Torpedo Juice    by Tim Dorsey Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2005 (2005) Hardcover, CD Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth The newest novel by Tim Dorsey, Torpedo Juice, is as readable as his previous works. He's a past master at tongue-in-cheek writing, who loves fun, frivolity and off-the-wall scenarios. Talk about stepping out of the box. His scene with a dead armadillo has to be one of the funniest things I've read for some time. When I visualize it, I have to laugh out loud. That scene is so outrageous that the reader is aware it's not even possible – but gets caught up in it anyway. Dead bodies pop up on so many pages; they just become part of the landscape. The reader knows it's just a story, a fantasy to enjoy for the few hours it takes to read. There's also a hidden message in the novel – not too well hidden, I hope – about the rape of the world's environment in general and of Florida's in particular. I think Dorsey is right to be alarmed and I think he is right to be bringing it to our attention. I hope it does some good. Serge heads for Key West after deciding he is going to reinvent his life and be the next Jimmy Buffet, only better. He has a few problems with that. He can't sing and he can't play the guitar! When he hooks up with Coleman, the story takes off at a breakneck pace that never stops. Their outlook on life is strange to say the very least. They leave a swath of death and destruction behind them that any third world dictator would love to emulate. But it is a great joy to read about. I highly recommend Torpedo Juice if you're in need of a good laugh. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews