Book Review: "Cadillac Beach" by Tim Dorsey

"Cadillac Beach" by Tim Dorsey is another in Dorsey's series of novels that center on the psychotic Serge A. Storms and his band of wayward friends. This novel gives the reader a bit more of a glimpse into Serge's history than the other novels have afforded thus far. This is accomplished by making Serge's beloved grandfather one of the main characters via a series of flashbacks. What this teaches us about Serge Storms is both horrible and hilarious.

As always, Dorsey tosses in some real history with the antics of his insane, Florida history obsessed anti-hero. In this novel, the main historic focus is on a jewel heist that happened decades before, when Serge was just a little boy. As it happens, his grandfather was involved in the heist before his alleged suicide. The manic Serge decides to not only prove his grandfather did not commit suicide but also find the still missing jewels from the heist. Of course, he has some other unorthodox things, such as restoring the reputation of the CIA, on his to-do list.

Along the way, there is murder, mayhem, obsession, overt drug use, really weird intercourse, mob hits, mob plots, government stakeouts and much more. It is like a cornucopia of craziness. "Cadillac Beach" is definitely a good addition to the Serge A. Storms series. However, like the others, there is little to distinguish it from the rest. Tim Dorsey seems to have settled into a rut of novels that are practically cookie-cutters of one another. That is not so much of a complaint as an observation. "Cadillac Beach" is just as interesting as the others are, though one must wonder when the story will wear thin.

Shelly Barclay