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)

Another standout novel from Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen’s books have a common theme: Bad guys do some really contemptible stuff and pay for it in outrageously Darwinian style. His blend of crime fiction, comedy and irony is clearly identifiable - he has so many successful novels under his belt by now that his writing shows a level of self-confidence that we just don’t see in newer authors. When I begin one of his novels I know that I am in for a wild ride, a satisfying conclusion - and in between, plenty of opportunities to laugh out loud in either pure amusement or in shocked awe at the audacity of it all.
In Bad Monkey Hiaasen takes multiple brilliant plot lines, fleshes them out with a cast of vivid, eccentric characters and pulls it all together into an action-filled finish. Throughout, we are treated to a classic smorgasbord of barbed observations and witty dialog without even once getting that ‘been there, done that’ eye roll out of me that has become a pet peeve with other long-term authors.
Last but not least, the Audible narrator does an admirable job of conveying the ironic tone and keeps up with the large cast of characters without a slip.

Poor narrator choice for this story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

While Arte Johnson is a very good narrator his style was a poor choice for this story.

I really expected a better experience.

I did not like the narrator. His voice and accent made me thing the character was a very old man, far past the age of chasing dames and solving crimes. This ruined the story for me.

funny

don't understand others issues with the narrator. Story was fun, classic hiaasen. funny and dark.

Bad Monkey

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I am going to read the hard back book instead; or an E-book.

If you’ve listened to books by Carl Hiaasen before, how does this one compare?

Nothing compares to Stephen Hoye's renditions of these books - so tongue in cheek sarcastic - it actually takes away from the pleasure of the entire story to have to get used to a new narrator - especially when Hoye is perfect.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Arte Johnson?

Stephen Hoye

Do you think Bad Monkey needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Always love Carl Hiaasen's books.

Good summer read

An entertainment won’t change your life but not a waste of time. I have enjoyed most of his books

Gotta love Hiaasen

Mr Hiaasen is one of my favorites, and once again he did not disappoint. fifteen

Detectives, coroners, and a monkey!

What made the experience of listening to Bad Monkey the most enjoyable?

The monkey made it funny, the hurricane made it tense, and the other characters made it enjoyable

Who was your favorite character and why?

The monkey for sure.......

Have you listened to any of Arte Johnson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I have not, and I did enjoy him.

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

Yes, I think it might be even better

Any additional comments?

Just an overall good listen

Why so hard on Arte???

Where does Bad Monkey rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top for laughing out loud while listening.

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

There was something surprising and/or humorous around every corner.

What does Arte Johnson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Timing and delivery. I loved his work and hope he reads another one! For crying out loud he's a comedian.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A hilarious distillation of the absurd and preposterous in south Florida.

Any additional comments?

I think there must be some "sour grape" consumption by many of the other reviewers. The story is a scream and the narrator does a great job.

Typical Hiassen

Any additional comments?

Although I have always admired Arte Johnson, and would love to listen to more books he's narrated, I am a firm fan of George Wilson and I've always thought he is the best narrator for any Hiaasen book. His dry reading, pace, and timing cannot be matched.