The Stingray Shuffle

Why Serge Wanted the Money

There are three types of audiobooks that I find appealing: 1. Books I've read in print that I love and want to revisit in audio; 2. Movies I love and want to hear in their original literary versions; 3. Books that are fun. Stingray Shuffle falls into the latter category, a virtually can't-miss category because the main criterion is simply that they are fun. And Stingray Shuffle is most definitely fun.

A reliable sub-genre of fun books are comic crime capers set in Florida. The author I've read a lot of, widely known, is Carl Hiaasen. Tim Dorsey, lesser known, is Hiaasen on steroids. Or drugs, more generically. Stingray Shuffle completes a series of three books that began with Dorsey's first two, Florida Roadkill and Hammerhead Ranch Hotel, in which his omnipresent protagonist, Serge Storms, pursues a cache of $5 million cash. In Stingray Shuffle, we find out why he wants the money.

Serge Storms, what a creation! A chemically unbalanced sociopath with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Florida, a fairly righteous moral compass, and a knack for creative killings. Serge gets to go on a number of rants in each book, whether in court defending himself or in the car telling stories or recounting Florida history. George Wilson captures his manic voice perfectly -- for me, having read Roadkill and Hammerhead Ranch in print, I can say unequivocally that Wilson's Serge is far better in audio.

Despite Serge's overriding and sometimes overbearing presence, the beauty of Dorsey's books (like Hiaasen's) is the diverse spectrum of characters. Stingray Shuffle does not disappoint with its hypnotist, book club ladies, bad author, bumbling cartel thugs, and the return of Johnny Vegas, reluctant virgin. As good as he is as Serge, Wilson does a great job with all these characters. He is a prolific audiobook narrator, including many of Dorsey's as well as many of Hiaasen's titles.

If you're new to this genre, you might be better off starting with Hiaasen or one of the other notable Florida authors (John D. MacDonald or Dave Barry, for example) and move on to Dorsey when you want to take it to the limit. He is definitely farther out there than the Dry Tortugas (which figure into the climax of his first novel, Florida Roadkill). But if you think you can handle something this extreme, go for it, it's a hoot. Fun.

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Dexter vs. Serge

I hear or see Dexter mentioned occasionally in discussions or reviews about Serge. I love both series, but I don't think they're the same at all. Since I just listened to the most recent Dexter book in between Serge marathons, I decided to start making a list of comparisons to show why they're different. Here's what I have so far:

Dexter has a legitimate job. Serge lives on the proceeds of crime.

Dexter feels a deep need to kill. Serge would just as soon not, but...

Dexter's victims must meet certain eligibility requirements, defined by "Harry's Code." Serge's victims just have to really piss him off.

Dexter has a routine and a ritual way of killing. Serge doesn't use the same method more than once.

Dexter stays to the end. Serge usually goes away while they're still alive, and leaves them with a slim (practically non-existent) possibility of escape.

Dexter thoroughly cleans up afterward. Serge leaves bodies and parts strewn all over Florida for others to find and deal with.

Dexter keeps a box of slides with blood samples of all his victims. Serge keeps a box of historical Florida souvenirs.

Dexter talks to his playmates for maximum terror and mental anguish while he works on them. Serge entertains his victims with pleasant banter while setting up his devices, which practically amounts to the same thing.

Both rely heavily on duct tape.

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Heist by Comedy

Would you consider the audio edition of The Stingray Shuffle to be better than the print version?

I am sure it is. The tongue in cheek performance made me laugh and groan.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot kept me falling off my seat laughing. Serge and company are successful mobsters through a comedy of errors. This was my first Dorsey, will not be my last. They remind me of the bumbling villains found in Carol Higgins Clark novels. And the very satisfying way it all comes together in the end

What about George K. Wilson’s performance did you like?

The way way he does the voices and the accents are funny. I also enjoy how he is very serious about these characters trials and tribulations. I was ROFLMAO

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Most definitely, the twist and turns were so hilarious. A lot of the time your thinking" I know where this is going" and then "what just happened here" funny

Any additional comments?

Will definitely be reading some more Dorsey. It was not what I expected. Actually it was better than expected.

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Dorsey never ceases to entertain- and then some.

Dorsey never ceases to entertain- and then some. The intricacy and links between characters are genius.

Surprise! It was a great book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definitely, especially one who liked Carl Hiaasen books. Very similar writing styles.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Serge, he is so random...you just never know what he will say or what will happen to him next.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Seriously this book made me laugh and occasionally cringe

Any additional comments?

This was my first book by George K. Wilson. I chose it because I love Carl Hiaasen books and read Wilson is similar. I'm going to check out some other titles by this author. Hope I enjoy them as much as this one.

terrible

What disappointed you about The Stingray Shuffle?

The story was a disjointed mess. The characters were equally a mess. I kept thinking it might improve. It did not. I could not finish listening.

What character would you cut from The Stingray Shuffle?

everyone

Serge in love

Where does The Stingray Shuffle rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's a keeper

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Oh, yes.....the mystery train was a hoot!

Which character – as performed by George K. Wilson – was your favorite?

It's always Serge, for sure

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh out loud

Where's the 5 million?

What made the experience of listening to The Stingray Shuffle the most enjoyable?

His sense of humor, the reoccuring characters, the insane trivea just blows me away.

What did you like best about this story?

Creative story line. Some carry over from earlier books about the missing 5 million.

Which scene was your favorite?

The substory of the forgotten author and how his books become popular again because the coke dealer begins using them for distribution. And there's more, but i don't want to spoil the surprise. I hope I'm not mixing up books, because I'm hooked on Dorsey and am currently on book 10, can't get enough.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Serge went to New York City to catch a train to, surprise, Florida. He stayed at a hotel our family had just stayed at, and I learned all kinds of trivea facts about that hotel that I hadn't knew before.

Any additional comments?

Stick with Dorsey,. His audiobooks can be hard to follow because of the way he has 3-5 stories going and jumps between them. They all merge at the end. If you're driving, you'll have to repeat a chapter once in a while if your attention drifts due to traffic.

3/4 thru and

its really good as have all these Dorsey books = clearly DEXTER is a rip off sorta of this guys work -G

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