Book Review: The Stingray Shuffle

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Stingray Shuffle     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Tim Dorsey
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Humorous
Morrow, Feb 2003, $24.95, 303 pp.

Mr. Grande of the Mierde Cartel hires the Russian Mafioso to recover the five million drug dollars that Serge A. Storms and his almost as wacky partner Lenny Lippowics stole and stashed in the Hammerhead Ranch Motel that no longer stands due to a hurricane. Though killing is like apple pie for Serge, the former KGB agents do a good job of eliminating themselves in the nearby swamps without his assistance.

Though he does not have time to fool around if he wants to enjoy his new hobby trains, Serge makes time to insure one of the Russians dies from a hole in one. He also rids himself of some pesky frat idiots for defacing his beloved train, the Rambler. Still the Russians are coming again and chase Serge to Times Square for the ball to drop. On whose head is now the question as now the Cosa Nostra and Jamaicans join the fray that frantically ends up on a murder mystery ride aboard the Silver Stingray heading to Florida.

As frenetically crazy as ever, THE STINGRAY SHUFFLE is a wild ride up and down the East Coast with the usual high homicide count, several in amusing ways. The story line moves at a rapid pace with lunatics at every stop seeking the suitcase of loot. Serge is as wacko as ever so that readers receive his usual feral trip and his support cast seems more like escapees from an asylum. Tim Dorsey has written another delightfully hectic spin that fans will enjoy, but insist he go decaf in the future so one can catch a breath or two.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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