Rating: 
Summary: The Punishment Fits The Crime
Review: A witty, sad, frightening tale of an ecco-terrorist who reeks havoc on the lives of those he catches in criminal acts against the enviorment. When main character, Twilly Spree, catches powerful and successful lobbyist Palmer Stoat, emptying the contents of his fast food lunch from his car window, Spree swings into action, and dumps a ten mile mound of garbage on Stoat's brand new parked BMW convertibile. This fast pace page turner is filled with intrigue, murder,and romance ... you won't be able to put it down. After reading "Sick Puppy," Your recycle bin will never look the same!
Rating: 
Summary: Hiaasen Falters, But Recovers In Time
Review: The inimitable Carl Hiaasen, champion of the eco-laugh, is back at it again with "Sick Puppy," and those who would despoil the environment had better run for cover. This time around the hero is one Twilly Spree, a young man, independently wealthy, and obsessed with protecting the natural state of the land. Spree has a short temper, little patience, and a zero degree of tolerance for anyone from the casual litterbug to morally bankrupt land developers. No crime against the ecology is insignificant in Twilly's eyes, and no offender, large or small, will escape his wrath once he's on to them. And when he learns of a politically fixed project about to turn the natural habitat of a small island off the coast of Florida into a major resort, complete with golf courses and malls, he goes to work. Hiaasen, as usual, has populated his story with an array of colorful, eccentric characters, running the gamut from the ultra-idealistic (Spree) to the sleazy (Political lobbyist Palmer Stoat) and perverse (Developer Robert Clapley) to just about everything in-between. The story, though, takes some time to really get cooking; the first half is somewhat slow, with a lot of lateral movement in plot, while a lot of the humor seems a bit forced, rather than integrated into the natural state of affairs, which Hiaasen usually manages with ease. At about the half-way mark, though, former Governor Tyree, better known as "Skink" shows up, and it's like a tonic to the story; things begin to move forward rapidly, and that unique Hiaasen touch seems to flourish. At about the same time we meet a certain Mr. Gash (some psychotic muscle who works for Clapley), who begins to make some noise, and brings a certain menace to the proceedings that seemed to be lacking in the first half of the book. In retrospect, had Skink and Mr. Gash been around earlier, it may have given the story that extra boost when it needed it, rather than jump-starting it later. While not nearly as engrossing or hysterical as some of Hiaasen's earlier efforts, most notably "Skin Tight," and "Double Whammy," this one ultimately comes on strong and makes it a worthwhile endeavor. "Sick Puppy" may fall just short of the high expectations with which Hiaasen fans especially will approach this book, but in the final analysis, this is Hiaasen; and it's still a cut above the usual fare.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, solid Hiaasen
Review: Carl Hiaasen's book Sick Puppy is not going to take any of Hiaasen fans by surprise. It is solidly in the vein he has been mining for years - setting up those environmental bad guys and subjecting them to a well deserved comeuppance. In this story the main heavy is Palmer Stoat, a developer, schemer and political fixer whose litterbug habits bring him to the attention of Twilly Spree, a rich, short tempered environmental fanatic. Twilly's efforts to teach Palmer Stoat a lesson propel a plot that quickly sprials into bizarre complexity. The supporting cast of characters - especially Mr. Gash, an assasin who is addicted to horrific 911 calls - is as good as any Hiaasen has ever assembled, and the grizzly humor and action filled plot are neatly balanced to provide one of the most successful Hiaasen books in recent years.What didn't work for me was the reappearance of one of Hiaasen's best characters, "Skink". He is such a strange and interesting creation that it is hard to use him in a minor way. He wants to take over whatever story he is in and it takes away from the central characters and action. Also, I could never be sure how I really felt about Stoat's wife, Desie. To me, that says that Hiaasen wasn't sure how he felt either. All things considered, this is one very entertaining book. The dialogue is always good. The characters are all exaggerated just enough for Hiaasen's larger than life comic morality play. And no matter how farfetched the plot, the reader still gets caught up in the action. This is not the best of Hiaasen but it will surely do.
Rating:
Summary: Hiassen is as good as ever!
Review: In his latest book "Sick Puppy" Carl Hiassen once again gets across his message about the shrinking amount of natural wildlife in Florida, and he does it with the normal comic hyjinx. Moreover, Hiassen gave us Twilly, a new counterpart to the infamous Skink, who also returns. All in all, if you haven't bought this book yet, go and buy it NOW.
Rating:
Summary: Hiaasen returns with a worthy page-turner
Review: I must admit, my confidence in Carl Hiaasen as a novelist was faltering with such recent contributions as Stormy Weather and Lucky You. Not that those stories didn't have merit, but they lacked a certain charisma that had me hooked with Tourist Season. Fortunately, then came Sick Puppy. This is classic Hiaasen. The hero of the novel, Twilly Spree, is an ecofreak as odd as his name. As he launches his own personal crusade against the black hats destroying Florida in an effort to make a buck, you can't help but be charmed by Spree's twisted humor and sense of duty. And Hiaasen fans will be reminded of a staple character known for his bizarre ways and love of the land: Skink. Sure enough, the ex-governor makes an appearance as bounty hunter-cum-mentor to Twilly. His antics nearly steal the show in the second half of the novel. My major (and on-going) gripe: the main female character is as desperate and milk-toast as any that Hiaasen has penned to ride shotgun as romantic counterpoint to his male leads. Despite the author's efforts with the females of Strip Tease and Lucky You, he just can't get a grasp on women like he does men, and this book shows it. He does seem to have a bead on the canine psyche, however, and Hiaasen's interpretations of Labrador retriever concerns and motivations serve as effective comic relief in Sick Puppy. Finally, the novel's conclusion is the most satisfying since Hiaasen's first solo effort. As the anti-heroes ride off into the sunset, readers can take heart without being mired in cheese. All in all, a book that is funny, sharp, and worth its space on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Hiaasen
Review: This is typical Carl Hiaasen: there is the cast of Florida crazies, the corrupt politicians, the greedy developers and finally, the eco-terrorists. All of these ingredients are deftly mixed together to create a highly amusing novel, with a serious foundation: the destruction of Florida's natural beauty in order to line the pockets of the developers and the politicians. If you have read any of Hiaasen's other books, none of this will come as a great surprise, and this is reinforced by the reappearance of the characters of Skink and Jim Tile. The dialogue is very well written and realistic, though the situations the characters find themselves in aren't quite as realistic: which is what makes his books so funny. This book is great entertainment with a serious side: it will make you laugh and at the same time make you reconsider that organized canoe trip through the mangroves in the Everglades.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: Hilarious, excellent novel. Anyone who likes Dave Barry should read this novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Sick Puppy
Review: I have been a fan of Hiaasen for some time now. Sorry to say his writing has been a disappointament lately & is far below his classics like Strip Tease, Tourist Season or Skin Tight. Sick Puppy didn't even bring a smile to my face. The story feels forced & the language is overdone without any natural humor. To tell you the truth I did not finish this book.
Rating:
Summary: True.....True.....
Review: Having read all of Hiaasen's books and having lived in Florida my entire life, I can honestly say he hits the nail on the head. The man knows Florida. It would be easier to "legalize LSD" than explain the importance of environmental resposibilty to most of the politicians, citizens or tourists in this state. Hiaasen does his part to wake us all up. Thanks. Oh yes, and the book is fabulous, I didn't want it to end.
Rating:
Summary: What a cast of characters
Review: I found the book to be very enjoyable, my first experience with this author. "Sick Puppy" could certainly apply to any of the characters for a number of reasons. Hiaasen's writing style is a great combination of being witty and morose. I eagerly await reading his other stories.
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