Rating: 
Summary: Wild, Wacky, and Violently Funny
Review: "Hammerhead Ranch Motel" picks up where Dorsey's first novel, "Florida Roadkill," left off, with Serge A. Storms still pursuing his ill-gotten five million dollars of drug money. Dorsey loads the novel with so many characters that it is sometimes difficult to keep track of who is who, but each is written with a distinct personality. Even minor characters have backstories, so it is sometimes difficult to know when a character is introduced whether he/she will play a major role in the plot development.The novel begins not at the beginning, but somewhere in the middle. It is fun guessing how the chronological action will twist its way into the prologue's action. Combining violence (the death toll is hard to keep track of) with real off-beat humor, Dorsey somehow makes hardened criminals likeable. One of the interesting things about this book is that there are few good guys or gals. For example, Serge A. Storms, the novel's protagonist, is a serial killer who is sympathetic. Serge hooks up with Lenny, a drug addicted Don Johnson impersonator (the "Miami Vice Experience"), and two not-so innocent nubile young ladies, in his money pursuit. We root for Serge and his team, even though you probably would not want them as your friends. The climatic hurricane, foreshadowed early in the novel, helps to bring everything to a partial climax, with the good guys, bad guys, crazy guys, and real nut cases thrown together. Dorsey may have borrowed the hurricane idea from an earlier Carl Hiassen novel, and certainly walks on the same road as Hiassen, but has raised the level of insanity up a few notches. Hilarity may prevail, but remember that it often comes at the expense of a newly deceased character who did not make it to the climax.
Rating:
Summary: Wild, Wacky, and Violently Funny
Review: "Hammerhead Ranch Motel" picks up where Dorsey's first novel, "Florida Roadkill," left off, with Serge A. Storms still pursuing his ill-gotten five million dollars of drug money. Dorsey loads the novel with so many characters that it is sometimes difficult to keep track of who is who, but each is written with a distinct personality. Even minor characters have backstories, so it is sometimes difficult to know when a character is introduced whether he/she will play a major role in the plot development. The novel begins not at the beginning, but somewhere in the middle. It is fun guessing how the chronological action will twist its way into the prologue's action. Combining violence (the death toll is hard to keep track of) with real off-beat humor, Dorsey somehow makes hardened criminals likeable. One of the interesting things about this book is that there are few good guys or gals. For example, Serge A. Storms, the novel's protagonist, is a serial killer who is sympathetic. Serge hooks up with Lenny, a drug addicted Don Johnson impersonator (the "Miami Vice Experience"), and two not-so innocent nubile young ladies, in his money pursuit. We root for Serge and his team, even though you probably would not want them as your friends. The climatic hurricane, foreshadowed early in the novel, helps to bring everything to a partial climax, with the good guys, bad guys, crazy guys, and real nut cases thrown together. Dorsey may have borrowed the hurricane idea from an earlier Carl Hiassen novel, and certainly walks on the same road as Hiassen, but has raised the level of insanity up a few notches. Hilarity may prevail, but remember that it often comes at the expense of a newly deceased character who did not make it to the climax.
Rating:
Summary: More Laughs than You can Shake a Stick at
Review: A rip roaring raunchy Gator-noir tale that includes a dancing weather dog, murder by taxidermy, Hemingway impersonators, gun toting old ladies, Santa Claus jumping off a bridge, a gigolo who can't get laid and more laughs than you can shake a stick at. Such is life at the seedy Hammerhead Ranch Motel where Dorsey's reoccurring anti-hero, hero Serge the serial killer has checked in while obsessively hunting a briefcase holding five million dollars in drug money that various other unsavory characters are in pursuit of, before a hurricane hits and destroys them all. Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne
Rating:
Summary: That Serge and His Briefcase!
