Womanizer and substance abuser Clure Boyette has a lock on winning his Florida reelection campaign-his opponent is a single mother without significant cash flow and a Democrat in a solid red area. But you can never be too sure. That's why he has convinced the couple funding the Mink Foundation that to further their right-wing goals, their best move would be to fund him. He sets up a phony charity called The Wee Hammers whose purpose is to teach little children to work construction jobs so they could leave elementary school with marketable skills (and they are actually "building" a house.) The Minks can now funnel 2 million dollars to Boyette's campaign without being tied to him and he can buy himself a group of white extremists to make sure he wins his race.

Of course, in any plan there is always a fly in the ointment-but in this case it's a swarm. Dale Figgo and Jonas Onus are in a constant battle for the leadership of their Proud Boys wannabe losers group, Strokersz for Liberty, and are always trying to get their hands on Boyette's cash. Boyette's father has been cleaning up his son's messes for years so that when he needs political clout, it's bought and paid for. Viva Morales, who works for the Minks is great with the sweet talk but not the follow through. But the worst threat to the "fool-proof" plan is Twilly Spree, a multimillionaire do-gooder with anger issues who is not happy with anything that Boyette is doing, and has ways to stop him. Some of them are actually legal. 

If you read Hiaassen's previous book Squeeze Me, you'll have a good idea of where this one is going. Sending up Florida, dirty politics, and ultra right wing extremism, Fever Beach is hysterically funny while also envisioning an unfortunately plausible scenario in these fraught political times. Much more fulfilling than watching the news.

I regret to say this is a pale imitation of Carl Hiaasen's great comic crime novels from the 1980s and 90s, which went slowly downhill in the 2000s and--hopefully--hit bottom with Fever Beach. It's not unreadable, there are chuckles and points of interest to merit two stars, but it was bad enough I had to check that Hiaasen is still alive and his estate hasn't hired some guy to change his name to Carl Hiassen and continue the series.

A major gripe is pacing. Classic Hiaasen are roller-coaster rides of wacky subplots--each one better than the main plot of most thrillers--that keep the action moving and come together for tremendous climaxes. This book has one not-very-exciting plot that plods along---with some random one-off side events--and a climax it would be charitable to describe as "limp."

The climax has another problem. It revolves around people seeing the stupid and hateful antics of armed "citizen poll watchers" harassing non-White voters, and coming out in full force to deliver an overwhelming victory for the Democratic candidate. This seems more like a wet dream for a progressive still trying to process the 2016 Presidential election than a plausible political analysis of the attitudes of Florida voters.

Another big problem is none of the characters are remotely human or relatable. The best Hiaasen novels have real people at the core, characters that seem to be drawn from people Hiaasen has met, and even the cardboard villains and extras have some depth. Congressman David Dillbeck from Strip Tease, for example, has some similarity to Congressman Clure Boyette from Fever Beach. But Boyette is a boring stereotype of an irresponsible, stupid, humorless and corrupt overgrown frat boy, while Dillbeck--for all his corruption and stupidity--nurtures a deep romantic (albeit highly unconventional) passion for Erin Grant and takes life with a strong dose of humor.

I was annoyed that the book conflates cabaret cross-dressing performers with homosexuals, transvestites and transsexuals. Those are four different categories. Even in a comic novel, people deserve to be treated as they are, not mashed together with other people who are related only in the minds of bigots.

I have not read Hiaasen's fiction for juveniles, but perhaps they explain why there are many gratuitous references to excrement of many species, snot, farts, belches, sex toys and especially masterbation that seem included for sniggers from pre-teen boys rather than embellishments of an adult novel.

The book seems untethered in time. Based on events described it appears to be the early months of the second Trump administration, but there is a Congressional election that occurs a couple of weeks later. The neo-Nazi militants seem more Timothy McVeigh than Richard Spencer. The characters use their phones for calls and texts, they communicate in chat rooms or--if they want privacy--the dark web. One reads print copies of the New Yorker, snail mailed to her apartment. No one uses voice commands, smart phones, self-driving electric cars, AI or cryptocurrency. Home security is by video camera and television monitors, no wifi smart cameras. A character copies another person's phone contacts by displaying them one by one and using her phone to photograph the screen. Of course people still do all these things, but the overall effect is more late-1990s than early 2025.

I got an advance uncorrected copy so perhaps these are typos but I noticed a lot of hard-to-interpret adverbs such as a character "decrepitly humped" a sex doll while another "arduously changed" his shirt.

I loved this book! Could not put it down. The normal cast of Florida "characters" that make for a good Hiaasen book. You feel absorbed in the Central Florida vibe and in the end all the disparate stories come together in a great conclusion. I also love that Carl dedicated the book to the memory of Jimmy. As a Parrothead I appreciated the nod to Bubba in both the dedication and in the characters.

