Rating: 
Summary: Dull at worst, thrilling at best...
Review: I love mysteries and thrillers with a little wit and humor (alla Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series) so when I saw Stingray Shuffle, I was really excited. Upon starting the book, that excitement quickly faded. The book goes back and forth, switching focus between almost 10 characters, most with subplots of their own. Although this book is supposed to be a beach read, something you can pick up and put down any time, it turned out that unless you took notes, you would most likely be easily confused. The writing was indeed humorous but sometimes over the top. My opinion on this book began to change about 3/4 into it, as I finally began to catch the drift and I was able to get more into the plot. Dorsey is a talented guy and there is no taking that away from him. The ending was awesome and really fun to read, however it took about 200+ pages of pain to get to that. I haven't ruled Dorsey out completly and would read another one of his books, however I would try to find one with a little more of a solid plot and about half of the amount of characters, as most of them are ridiculously one dimensional anyways. Dorsey should try writing a book with a believable plot but with funny characters who shine with wit and stupidity.
Rating:
Summary: Another funny roller-coaster ride
Review: In the tradition of his previous four novels, Florida Roadkill, Hammerhead Ranch Motel, Orange Crush, and Triggerfish Twist, Dorsey once again provides the reader with a disjointed rolloer-coaster ride of a read with several plotlines racing toward a messy and hilarious conclusion. This book also resolves the mystery of the missing five million dollars from Florida Roadkill and Hammerhead Ranch Motel and explains how Serge got amnesia in Orange Crush. With all of that explained, I hope Dorsey will move on to some new characters for his next novel, and not milk these until they are not funny anymore. I would be very interested to see how Dorsey does without Serge as a protaganist. Although I do see a possibility of another novel between this one and Orange Sruch to further explain how amnesiac Serge ends up working for the governor. This book is a must-read for anyone who has read Dorsey's other books, both for its new characters and situations as well is its resolution of existing plotlines.
Rating: 
Summary: Another funny book from Dorsey
Review: More terminally wacky zaniness from Dorsey. Like Hiaasen during his early years (and beyond), Dorsey just seems to get better with each passing book. Dorsey is a lot like Hiaasen, only with a significantly more violent twist. People are always getting bumped off, often in very creative ways. Since most of the characters seem to be criminals or other socially undesirable types who are always scamming or otherwise preying on each other (there being no honor among thieves), the body count at the end of his books is probably the highest of any of the authors in the genre. :-) This book might be Dorsey's best yet, and it's at least as good as Triggerfish Twist. Serge and Coleman, Dorsey's two signature and perversely funny characters, are also in this book, so fans of the irrespressible and ethically addled duo won't be disappointed there. In fact, Serge give perhaps his most inspired monolog yet on some arcane Florida history in a courtroom after being brought up on charges of vandalism. The book is replete with other wacky plot elements, ranging from the missing satchel of five million dollars from a previous novel to immigrant crime cartel expatriates trying to buy a Russian nuclear submarine on the black market. Overall it's another fun-filled and wickedly funny romp from Dorsey.
Rating:
Summary: As frenetically crazy as ever
Review: Mr. Grande of the Mierde Cartel hires the Russian Mafioso to recover the five million drug dollars that Serge A. Storms and his almost as wacky partner Lenny Lippowics stole and stashed in the Hammerhead Ranch Motel that no longer stands due to a hurricane. Though killing is like apple pie for Serge, the former KGB agents do a good job of eliminating themselves in the nearby swamps without his assistance. Though he does not have time to fool around if he wants to enjoy his new hobby trains, Serge makes time to insure one of the Russians dies from a hole in one. He also rids himself of some pesky frat idiots for defacing his beloved train, the Rambler. Still the Russians are coming again and chase Serge to Times Square for the ball to drop. On whose head is now the question as now the Cosa Nostra and Jamaicans join the fray that frantically ends up on a murder mystery ride aboard the Silver Stingray heading to Florida. As frenetically crazy as ever, THE STINGRAY SHUFFLE is a wild ride up and down the East Coast with the usual high homicide count, several in amusing ways. The story line moves at a rapid pace with lunatics at every stop seeking the suitcase of loot. Serge is as wacko as ever so that readers receive his usual feral trip and his support cast seems more like escapees from an asylum. Tim Dorsey has written another delightfully hectic spin that fans will enjoy, but insist he go decaf in the future so one can catch a breath or two. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The best doggone chili-cheese dog Tim's cooked up so far...
