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Serge Storms #21
The Pope of Palm Beach
From Florida’s king of mayhem—"compulsively irreverent and shockingly funny" (Boston Globe) New York Times bestselling author Tim Dorsey—comes a diabolically madcap adventure featuring the indomitable Serge A. Storms.
No one worships the Sunshine State as much as Serge A. Storms. Perpetually hunting Floridian arcana and lore, he and his permanently baked sidekick, Coleman, are on the road again. This time they’re on a frenzied literary pilgrimage that leads them back to Riviera Beach, the cozy seaside town where the boys spent their formative years.
Growing up, Serge was enthralled by the Legend of Riviera Beach, aka Darby, a welder at the port who surfed the local waves long before the hot spots were hot. A god on the water, the big-hearted surfer was a friend to everyone—the younger surfers, cops, politicians, wealthy businessmen and ordinary Joes—a generosity of spirit that earned him the admiration of all. Meanwhile, there was a much murkier legend that made the rounds of the schoolyards from Serge’s youth—that of the crazy hermit living in a makeshift jungle compound farther up the mysterious Loxahatchee River than anyone dared to venture.
Then Serge moved away. But never forgot.
Now he’s back, with those legends looming larger than ever in the rearview mirror of his memory. As his literary odyssey moves north from Key West, closer and closer to his old stomping grounds, Serge digs into the past as only Serge can. Along the way, he unintentionally disturbs some long-forgotten ground, attracting the attention of a cast of villains that only Florida can produce.
As the body count grows, so does the list of questions:
Why are the guys in the hard hats worried about the monkeys? When do you hack a motel air-conditioner? How does Coleman get high with cat toys? Who is expecting the dildo? And will book tours ever be the same after Serge decides to check one out?
Told in alternating flashbacks between Serge and Coleman’s childhoods and the present day, The Pope of Palm Beach is a witty and deliciously violent delight from the twisted imagination of Tim Dorsey.
No one worships the Sunshine State as much as Serge A. Storms. Perpetually hunting Floridian arcana and lore, he and his permanently baked sidekick, Coleman, are on the road again. This time they’re on a frenzied literary pilgrimage that leads them back to Riviera Beach, the cozy seaside town where the boys spent their formative years.
Growing up, Serge was enthralled by the Legend of Riviera Beach, aka Darby, a welder at the port who surfed the local waves long before the hot spots were hot. A god on the water, the big-hearted surfer was a friend to everyone—the younger surfers, cops, politicians, wealthy businessmen and ordinary Joes—a generosity of spirit that earned him the admiration of all. Meanwhile, there was a much murkier legend that made the rounds of the schoolyards from Serge’s youth—that of the crazy hermit living in a makeshift jungle compound farther up the mysterious Loxahatchee River than anyone dared to venture.
Then Serge moved away. But never forgot.
Now he’s back, with those legends looming larger than ever in the rearview mirror of his memory. As his literary odyssey moves north from Key West, closer and closer to his old stomping grounds, Serge digs into the past as only Serge can. Along the way, he unintentionally disturbs some long-forgotten ground, attracting the attention of a cast of villains that only Florida can produce.
As the body count grows, so does the list of questions:
Why are the guys in the hard hats worried about the monkeys? When do you hack a motel air-conditioner? How does Coleman get high with cat toys? Who is expecting the dildo? And will book tours ever be the same after Serge decides to check one out?
Told in alternating flashbacks between Serge and Coleman’s childhoods and the present day, The Pope of Palm Beach is a witty and deliciously violent delight from the twisted imagination of Tim Dorsey.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2018
About the author
Tim Dorsey
47 books1,592 followersTim Dorsey was born in Indiana, moved to Florida at the age of 1, and grew up in a small town about an hour north of Miami called Riviera Beach. He graduated from Auburn University in 1983. While at Auburn, he was editor of the student newspaper, The Plainsman.
From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.
From 1983 to 1987, he was a police and courts reporter for The Alabama Journal, the now-defunct evening newspaper in Montgomery. He joined The Tampa Tribune in 1987 as a general assignment reporter. He also worked as a political reporter in the Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau and a copy desk editor. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Tribune’s night metro editor. He left the paper in August 1999 to write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
June 28, 2018
Shhh!
