Hurricane Punch: A Novel [Hardcover]

Tim Dorsey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2007

Welcome to another typical summer in Florida, the season of the storms. Serge Storms.

That loveable, under-under-medicated dispenser of truth, justice, and trivia is back with a vengeance. And not a weirdness-laced moment too soon.

His cherished home state is about to take a beating, and from far more than the way-too-routine conga line of hurricanes bearing down on the peninsula. Corpses have begun turning up at a disturbing rate, even for Florida, and it looks like a brutal serial killer is on the loose. Serge vows to stop at nothing in his juggernaut to make All Things Right...except if he gets bored or distracted by a cool souvenir or...or a...whatever.

But his path won't be obstacle free.

Agent Mahoney has picked up the scent. The obsessive criminal profiler is convinced there is no second killer. Then there's Coleman, whose triathlete approach to the sport of polyabuse binging just might derail the mission more than the entire police community put together. The pace picks up. Winds howl, TV reporters fly around the beach, and questions mount: Who's stalking Tampa Bay's most sensitive journalist? Do multiple orgasms improve storm tracking? Why is the feeding-tube guy so quiet? All of which ultimately leads to the most pressing question on everyone's new-millennium lips: What would Serge do?

Performed by Oliver Wyman

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Scathing humor strips the pretense off its targets like a hurricane in bestseller Dorsey's rapid-fire ninth thriller. Last seen in The Big Bamboo (2006), serial killer Serge A. Storms, who seems like all of the Marx brothers rolled into one, rumbles across Florida in a stolen Hummer with his usually drunk or stoned friend, Coleman. Serge follows one hurricane after another, driving in the relatively safe eye of the storm, pointing out fascinating bits of Florida history and only killing those who truly deserve it. That would include the guy in the car next to you blasting his music as well as the person price-gouging hurricane victims. The murders are accomplished in appropriately bizarre, if not graphic, fashion. As Serge evades law enforcement and perennial nemesis Agent Mahoney, his latest road trip allows him to skewer everything from President Bush to fast food establishments, with particular emphasis given to the foibles of the media (newspapers) for which Dorsey once worked. 13-city author tour. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Dorsey's ninth novel to feature irrepressible Florida serial killer Serge A. Storm offers another utterly over-the-top blend of slapstick, satire, and mayhem. After a raucous adventure in Hollywood, Storm and his dumbed-down, liquored-up sidekick Coleman return to their native state, wreaking havoc as they chase hurricanes and kill civilians up and down the coast. Alas, it seems another local loco has made up his twisted mind to vie for the distinction of Florida's "most wanted." Dorsey's cast of characters reads like a psychiatrist's dream. Among them: Agent Mahoney, an obsessive-compulsive criminal profiler traumatized by his journeys inside Storm's mind, and Jeff McSwirley, a crackerjack reporter who regularly vomits and sobs when interviewing survivors of crimes. While Dorsey delivers less-incisive satire than does his fellow-Floridian Carl Hiaasen, he does have his moments, particularly when targeting the media. The title refers to Coleman's cocktail of choice, a noxious blend of Red Bull, Everclear, exotic fruit juices, and liqueurs. Clearly an acquired taste. And, like Dorsey's novels, perhaps too potent for some. Allison Block
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (January 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060829672
• ISBN-13: 978-0060829674
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tim Dorsey was a reporter and editor for the Tampa Tribune from 1987 to 1999 and is the author of ten previous novels: Florida Roadkill, Hammerhead Ranch Motel, Orange Crush, Triggerfish Twist, The Stingray Shuffle, Cadillac Beach, Torpedo Juice, The Big Bamboo, Hurricane Punch, and Atomic Lobster. He lives in Tampa, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank The Gods For These Books!, August 30, 2007

By 

E.R. (P.R.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hurricane Punch: A Novel (Hardcover)

This whole series of books by Tim Dorsey can be described as a twisted and funny study on the dark side in all of human beings. Tim Dorsey manages to take everyday situations and make them incredibly funny. Based in Florida, the series follows the twisted life of Serge Storms (one of the best characters ever created) and all his sick, violent and disturbed adventures. Of course, along the way you will get to meet every kind of character you can imagine.

