1987
WISE Score
Amazon
Bass fishing, murder, and a hermit who eats roadkill—it’s Florida Man: The Prequel.
4.4
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Double Whammy is a classic of the 'Florida Noir' genre, but it's a trap for parents who only know Hiaasen from the Scholastic book fair.
It’s a fantastic, hilarious read for an adult on a beach trip, but it’s full of the kind of grit and grime that makes it a 'no' for anyone under 17. If you're looking for something for your middle-schooler, stick to Hiaasen's YA titles. If you're looking for a twisted mystery for yourself, this is a 10/10.
This is strictly for adults or very mature older teens. If your kid liked 'Hoot' or 'Flush,' do not hand them this book yet—it's the R-rated version of those themes.
It is a cynical, darkly comedic satire. While it has a strong moral compass regarding environmental protection, the tone is gritty and the characters are often depraved or eccentric in a way that isn't 'heartwarming.'
Hiaasen basically invented the 'Florida Man' genre. The introduction of Skink—an ex-governor turned roadkill-eating hermit—is peak original character design. It turns a boring bass fishing tournament into a bizarre, high-stakes thriller.
This is adult fiction. It features graphic violence, strong language, and mature sexual themes. Because Hiaasen also writes popular middle-grade books like 'Hoot,' there is a high risk of a child picking this up by mistake.
Underneath the swampy madness is a sharp critique of corporate greed and the destruction of the natural world. It rewards readers who appreciate satire and social commentary.
If your kid has already torn through Hoot or Flush, you are likely sitting on a shelf full of Carl Hiaasen paperbacks. It is easy to assume his entire catalog follows that same "plucky kids save an animal" template. Double Whammy is the book that corrects that assumption immediately.
This is the 1987 entry point into what fans call Florida Noir. While the middle-grade books are about saving the environment through clever pranks, this is about the environment being exploited by people who are willing to kill over a tournament-sized largemouth bass. It is cynical, sweaty, and frequently gross.
The main reason to read this book—or to be wary of handing it to a fourteen-year-old—is Clinton Tyree, better known as Skink. He is a recurring legend in Hiaasen’s adult novels: a former governor of Florida who got fed up with the corruption, walked into the Everglades, and started living off roadkill and rage.
In the YA books, Skink is a sort of eccentric, protective uncle figure. In Double Whammy, he is a force of nature who is much more comfortable with actual violence. Watching his origin story unfold is a blast for adults, but the level of unhinged behavior here is a massive jump from the "Skink" your kid might have met in Chomp.
Hiaasen’s target here is the professional bass fishing circuit. To a kid, fishing is a wholesome Saturday morning activity. In this world, it is a billion-dollar industry fueled by cheating, ego, and corporate sponsorships. The mystery follows R.J. Decker, a private eye who is hired to prove that the local fishing superstar is a fraud.
The humor is biting because it treats the low-stakes world of competitive fishing with the same gravity as a high-level political conspiracy. It works because Hiaasen knows the Florida landscape so well. You can feel the humidity and smell the diesel fumes on every page. If you’re trying to understand the shift from the author's environmentalist fables to his grittier detective work, Carl Hiaasen’s Florida: From ‘Hoot’ to the New ‘RJ Decker’ Series provides the necessary roadmap for that transition.
The friction for parents isn't just the language or the violence; it’s the cynicism. The "good guys" in this book are broken people who aren't necessarily looking to make the world a better place—they’re just trying to survive the weirdness of the 1980s.
If your family is looking into the various adaptations of these stories, you’ll find that the tone varies wildly depending on which character is center stage. For a breakdown of how these themes translate to the screen, check out The R.J. Decker Parent Guide, which looks at how the detective’s world is handled in more recent media.
If you are an adult who wants a fast-paced, hilarious mystery to read on a flight, buy this now. It is a masterclass in pacing and character voice.
However, if your child is asking for "more Hiaasen," treat this as a separate category entirely. This isn't a gateway drug to his kids' books; it’s the heavy-duty stuff those kids' books were designed to avoid. Save this one for yourself and keep it on the high shelf.
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