Cadillac Beach

By: Tim Dorsey

Narrated by: George Wilson

Serge A. Storms is back! The one-man crime spree hits no speed bumps as he swings through Tampa, Disney World, and parts south before settling down in Miami Beach to team up with a former sidekick and launch his long-overdue offbeat travel service. It's a labor of love as Serge forces customers to confront the underbelly of the Sunshine State's past and present. Some clients get it; others run for their lives. No matter. Bullets fly, cars crash, bodies pile up, fireballs reach into the sky, local lore is recited. The tour continues. Our overachieving antihero has a full to-do list, and he multitasks during the tourist juggernaut to battle the Palermo crime family, mystery assassins, local police, the FBI, the CIA, Fidel Castro, and telemarketers. Serge is also out to solve a forty-year-old mystery involving the infamous "Murph the Surf" gem heist. Could this be what got his grandfather killed? So we jump into the time machine to meet his eccentric granddad, Sergio, who is running a small-time bookie operation in 1964 Miami Beach, a golden time and place populated by the Beatles, Cassius Clay, James Bond, Jackie Gleason, and Flipper. Back to live action! Serge and his customers have become the hunted, hopscotching through a series of famous hotel rooms. But Serge tells them not to worry. He has a master plan, which is about to unfold in all of its insane glory...on Cadillac Beach!©2005 Tim Dorsey (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

classic

this should be down as one of America's classics great storytelling great character it's all about my home state of Florida so much history and yes Florida is as bad s*** crazy as it explained in the story LOL

Serge and Sergio

The sixth entry in Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms series, from 2004 (slightly dated, but not too badly). If you don't already know, Serge is a sociapathic serial killer, but he has a true moral compass and only kills for the right reasons. And he's hilarious, especially when he shows off his encyclopedic knowledge of all things Florida, the more arcane the better.

There are two things that set Cadillac Beach above the other eight other entries that I've read (and loved, or at least liked a lot). There are the letters Serge writes -- to the Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, the Mayor of Miami Beach, even the President of the US (of course!). These novels are always full of Serge's rants, always a treat, but they're usually directed at sidekicks or victims -- these letters are so much fun because of who they're directed to.

The other thing is the throwback to Serge's grandfather Sergio, a petty criminal back in the early 1960s who was every bit as insane as Serge, and even had young Serge in tow. Serge starts a tour company as a front for his investigation into the supposed suicide death of Sergio and the missing jewels from a concurrent heist. So basically, Serge squared, how fun. And, given the time period, opportunity for Serge to rant about Cassius Clay, the Beatles, JFK, Castro, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason -- all the icons of the era.

But, there are also a couple of things that are on the disappointing side of the ledger. Primarily, there is really no righteous cause that Serge is pursuing, only his personal quest, and consequently few of his elaborate Rube Goldberg-esque murders (I can only recall one). Coupled with a gratuitous plot to invade Cuba that parallels the Bay of Pigs and really only serves as an excuse to bring in the FBI and CIA, there is really very little story line -- not that plot is central to Dorsey's humorous novels, but a credible pretext for Serge's rants and revenges heightens the experience.

Nevertheless, good stuff! Newbies can start here or anywhere, as there is little carryover from one novel to the next -- in fact, this far into the series, this is where we learn about Serge's childhood and how he (at a later date) escaped from an institution. And if there is a question about reading vs. listening, nothing beats the audio experience than a comic novel read by a good narrator, and George Wilson is the professor emeritus of comic Florida crime fiction. between Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen.

Terrific read/listen

Very well constructed. Laugh out load scenes so be careful where you are while listening. We need more characters like Sergio in this world.

Miami

I grew up just of Miami and loved my wacky grandfather. So, I related to this, yet again, great work from Dorsey.

Fun and Practical . . . Really

Tim Dorsey writes the perfect commuter book. I've noticed on my way to work other drivers give me extra berth as I laugh, snort, and grimace while listening to Serge's latest adventure. I guarantee that you won't be able to keep a straight face.

Like chaos in a blender, Serge, Lenny, and a party of willing and unwilling characters tear through Southern Florida in "Cadillac Beach." Who knew murder, mayhem, and mystery could be so fun?

Please, please, pleaes, Audible guys, can we get more of Dorsey's books?

hmmmmmmm

it was funny in some parts but way to much going on even for a multitasker like me!!! won't read this author again unless he comes with a different style. did love the florida history and tour lessons though!!!

An exquisite romp!

I just finished this book and can't wait to let it sit for six months and then listen again. It's funny, clever, and is the best I've read or listened to -- ever.

Shame on us, how much fun

Dorsey's books are a total guilty pleasure, and I am thrilled that they are FINALLY here! Serge is a great hero- psychotic, murderous, and rightous.

poor technical problems

I am a huge fan of Tim Dorsey. but on my Audible rendition of this book, the chapters were misnumbered and it was a very confusing result. the book is fantastic, but the audible is all jumbled.

You Gotta Love Serge!

This is a rollicking, free-wheeling, offbeat trip through Southern Florida. Your tour guide is the brilliant, charismatic, unbalanced and dangerous Serge A. Storms. In my opinion, it's worth a listen just for Serge's rants filled with non-sequiters and valid social criticism.

The story hops through time between Serge and his grandfather Sergio. It covers a lot of Florida history and is not afraid to talk about the mistakes and corruption as well as the triumphs and native beauty of the state.

If you don't mind constant references to drug and alcohol use, some bad language, sex, and vivid (if rather unhinged) social commentary, you'll get a kick out of this book. If any of those things bother you I'd recommend staying away because you'll be offended.