The interesting thing about this series is that behind all the funny stories, there are tons of social and political criticisms. I have read all the books in the series, and each one keeps getting better. If you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino movies, Family Guy cartoons or South Park cartoons, you will love these books. A MUST BUY.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars [WWSD] What Would Serge Do?, March 2, 2007

By 

James L. Throne "Jim Throne" (Dunedin, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hurricane Punch: A Novel (Hardcover)

Okay, this is a highly biased review. I own twelve copies of Dorsey's books. Nine published editions and three purloined pre-published editions. And someday, I'll do a complete index so that each of us can search back to find specific characters or antics in the life of one Serge A, Storms.

A long while back, I wondered aloud whether Tim Dorsey could sustain his main character. Well, the wonder is over, at least for Hurricane Punch, Dorsey's ninth book (lessee... The original, a prequel, and 7 sequels). And in my humble opinion, Dorsey has returned home - Florida - where Serge characters abound and seem to "fit right in." Where hurricanes are a fact of life (and death).

Seems tho we got ourselves an imposter calling himself "Eye of the Storm". Serge complains but Agent Mahoney, just released from the booby-hatch, teams up with McSwirley, a Tampa reporter who can't stop crying over spilt blood, is convinced Serge is behind all the mayhem. Meanwhile Serge has a new game - driving in the eye of hurricanes. And picking up wenches along the way. And offing guys the old Serge way. Ingeniously. Coleman, still working the booze and drug circuit, thinks Serge's losing his touch. Getting old. 44. And that's almost 50. And that's almost 60! Maturing. Mellowing. And what about Party Parrot, you ask! Don't ask.

Personal opinion. Hurricane Punch is Dorsey's best book since Orange Crush.

Final thought: Remember the thriller, Das Boot? Remember how you were warned NOT TO READ THE LAST PAGE BEFORE YOU GOT THERE? If you're a Floridian, or if you are a devotee of the nonsense going on in this nonsensical state, whatever you do, DON'T READ THE LAST PAGE BEFORE YOU GET THERE!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Off-beat humor at its finest, April 24, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hurricane Punch: A Novel (Hardcover)

Where have I been? Tim Dorsey has eight earlier novels--and I've just discovered his scathing and raucous humor. I have a whole lot of catching up to do.

Hurricane season is about to pound the life out of Florida. It seems a serial killer, or maybe two, is on the loose and if he isn't caught, the body count will skyrocket.

Dorsey's loveable (can that be true?) psychopath, Serge has a weird sense of moral justice. He's not opposed to killing someone, he just prefers that they deserve death. He's not only a walking encyclopedia on all things Florida, but he loves hurricanes.

Serge is dedicated in righting wrong doings. Even if that means someone must die. But he balks at the newspaper calling him a serial killer.

Agent Mahoney (recently released from a mental hospital for getting too far into Serge's head) believes Serge is the serial killer and his personality is splitting from years of experiencing the good and better parts of life. He's determined to bring down Serge.

Coleman, Serge's friend, is forever 'high' and that just might be what derails Serge. In the meantime, Coleman is along for the ride of his life and will do anything if it only means he can avoid getting a job.

As the storms increase, Tampa Bay's favorite journalist is getting all the newspaper 'scoops.' He's contacted by the killer and will help Agent Mahoney in his quest to stop a bumbling, but very lucky madman who denies being a serial killer--who denies it by writing letters to the newspaper, dueling letters with another killer.

Is Serge a serial killer? Will the hurricanes get the best of Florida and be the undoing of Serge? Will Mahoney get his man, or men? And what will happen to our mild-mannered reporter?

Dorsey is simply brilliant. His edgy humor leaves nothing in society untouched by his unique view of life. The novel is more of a series vignettes strung together to make a raucous novel. By the time you turn the last page, you just might believe that Serge makes a whole lot of sense--and that's a scary scenario. '

Armchair Interviews says: Hurricane Punch packs a wallop and leaves the reader wanting more of Dorsey's off beat humor. It's a winner.