The Riptide Ultra-Glide: A Novel (Serge Storms, 16)

I've read all of the books about Serge and his adventures. They've all been good, and this is no exception. In this book, Serge and Coleman travel Florida to film their own reality show.

I love Tim Dorsey's books. His hero Serge, a wild serial killer off his meds, knows everything about Florida and Dorsey puts it all in his books.Actually, in this one, he may have gone overboard a tiny bit. Parts made me skim along till we got back to the action.And action there is. Serge is filming a reality show in hopes of getting it on TV and making some money. He and Coleman, his sidekick, are the stars, naturally. Then it turns out Coleman is on the cover of the latest High Tides as a Bong Brother whose record may never be broken. All the skateboarders, surfers, beach bums, college kids, and other drug culture denizens recognize him and beg for hints on how to get the most out of a joint, or how to get the resins out without it going brittle and other stuff like that. Coleman obliges.At the same time, there's a smuggling operation going on. Illegals are trucked in from Kentucky to get OxyContin prescriptions from Florida doctors in on the scam, then turn the pills over to the Florida bosses before they get trucked back. But the Kentucky "Mafia" is unhappy about not getting their fair share of the proceeds, and a war between the Florida and Kentucky branches is about to begin.Then two schoolteachers from Wisconsin, the nicest couple you'll ever meet, show up. They reserved a room on the internet, not knowing a thing about Florida. Naturally, their motel's in a crime-ridden part. Naturally, they can't get their money back. Oh, and naturally, they picked up the wrong bag from the airport carousel. One that a criminal wants.You can see the train wreck coming. And laugh hysterically as it plows on down the tracks!Not as good as some of his books, but still a great read!

Anyone who reads this book has already read the previous books. I and the rest of us are Serge/Coleman groupies have. I won't rate this as one of the best of the bunch, but I have no trouble giveing it a quality review. I read these books because I want to be amused, entertained and educated about the crazy lifestyle of Florida living. This book satisfied my need to slip over to the seemier side of drugs and murder.I have to admit that the book was a bit random at times, the topics seemed to be scattered pretty randomly and the ending was kinda weak, but again, I read this book to be entertained and to learn about Florida in genaral and it's colorful history. everytime I read one of Mr. Dorseys' books, I wonder when he is going to run out material. He never does.I hope Mr. Dorsey can continue to write these books for a long time. I look forward to them and always mark the reliese dates on my calandars. I have to give him and his publishers credit for always reliesing the books during the cold months. This Michigander loves nothing more that to grab his favorite quilt, bottle of scotch and the latest Dorsey book.You will enjoy the book if you are not expecting a classic, you will enjoy the book more if you are expecting to be entertained.

I always look forward to the release of a new book from Tim Dorsey with a great amount of semi-maniacal glee (almost worthy of Serge himself) and the wait for this novel was no different. However, within a few chapters, it was clear that this one story wasn't up to Dorsey's usual standards. Despite Dorsey's incredibly descriptive and scathing wit (a skill I can only aspire to) and Serge's encyclopedic knowledge of all things Florida, there just wasn't enough to hold my interest this time around. The individual stories, usually interwoven seamlessly by Dorsey into a tapestry of perfect mayhem, seem forced together here - like puzzle pieces that just don't quite fit. The McDougall plotline did more to annoy me than to advance the story and, though Dorsey does eventually deliver the payoff on that story (such as it is), I found myself not really caring what happened to those characters once there. Simply put, when compared to Dorsey's other creations - especially Serge himself - the McDougalls lack that special brand of insanity. As one-off characters go, Dorsey has them in his books before and I was usually sorry to see them go....not this time. I really, really hope he doesn't bring these people back.Overall, not Dorsey's best book and, having read them all, I would go as far as to say it's probably his worst. Dorsey is off his game here, causing Serge and company to lose their psychotic luster. I can't even claim to have gotten any decent laughs out of the book and this is where Dorsey, I think, has always excelled most. Typically, when a book is touted as "a laugh riot" or "a hysterical page turner," it's a lie...yet Dorsey usually lives up to the hype. I was greatly disappointed by that here.I remain optimistic though. It's not enough to stop me from reading future books by Dorsey - every author can have one bad book. However, if the next one is similar to this, I may have to say "Adios" and let Serge and Coleman drive off into the sunset that one last time.

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Serge is practicing patience. He’s making a real effort to give the scam artists and the downright rude every chance to mend their ways before meeting their maker in a truly unique and highly entertaining manner. There is just no helping some people though and Serge is on hand to mete out his special blend of justice for the common good of his beloved Florida.In The Riptide ultra-glide,the methods of despatch include water activated sandbags,a booby trapped Nerf ball and a gravity defying hill. In between thinning out the ranks of Florida’s undesirables,Serge is making a reality documentary. As he explains to his permanently baked right hand man,Coleman,even reality programmes are faked. Thrown into the mix are a couple from a Wisconsin,who,having lost their lowly jobs,make the decision to forget their woes for a week and kick back in Florida. Oh boy.Coleman meanwhile is delighted to be asked to give young stoners the benefit of his wisdom when it comes to various drug related quandaries.If you are new to the Serge series,this is a great place to start. I love all the Serge books but this is an absolute cracker.

Bought as a gift.

Good read