. This time he's maybe just a little more than a bubble and a half off plumb: the more-than-whacko Diaz Brothers (er, Boys) the wanna-be mafia boss Zargoza, rejects from Miami Vice, and a weather-dog are all churning up the trademark wake in Dorsey's Florida waters. If you get on A1A, or US1, or, for that matter, any of the widening strips of fast-lane Florida interstate, you're bound to run in to any...maybe all of these characters; they're all too real these days. I'll catch my breath while Tim Dorsey pours another cup of Colombian Supreme and serves up another of his high-octane, caffiene-induced tales. Whew!

Pack Your Bags and Head for the Panhandle

The sequel to Florida Roadkill, this book is set during hurricane season on Florida's Gulf Coast. A psychotic spree killer, his journalist sidekick, and an assortment of ex-cons and seedy locals are determined to ride out the storm while taking care of unfinished business inside the Hammerhead Ranch Motel. These eccentric characters make for a funny and entertaining read.

Funderful!!

I rated this book as outstanding because it is such a great read for anyone who enjoys truely comedic mysteries filled with characters that would take one fantastic imagination to come up with or a true knowledge of street people. It is my ever humble opinion that Tim Dorsey has both plus a love of the City of Tampa. Well done!! Now I am reaching out to get a copy of 'Florida Roadkill' and I pray for Mr. Dorsey's good health, mental and physical, so he can work on yet more manuscripts. Florida is so full of genuine people and characters for a writer like Mr. Dorsey to work with and I bet he knows many personally. I hope a producer of stage plays reads this novel as it will be SRO on Broadway!!

Humorous mystery

At the end of FLORIDA ROADKILL, homicidal maniac Serge has still not obtained the five million dollars in laundered drug money he sought. The stash is hidden in a secret panel inside the trunk of a Chrysler New Yorker driven by an innocent person unaware of his cargo. The driver wearing a Santa suit leaps from a bridge bringing the media focus on the event. Serge is back on the trail of the money.

Eventually the loot, Serge, other con artists, gangsters, and assorted ilk end up at the Hammerhead Roach Motel, an eyesore, located in an exclusive town in Southern Florida. Former drug supplier turned flim flam man Zargaza runs the motel with the aid of two bumbling thugs. With Hurricane Rolando-berto keeping the collection of riff raff in the motel, violence is inevitable.

There are so many weird, eccentric, but funny characters populating the HOMESTEAD RANCH MOTEL in unusual situations, readers will think the story line is irrelevant. Instead, the cleverly designed mystery uses a cartoon-like cast to propel the superb story line, with its biting social commentary, forward to a wild finish. Tim Dorsey makes the irrelevant relevant with his satirical romps.

Harriet Klausner

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.