Bad Monkey

By: Carl Hiaasen

Narrated by: Arte Johnson

Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

A wickedly funny novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Squeeze Me in which the greedy, the corrupt, and the degraders of what’s left of pristine Florida—now, of the Bahamas as well—get their comeuppance.

“[A] comedic marvel … [Hiaasen] hasn’t written a novel this funny since Skinny Dip.”—The New York Times

Andrew Yancy—late of the Miami Police and soon-to-be-late of the Monroe County sheriff’s office—has a human arm in his freezer. There’s a logical (Hiaasenian) explanation for that, but not for how and why it parted from its shadowy owner. Yancy thinks the boating-accident/shark-luncheon explanation is full of holes, and if he can prove murder, the sheriff might rescue him from his grisly Health Inspector gig (it’s not called the roach patrol for nothing). But first—this being Hiaasen country—Yancy must negotiate an obstacle course of wildly unpredictable events with a crew of even more wildly unpredictable characters, including his just-ex lover, a hot-blooded fugitive from Kansas; the twitchy widow of the frozen arm; two avariciously optimistic real-estate speculators; the Bahamian voodoo witch known as the Dragon Queen, whose suitors are blinded unto death by her peculiar charms; Yancy’s new true love, a kinky coroner; and the eponymous bad monkey, who with hilarious aplomb earns his place among Carl Hiaasen’s greatest characters.

©2013 Carl Hiaasen (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[A] comedic marvel ... [Hiaasen] hasn’t written a novel this funny since Skinny Dip.... Beautifully constructed.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

“No one writes about Florida with a more wicked sense of humor than Hiaasen.” (Jocelyn McClurg, USA Today)

“[A] rollicking misadventure in the colorful annals of greed and corruption in South Florida.... Hiaasen has a peculiar genius for inventing grotesque creatures ... that spring from the darkest impulses of the id. But he also writes great heroes.” (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times)

This one was really good!

Excellent. Very funny, and the reader did a fantastic job. Loved his accents. I found myself laughing out loud several times.

Most Excellent Florida Tale and Narrator

It was absolutely delightful, listening to the awesome narrator, Arte Johnson, bringing this story to light. He was just perfect in his character portrayal. Am looking forward to the Bad Monkey movie- there were very cool movie sets over in the old Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne.

Hilarious

The story is about a typical low life doing an extraordinary thing to avoid getting caught. It doesn’t work out (of course) and the story surrounding his demise is absolutely ridiculous. I couldn’t stop listening and I’m going to again. The narrator just makes it funnier with his tone of voice. I must find more books narrated by him.

Disappointed

I was hoping for a great followup to Star Island. Who picks these readers? This book would have been significantly better to listen to with a better reader. I'm halfway thru and not sure If I'll finish it.

Was it Hiaasen or the narrator...?

I've adored and read (listened to) Carl Hiaasen's books for years –so much so that I'll read the kids books as well as the adult ones. This one (downloaded the day it came available) was just disappointing, not terrible, but not up to the level of, say, Stormy Weather narrated by George Wilson (whose timing, tone and deadpan characterizations are exquisite and perfect for Hiaasen's lunatic hilarity).

The printed edition of the book has gotten good reviews, so it may just be that Arte Johnson's voice is the problem: too old-sounding and hesitant for Hiaasen's work, making the book sound corny and clunky. If you're a Hiaasen fan, you might want to read this one with your eyes, not your ears. If you're new to Hiaasen, don't start with this one.

Get it at the library

This is a typical Carl Hiaasen book and if you like his others, you will probably like "Bad Monkey". But here's the thing. Arte Johnson is a funny guy, but his reading is pluperfect awful. Hiaasen's books are full of outlandish characters and Johnson misses the boat on every single one of them. Go check this book out at the library.

poor narrator

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I have gotten almost halfway through this audiobook and had to turn it off. the narrator, Arte Johnson is awful! I will watch and try to make sure I don't buy another audiobook with him as the narrator again. he has ruined this Hiassen book for me. I enjoy my audiobooks during my commute, but would rather read this book the old fashioned way.

Would you be willing to try another one of Arte Johnson’s performances?

no- see above

The narration was a step backward

I've listened to a lot of books by Carl Hiaasen and I have to say, this narration didn't do it for me. It sounds like Columbo reading the story. The two other narrators I've heard have been really good, but this one... it just didn't do it for me at all. It was a voice that didn't fit with the location or the characters, minus just a couple.

The story itself was good and had a unique twist.

Also loved the location on Andros playing a part.

As usual, Carl does a great job describing a place that he loves, the Keys and the Bahamas and manages to capture the threats to those places without having the book be about that.

Love the fishing stuff.

very entertaining

Carl Hiaasen doesn't disappoint. Good twists and turns in the plot. Very humorous, and very entertaining.

Great read

Was a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. I really liked the main character!