For me, this Serge A. Storms was a huge disappointment; I thought the story was incredibly weak. The last book I read in the series was No. 4, and I was laughing so hard it nearly caused a medical emergency. I’m serious. This one was No. 18 and nary a chuckle. It is extremely well-written, like the others, but the overall story was never very good. Serge and Coleman racing around Florida never really gelled, it was a lot of antics and the good parts filling in all the Florida and Florida movie history never made up for what the other lacked. The ending was good, but too much filler that wasn't.

The best parts brought up the state of media and journalism in Florida (and the US as a whole), and how what passes for reporting and journalism is nothing more than crap. ALL of that was fantastically written, vintage Dorsey. Reevis X. Tome is a great character.

I hoped for better, but I am still a fan. ( )

The Serge books have a formula, but it's a comforting formula. Florida trivia and history through Serge's eyes, a road trip to research the current subject of Serge's Florida obsession, wrongs righted through bizarre murders - Serge justice.

Sparked by old legal movies set in the state, Serge decides he wants to be involved in the legal profession - on the right side for a change. The aftermath of the foreclosure crisis is in full swing with banks and mortgage companies sucking what they can out of people who took their high interest loans. Serge's old girlfriend, Brook Campanella,is trying her first case as a lawyer - against a giant corporation involved in mortgage fraud. Serge gets involved and turns the case upside down. There are the usual
inventive murders orchestrated by Serge.

Dorsey slips in some welcome and informative scathing commentary about the decline of journalism due to the corporate takeover of newspapers.

It's a formula that hasn't grown old. ( )

Loads of humor and fun Florida factoids in this caper featuring a mortgage fraud court case complete with crooked lawyers, a lovable psychopathic killer and every form of low life in between. Shark Skin Suite is #18 in the series but I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the characters or the plot line. It did leave me wondering how there could be any weird Florida trivia left after 17 books. There was plenty, though, believe me.

I received this book for free through the Good Reads First Reads program
( )

Not the best Serge Storms novel. First time I didn't laugh out loud while reading this series. I think Serge is done :(. Also, the story jumped around too much. ( )

There comes a time, in regards to every great book series where the reader realizes it is time for the series to end. Unfortunately the author and or publisher seldom would agree, and therefore you wind up reading books in a series that seem to have been written on autopilot. It has happened with most of my favorite authors; James Lee Burke, Clive Cussler, and now Tim Dorsey.
I started this series when Florida Roadkill first came out based solely on its title and was glad I did. I still recommend Triggerfish Twist to anyone who asks what is one of my favorite books. But the last five books have slowing become a chore to get through.
Shark Skin Suite could have been a great book, but it wasn't. The reason it wasn't is the author I think has realized he can dial it in and still sell books. The author ironically go on and on about another Key West legend Jimmy Buffett, who also learned long ago he could write or record anything and his fans would buy it or go to his concerts, even though the show hasn't changed in 15 years. Regarding Serge, Colman, Mahoney all were one dimensional, appearing to be as bored with the story as this reader. The pace of the book was slower than any of the other books in the series, the last few books have read more and more like travel books visiting places in Florida off the beaten track and peppered with trivia, that after awhile was just tiring.
Even the usual Manic Serge seems to be slowing down. Colman's role was a complete afterthought, the book starts in the past then moves into the present but jumps around as usual all over the place. There is the group of elderly women which adds nothing to the story. Serge's love interest is not the usual bimbo that Serge winds up with and therefore wasn't funny. Lastly Tim needs to get off his liberal high horse, Florida of all places proves conservatives are not the only evil people in Florida. I really hope Mr. Dorsey tries his had with some new ideas and new characters, because this series has completely "jumped the Shark". ( )