Mermaid Confidential

I never seem to read a Tim Dorsey novel without learning something about my adopted state of Florida.  It holds true of his latest, Mermaid Confidential (#1,067).  A popular restaurant in my area is the Square Grouper.  I found out the Florida meaning for that term in Mermaid Confidential; it was local slang for a square bale of marijuana pulled out of the waters of South Florida by fishermen who would then get in touch with the dealers the packages were meant for in a lucrative exchange.  Well, that explains a lot about that restaurant, too.  I can never figure out why it's so popular since the food sucks, the parking is abysmal, the drinks are expensive, yet it's always, always crowded.  Hmm.

Anyway, Serge Storm decides to finally try settling down in a cozy condo in the Florida Keys.  Not for him the glossy chic of sleek modern condos; no, Serge insists on finding the crappiest Seventies-style outdated condo on the market to create his ideal "fishing cabin" in the Keys for him and his sidekick Coleman.  Per usual, he runs into a varied cast of characters including the welcoming retirees at his beachside condo.  He's able to help out a few in his usual Serge fashion, but this time Serge isn't the only one dropping bodies all over the Keys; certain Colombian drug cartels are perfectly willing to help him out...

Always a fun read with interesting Florida factoids!