Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey08/05/2008 10:59:17 PMLocation : Cleveland, OH
When reading a Tim Dorsey book, a lot of things fall to the wayside; attention to family members, attempting to eat at lunch, blogging, and free time, among others. This is directly attributed to the desire to finish the book as quickly as possible. There are so many sub-plots in play, you just *have* to see how it all shakes out. With Atomic Lobster, Tim Dorsey has penned another excellent novel concerning the "serial killer with a wicked sense of humor," Serge Storms.
Serge continues his sightseeing around the state of Florida, hitting quite a few cities, including Tarpon Springs and Tampa. Along for the ride, as a faithful but drug addled sidekick is Coleman. Rounding out the immediate lunacy is Rachael, beautiful stripper and Coleman's equal in consuming large quantities of drugs and alcohol. In addition to those three, we have returning character Jim Davenport and his headstrong wife, Martha, a recently released convict and his murderous family, a drug smuggling ring, some elderly women on the prowl for men, some mobsters in the Witness Protection Program, a retired Pittsburgh Steeler great and some rabid fans, and a spy. There are more characters but those are the major characters. Everyone that is still alive come together on a cruise ship toward the end, which leads to some very interesting interactions.
It is very difficult to describe the plot, especially with so many story arcs, but the glue that holds this book together, like all of Dorsey's novels, is Serge. Dorsey thinks nothing of showing you an outcome, and then in the next chapter, explain how you arrived at that point. And usually it is due to Serge. While he may be a killer, it is the methods that he uses to dispatch his victims that are quite imaginative. You are usually given a small idea of the killing, but you have to wait for another chapter, or two, to really discover more about it. And then, you can't help but laugh at the setup, location, or method. Serge only shoots someone if he is in a hurry, and, as I recall, he doesn't shoot anyone in this novel. Adding to this, is Serge's love of all things Florida. You may travel to the state, but Serge will show you sights you have probably missed. And you will love him for it.
While there is a lot happening in this novel, don't let that distract you from the good time reading it. You will be able to keep up, as Dorsey makes it very difficult to put this book down. And, like his other novels, you might learn something about the sights in Florida and the cruise ship industry. Another top-notch novel from the wicked mind of Tim Dorsey.
Did I mention the Mimes and Clowns?
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