What do You think about Tricky Business (2003)?
I don't know why this scores less than Big Trouble, because Tricky Business is definitely funnier than the latter. Not only that, it's smarter and more imaginative. Unfortunately, the surprise factor of Big Trouble had worn off. Still, the gags are hilarious and if you tell them to your friends, you'll get laugh out loud laughs. Just like Big Trouble, this book is funniest in the first few chapters, after which the plot thickens and the jokes dry up. For such a good book there's quite a few pages dedicated to flatulence and barfing jokes. If you can get past that, then definitely pick up this book to read.
—Luffy Monkey D.
Hi. My name is Diane, and I'm a mystery/crime novel addict. Okay addict might be too much. Mystery and crime novels are my guilty pleasure. (or is that just denial?)I have loved mystery novels ever since I first spotted the gamboge spines of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew on a bookshelf in my father's office. Or maybe it was when my mother gave me her The Bobbsey Twins' Mystery at School from when she was a girl. I enjoy several other Floridan newspaper columnists-cum-crime novelists, most notably Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey. I also enjoy reading mystery/crime novels in which everything goes sideways, ala Elmore Leonard and Lou Berney. To me, Tricky Business was not up to any of the books I have read by these gentlemen. However, Tricky Business was entertaining and quick to read. Tricky Business was a very serviceable Florida, off-beat, crime novel. Fans of Dave Barry's formerly syndicated column may be shocked at the language, sex, violence, and drugs in this book. Mr. Barry does give 2+ page warning to this effect in BIG BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS . My hardback edition has the most beautiful bright white, 80# text paper (thicker paper) which added to my enjoyment of this book.
—Diane
This was the first fiction novel I have read by Dave Barry, and to be honest with you, I didn't even know he had written any fiction until I stumbled across a bunch of his books at my library. When I saw them, I really had no choice but to check one out. I was a little nervous- I mean, I am a huge fan of Dave Barry's humorous works, and have been since I was just a kid. So I was worried that his fiction might be disappointing.I shouldn't have been. This was the kind of novel that no one but Dave could have possibly written- I mean, I literally laughed out loud on many occasions. More than funny,though, this story was gripping, exciting, fast moving, and even sweet. And through all of it, just fucking hilarious. This man can tell a story.I enjoyed every second of this book, as evidenced by the fact that I just started it yesterday, and finished it this morning. It's like three hundred pages. I'm pretty sure I neglected some of my other responsibilities to keep reading, which should tell you everything you need to know, right there.You go read this book. I need to see if my kids are okay. ( :) )
—Courtney Duncan