Serge and Coleman are on Juno Beach. There's a beautiful full moon hovering just above the waves, and we're whispering because the loggerhead turtles are coming onto the shore to lay their eggs. But, wait . . . a group of drunken young men (frat boys, perhaps) are staggering onto the beach. Oh, no! They're messin' with the turtles! Don't worry - here comes Serge to the rescue.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I thought I would live my entire life without having to utter this sentence, but could you please put that turtle's ass down?"
Well, you just know that somebody is not gonna listen, and that somebody may just end up sleeping with thefishes turtles.
This is an outrageous outing as Serge and his baked buddy take to the open road on a literary tour of Florida. There's loads of trivia courtesy of the newly named "history fairy" - Serge - who merrily shares "heritage surprises" with all . . . particularly those who are uninterested in such matters. There's a decades old murder, a reclusive author, and illegal dumping of hazardous materials. Oh, and something REALLY BAD happens to this guy -
Er, I mean, the weasely head of a pharmaceutical company who raises the price of a life-saving drug from twelve bucks a pill to seven hundred.
Oh, yeah. Good times.
Where else will you get great advice like this:
"Get the shovel," said Serge.
"What shovel?"
"The shovel I now keep permanently in the trunk," said Serge. "I'm weary of having to buy a new one every time."
See - always keep a shovel in your trunk, 'cause you just never know when you might run into (or over) Scott Pruitt. Be prepared.
Serge and Coleman are on Juno Beach. There's a beautiful full moon hovering just above the waves, and we're whispering because the loggerhead turtles are coming onto the shore to lay their eggs. But, wait . . . a group of drunken young men (frat boys, perhaps) are staggering onto the beach. Oh, no! They're messin' with the turtles! Don't worry - here comes Serge to the rescue.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I thought I would live my entire life without having to utter this sentence, but could you please put that turtle's ass down?"
Well, you just know that somebody is not gonna listen, and that somebody may just end up sleeping with the
This is an outrageous outing as Serge and his baked buddy take to the open road on a literary tour of Florida. There's loads of trivia courtesy of the newly named "history fairy" - Serge - who merrily shares "heritage surprises" with all . . . particularly those who are uninterested in such matters. There's a decades old murder, a reclusive author, and illegal dumping of hazardous materials. Oh, and something REALLY BAD happens to this guy -
Er, I mean, the weasely head of a pharmaceutical company who raises the price of a life-saving drug from twelve bucks a pill to seven hundred.
Oh, yeah. Good times.
Where else will you get great advice like this:
"Get the shovel," said Serge.
"What shovel?"
"The shovel I now keep permanently in the trunk," said Serge. "I'm weary of having to buy a new one every time."
See - always keep a shovel in your trunk, 'cause you just never know when you might run into (or over) Scott Pruitt. Be prepared.
March 6, 2019
Some decent humor, but not as much as other Serge stories. 5 of 10 stars
January 18, 2018
“The sun was going down behind the Big Burger when the alligator came flying in the drive-through window.”
When a book opens with a sentence like that it can only mean one thing. God help us, they’re back. Yep, Serge A. Storms & his perma-stoned sidekick Coleman are on the road again, embarking on a literary tour of Florida. It goes without saying there will be some speed bumps along the way…you know, just the usual stuff. Angry monkeys, drug dealers, a hermit, sex toys with GPS…the mundane things we all deal with on a daily basis.
Dorsey has been described as Carl Hiaasen on acid. Both write novels that are hilarious, fast paced & full of colourful characters they employ to highlight the state’s constant battle between greedy developers & environmentalists. But Dorsey turns it up to eleven. Serge, his certifiable MC, is a true original & in this outing we get to see how he & Coleman became the terrors of Florida’s backroads. In part one we meet them as children growing up in the more idyllic 1960’s & follow Little Serge’s adventures which include meeting the Pope. No, not that one.
Another thread set in the same time frame introduces the Pope of Palm Beach. Darby Pope is a legendary surfer & all around zen guy much admired in his community. When he takes a young boy named Kenny under his wing, it’s the start of a life long friendship that unfolds in alternate chapters. The story line is funny & poignant & provides a counter balance to zany violence of Serge & Coleman’s road trip.
As the significance of Darby & Kenny’s friendship becomes clear, it’s inevitable the 2 time lines will collide in the present. Aaaand we’re off. They join forces to fight back against skanky criminals intent on settling an old score. Mayhem ensues & some is not for the faint of heart. But you have to hand it to Serge. He may be a killer but he dispatches bad guys in ways you could never imagine.
