Rating: 
Summary: passable comic crime fodder; Shames has done better
Review: 'Mangrove Squeeze' is my third Laurence Shames novel (after 'Florida Straits' and 'Sunburn') and is easily the worst of the bunch. Yes, it has the same south Florida setting and similarly quirky characters. But the plot fails to ignite, and the laughs are comparatively few.In 'Mangrove Squeeze' we have big crime by the Russian mafia in small town Key West. A nosey do-gooder from the local weekly newspaper gets herself in trouble with these guys, gets her boyfriend caught in the middle of it, and ... so the story goes. As a previous reviewer has noted, 'Mangrove Squeeze' does pass the time rather nicely. But otherwise it is forgettable in every way. Bottom line: useful beach-reading material. But you won't want to keep it on your bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: passable comic crime fodder; Shames has done better
Review: 'Mangrove Squeeze' is my third Laurence Shames novel (after 'Florida Straits' and 'Sunburn') and is easily the worst of the bunch. Yes, it has the same south Florida setting and similarly quirky characters. But the plot fails to ignite, and the laughs are comparatively few. In 'Mangrove Squeeze' we have big crime by the Russian mafia in small town Key West. A nosey do-gooder from the local weekly newspaper gets herself in trouble with these guys, gets her boyfriend caught in the middle of it, and ... so the story goes. As a previous reviewer has noted, 'Mangrove Squeeze' does pass the time rather nicely. But otherwise it is forgettable in every way. Bottom line: useful beach-reading material. But you won't want to keep it on your bookshelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't compare to Doc Ford or Thorn
Review: Another fine book by my now-favorite author, Lawrence Shames! If you love his previous books as much as I did, you'll love how in this book he brings in a character from past stories. Lawrence Shames has a special gift of making his characters friends to his readers and I, for one can't wait to see them appear again and again, cleverly intertwined with new characters. I strongly recommend this book--and yes, even in the hardcover!
Rating: 
Summary: If you love Lawrence Shames this book won't disappoint!
Review: Another fine book by my now-favorite author, Lawrence Shames! If you love his previous books as much as I did, you'll love how in this book he brings in a character from past stories. Lawrence Shames has a special gift of making his characters friends to his readers and I, for one can't wait to see them appear again and again, cleverly intertwined with new characters. I strongly recommend this book--and yes, even in the hardcover!
Rating:
Summary: a story you don't want to end!!!!
Review: as with virgin heat, shame's once again deliver's a bunch of offbeat key west characters and a story that you don't want to end. suki sperakis is a keeper. it was great to read another chapter in what is quickly becoming the 'bert the shirt' series. shame's is as adroit at 'floridian mysteries' as are carl hiassen and james w. hall. his book's are always fun and perfect for a day on smathers beach. laurence brings margaritaville and all it's kooky inhabitants to vibrant life!! can't wait for his next one!!!
Rating:
Summary: Laugh Out Loud Funny!
Review: I had really liked Florida Straights, so I decided to give this one a try. And I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard! I kept waking my girlfriend up I was laughing so hard in bed! This book has the kind of wry sense of humor that is so hard to find. It also has sweet, likeable characters. And Shames has left out a lot of the violent nastiness a lot of other writers in this genre go so heavy on! I can't wait for my next trip literary trip to Key West!
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't compare to Doc Ford or Thorn
Review: I teach writing for a living --literature, we call it. So what a shock when I picked up what I thought would be a pot-boiler by Randy Wayne White and was absolutely knocked cold by who, I think, is a genuinely brilliant writer. I've read all of White's books and they led me to other Florida writers: James. W. Hall, Carl Hiaasen and Mr. Shames. I have just finished Mangrove Squeeze and it is, frankly, far beneath the quality of the books by the aforementioned writers. It is trite, strained, predictible and just plain silly. Mr. Shames tries so hard to be a tough guy and it just doesn't ring true. He tries equally hard to be literate and literary. Same results. Sorry -- I seldom write negative reviews but this guys is out of his league.
Rating:
Summary: Shames style remains contemporary, but this is not his best
Review: Laurence Shames is a very enjoyable writer if you are alive and well living in this decade. The way he sprinkles anecdotes about society into the fabric of his characters is both fascinating and an all around "hoot." The only thing this book lacks that the others have is more situational comedy. Nevertheless, an enjoyable experience!
Rating:
Summary: Shames style remains contemporary, but this is not his best
Review: Laurence Shames is a very enjoyable writer if you are alive and well living in this decade. The way he sprinkles anecdotes about society into the fabric of his characters is both fascinating and an all around "hoot." The only thing this book lacks that the others have is more situational comedy. Nevertheless, an enjoyable experience!
Rating:
Summary: VERY VERY LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY
Review: LAURENCE SHAMES JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. GREAT NEW CHARACTERS. PINEAPPLE AND HIS BUDDY AND THERE "HOME" ARE JUST HILARIOUS. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND READ IT THIS SUMMER.
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