Review: Okay, it's easy to say "this is Tim's best novel so far" but that doesn't tell you anything. First of all, it's a great wild comic romp, reminiscent of Catch-22, The World According to Garp, and A Confederacy of Dunces. A lot of characters and plot threads are seamlessly woven together for a Mad Mad Mad Mad World/Magic Christian type of effect. Tim's getting really good at this type of thing, the climax is as good or better than the Great Dale Mabry Slow-Speed Chase in Triggerfish Twist. As best as I can tell, what we're doing here is returning to pick up the "Serge" story from the end of Hammerhead Ranch Motel. In the interim Tim's written two great fables, the classic Middle American Family Moves To Florida And Meets Neighbors fable, and the Great Florida Governor's Race fable. Now, back to the mayhem. I have to admit Tim's first two novels were tough going for me, keeping the characters and plot lines straight. Stingray Shuffle didn't pose that problem, and I can't say it's because this is a "better" novel -- although it certainly "felt" better to me -- or if it's just that I'm reading Tim more carefully now, I'm more tuned in to what he's doing. I've learned, anyway, that trying to keep a scorecard is part of the fun of reading Tim Dorsey. An awesome character, Eugene Tibbs aka Blind Jelly Doughnut, is introduced, Tim's agent Nat Sobel makes a cameo appearance as the backwardly-monickered "Tanner Lebos," and five most excellent babes, the BBB, add sauciness to the mix, doing the things divorced ladies in their forties do when they visit Florida. (HEY, I want to meet the one who's hot for Meyer!) As I read the other reviewers I'm a little concerned about this ranking thing, whether Tim's "surpassed" Carl or is better than Carl now. That's silly talk. These guys are doing ENTIRELY different kinds of books, although there's plenty of surface similarity. They each offer a particular world-view and artistic vision. Both are righteous, honest, and truthful. And different. Write on, guys!
Rating:
Summary: Another Hilarious Serge Storms Adventure
Review: Picking up plotlines from each of Dorsey's previous books, the Stingray Shuffle follows the continuing adventures of Serge A. Storms and his pursuit of five million dollars he originally conned from a crooked insurance company in the first book of the series several years ago, Florida Roadkill. Tim Dorsey writes Serge A. Storms as a likeable pyschopathic serial killer. Charming one minute, insane killer the next. His main obession in the new book are trains, and the reader will learn a lot of archaic information about the topic while Storms pontificates every once in a while about the topic. The Stingray Shuffle brings back several of the whacky characters from earlier books, such as Johnny Vegas, provides an explanation for Serge's amnesia in the third novel Orange Crush, while continuing the plotline from the ending of the Hammerhead Ranch Motel book. The new book features many new characters who drop in and out of the plot, including more than a few who die a tragic, but funny, death. Dorsey folds the book into itself by including a subplot about a book called "The Stingray Shuffle" with a similar plot as the real book itself. It becomes hard to know when you are reading about something in the "real" book as opposed to the "ficticious" book, both with the same name. As the plot moves from Florida to New York City, and back to Florida, most of the living characters collide on an Amtrak train ride where several of the loosely connected plotlines reach their climax. Anyone interested in spending a few hours reading and laughing out loud should grab this book.
Rating:
Summary: TIM ROCKS!
Review: Satire doesn't get any better than this. My first "Dorsey experience" was Hammerhead Ranch Motel. I wasn't able to get through 5 pages at a time, without stopping to wipe the tears from laughing. Stingray Shuffle lives up to Tim's greatest. His style is pure biting, sharp and hysterical. For those northern transplants who often wonder if anyone else "gets" the absurdity of the Florida life, trust me, Tim (a native Floridian) gets it. Pure enjoyment!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: See book summary above. I've read all of Dorsey's books and this one was my favorite. A hilarious laugh out loud ride.
Though Hiaasen is in the same category I still seem to get a few more laughs from Dorsey. I think the characters are a little more zany. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: What an awesome author!
Review: This guy Dorsey is really funny! His hero, Serge, despite being an obsessive compulsive, drug-addled serial killer, is someone who is truly likable. Although I haven't read Dorsey's earlier works that lead into The STINGRAY SHUFFLE, this book stands just fine on its own. Hollywood needs to grab this one!
Rating:
Summary: A trainload of laughs!
Review: This guy Dorsey is really funny! His hero, Serge, despite being an obsessive compulsive, drug-addled serial killer, is someone who is truly likable. Although I haven't read Dorsey's earlier works that lead into The STINGRAY SHUFFLE, this book stands just fine on its own. Hollywood needs to grab this one!
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