Review of uncorrected eBook file

This satire plays out around Dale Figgo, founder of Strokerz for Liberty. Readers meet his pal, Jonas Onus, his tenant, Viva Morales, and philanthropists Claude and Electra Mink. Add Twilly Spree, Congressman Clure Boyette, a group of supremacists, and a contract killer and readers have the makings of a twisty tale where the author highlights power and corruption, politics, money laundering, and conspiracies in an outrageously hilarious tale set in Florida.

There are laugh-out-loud moments amid the absurdity; the majority of the cringe-worthy characters are wholly unlikable and Dale’s moronic antics keeps readers chuckling. Readers who enjoy satire, political commentary, and absurdity taken to new heights will find much to appreciate here.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor / Knopf and NetGalley
#FeverBeach #NetGalley

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this book! I don't think I've ever laughed so hard and so often while reading. This was the perfect palate cleanser/break from my normal thriller and romance stories. I will say that I probably enjoyed this so much because I am on the same page politically as the author, so if you're on the other side of the aisle you'll probably hate it.
This is my first book by this author but definitely won't be the last.

Carl Hiaasen is in true form with this rural Florida romp. He humorously takes on the conservative residents of the region, be they wanna-be rioters or falsely philanthropic billionaires. Politics is rife in this book and Dale Figgo, Clure Boyette and the billionaire Minks conspiracy to rig an election ( or two!) are thwarted at the every turn by a rich vigilante for justice and Figgo’s tenant, the lovely Viva Morales, office manger for the Mink Foundation.
Hold on for the action as the events unfold! Great story. Hiaasen does it again.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the bad guys got theirs? Carl Hiaasen proves that all the crazy, stupid, criminal things the rest of us believe about Florida (and politicians, and billionaires) aren’t true - the reality is much, much worse. Now if there were only real heroes like Viva and Twilly who set their sights a little higher…there might be hope for the rest of the nation.
In the meantime, read this book.

Carl Hiaasen gives us what we all need right now--a portrayal of bumbling white supremacists who get everything they deserve. Twilly Spree, a man of independent means with anger issues and a lot of free time on his hands, makes it his mission to bring down the Strokers for Liberty from the inside. Soon he finds himself wrapped up with Viva Morales, the SfL leader's scornful roommate who just needs a cheap place to live and abhors her landlord's crackpot viciousness. They find themselves in the middle of scandalous corruption involving Viva's rich-as-Croesus employers, an incompetent congressman, and a contract killer who does not care for the anti-Semitism displayed by the people who hired him. It's Florida at its most Florida-mannish and it's a hilarious good time.

This book wasn’t for me. It fell flat. It had too much talk about the current political climate and it didn’t give me the escapism I wanted. Also, the humor in this book didn’t land. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t for me. It was almost too slapstick and tried too hard to be the typical “Florida man” trope. It was still well written but the pacing was off and droned on in the middle.

I still recommend this book if you enjoy a light-hearted book with humorous politics, money laundering, conspiracy, and other antics.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Carl Hiaasen is the go-to guy for stories set in Florida’s wild swamps, mixing tales of corruption, greed, and environmental messes with his sharp humor. His latest book, “Fever Beach,” might just be his craziest adventure yet.

It kicks off with Dale Figgo, a clueless ex-Proud Boy, picking up a hitchhiker on a gloomy Florida day. From there, things spiral into a chaotic mix of right-wing craziness, shady money schemes, and environmental payback, all wrapped up in Hiaasen’s trademark absurdity.

The story revolves around two main characters: Viva Morales, a woman caught up in the Mink Foundation’s dodgy dealings, and Twilly Spree, a quirky environmentalist with a knack for creative justice. They run into some of Hiaasen’s most bizarre villains, like the altered billionaire Minks and the dimwitted Congressman Clure Boyette.

Hiaasen has a real gift for shining a light on the ridiculousness of power and corruption while keeping readers laughing—and sometimes cringing. “Fever Beach” is a sharp satire that pokes fun at the more troubling aspects of American politics. It’s twisted, hilarious, and super relevant, making it a must-read for anyone who loves crime fiction with a side of outrage and humor.

