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)

A plot twister!

Hiaasen makes such good use of actual Florida craziness. Wasn't sure how the monkey would figure into the story, but he definitely earned star billing for his part in the karmic revenge.

Arte Johnson is WOW!

This "book" was recommended by a friend who read in hardback. I'm so glad I bought the Audible version. Arte Johnson ("Ver-r-ry inteRESTing . . . but schtupid!) would make a bad book good--and this is a fun book. Highly recommend.

Hiaasen at his Best

my favorite author has outdone himself. narrator so-so but the story makes it a winner!

Good Book.... Worse Narration

This book was recommended to me by others that have READ the books. They loved it because of the references to Florida and the Bahamas. We live there so it is great to be able to reference names and places. As a Yacht Captain, it is most fun when locations that I have been are included. I don't have time to read so I listen. I found the story decent and fun but the narration is the worst that I have ever heard. Now, if you enjoy listening to a New York retiree sitting around a table in a retirement home and reading a book to you, it might work. Mispronounced product and location names are very annoying. But the most annoying, and boring, is the cadence and speech pattern. If you listen to Spy and Suspense narrators such as Ron McLarty, J.D. Jackson and John Shea, you know what creates interest and excitement. For me... I bought the audible book and will listen through it, but had I known, I would not have.

Crazy fun mystery!

What did you love best about Bad Monkey?

The wacky characters! They all are whacked out crazy but in different ways.

Which character – as performed by Arte Johnson – was your favorite?

He does characters so well that it would be difficult to pick a favorite. He gave each character a voice of their own.

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.

The Reader Got In The Way!!!

To be honest, this book never had a chance. The reader was so inept and distracting, I put it aside and will go to my local independent bookseller!

So sad!

George Wilson understands how to read Carl Hiaasen. The jewel that is Hiaasen is his outlandish characters in improbably situations which put together make for great comedy combined with serious commentary. With this reader, neither come through.