It’s a wild, violent & completely bonkers vehicle that allows the author to toss satirical barbs at the politicians & policy that are destroying Florida’s fragile ecosystem. And whether you’re giggling or gasping, you’ll learn the history & culture of Florida they never taught in school as you ride shotgun with this deranged duo.
When a book opens with a sentence like that it can only mean one thing. God help us, they’re back. Yep, Serge A. Storms & his perma-stoned sidekick Coleman are on the road again, embarking on a literary tour of Florida. It goes without saying there will be some speed bumps along the way…you know, just the usual stuff. Angry monkeys, drug dealers, a hermit, sex toys with GPS…the mundane things we all deal with on a daily basis.
Dorsey has been described as Carl Hiaasen on acid. Both write novels that are hilarious, fast paced & full of colourful characters they employ to highlight the state’s constant battle between greedy developers & environmentalists. But Dorsey turns it up to eleven. Serge, his certifiable MC, is a true original & in this outing we get to see how he & Coleman became the terrors of Florida’s backroads. In part one we meet them as children growing up in the more idyllic 1960’s & follow Little Serge’s adventures which include meeting the Pope. No, not that one.
Another thread set in the same time frame introduces the Pope of Palm Beach. Darby Pope is a legendary surfer & all around zen guy much admired in his community. When he takes a young boy named Kenny under his wing, it’s the start of a life long friendship that unfolds in alternate chapters. The story line is funny & poignant & provides a counter balance to zany violence of Serge & Coleman’s road trip.
As the significance of Darby & Kenny’s friendship becomes clear, it’s inevitable the 2 time lines will collide in the present. Aaaand we’re off. They join forces to fight back against skanky criminals intent on settling an old score. Mayhem ensues & some is not for the faint of heart. But you have to hand it to Serge. He may be a killer but he dispatches bad guys in ways you could never imagine.
It’s a wild, violent & completely bonkers vehicle that allows the author to toss satirical barbs at the politicians & policy that are destroying Florida’s fragile ecosystem. And whether you’re giggling or gasping, you’ll learn the history & culture of Florida they never taught in school as you ride shotgun with this deranged duo.
June 22, 2021
“Everyone has stories.” (2.5 stars)
THE POPE OF PALM BEACH is number 21 in Tim Dorsey’s series about Serge A. Storms, and it is a weaker effort, in terms of its plot. However, I liked some of the characters introduced in it quite a bit, especially the titular character, a kindhearted surfer named Darby Pope.
Some highlights of this installment include some book signings as only Serge can imagine (and Dorsey can write) them, and a charming chapter where a character discovers the joys of reading. As a reader I loved the sentiment it was trying to convey.
Some highlights include Serge’s usual rants, and I enjoyed this one concerning sexual proclivities. “There’s no accounting for what wakes up a stiffy. It’s on autopilot, doing whatever it wants without clearance from the tower. That’s why they are so personal and private, yet the bongo-beaters of hate want to know all about mine. I don’t think about theirs. You tell me who’s the sick one.”
Some other nice lines-
“It’s the beauty of creation…Keep watching nature and you’ll always see something new.”
“In general, I had a great childhood. Regular tropical Huck Finn, barefoot and outdoors all day. They don’t make childhoods like that anymore, with all the electronic gizmos now spawning whole generations of sickly, pale dumpling children who’ve never climbed trees or played in the mud.”
As mentioned, this text is #21 in a series, and although they are not great literature, Mr. Dorsey keeps coming up with new scenarios for each installment, so kudos to him. I will revisit Serge again next year at the beach. Till then old friend…
THE POPE OF PALM BEACH is number 21 in Tim Dorsey’s series about Serge A. Storms, and it is a weaker effort, in terms of its plot. However, I liked some of the characters introduced in it quite a bit, especially the titular character, a kindhearted surfer named Darby Pope.
Some highlights of this installment include some book signings as only Serge can imagine (and Dorsey can write) them, and a charming chapter where a character discovers the joys of reading. As a reader I loved the sentiment it was trying to convey.
Some highlights include Serge’s usual rants, and I enjoyed this one concerning sexual proclivities. “There’s no accounting for what wakes up a stiffy. It’s on autopilot, doing whatever it wants without clearance from the tower. That’s why they are so personal and private, yet the bongo-beaters of hate want to know all about mine. I don’t think about theirs. You tell me who’s the sick one.”
