Double Whammy

By: Carl Hiaasen

Narrated by: George Wilson

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

"Robert Clinch loved his boat more that anything else in the world...more than his wife...his kids...his girlfiend...even more than the largemouth bass he was pursuing." Thus begins a twisted tale of murder in the world of big-stakes bass fishing tournaments. Filled with ex-wives, evangelists, and an armed pit-bull, this is a story that could only be concocted by Carl Hiaasen, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author, and czar of Florida noir fiction.

©1988 Carl Hiaasen (P)1998 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"The cast of bizarre characters and the suspenseful events confirm Hiaasen's reputation for creating singular villains and heroes. While he's probably unpopular among some fellow citizens in his home state, he will certainly please readers who appreciate the Swiftian wit in his cautionary tales." (Publishers Weekly)
"The action is swift, and there are some very funny scenes." (Library Journal)

A nice 80s mystery

What did you love best about Double Whammy?

The plot nice working by the author, didnt know when it was dated got a good surprise.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Double Whammy?

The sex and fishing scenes. Fun

Which character – as performed by George Wilson – was your favorite?

Skink I think he is a classic

If you could take any character from Double Whammy out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Skink I would like to see him eat also the Garcia & Tile partners...

Pointless (but fun!) adventures in the old south

There is this kind of book which takes a bunch of savvy characters, gives some unusual occupations and places them in an out-of-the-ordinary environment. This is more or less what this book as can be seen by the following elements: (a) a deranged hermit, (b) a bunch of obsessive fishermen, and (c) the swampy old South.

The story is an after-thought to the characters and their environment. Completely forgettable, unpredictable (in a bad way), borderline trivial or borderline far-fetched, I doubt that this kind of story will satisfy any fan of thrillers that keep you on your toes. While some pretty serious stuff actually happens, it all feels more like a picnic and gentle children's play.

I gave it three stars because the book works well as a guilty pleasure. The action moves forward and remains mildly entertaining. The characters are one-dimensional but are unusual enough that it's fun to read. The performance is okay with some nice distinction between Miami and central Florida accent, but I feel more diversity would have been better.

Skink is at it again!

A Hiaasen story about south Florida is always a quirky ride, and this one is no exception. He does a great job of maintaining a "series" feel for those of us who read everything from the authors we enjoy, while assuring that each book is a stand-alone story for the first time reader/listener. This episode lets us see more about the workings of "Skink's" mind, making him more sympathetic than in some other stories. This story weaves the theme of conservation of natural resources skilllfully into a hoot of a fishing story with a catch of wierd and goofy characters, and a few gruesomely hystericall elements. The narrator captures the sincere, the clueless, the deceivers and the observers in this story quite well, and does credible southern accents without overdoing them or appearing to comment on the characters he portrays. If you like anything by Hiaasen, you'll enjoy this!

Give me more...this is one terrific read!! e

Their is more twist to this plot line than a rosy boa in a,side show!

Good story, reader had annoying habit

Overall story was good and made me chuckle a few times. However the reader audibly swallowed often which was distracting and annoying. He needs to learn to move the microphone away when he does this. Only reader I've ever heard that does this.

Double Whammy Initiates the Skink Narrative

Carl Hiaasen introduces an unforgettable character who will become an ongoing participant in the many tales of Florida misadventure to come. CH is a marvelous story teller, weaving many disparate threads into a delightfully entertaining account that touches on many of the foibles of a life among Florida natives. Laugh outloud funny with unforgettable prose. A delight to reread (listen to), I'm beginning another pass through the CH library. George Wilson is marvelous as the narrator, easily bringing each of the characters to life with a unique voice and persona. CH is a great satirist, and his ability to write engaging and entertaining stories that also educate the reader (listener) to the heartbreaking realities behind the commercialization and development of Florida are second to none. I eagerly await each addition to the CH canon.

The creativity of the story

Lots of moving parts characters names got a little confusing. But the characters themselves were very interesting.

Funny and Twisted Characters

Vintage Hiaasin. Funny with twisted characters. Great read and great listen. The narrator does a great job. I love how Hiaasin characters great their just desert.

Humorous view into competitive Bass Fishing

We have a son who was into bass fishing as a teenager, so we know what it's like to see a person watching people fish on TV, and spending all his free time on a lake with his fishing buddy. He knew all the big fishermen, and was part of the audience for the relentless marketing of lures, plastic worms and equipment that funds those big prizes. I often laughed out loud at some of the satirical scenarios Hiassen set up in this book. Not only did it explain what was going on in that teenage head long ago, but it showed how the media has taken fishing to a place it never aspired to be in my own youth. Then it was a great way to get away from everything and meditate on a dock with a pole in ones hand, catching fish optional (for some of us anyhow.).

I found it enjoyable.

Fun, great writing ..but

If you are looking for a witty change of pace from the typical who-dun-it, this is a good choice. The author's straightforward and to the point, even hilarious at times, writing will give you more than a few good out-loud chuckles. That said, I didn't particularly care for any of the characters which made the novel a bit hard to get into or imagine oneself in the lead character's shoes. After 13+ hours of listening to the narrator deadpan the author's funny, a bit overly cynical prose , I felt as if I had just watched 10 straight episodes of the Simpsons. Bottom line, it it well worth the price and you will be entertained.