Rating: 
Summary: Shames Stumbles
Review: I have read a few of Laurence Shames' novels and have very much enjoyed his style. Shames keeps the plot simple and the characters vivid in most of his novels. "The Naked Detective" starts out with a great premise then dissolves into a sub-par effort for Shames.The novel starts with Pete Amsterdam who is a private eye, only to avoid a large tax bite. He lives in Key West avoiding the IRS and possible clients. Then walks in Kenny Lukens a cross dressing bartender/boater, with a huge secret. Kenny fears that his life may be in danger after robbing his employer. Two bank bags our buried on Sunset Key by Kenny and he wants Amsterdam to find them. Cash is in the first and whatever is in the second is what is causing Kenny's angst. Amsterdam says no to the case and rejoines his relaxed life. Then Kenny Lukens ends up dead. Amsterdam then throws himself into his first case invovlving mafia, blackmail and crooked cops. Amsterdam also meets Maggie a yoga instructor friend of Lukens and a little spark of passion ensues. The story is solid throught the first half of the book and then falls apart in the second half. Shames great character development takes a back seat in this one. It is very hard to like any of the characters including Amsterdam. The ending is very cloudy and comes out of left field. Not sure if Shames tried for the shocker ending, but what he did accomplish was only confusion. A reader may not catch the motive here.
Rating:
Summary: Shames Stumbles
Review: I have read a few of Laurence Shames' novels and have very much enjoyed his style. Shames keeps the plot simple and the characters vivid in most of his novels. "The Naked Detective" starts out with a great premise then dissolves into a sub-par effort for Shames. The novel starts with Pete Amsterdam who is a private eye, only to avoid a large tax bite. He lives in Key West avoiding the IRS and possible clients. Then walks in Kenny Lukens a cross dressing bartender/boater, with a huge secret. Kenny fears that his life may be in danger after robbing his employer. Two bank bags our buried on Sunset Key by Kenny and he wants Amsterdam to find them. Cash is in the first and whatever is in the second is what is causing Kenny's angst. Amsterdam says no to the case and rejoines his relaxed life. Then Kenny Lukens ends up dead. Amsterdam then throws himself into his first case invovlving mafia, blackmail and crooked cops. Amsterdam also meets Maggie a yoga instructor friend of Lukens and a little spark of passion ensues. The story is solid throught the first half of the book and then falls apart in the second half. Shames great character development takes a back seat in this one. It is very hard to like any of the characters including Amsterdam. The ending is very cloudy and comes out of left field. Not sure if Shames tried for the shocker ending, but what he did accomplish was only confusion. A reader may not catch the motive here.
Rating:
Summary: The Naked Detective needs a coverup
Review: I read "The Naked Detective" because it was recommended by Amazon.com. under crime fiction books. The author apparently has written other crime fiction books which were well-received. This one is sort of hard to believe. His characters are not well enough fleshed out to be believable. His love of music and wine are apparent, but in Key West? The plot itself is forced and the premise that anyone this laid back and self absorbed could be a credible PI is hard to believe. I would pass on this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Naked Detective needs a coverup
Review: I read "The Naked Detective" because it was recommended by Amazon.com. under crime fiction books. The author apparently has written other crime fiction books which were well-received. This one is sort of hard to believe. His characters are not well enough fleshed out to be believable. His love of music and wine are apparent, but in Key West? The plot itself is forced and the premise that anyone this laid back and self absorbed could be a credible PI is hard to believe. I would pass on this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Just a PI Spoof
Review: Larry Shames' hilarious, knowing new Key West mystery appropriately starts in a hot tub where 47-year-old Pete Amsterdam is enjoying his early retirement from up north. He's devoted to tennis, music, good wine--and taking it easy. Oddly enough, he's also technically a PI--but that's only something he got into as a very complicated and slightly preposterous tax dodge. He doesn't ever take on clients, though, until a sultry blonde drags him into a case after he rejects her plea for help and she's murdered. As the plot thickens, Amsterdam is soon worrying that he helped kill a mob boss, and facing death threats. Amsterdam's wry voice is confident but human; the story zips along; and the Key West setting is as lustrous and colorful as the book's seductive heroine. Shames is a terrific writer with real heart and this loving spoof of PI novels is funny, suspenseful, romantic and wise, a book made for dreamers.
Rating: 
Summary: Still the Best
Review: My wife knows the routine when I'm reading Lawrence Shames. I'm constantly sayïng, "Listen to how he says this!" then I read her the latest gem. But not so much this time. This novel is good fun, but I didn't find the amazing choices of words I've come to expect, the pleasing metaphors, similes, and humor of, say, "Scavenger Reef." But that's OK. Shames is stll the best of the Florida genre even in this latest offering---but it's a genre he usually transcends.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasant diversion
Review: OK, so this author is no Carl Hiaasen (as the blurbs on the book jacket might lead you to believe). But this book serves its purpose: one that entertains for a while, but will disappear from your memory within a week. The main character is likeable enough, the major female character is sort of annoying and you'll end up wishing the tennis bum/cab driver made more appearances. This is a good book to borrow from the library.
Rating:
Summary: A light read and fun!
Review: Pete Amsterdam is a private investigator - but only on paper and only for tax reasons. Until a bizarre encounter with a transvestite whilst he is relaxing in his jacuzzi. When the transvestite's body is found on a beach, dead, the next day, Pete can't help but be caught up in the mystery. Further (somewhat bizarre) encounters with undoubtedly attractive women (real ones this time) ensure that Pete stays hooked and determined to solve the mystery. Shames writing is simple to read. Nevertheless, it contains absolute gems and one liners - it's clever, witty and amusing. His observations and Pete's internal conversations with the reader are on the button and funny. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: A huge disappointment
Review: Sometimes it's really hard to understand how different books from a favorite author can be. I thoroughly enjoyed the previous installments in Mr. Shames' Key West capers, but I can't explain what has gotten into him. Everything I liked about his books - the plot and most of all the humour - have disappeared and only Key West as a background remains. It's hard to list all the faults of this book, but Shames' biggest mistake is probably to start the book with the situation he usually puts his heroes in at the end of the others: he's moved to Key West a long time ago,lives a comfortable life there and doesn't do much. All the ensuing complications are hard to understand - I didn't like the hero in this book at all . I sincerely hope that Mr Shames didn't model him after himself - the character is even revealed at being an author, albeit one who has only troubles with endings. In this books the author has a lot more problems. Add a few of the most unerotic scenes I have ever read to the mix and I'm all but ready to throw in a fittingly bad pun: It's a Shame.
Rating:
Summary: The Naked Detective
Review: The book reminded me of a Woody Allen line about life. Two women were complaining about a restaurant - "the food was terrible...and such small portions." Although Laurence Shames is one of my favorite authors (especially Scavenger Reef), I was dsappointed by the book. When it arrived I was surprised at how short it was. As I read it, I found it hard to care about Pete Amsterdam. The whole reluctant detective theme didn't work for me. The other characters were all familiar that we have seen in John MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen and Tom Corcoran. I am not drawing comparisons to these three authors (certainly the best in this genre) as that would be unfair. I will still look forward to Shames' next book when he will hopefully get back on track.
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