Some other nice lines-
“It’s the beauty of creation…Keep watching nature and you’ll always see something new.”
“In general, I had a great childhood. Regular tropical Huck Finn, barefoot and outdoors all day. They don’t make childhoods like that anymore, with all the electronic gizmos now spawning whole generations of sickly, pale dumpling children who’ve never climbed trees or played in the mud.”
As mentioned, this text is #21 in a series, and although they are not great literature, Mr. Dorsey keeps coming up with new scenarios for each installment, so kudos to him. I will revisit Serge again next year at the beach. Till then old friend…
October 24, 2024
It's an annual event for me to pick up the new Serge Storms novel early in the year by buying it at a live appearance by Tim Dorsey. This time he walked into the Barnes and Noble looking visibly shaken and announced that there would be no humorous introduction or reading as us usual. Why? This was in South Florida and Tim was staying at the local hotel where parents were gathering to see if their kids were any of the 17 killed at Stoneham Douglas high and he observed the tension and heartbreak in the lobby.
For those of you not familiar with this series (this is the 21st), the principal character is Serge Storms, a serial killer who only harms those who would injure Florida or Florida's vulnerable members of the populace. He always arranges to give the bad guys an out but so far, none seem to take advantage of it. In the meantime, he and his sidekick Coleman a drug and booze addled travel buddy tour the state with Serge dropping trivia notes as he moves about. This one centers on Rivera Beach, a spot I have often used to depart for drift diving in the Gulf Stream so fun to get filled in on it's early history and notable spots.
Interesting the way Tim works in the "fun" of being an author and the joys of book tours. (Check his schedule on his website - got to be one of the hardest working guys in the business. And one of the nicest.
For those of you not familiar with this series (this is the 21st), the principal character is Serge Storms, a serial killer who only harms those who would injure Florida or Florida's vulnerable members of the populace. He always arranges to give the bad guys an out but so far, none seem to take advantage of it. In the meantime, he and his sidekick Coleman a drug and booze addled travel buddy tour the state with Serge dropping trivia notes as he moves about. This one centers on Rivera Beach, a spot I have often used to depart for drift diving in the Gulf Stream so fun to get filled in on it's early history and notable spots.
Interesting the way Tim works in the "fun" of being an author and the joys of book tours. (Check his schedule on his website - got to be one of the hardest working guys in the business. And one of the nicest.
November 13, 2017
”It’s the element of the unexpected, like that famous Monty Python surreal skit about the Spanish Inquisition. I remember that one, said Coleman. Nooooooobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Nooooooobody expects the dildo!”
Serge and Coleman are back for another tale of diabolical pandemonium. Every book lovers dream comes true with a book tour inside of a book. Tim Dorsey is a man after my nerdy little heart.
Dorsey does something that he has never done before as we get some back history to our two favorite activists, Serge and Coleman. Taking a look back as they were wee little tots getting into some minor mischief. And how they develop into the pot smoking, dildo waving, saviors we are all waiting for.
As Serge and Coleman travel throughout parts of Florida, you get a very descriptive detail of these hotspot locations. He has such a way with words that you feel like you’re in that green Nova with those two knuckleheads.
Tim Dorsey continuously shows me why he’s one of my favorite authors. His ideas never seem to die down and they are always hilariously entertaining. I’m always joyously ecstatic to see what he comes up with next. I feel we got a personal look at his own life with this one and I need more.
If you have never read anything by Dorsey, I think you need to change that immediately! Slap! Serge will be your new hero!! Slap! No one will ever except the dildo! Slap! Happy Reading!! Slap! Slap! Slap!
Serge and Coleman are back for another tale of diabolical pandemonium. Every book lovers dream comes true with a book tour inside of a book. Tim Dorsey is a man after my nerdy little heart.
Dorsey does something that he has never done before as we get some back history to our two favorite activists, Serge and Coleman. Taking a look back as they were wee little tots getting into some minor mischief. And how they develop into the pot smoking, dildo waving, saviors we are all waiting for.
As Serge and Coleman travel throughout parts of Florida, you get a very descriptive detail of these hotspot locations. He has such a way with words that you feel like you’re in that green Nova with those two knuckleheads.
Tim Dorsey continuously shows me why he’s one of my favorite authors. His ideas never seem to die down and they are always hilariously entertaining. I’m always joyously ecstatic to see what he comes up with next. I feel we got a personal look at his own life with this one and I need more.
