Summary
Bad Monkey is a 2013 work of crime fiction that showcases Carl Hiaasen's trademark blend of satire and environmental commentary. The story follows Andrew Yancy, a former detective turned health inspector, as he investigates a mysterious severed arm found off the Florida Keys. Featuring a colorful cast of characters, including a kinky coroner, a voodoo witch, and the titular bad monkey—a capuchin named Driggs who reportedly worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean films—the novel offers biting commentary on greedy developers, corrupt officials, and the degradation of pristine landscapes.
In 2024, Bad Monkey was adapted into a limited series for Apple TV+, starring Vince Vaughn as Andrew Yancy.
Plot
Andrew Yancy, a former Miami police detective now working as a health inspector in the Florida Keys, finds himself in possession of a severed human arm. The official explanation— it belongs to Nicholas Stripling, who supposedly died in a boating accident—strikes Yancy as suspicious, so he decides to investigate. His inquiries lead him to question Stripling's widow, Eve, whose lack of grief raises red flags.
As Yancy digs deeper, he uncovers a complex web of Medicare fraud and deception. He comes to believe that Nicholas Stripling may have faked his own death—with Eve’s help—to escape prosecution. The investigation takes a dangerous turn when Yancy is attacked by a mysterious assailant wearing an expensive watch—a detail that connects to the severed arm.
Yancy's pursuit of the truth takes him to the Bahamas, where he believes Eve and her new companion are developing a resort. On the island of Andros, he forms an alliance with Neville Stafford, a local fisherman whose property was sold to the developers against his will. With the help of Neville and Dr. Rosa Campesino, a Miami coroner, Yancy closes in on the truth about Stripling's disappearance. The investigation culminates in a confrontation with Nicholas Stripling, who is very much alive but missing his left arm.
A series of dramatic events and more deaths follow. Ultimately, Yancy returns to Florida, having solved the case but still stuck in his job as a health inspector. The novel concludes with Yancy settling into a romantic relationship with Rosa, while dealing with the unexpected return of his ex-girlfriend, Bonnie, who has her own legal troubles.