Reading a book written by Carl Hiaasen is always certain to produce a few laughs and this book does that. However, in Fever Beach, the author is making several political statements— particularly in reference to supporters of the Republican Party platforms. There is a lot going on in the story of the Strokers for Liberty (an organization similar to Proud Boys or neo Nazis), sex toys, politicians and bribes, hookers, veterinarians and an organization called Wee Hammers.. The book is easy reading with only a few likable and intelligent characters. I thank NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

This one is classic Carl Hiaasen and unfortunately given our new Presidentand his supporters, almost could be real. . Take Dale Figgo who got kicked out of the Proud Boys for smeering feces on the wrong statue. Enter a crooked politician who likes to dress like a dog when he's with hookers and add in a very rich old couple that doesn't hesitate to kill if someone interferes with their questionable projects and donations. I laughed out loud and cringed a few times but in a good way. Enjoy this romp!!!Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. It provided good levity at a time when there isn't much.

Carl Hiaasen is an author known for his humorous tales, and Fever beach is no exception. I enjoyed the story and the interesting characters he creates. Hiaasen also comes up with plots and subplots that are a little different from the usual fare, and I think that's what makes him such a popular author. Give Fever Beach a read and enjoy!
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

If you are looking for a laugh out loud read full of miss-matched characters and shady dealings, please open this book. Sunny Florida will have you laughing, rolling your eyes and turning the pages faster than you thought possible. Enjoy. You're welcom.

Fever Beach
The Minks, an elderly philanthropic couple, conspired with Clure Boyette, a Florida congressman, to launder money illegally through a bogus foundation. That foundation, the Wee Hammers, promised to have school aged kids build homes for poor people.
Viva Morales discovered the deception while employed as the Mink’s Foundation wealth administrator. She also realized that her landlord, Dale Figgo, an unintelligent insurrectionist, had been hired to lead his band of disrupters to help the congressman’s reeelction bid.
Viva shared this information with her friend, Twitty Spree. Twitty had inherited a fortune from his grandfather and often used it in unconventional ways to punish wrongdoers.
This is a classic Carl Hiassen book. It features kooky characters in Florida caught in humorous situations. Many of his characters can best be described as the typical “Florida man” who has little common sense and tries to solve problems by highly questionable methods. I enjoyed the humor and wonder if we will see more of Twitty in future book by this author.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the dumbest man alive stumbled into a conspiracy run by the worst people in America, Fever Beach has your answer. Carl Hiaasen once again proves that Florida is both a setting and a state of mind, delivering a hurricane-force satire packed with morons, grifters, and eco-terrorists with way too much free time.
Hiaasen’s trademark humor is razor-sharp, skewering bigots, billionaires, and bumbling politicians alike. If you enjoy your crime novels with a side of absurdity and a generous pour of Florida chaos, Fever Beach is your next must-read. Just be warned: you may laugh so hard you spill your drink—or reconsider your next vacation.

Hold onto your hats, because Carl Hiaasen’s "Fever Beach" is a laugh-out-loud romp through the wild and wacky underbelly of Florida politics—and trust me, it’s a ride you won’t want to miss! From the very first page, where we meet the delightfully clueless Derek Figgo, it’s clear we’re in for an adventure that’s as outrageous as it is entertaining.

Figgo, the only buffoon to ever be expelled from the Proud Boys for sheer incompetence, accidentally leads us straight into a sun-drenched mess of white supremacy zealotry, money-hungry so-called philanthropists, and enough political absurdity to make your head spin. Enter our heroes: Viva Morales, a newly minted Floridian who’s dusting herself off from a messy divorce, and Twilly Spree, an heir with a flair for eco-friendly wrath and a history of party barge sabotage.

Viva and Twilly embark on a rollicking mission to unveil the dirty dealings behind the Mink Foundation's facade of benevolence—plot twists abound as corrupt politicos and histrionic billionaires come out of the woodwork. The Minks, plastic-surgery-loving power players with a penchant for secretly bankrolling extremist agendas, have some explaining to do. And who better to help unravel the chaos than a woman who’s been wronged one too many times and a man with anger management issues and way too much money?

Hiaasen’s knack for painting the absurdity of our current cultural climate is on full display here. Expect dog collars, drag queen catfights, Nazi-named pooches, and the delightful promise that idiocy has never been funnier—or more politically charged. Whether it's a brawl between a "dunderhead militia" and a squad of fabulous drag queens, or an election-day showdown at a retirement home that might just tweak the course of history, every chapter serves up a fresh, comedic surprise.

This isn’t just fiction; it’s a hilarious reflection of the madness surrounding us. As you giggle at every turn of the page, you'll wonder how much of this wild satirical ride is so absurdly real that it makes you laugh and cry at the same time. "Fever Beach" is a must-read for anyone looking to escape into a world where everyone (rightly) gets what’s coming to them, and doing so has never felt so cathartically rewarding! Dive in, and let the chaos wash over you—it’s a trip you’ll be grateful you took! 🌴📚

Carl Hiassen is one of my favorite authors and Sick Puppy is my favorite Hiassen novel so I was excited to see Twilly Spree return in Fever Beach. This time, he goes undercover in a militant organization- The Strokerz for Liberty, a group he founded after getting kicked out of the Proud Boys, leading to a classic Hiaasen clash with corrupt politicians and shady land developers.

