13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bahamarama: More than a Mystery, February 13, 2005
So Bob Morris has written a book? What could it be? I have been reading his stuff for years. Could be a travelogue. He knows more about the world between Georgia and the Equator than just about anyone. Could be about the environment. He genuinely loves the real Florida, the one that existed before air conditioners, more than the Sierra Club could ever pretend to. Could be a love story; it is dedicated to his bride and sons, after all. Could be a mystery. He is a somewhat devious devil. Could be a comedy. He is one of the funniest people you will ever meet. Could be a collaboration with Julia Child, as I understand that when he appears at a book signing, he will make a batch of conch fritters for you. Whatever it might turn out to be, I expected it to be a great read. And so it is.
The setting begins in a Florida prison and follows the release of Zach Chasteen, a former Miami Dolphin, to the Bahamas, the real Bahamas, not Nassau.
The plot is a convoluted(gotta have convolutions to make a mystery) tale of money, drugs, various family issues, and some amazing coincidences.
The conflict is, or course, good versus evil, within the context of the plot, setting and characters.
The theme is loyalty. Zach struggles to be loyal to his love Barbara. Zach's business partner and confidante. Boggy, turns out to be steadfastly loyal to Zach, Zach's misconceptions notwithstanding.
The narrative is riveting. The setting and the action captivate the reader. Morris knows the place and the time and the people.
The outcome is a brilliant story, told by a writer who has mastered his craft. Trust me, it is worth the read. It compels one to complete the task without interruption.
I shall not presume to abstract the plot, as most reviewers persist in doing.
Let me simply answer the initial question I posed. Bahamarama is a comedy, and the punchline is 10-9=1. Read it to find out why. You will not regret the time spent.
And when the movie is made, we can have coffee and discuss whether it is "as good as the book." If so, it will be a movie worth watching.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Decent start to a new series., October 31, 2005
This is not a "great" mystery novel, but it is a decent read if you have a minute. The story centers around Zack Chasteen, a recently released, wrongly acccused ex-football player/ex-con. A little of the action is hokey at times, a couple of the characters hard to believe and one side story that is omnipresent but handled in a rapid, throw it in there at the last minute, manner. But all-in-all the novel was a promising start to a new series. Though not a fan of most of the "Florida" mystery authors, Morris seems to be off to a decent start. Worth a look at least.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Good Florida Mystery, December 7, 2004
It must be something about the Florida climate that spawns good mystery writers, Bob Morris being the latest. His first mystery opens with the protagonist's release from Federal Prison Camp/Baypoint, a home away from home for white collar types-- not exactly what we would expect for the makings of a sympathetic character. We soon learn, however, that Zack Chasteen was wrongly convicted and indeed is a most likeable mystery solver. He dresses well, eats and drinks even better and is in general a laid-back dude, even when he has to kill to protect himself. This very well-written novel has an intricate, byzantine plot. Things are not as they seem here. While I anticipated some of the events, Mr. Morris and Zack were usually miles ahead of me. I would call this novel "slick", and that is not a pejorative term. It goes down as easily as a fine piece of Key lime pie. Actually, I wish Mr. Morris had included recipes for all that wondrously exotic food he discusses.
A friend and fellow-reader thinks the writer may have been too hard on Lesbians. (I don't want to give away the plot.) I didn't think so. Perhaps Mr. Morris can give the religious right a hard time next time.
I look forward to reading Mr. Morris' next novel.
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