Trap Line

Another home run! Great characters and an excellent story line. It has you hooked right away and one cheers for the good guys all the way through.

I hadn't noticed the dual byline until after reading this book, but when I saw it everything became clear: *this* is why "Trap Line" is different than the usual Carl Hiaasen novel. "Trap Line" followed a more straightforward plot using more normal characters than frequent readers of Hiaasen's fiction expect to find.That isn't to say this is a poor book by any means -- it's just different. Fishing boat captain Breeze Albury is generally a terrific hero -- a devoted father who's made some mistakes. Sadly, he goes off the rails a bit and takes on a job he knew better than to accept and it all goes (as we know it will) badly.I loved the Florida Keys setting and Hiaasen uses it to its full advantage, making Breeze's adroitness on the water completely believable. And when someone cuts his trap line, plunging thousands of dollars of equipment (and potential catch) into the ocean, he's set up for to take the risk he really knows he shouldn't. What's too bad is Breeze seems just a little too dense to see who's behind this deed and why, and to extract revenge in a way he seems completely capable of executing. That's the primary flaw of the book for me, and the one thing that nagged at me throughout.Had that string of the plot been pulled a little more tightly, Breeze's character would have come across (at least for me) as more plausible, rather than him behaving sort of "blinders-on, blinders-off" as the plot needed him to be. Sadly, it cost this otherwise strong adventure a star in this rating.

The story is exactly like the keys. They’re always turns that you never expect. It’s a place that you never know who anyone really is. Everyone has a story.

Great book. Carl makes the reader feel like they are in the keys and watching the story unfold in front of them

Good book, but a bit more serious than his usual work. There's still the wacky villains and the the story line that fits South Florida, but not as many crazy people as his usual cast and crew of his novels.All and all, a good read though.

Breeze Albury was basically an honest man until the machinations of the Machine (the Cubans) and a group of Colombians toss him into a high stakes game. When nearly all his trap lines are cut while his bills mount, Breeze takes a side job delivering a load of pot. He smells a set-up just a little too late, and finds himself in an even deeper mess. When the Machine plots with the Colombians to do away with him, Breeze, his girlfriend Laurie, and a number of fed-up Key West residents devise a plan for revenge, which gets all the more serious when they mess with Breeze's pride and joy, his son Ricky.Hiaasen fans looking for his trademark humor should know he hadn't begun exploring that facet of his talent yet. Otherwise, this book is thick with his special flavor, peppered with wonderful characters who would have been at home in any Hiaasen novel.Breeze is a middle-aged, slightly shopworn fisherman whose one remaining ambition in life is to see his son pitch in the majors. Like nearly everyone else in this book, he lives in a trailer. His ex-wife is a drunk who sells seashells to tourists, and his current live-in girlfriend Laurie is a waitress at a local restaurant. They're being investigated by Christine Manning, governor's counsel conducting an investigation into smuggling and corruption in the Keys. She's also onto Chief of Police, Huge Barnett, and Winnebago Tom, who moves all manner of controlled substances in his vehicles. The numerous other small characters are equally well-drawn, their personalities what we've come to expect from Hiaasen.While some seem disappointed his trademark humor is not in evidence, they seem to be missing the point. This is a well-crafted thriller with wonderful characters written by a couple of obviously talented guys. I'm glad it's part of my Hiaasen collection.

Fun engaging crime romance in the Hiaasen style. I wish Skink could have made an appearance in some way, but I realize this is a collaboration.

Preface: I love Carl Hiaasen's writing. I encountered him I while substitute teaching in an elementary school. The students were working on vocabulary, which have me some quiet down time. So I decided to read. Picked up Hoot ... loved it. Flashed through that, moved on to Flush, then Scat, and Chomp before moving into his non-youth books. Read Razor Girl, Skinny Dip, and Nature Girl. THEN, I found out he writes mysteries with Bill Montalbano!Trap Line was Carl Hiaasen in spades. His humor is subtle but thickly woven into the story. His eye for detail -- not boring, drone on and on detail -- but wonderfully knitted as you go. And then these two guys create a mystery! I can't wait to read more! You feel Breeze's angst, his sensitivity, his yearning for a non-fishing life, and you find yourself really rooting for him, but worried that things will go South ... again. This pair develops characters who get under your skin. I found myself wishing I could hang out with some of the characters. Others literally pissed me off or made me sick to my stomach.It's a fun read that will hold your attention to the end.

First time I have read a Hiaasen/Montalbano production. I love Hiaasen so much & usually laugh out loud with the lunacy of it all. I thought it would not & could not match up. I really enjoyed it but missed the really ridiculous characters(usually one main fruitcake). It was thoroughly enjoyable but Bill must have a 'normalising' effect on Carl. Loved the comeuppance the Chief of Police got! Definitely worth a read

I'm pretty new to Carl Hiaasen, I bought Sick Puppy/Skin Tight from a charity shop and there's been no going back since! I though I'd have a look on the kindle store and found this book and really enjoyed it. It's easy to read and a witty, fun book. I'll definitely be reading more Carl Hiaasen books!

Quite a good light read. I lost track a little towards the end - maybe not paying enough attention to the details of the final round up, as it were, of the various characters.

I am a big fan of Carl h. Always fun and quite a story. I was amused all the way. And quite a full story I give it nos. One. Buy. ?????

It did not have as much humour as previous books.the story flowed well.I always read Carl's books for laugh out loud moments.