The book is full of everything I love about Hiaasen—outrageous characters, absurdly hilarious situations (a hitch hiker who looks like Danny Devito, martial arts practicing drag queens to name a few) and of course satire. With references to the January 6 insurrection, the Proud Boys, and the Trump election, the story sometimes feels a little too real at some times though.

Fever Beach is a great read. Hiaasen remains one of my favorite authors, and his books never fail to deliver a mix of comedy and social commentary. I just love all of the characters he creates and no other author does it as well.

4.5 stars from me. I just can't rate it higher than my favorites - Sick Puppy and Skinny Dip. But it does come close!

Carl Hiassen takes aim again at “Florida Man” (much like Dave Barry does, both authors are allowed since they are certified FL residents). “Fever Beach” is a funny book about stereotypes that I chose since I’m so dismayed with current national affairs — so why not dive head first into a nest of alligators in order to say “well, it’s not THAT bad.”

The main character is Dale Figgo, founder of Strokerz for Liberty, rejected by the Proud Boys, an “empty pointed hood,” incredibly stupid, works in an adult toy warehouse. He has a buddy Jonas Onus, just as repellent and ignorant. Both are white extremists and Florida men.
Other characters include:
Viva Morales, Figgo’s divorcee tenant, with more common sense than the rest of the characters
Twilly Spree, a mixed up environmentalist, in need of anger management classes
The Minks, the corrupt billionaire philanthropists who Viva works for and who are funding Figgo’s Strokerz
A Congressman with a goofy name, Clure Boyette, definitely a mish-mash caricature of the current governor

The book is funny in a perverse way and very much connected to current events — it might not age well, but it could be a time capsule for the past couple of years (although he’s missed the “Gulf of America” renaming). The plot bounces around and the author does tie all the weird characters together. Justice is mostly served, also in perverse ways. I think you have to be in a mood for political satire to really enjoy this. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is exactly what I needed now! With the state of the country, this book is a perfect way of showing the buffoonish actions & thinking of many in our country! Hiaasen does a great job of blending humor with the idiocy of the Strokerz and their supporters!!! Maybe if we could get enough of the right wing to read this.....they might realize just how their thoughts and actions look to others. I will need about 5 or 10 more books by Hiaasen like this to make it through the next four years!

Description
Another instant classic from Carl Hiaasen—laugh-out-loud funny, tackling the current chaotic and polarized American culture (following in the path of Squeeze Me), with two wonderful Hiaasen heroes

“The afternoon of September first, dishwater-gray and rainy, a man named Dale Figgo picked up a hitchhiker on Gus Grissom Boulevard in Tangelo Shores, Florida. The hitchhiker, who reminded Figgo of Danny DeVito, asked for a lift to the interstate. Figgo said he’d take him there after finishing an errand.”

Thus begins Fever Beach, with an errand that leads—in pure Hiaasen-style—into the depths of Florida at its most Floridian: a sun-soaked bastion of right-wing extremism, white power, greed, and corruption. Figgo, it turns out, is the only hate-monger ever to be kicked out of the Proud Boys for being too dumb and incompetent. On January 6, 2021 he thought he was defacing a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, but he wound up spreading feces all over a statue of James Zacharia George, a Civil War Confederate war leader.

Figgo's already messy life is about to get more complicated, thanks to two formidable adversaries. Viva Morales is a newly transplanted Floridian, a clever woman recently taken to the cleaners by her ex-husband, now working at the Mink Foundation, a supposedly philanthropic organization, and renting a room in Figgo’s apartment because there’s no place else she can afford. Twilly Spree has an anger management problem, especially when it comes to those who deface the environment, and way too many inherited millions of dollars. He's living alone a year after his dog died, two years after he sank a city councilman’s party barge, and three years after his divorce.

Viva and Twilly are plunged into a mystery—involving dark money and darker motives—they are determined to solve, and become entangled in a world populated by some of Hiaasen’s most outrageous characters: Claude and Electra Mink—billionaire philanthropists with way too much plastic surgery and a secret right-wing agenda—and Congressman Clure Boyette—who dreams of being Florida’s (and maybe America’s) most important politician. The only things standing in his way are his love for hookers and young girls, and his total lack of intelligence. We meet Noel Kristianson—a Scandinavian agnostic injured when Figgo thinks he’s a Jewish threat to humanity and runs him over with his car; Jonas Onus—Figgo’s partner in white power idiocy; and many, many more. Hiaasen ties them all together and delivers them to their appropriate fates, in his wildest and most entertaining novel to date.