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4.0 out of 5 stars
Walking Catfish, Grass Carp, Zebra Mussels, etc., Aug 2 2003
Invasive exotic species, get the picture? Eventually so does Thorn. A breeding program to develop a species of "red" tilapia under the theory that Americans will eat anything that's "red," not so far fetched now that we know about red dye in farmed salmon, threatens to unleash a flood of unwelcome visitors into the glades watershed. The story is a bit heavy handed, but after all so is Thorn.
I discovered a used copy of this novel in a bookstore in the Keys a few years ago while hunting a poolside "read." Almost got as red as the tilapia as I forgot the time in the sun and since have hunted down the entire series. A rough, tough south Florida adventure novel, and while not Hall's best it's worth the time if you like this sort of fiction. I do.
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2.0 out of 5 stars
A Forgettable Mess, April 11 2002
Hall offers yet another look at the seamy underbelly of South Florida life, this one with a plot revolving around revenge, the threat of environmental havoc, and a rather forgettable cast of characters. The ostensible hero, Thorn (although he's not particularly interesting or likable to root for, nor nasty enough to be an anti-hero) comes across a scheme to genetically modify and breed Red Tilapia, with potentially devastating consequences for Florida's coastal ecology. Thorn is apparently a carryover from previous novels, in which other relatives and friends of his have been murdered, so perhaps the reader is meant to have gotten to know him better from these previous outings. In any event, when his girlfriend dies mysteriously while diving, he and his ex-cop buddy start poking their noses around. This soon entangles them with Sylvia, a stereotype man-eating sex kitten who has a bizarre relationship with her ex-CIA hitman father. Their combined actions and motivations require a rather substantial suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. This is also required when someone tried to kill Thorn in his house, spending a considerable time firing a gun at his house without rousing anybody in the neighborhood. Of course, it's never really clear how or why this person comes looking for Thorn, much less to shoot at! Throw into the mix a wildlife inspector with a detachable nose, a pudgy retired Mafia boss, a mass killing at a federal research facility that apparently somehow got covered up, a bizarre and herky-jerky climax, and what you're left with is a big mess. Hall is at his best in his lyrical descriptions of the water and landscape, but when it comes to dialogue and story, he falters and often fails.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Hall, yet again, delivers the goods..., Oct 19 2001
...Hall, if you are at all familiar with him, is absolutely an incredible author. If you are coming to Hall via Hiaasen/Shames/Dorsey/Barry or even Leonard, a word of caution: Hall tends to use a slightly more doom and gloom approach to his writing. His is a work that is going to have a more ominious (even melancholy)tone to it---no offbeat hijinks to level off the atmosphere. With the other authors, save for instance Randy Wayne White, you get a little humor to lighten the load somewhat. Not here. Here, you better hang on because it's going to be a bitter armageddon.This is classic Hall. The story involves a huge amount of topics, all of which Hall (like a juggler) never lets fall. There are times when Hall returns to a point/storyline a bit late, but I truly only say that as a word of caution to those with severe attention-span disorders. But, as I cautioned above, the storylines here weigh pretty heavy. Topics include a mafioso guy with a penchant for child pornography. An under-developed, highly-sexed-in-situations girl who in involved with an incestuous relationship with her father (whom she is trying to kill). The incest-father is an ex-cia masterkiller who is slowly poisoning the stroke-victim-husband of his exwife (incest victim's mother). Not to give too much away, mafioso guy is related to incest victim and exwife and has his hand in the murder. Or does he? How???? Hmmm, for you to find out. Also include some great government conspiracies and nudist colonies. Now throw in some old fashioned underwater murder and you've got just a wee sketch of what's going on. Hall carries this off amazingly. Dark subject matter, sure. But a [darn] good story by an altogether incredible author. Other authors could learn a thing or two from Hall. Particularly, as much as I love him, Tim Dorsey. Dorsey has a slight problem with including far too many storylines that are of no consequence (and are totally meaningless in the big picture), and has a [heck] of time trying to keep them altogether. Still, don't take this to imply that you should avoid Dorsey. In fact, read all of his books. I certainly have. Anyway, enjoy this one if you are up for it. Just realize what you're in for. Hopefully I've given you a heads up as to what that is.
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