Customer Reviews

Floaters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is my second experience reading Wambaugh, the first being "The Golden Orange". Wambaugh's strength lies in his sharp, cynical, sarcastic and blackly humerous use of language. I laughed out loud at his witty and dark brand of humor. His command of the English language and cynical look at Americana seen through the eyes of cops and robbers is worth the price of admission alone. This novel works mostly through his style, and the plot is greatly enhanced through his wordplay. I learned more about Americas Cup racing than I ever wanted to know, yet was never bored throughout "Floaters". A lesser writer might not have been able to make such a plot work, since the finale is laced with coincedence and irony, yet Wambaugh's style more than makes up for any potentially lame plot twists. This is not to say that the plot is poor or predictable; it's neither. But the fact is that few writers would be able to pull off such a tale.

This is just another example of Mr. Wambaugh's extroadinary ability to capture the reader's mind & put them into the character's phych. One almost has to feel sorry for the killer in as much as his thought's regarding the killing, cup and social face is hiliarious. Keeep them coming Mr. Wambaugh!!! Sierra Schoffstall, Columbia, SC

As an avid Wambaugh fan, I was again drawn into this book. His style of writing keeps the readers attention and prevents you from putting it down. Especially nice is the way he allows his readers to get to know the charactors so well. You will be be surprised, entertained, and amused as Wambaugh takes you through the world of sailing and the America's Cup regattas in San Diego

Being a fan of The Glitter Dome, Delta Star and his other works I was expecting a typical Wambaugh. This one wasn't. It struck me more as an Elmore Leonard with Wambaugh humor in it.

It was funny. It did make me laugh out loud causing stares for it seems America needs to get a good sense of humor. I would have been asking the title something like the woman in the Restaurant scene in Harry and Sally.

The plot revolves around saving the Americas Cup for the USA and the people that play a part in the crime and the people that effect the efforts of the police and the crime. The view switches between the leads. The cup itself is the main character not any one person. This can lead to thinking it is a slow plot or confusing. The talk of the cup and the racers reaches a point of boredom but Wambaugh himself writes into the book that no one else cares about this stuff just when you are about to say "Give the cup away."

Not your typical Wambaugh.

If the reader looks for intrigue, coupled with suspense, and . . . "The bums got what they deserved!" ending, including a bit of the "behind-the-scenes camaraderie and mystery" which surround the America's Cup international sailing regatta, Welcome! Street cop and vice squad squalor at its best. Wambaugh's a winner every time

If you like Joseph Wambaugh's books, you'll love this one! (If you don't, of course, you'll still hate him.) It's the freshest and most fascinating book he's written since Golden Orange. Full of sleazy characters and sizzling dialog. I found the plot easier to follow than some of his more convoluted offerings. A fun book to read during a weekend in the mountains

Well written and a cop's book. Wonderful plot and as usual, great one liners. I have read most, if not all of Wambaugh books, and this is one of the best.

Kind of touching too. The fictional story of an attempt to sabotage the America's Cup race, pulls in San Diego PD, New Zealands team, Australia's team, a red headed fire cracker of a prostitute, a sardonically twisted vice cop with a heart of gold, local lifeguards and the hoity toity yacht crowd. Just a lot of fun to read.

For one thing, the San Diego setting just plain isn't as colorful as the usual L. A. and Hollywood settings of most of the author's books. But what the heck. This is still a good solid reading and has fully developed characters one can identify with. The book as a whole just isn't as gritty as one expects from Wambaugh, but it sure doesn't deserve some of the trashy reviews here. Don't make it your introduction to Wmbaugh, but it still is a worthwhile investment of your reading time.

Perhaps not his very best work but the familiar and welcome style, angsty villains, mixed up, wise-cracking cops. It was nice to be able to read an item which is currently not in print in the UK but i'm sure it should get a UK release.