Review: After my review of "Florida Roadkill" I hoped that Tim Dorsey would become a more rounded writer. While I liked "Florida Roadkill" the mass amounts of characters made the book a little confusing. In "Hammerhead Ranch Motel", Dorsey starts out the same way. Many characters and the events jumping around with a strange timeline. However around page fifty Dorsey tightens it down and cleverly ties up the loose ends and gives a great story full of action and hilarious characters. Once again we find Serge Storms in the quest of a briefcase with 5 million dollars in drug money. He ends up at the Hammerhead Ranch Motel were a wild cast of characters are assembled. Zargoza the hotel manager who happens to work for the Diaz Boys, a pitiful excuse for drug dealers. Lenny the Don Johnson look alike who has an illegal NASA moon rock. Two Alabama grocery clerks on the run for a crime the didn't commit. A wrongly diagnosed businessman who thinks he is dying and decided to become a vigilante. A bunch of Ernest Hemingway look alikes and a shrinking mayor. Mix all these characters up along with the briefcase and incoming hurricane, and you get one great book. For the first time Dorsey reader I suggest that you read "Florida Roadkill" first. Then settle in for a great romp in "Hammerhead Ranch Motel". Also, is you think you have lost track of an event or a character keep reading. Dorsey has a way of catching up the reader further into the book and everything will snap together. Can't wait for the third installment.
Rating:
Summary: A crazy fun read
Review: At the end of FLORIDA ROADKILL, homicidal maniac Serge has still not obtained the five million dollars in laundered drug money he sought. The stash is hidden in a secret panel inside the trunk of a Chrysler New Yorker driven by an innocent person unaware of his cargo. The driver wearing a Santa suit leaps from a bridge bringing the media focus on the event. Serge is back on the trail of the money. Eventually the loot, Serge, other con artists, gangsters, and assorted ilk end up at the Hammerhead Roach Motel, an eyesore, located in an exclusive town in Southern Florida. Former drug supplier turned flim flam man Zargaza runs the motel with the aid of two bumbling thugs. With Hurricane Rolando-berto keeping the collection of riff raff in the motel, violence is inevitable. There are so many weird, eccentric, but funny characters populating the HOMESTEAD RANCH MOTEL in unusual situations, readers will think the story line is irrelevant. Instead, the cleverly designed mystery uses a cartoon-like cast to propel the superb story line, with its biting social commentary, forward to a wild finish. Tim Dorsey makes the irrelevant relevant with his satirical romps. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Okay airplane reading, could use a decent editor
Review: Hammerhead Ranch Motel is a raucous story filled with colorful characters and locales. Unfortunately, it often has too much color and Dorsey really seems to be trying too hard to impress us with his knowledge of Florida lore and history, and his ability to deliver eccentric situations and characters. The ending ties things together messily, but at least has more coherence than the beginning. The exerpt of his forthcoming books suggests that his capacity for good writing may yet overcome his talent for showing off.
Rating:
Summary: Dorsey hits it on the head
Review: Hiassen wanna be or perhaps wanna be his sidekick, or perhaps IS an author making his way in his own right! Floridian farces mixed with Marx Brother scenarios which will keep you smiling if not laughing out loud. We all really aren't such Floridiots though :-)
Rating:
Summary: Reserve A Room
Review: I am not sure I can even convey the comic genius of Tim Dorseys books. he has the most happily insane people I have ever read about. From our favorite spree killer, Serge, to the druggie Coleman,to the forever virgin,the con man who runs Hammerhead, the cops who bust each other busting each other,and other assorted characters we get the ride only they can provide. Dorsey is not Hiassen, he is not Barry-and we should be thankful.For the best cast of characters you have ever met do yourself a favor and read Hammerhead Ranch Motel.
Warning-drinking during reading of this book is likely to cause nasal discharge of said liquid.
star
Rating: 
Summary: Good follow-up to Florida Roadkill
Review: I enjoyed this book almost as much as Florida Roadkill. About the only difference was that with Florida Roadkill, I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it som much. Serge is back, chasing the money that was the focus of the first book, but again gets sidetracked in many other funny situations. The characters are well done, the plot is a little hard to follow at times, but always tied together very nicely. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Florida Roadkill. If you haven't read Florida Roadkill, I would recommend it as well.
Rating:
Summary: Good follow-up to Florida Roadkill
Review: I enjoyed this book almost as much as Florida Roadkill. About the only difference was that with Florida Roadkill, I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it som much. Serge is back, chasing the money that was the focus of the first book, but again gets sidetracked in many other funny situations. The characters are well done, the plot is a little hard to follow at times, but always tied together very nicely. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Florida Roadkill. If you haven't read Florida Roadkill, I would recommend it as well.
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