Bad Monkey

Carl Hiaasen's 'Bad Monkey' is a satirical crime novel for older teens and adults, following Andrew Yancy, a suspended detective relegated to 'roach patrol' in the Florida Keys. When a severed arm is discovered, Yancy sees a chance to redeem himself, plunging into a convoluted mystery involving Medicare fraud, a faked death, and a host of hilariously corrupt and quirky characters. The book is known for its sharp humor, fast-paced plot, and biting social commentary on greed and environmental degradation in Florida and the Bahamas. Parents should be aware of prominent mature themes, including violence, sexual content (implied and explicit references to 'kinky' behavior and past sexual misconduct), substance references, and character deaths. It is a darkly comedic read best suited for mature young adults (16+) who appreciate satire and complex, adult-oriented mysteries.

Andrew Yancy, late of the Miami Police, soon-to-be-late of the Key West Police, has a human arm in his freezer. There is a logical explanation for that, but not for how and why it parted from its owner. Yancy thinks the boating-accident/shark-luncheon explanation is full of holes, and if he can prove murder, his commander might relieve him of Health Inspector duties, aka Roach Patrol. But first Yancy will negotiate an ever-surprising course of events, from the Keys to Miami to a Bahamian out island, with a crew of equally ever-surprising characters, including: the twitchy widow of the frozen arm; an avariciously idiotic real estate developer; a voodoo witch whose lovers are blinded-unto-death by her particularly peculiar charms; Yancy's new love, a kinky medical examiner; and the eponymous Bad Monkey.