Rating: 
Summary: An Almost Laugh Out Loud South Florida Caper
Review: Welcome Dave Barry's second and most enjoyable novel. This time around, he moves closer into Carl Hiaasen's domain of South Florida social commentary. The book opens with the approach of (soon to be) Hurricane Hector which is destined to cross paths with The Extravaganza Of The Seas (a three-mile limit gambling cruise ship) and the various characters fated to be on board her at the time. Included in this mismatched character conglomeration are Fay (a single mom and cocktail waitress), Wally (member of the ship's semi-untalented band Johnny and the Contusions), Arnie and Phil (a couple of gambling addicts from a senior citizens home) and tons of assorted hulks, brutes, cons and other sordid, devious or just plain kooky characters. With a group like this, anything can and does happen. Especially once the storm starts mixing things up. Though I believe I enjoy his first novel BIG TROUBLE a bit more, Barry is in pretty good form with TRICKY BUSINESS and he provides a plot and characters that will take you from mildly to wildly funny. I enjoyed it, and if you enjoy a good laugh with a good book you will, too. It earned my **** rating.
Rating: 
Summary: disgusting
Review: While I was not offended by the profanity which Barry warned about in the foreward, I was disgusted by the bodily functions that consumed this book. Barry spent 2 whole pages on vomit...which I almost did after reading it. There was nothing even remotely funny in this scene (and most of the book). The only reason I finished the book is because I don't believe someone should rate a book without actually having read it. I will NOT be reading anymore of Barry's books.
Rating: 
Summary: When is the movie coming out?
Review: _Big Trouble,_ the columnist's first novel was a whacked-out cops and robbers escapade filled with his trademark off-the-wall sense of humor. This second novel may lose him some of his readership -- those who expect him to write only silly stuff. Because this caper yarn, while funny in places (especially the ongoing jokes concerning the suicidal TV newsroom and the Hawaiian infomercials), is also somewhat darker and more grown-up. It all revolves around an oceangoing South Florida casino and the nefarious uses to which its owners put it. Spiraling in to the climactic events on the EXTRAVAGANZA OF THE SEAS are the members of a band of low expectations (especially Wally, the lead guitar), two elderly refugees from a retirement home, a stressed-out bar hostess, a tall blonde with digestive problems, a ship's captain trying to live down his past, a guy in a pink conch costume, a psychopathic drug-runner, and an assortment of professional heavies, many of whom won't be returning to Miami. If Barry continues developing in this direction, he'll be giving Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen a serious run for their money.
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