If you have never read anything by Dorsey, I think you need to change that immediately! Slap! Serge will be your new hero!! Slap! No one will ever except the dildo! Slap! Happy Reading!! Slap! Slap! Slap!
December 10, 2019
This is book 21 in the series but number 1 for me and I struggled to see in it what others appear to have done. Maybe I should have read the others first? I have no issue with vigilantes and violence but the story just didn't give me much joy and I didn't really see the humour that others did. I think on this occasion a book just not for me.
July 16, 2018
This book was quite centered around the "Pope of Palm Beach" - reliving much of his life and his protege, Kenny -- that it took away some of the enjoyment in tales of Serge and Coleman. Although the two "groups" did converge and Serge delivered his usual form of justice. Humorous as always for me; however, a bit of a reduced rating due to so much focus on Darby & Kenny. 6 out of 10.
July 16, 2018
Who doesn't enjoy a good romp with Serge and Coleman? I always enjoy Dorsey as I feel as if I'm getting 3 books in 1: mystery, hilarious black comedy and the non-fiction geographic history of Florida and its landmarks. Great read I'd recommend to all Dorsey fans as you will not be let down.
May 25, 2018
I loved The Pope Of Palm Beach.
Although there are 20 previous books in this series, this is my first Tim Dorsey and it worked fine as a stand-alone novel. Set in Florida, it's a very amusing farce featuring the manically curious and furious Serge Storms and his drug-addled sidekick, Coleman. They are a brilliant pairing, with Serge venting his righteous rage on various scumbags who do things like dump polluting materials in nature reserves or price vital medicines out of the reach of those who need them out of personal greed. They all meet dreadful but appropriate ends, a bit like a modern-day, secular version of Dante's Inferno. There is also an historical story intercut with this, whose relevance we don't discover until the last quarter or so of the book, but which works very well and leads to a thrilling (and amusing) climax which kept me reading well after I should have stopped for the night.
It's excellently done. You really do have to get the tone right if you're going to make gruesome killing funny, and Dorsey gets it perfectly. He writes brilliantly, creating an excellent sense of place, and the balance of excitement and humour in the narrative seemed perfect to me. He also skewers many of the idiocies of modern life and especially in the character of Darby Pope, makes some quite profound human statements below the witty surface.
I'm delighted to have been introduced to Tim Dorsey and I'll definitely be looking into more Serge and Coleman books.
(My thanks to Farrago Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
Although there are 20 previous books in this series, this is my first Tim Dorsey and it worked fine as a stand-alone novel. Set in Florida, it's a very amusing farce featuring the manically curious and furious Serge Storms and his drug-addled sidekick, Coleman. They are a brilliant pairing, with Serge venting his righteous rage on various scumbags who do things like dump polluting materials in nature reserves or price vital medicines out of the reach of those who need them out of personal greed. They all meet dreadful but appropriate ends, a bit like a modern-day, secular version of Dante's Inferno. There is also an historical story intercut with this, whose relevance we don't discover until the last quarter or so of the book, but which works very well and leads to a thrilling (and amusing) climax which kept me reading well after I should have stopped for the night.
It's excellently done. You really do have to get the tone right if you're going to make gruesome killing funny, and Dorsey gets it perfectly. He writes brilliantly, creating an excellent sense of place, and the balance of excitement and humour in the narrative seemed perfect to me. He also skewers many of the idiocies of modern life and especially in the character of Darby Pope, makes some quite profound human statements below the witty surface.
I'm delighted to have been introduced to Tim Dorsey and I'll definitely be looking into more Serge and Coleman books.
(My thanks to Farrago Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
February 12, 2018
Pure Dorsey
In our continuing love affair with Florida, Serge,Coleman and I continue learning things about the Sunshine State. The stories just keep getting better. Thank you, Tim.
In our continuing love affair with Florida, Serge,Coleman and I continue learning things about the Sunshine State. The stories just keep getting better. Thank you, Tim.
July 1, 2018
Excellent outing by Serge, Coleman and a full cast of Florida characters, including a paranoid author who spends thirty years hiding under his kitchen sink before making a comeback.
What makes this particularly fun is that Dorsey is juggling three time settings: Serge as a kid, the mid-80s, and the present. He bops back and forth from one to the other until, of course, all three lines merge near the end.
