Stormy Weather

I came across a reprint of a novel Carl Hiaasen originally published after Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida - Stormy Weather (#1,037).  It was replete with the usual scams which abound after any natural disaster: fake contractors, gypsy roofers and insurance fraud.    Here, Hiaasen follows newlyweds Max and Bonnie Lamb who ditch their DisneyWorld honeymoon to drive south to Miami to rubberneck.  Or rather, Max is hellbent on videotaping piles of rubble and pathetic families who have lost everything.  For Bonnie, the bloom is already starting to fade from their hours-old marriage.

Max manages to get himself kidnapped by Skink, a recurring character in Hiaasen's books.  Once governor of Florida, now he lives off the land and off the grid, trying to right the wrongs perpetrated against Florida by unscrupulous businessmen and developers.  Filming other peoples' misery offends him deeply, so in response, he abducts Max.  

A whole host of colorful scammers ply their schemes here in pursuit of financial gain in paradise.  How many will make it out alive, let alone richer?

This is an amusing tale which rings true if you've ever had the dubious pleasure of living through a destructive tropical hurricane.  Much as I enjoyed this reprint, I still must confess that I think Tim Dorsey has the edge over Hiaasen for me.