Are you surprised to see a book review from Sandie Herron instead of “Have You Heard?” about audio books? Before Sandie turned to audios, she posted reviews here under “Sandie’s Corner”. Tim Dorsey’s No Sunscreen for the Dead is due for release on January 15. Perfect timing for this review. Thank you, Sandie.
No Sunscreen for the Dead
Written by Tim Dorsey
Series: Serge Storms
Book 22
Book 22
Publisher: William
Morrow (1/15/2019)
Morrow (1/15/2019)
All I can say is Vintage Serge! If you’ve never met him before, he’s a manic
maniac who loves Florida and its history.
He crisscrosses the state compiling its oral history with his buddy
Coleman, who is perpetually drunk or high or both. In this outing, Serge visits Sarasota. While eating shoofly pie at a local Amish restaurant,
they befriend two retirees and offer them a ride home after missing their
shuttle bus. They discover that this
couple has been scammed into buying a room full of humidifiers and
dehumidifiers. Serge finds the salesman’s
card and makes sure he’ll never scam anyone again in a very unique way.
maniac who loves Florida and its history.
He crisscrosses the state compiling its oral history with his buddy
Coleman, who is perpetually drunk or high or both. In this outing, Serge visits Sarasota. While eating shoofly pie at a local Amish restaurant,
they befriend two retirees and offer them a ride home after missing their
shuttle bus. They discover that this
couple has been scammed into buying a room full of humidifiers and
dehumidifiers. Serge finds the salesman’s
card and makes sure he’ll never scam anyone again in a very unique way.
Meanwhile we meet Theodore Pruitt and his son Teddy in
1957. Teddy loves rockets, models, and
shortwave radio. In 1970 while in high
school, after one of his letters is read in Moscow, Teddy is befriended by
Tofer, posing as a college student. When
Teddy’s draft number is chosen, Tofer encourages him to join the Navy in order
to record all the movements of their subs with nuclear weapons.
1957. Teddy loves rockets, models, and
shortwave radio. In 1970 while in high
school, after one of his letters is read in Moscow, Teddy is befriended by
Tofer, posing as a college student. When
Teddy’s draft number is chosen, Tofer encourages him to join the Navy in order
to record all the movements of their subs with nuclear weapons.
Benmont Pinch works at Life-Armor, a Tampa security firm
which protects personal identities. However, when clients sign “terms of agreement,”
they disclose all sorts of personal information which another department in the
company then sells to other clients.
Benmont is a genius with statistics and discovers a strange pattern in
the last four digits of Social Security numbers. Sequential numbers usually indicate twins,
but Benmont discovers people in witness protection given sequential
numbers. He tells his boss who calls a
friend in the FBI and suddenly all the data is classified.
which protects personal identities. However, when clients sign “terms of agreement,”
they disclose all sorts of personal information which another department in the
company then sells to other clients.
Benmont is a genius with statistics and discovers a strange pattern in
the last four digits of Social Security numbers. Sequential numbers usually indicate twins,
but Benmont discovers people in witness protection given sequential
numbers. He tells his boss who calls a
friend in the FBI and suddenly all the data is classified.
A rash of double homicides staged as murder-suicides are
occurring all over Florida with no apparent pattern among them. Benmont discovers a common element among them
yet the lawyers for the company hush him up.
occurring all over Florida with no apparent pattern among them. Benmont discovers a common element among them
yet the lawyers for the company hush him up.
Serge continues to find members of the Boca Vista Lago Isle
Shores Retirement Community who have been scammed and dispenses of those
salesmen, which scares off the rest of them.
Serge and Coleman become unofficial members of the park, sharing their
field trips, evening storm watching, and participating in aqua aerobics. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll ensue.
Shores Retirement Community who have been scammed and dispenses of those
salesmen, which scares off the rest of them.
Serge and Coleman become unofficial members of the park, sharing their
field trips, evening storm watching, and participating in aqua aerobics. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll ensue.
All of these plotlines grow and combine, ultimately
converging in one big bang. Serge and
Coleman have definitely added an irrepressibly chaotic chapter to Florida
history. It’s all the genius of author Tim Dorsey who presents a (mostly) believable,
madcap adventure gone awry yet under the control of Serge and his
sidekick. Dorsey can take some of
today’s headlines and events and include them as elements of fiction that seem insane.
Even the craziest ideas become
plausible, begging to be episodes on the “Mythbusters” television show. Serge explains all before setting off in
another Florida adventure I can’t wait to read.
converging in one big bang. Serge and
Coleman have definitely added an irrepressibly chaotic chapter to Florida
history. It’s all the genius of author Tim Dorsey who presents a (mostly) believable,
madcap adventure gone awry yet under the control of Serge and his
sidekick. Dorsey can take some of
today’s headlines and events and include them as elements of fiction that seem insane.
Even the craziest ideas become
plausible, begging to be episodes on the “Mythbusters” television show. Serge explains all before setting off in
another Florida adventure I can’t wait to read.
I have never read this series, but I love the title of this one! Thanks for the review!
Deb, one of the books has a whole Lynyrd Skynyrd theme, as they trace their history starting in Jacksonville. You definitely need to be in the mood, but if you are, they are Pure Florida. I've read most of them, but you definitely need a cooling off period (one a year is about right) between books.
I agree with Jeff. One a year is about right.
Jeff, You're probably right about a cooling off period. I think you'd end up like Coleman if you read the series straight through! Great fun. Dorsey packs so much into each book. And educational too! 🙂
Lesa, Thank you for running the review!
Thank you, Sandie! I appreciate the review.