This is full of wonderful writing, a page or two at a time that work as complete mini-essays on one topic or another.
Did I mention that Serve discovers that he has a sexual fetish? For plaid?
Oh well, go ahead and read and enjoy. Incidentally, the comic violence that might repel some would-be readers is not such a problem in this one. (It's still there, but not gratuitously so.)
What makes this particularly fun is that Dorsey is juggling three time settings: Serge as a kid, the mid-80s, and the present. He bops back and forth from one to the other until, of course, all three lines merge near the end.
This is full of wonderful writing, a page or two at a time that work as complete mini-essays on one topic or another.
Did I mention that Serve discovers that he has a sexual fetish? For plaid?
Oh well, go ahead and read and enjoy. Incidentally, the comic violence that might repel some would-be readers is not such a problem in this one. (It's still there, but not gratuitously so.)
June 22, 2018
Crazy funny, deliciously violent. I've never read a book like this one, and then I find out there are at least 20 more with the same main character. Win!
Serge Storms is a nature-loving Florida-phile who takes his perpetually stoned pal Coleman on a literary tour of Florida. Along the way, he catches violators of the Florida ecology and executes them imaginatively and appropriately. How can you not love a serial killer who's an ecological vigilante?
He visits the homes of his favorite Florida authors and actually finds one of them (Kenny) holed up at the home of Darcy Pope, famous surfer known as the Pope of Palm Beach. The story goes back and forth between flashbacks of the past when Serge and Coleman were kids and the Pope and Kenny were surfing to the present when their pasts come back to haunt them. Lovely. Crazy book.
Serge Storms is a nature-loving Florida-phile who takes his perpetually stoned pal Coleman on a literary tour of Florida. Along the way, he catches violators of the Florida ecology and executes them imaginatively and appropriately. How can you not love a serial killer who's an ecological vigilante?
He visits the homes of his favorite Florida authors and actually finds one of them (Kenny) holed up at the home of Darcy Pope, famous surfer known as the Pope of Palm Beach. The story goes back and forth between flashbacks of the past when Serge and Coleman were kids and the Pope and Kenny were surfing to the present when their pasts come back to haunt them. Lovely. Crazy book.
October 19, 2020
Love this series, it's not for everyone, but it is funny and definitely worth the read.
Read
September 26, 2020I'll never be able to get enough of Serge.
July 22, 2021
I love the way the seemingly random stories become interconnected
March 28, 2018
Got this for free through a Goodreads giveaway.
It's been awhile since I read one of Tim Dorsey's books. After awhile, they sort of started to blend together, but this one reminded me just how amusingly nutty his writing is. This is the 21st! Serge Storms book, but mostly stands on its own (some prior knowledge of the characters will probably enhance your enjoyment). Serge's still a semi-homicidal Florida history buff/ part-time social avenger and his sidekick Coleman still can (and does) get high off of everything imaginable. Some of the subplots are extremely topical (a ceo gouging the price for a rare medicine, etc), but are integrated well.
The cover description that the book is divided between the present and the childhoods of Serge and Coleman (or Seymour, as he is then known) is slightly misleading. After the early chapters, the flashbacks actually focus on the titular Pope and his protégé Kenny. The flashbacks actually are a real highlight of the novel and show that Dorsey is perfectly capable of doing other, saner characters than his recurring cast.
Dorsey is known for his off the wall humor and doesn't disappoint this time. Highlights include Coleman's experiments with cat toys, Serge using a dildo to control social situations, the extended bit about adjusting air conditioners, and the book tour signings (which, of course, include karaoke and visual aids).
The only slight disappointment I had was that juggling two time periods for most of the book meant that Dorsey had to wrap up the main plot very fast and sometimes events felt rushed. It probably could have used another fifty pages or so to tie things together more organically and comfortably. Overall though, I highly recommend this book.
P.S. the prologue takes place during "the present" but not at the beginning of those segments. Actually, it occurs quite late in the book, so don't spend too much time wondering whose body is in the box, you'll get there. And look for a brief, amusing cameo by a character from some of Dorsey's earlier books.
It's been awhile since I read one of Tim Dorsey's books. After awhile, they sort of started to blend together, but this one reminded me just how amusingly nutty his writing is. This is the 21st! Serge Storms book, but mostly stands on its own (some prior knowledge of the characters will probably enhance your enjoyment). Serge's still a semi-homicidal Florida history buff/ part-time social avenger and his sidekick Coleman still can (and does) get high off of everything imaginable. Some of the subplots are extremely topical (a ceo gouging the price for a rare medicine, etc), but are integrated well.
