The Naked Detective

This is Shames's last book in the Key West series, and he shoulda quit while he was ahead. The protagonist, Pete Amsterdam, is a reluctant detective, a reluctant lover, and generally a reluctant human being. He plays tennis with the most obnoxious character Shames has ever created. There are a couple of deaths, of course, but the solving of these crimes is slow and lugubrious. Shames just seems to have run out of steam. There is absolutely no humor or wit in the entire book. Shames's fans will be sorely disappointed, as his prior ability to create truly funny people and amusing situations has vanished. In its place is a vacuum, not to be too harsh about it. Certainly there is some good writing. The love affair between Pete and Maggie is tender and halting. Way too halting. There is a truly unbelievable so-called nymphomaniac. There is highly improbable digging in the ground, which Shames has described many times as hard coral, which fills up with liquid whenever you dig in it. There is a nifty funeral in which the dead man is hauled up about five stories into a family crypt, because you really can't bury a dead body in solid coral. Still, we are used to so much more from this writer. Don't go for it.

I thought it might be funny the way it started out but it turned out to be tedious and predictable.

Wouldn't dream of telling a successful author what I think, He doesn't need me and doesn't care.

The beginning

Just don't care, I'm not buying it.