From Florida’s king of mayhem—“compulsively irreverent and shockingly funny” (Boston Globe) New York Times bestselling author Tim Dorsey—comes a diabolically madcap adventure featuring the indomitable Serge A. Storms.No one worships the Sunshine State as much as Serge A. Storms. Perpetually hunting Floridian arcana and lore, he and his permanently baked sidekick, Coleman, are on the road again. … Coleman, are on the road again. This time they’re on a frenzied literary pilgrimage that leads them back to Riviera Beach, the cozy seaside town where the boys spent their formative years.
Growing up, Serge was enthralled by the Legend of Riviera Beach, aka Darby, a welder at the port who surfed the local waves long before the hot spots were hot. A god on the water, the big-hearted surfer was a friend to everyone—the younger surfers, cops, politicians, wealthy businessmen and ordinary Joes—a generosity of spirit that earned him the admiration of all. Meanwhile, there was a much murkier legend that made the rounds of the schoolyards from Serge’s youth—that of the crazy hermit living in a makeshift jungle compound farther up the mysterious Loxahatchee River than anyone dared to venture.
Then Serge moved away. But never forgot.
Now he’s back, with those legends looming larger than ever in the rearview mirror of his memory. As his literary odyssey moves north from Key West, closer and closer to his old stomping grounds, Serge digs into the past as only Serge can. Along the way, he unintentionally disturbs some long-forgotten ground, attracting the attention of a cast of villains that only Florida can produce.
As the body count grows, so does the list of questions:
Why are the guys in the hard hats worried about the monkeys? When do you hack a motel air-conditioner? How does Coleman get high with cat toys? Who is expecting the dildo? And will book tours ever be the same after Serge decides to check one out?
Told in alternating flashbacks between Serge and Coleman’s childhoods and the present day, The Pope of Palm Beach is a witty and deliciously violent delight from the twisted imagination of Tim Dorsey.
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mr. dorsey, while being favorably compared to carl hiaasen, is his own man even if sharing the florida venue and genre. btw, he gave a tip of the hat to hiaasen on page 4. tim, if i may, has a sharp critical eye, akin to an astute street photographer but putting it into words. while reading this book i can almost feel the heat and humidity. reading is a somewhat voyeuristic endeavor, and you feel like you’re standing across the street watching it all unfold. an enjoyable way to pass the time and time well-spent.
I’m so glad we finally get a peek into Serge’s childhood. While this book is not as funny as previous Serge books, it is still a good read.
Serge & Coleman up to their usual quasi-moral activities. In Pope of Palm Beach Dorsey spends more time developing secondary characters. But let’s be honest, how much more can you or do you want to know about Serge & Coleman? Still a fun read.
Another Dorsey original. As always, hilarious and informative. One of the better ones.
Serial killer Serge Storm and his perpetually stoned sidekick Coleman are a seriously odd couple.
The humor is twisted, frequently macabre, and always original.
The most “Florida”, of the screwball Florida crime series (e.g. Hiasson).
Plus, you get a generous helping of Florida history.
The main character in the book is a surfer who everyone looked up to. Serge and Coleman try to find out what happened to him.
Outstanding
Hilarious. Never met a serial killer I like so much
Although this book grew tedious from time to time, it was an interesting insider glimpse of the world of Truman Capote’s “swans”. It was a unique time and a unique group of elite and wealthy friends
Just OK. Somewhat entertaining but probably won’t bother with the rest of the series.
Another great Serge and Coleman adventure!
Serge and Coleman always make me laugh out loud.
This book was a Tim Dorsey version of a travelogue of Florida, and memories of childhood. It’s one of my 2 favorites of his. The other is Triggerfish Twist. His books are always full of random facts (mostly used to kill people in surprising ways) and what you think are separate plot lines that come together for a while. There is humor, charm, action, nostalgia, and information on Florida.
I did not care for it.
Serge always lifts my spirits! This one is even more filled with twisted methods of madness than most of the previous books in this series. Fans will not be disappointed, new readers will be amused and puzzled. Highly recommended for the regular cannabis user.
While I come to this series because if Serge, I really enjoyed the introduction of the new character Darby Pope. Hope he shows up again
Love Serge! Wish Dorsey could write faster/more often of Serge and his wonderful pal.
Very unconventional hero with a heart of gold and a love of plaid. Zany, unpredictable and fast moving plot.
In the world of fiction, Tim Dorsey’s characters are always in separate worlds til the very end. We love the dramas going on and somehow, they all come together in one big finale! An author I pay to read…gladly. If you want laughter, mystery and quirky characters all rolled up into one great story, The Pope of Palm Beach fills the bill. I would love to see the movie….if there were one.
When ever I need a break from the seriousness of today’s life, I grab a Tim Dorsey book. I recommend ” Florida Road Kill” for a first timer.