The cover description that the book is divided between the present and the childhoods of Serge and Coleman (or Seymour, as he is then known) is slightly misleading. After the early chapters, the flashbacks actually focus on the titular Pope and his protégé Kenny. The flashbacks actually are a real highlight of the novel and show that Dorsey is perfectly capable of doing other, saner characters than his recurring cast.
Dorsey is known for his off the wall humor and doesn't disappoint this time. Highlights include Coleman's experiments with cat toys, Serge using a dildo to control social situations, the extended bit about adjusting air conditioners, and the book tour signings (which, of course, include karaoke and visual aids).
The only slight disappointment I had was that juggling two time periods for most of the book meant that Dorsey had to wrap up the main plot very fast and sometimes events felt rushed. It probably could have used another fifty pages or so to tie things together more organically and comfortably. Overall though, I highly recommend this book.
P.S. the prologue takes place during "the present" but not at the beginning of those segments. Actually, it occurs quite late in the book, so don't spend too much time wondering whose body is in the box, you'll get there. And look for a brief, amusing cameo by a character from some of Dorsey's earlier books.
September 1, 2020
Another fun ride with Serge and Coleman. They're almost secondary in this one, however, with center stage being occupied by Kenny and the Pope, two great characters.
July 8, 2019
Dorsey gets a bit meta and possibly autobiographical.
This is your standard Serge Storms manic romp through Florida, killing off those bad elements that need killing off in Florida, and doing it in wonderfully creative ways.
But 2 things give this a bump. First, I actually reacted out loud when the eponymous book loving, surfer king, tries to get his buddy hooked on reading and gives him Vonnegut (my favorite author). Second, this time Serge and Coleman are on a literary tour of Florida and eventually run into a recluse author who has a pretty funny backstory, but also seems to overlap a lot with Dorsey's genre, so seems a bit autobiographical, and either way is fun because it involves authors and writing.
I will also give Dorsey credit for making one of the more emotionally powerful moves in his books, and dramatically killing a pretty major character, which I absolutely did NOT see coming. His murders are usually happy-go-lucky, but this one wasn't.
This is your standard Serge Storms manic romp through Florida, killing off those bad elements that need killing off in Florida, and doing it in wonderfully creative ways.
But 2 things give this a bump. First, I actually reacted out loud when the eponymous book loving, surfer king, tries to get his buddy hooked on reading and gives him Vonnegut (my favorite author). Second, this time Serge and Coleman are on a literary tour of Florida and eventually run into a recluse author who has a pretty funny backstory, but also seems to overlap a lot with Dorsey's genre, so seems a bit autobiographical, and either way is fun because it involves authors and writing.
I will also give Dorsey credit for making one of the more emotionally powerful moves in his books, and dramatically killing a pretty major character, which I absolutely did NOT see coming. His murders are usually happy-go-lucky, but this one wasn't.
May 21, 2018
Serge is back for another of his rollicking Florida adventures, this one a literary tour of the state.
He and his half-baked sidekick, Coleman, return to their hometown, which leads to a lot of little Serge flashbacks and a plot that jumps between his childhood and current days -- and then meets up as only a Dorsey novel can do.
Some unlucky "contestants" face the creative wrath of Serge, who doles out punishments fitting the crime to those who do not respect the state and its environment, and we learn a lot about Florida trivia and its many writers along the way.
Its the blackest of comedies filled with the usual sex and drugs and rock and roll that will leave Serge fans eager for more.
He and his half-baked sidekick, Coleman, return to their hometown, which leads to a lot of little Serge flashbacks and a plot that jumps between his childhood and current days -- and then meets up as only a Dorsey novel can do.
Some unlucky "contestants" face the creative wrath of Serge, who doles out punishments fitting the crime to those who do not respect the state and its environment, and we learn a lot about Florida trivia and its many writers along the way.
Its the blackest of comedies filled with the usual sex and drugs and rock and roll that will leave Serge fans eager for more.
November 29, 2018
humor? maybe a GR Best of 2018?
DNF really quickly on this one. So quickly that I wouldn't even mark it read, but I don't want to stumble onto this one again by mistake.
Ridiculous, one-dimensional characters in a contrived plot. I couldn't even laugh at it while drinking and making cheesecakes for Thanksgiving. Just not my vibe.
#lifeistooshorttoreadshittybooks
DNF really quickly on this one. So quickly that I wouldn't even mark it read, but I don't want to stumble onto this one again by mistake.
Ridiculous, one-dimensional characters in a contrived plot. I couldn't even laugh at it while drinking and making cheesecakes for Thanksgiving. Just not my vibe.
#lifeistooshorttoreadshittybooks
December 22, 2018
A little different than the usual Serge and Coleman adventure, since they would up helping the friend of a legendary Florida figure. I liked the two timelines and how they eventually merged. Made me think of the Surf's Up animated feature.
June 5, 2020
I am attempting to alter my opinion of Tim Dorsey’s writing, but not much has changed. I feel that too much violence and foul language and utter disregard for life. In this adventure, Serge and Coleman undertake a literary tour in Florida of notable authors such as Leonard Elmore and Charles Willeford. Two other stories portray The Pope of Palm Beach-Darby, a legendary surfer, and a survivalist hermit, Trapper Nelson. Coleman jumps in and out of his drug and alcohol cloud while Serge punishes or kills the bad guys in exotic ways. Then Kenneth Reese, an author, goes into virtual hiding when he believes the bad guys are searching for him. The writing is choppy, but the characters and setting display finesse. I am still not crazy for Tim Dorsey.
August 27, 2018
As a reader we get greedy and demand more, and more of our favorite authors. And then when the author fails to deliver a 5 star book every time we get upset. I have always been able to rely on a Tim Dorsey book to make me laugh, educate me on Florida history, and keep me entertained. That was not the case with The Pope Of Palm Beach. Easily the weakest book in the whole series. For the first time ever I was bored reading a Tim Dorsey book!
It may be time for the author to either write a book without Serge and Colman in it, or retire the series.
This could have been a much better book as a mystery/Florida literary adventure without the additions required to accommodate the Serge and Colman angle.
I sure hope the next book is better.
It may be time for the author to either write a book without Serge and Colman in it, or retire the series.
This could have been a much better book as a mystery/Florida literary adventure without the additions required to accommodate the Serge and Colman angle.
I sure hope the next book is better.
January 6, 2021
Once again, Dorsey captures the ridiculously insane mental temperature of Florida. In this novel, Serge’s antics follow him into South Florida’s celebrated authors, including a recluse who is hiding from the mob after he and his friend are targeted.
Along with Coleman, his dim-witted and catnip-addicted friend, Serge steps in to show idiots in Florida just what happens when they disrespect the sanctity of his state.
Along with Coleman, his dim-witted and catnip-addicted friend, Serge steps in to show idiots in Florida just what happens when they disrespect the sanctity of his state.
March 17, 2023
Our intrepid, living, breathing “Florida Man Headline,” Serge Storms is back in “The Pope of Palm Beach,” the 21st, in Tim Dorsey’s madcap series…The interwoven theme of Serge’s fixation in this one is the literature that has emerged from generations of Floridian writers…”The Pope of Palm Beach” is a paean to some of my favorites, from John D. MacDonald & Randy Wayne White, to classics like Marjorie Rawlings…And always, Dorsey provides insights into criminality prevalent throughout Florida history…GREAT FUN READ!!!
July 19, 2019
Loved it! It’s so interesting when all the plot threads finally come together.
April 19, 2022
Insanity but fun
October 1, 2024
More fascinating Florida trivia in a wild setting
April 27, 2018
DNF - page 100. It's not my cup of tea.
This series of books is known for being the Jimmy Buffett of novels... based in Florida and really celebrating the fact. Well, I'm not a big Jimmy Buffett fan either. There's a running joke that one of the main characters is always high. (shrug) I'm no teetotaller, but it just isn't funny.
There are a couple funny, smart parts.
"Whew, glad that awful shit finally wore off."
"So you're not going to take it again?"
Coleman gave him an odd look. "You don't know anything about drugs,do you?"
- Serge and Coleman, Pope of Palm Beach
I like Florida, and the state is edgy. I like that. But I didn't like some of the really negative things in Pope of Palm Beach. (very minor spoiler here... and I'm sensitive to that... but believe me, no one is reading these books for the plot points) In a bizarre twist, and out of the blue, the two main characters stalk a young corrupt pharma CEO who was in the news a couple years back for jacking up drug prices. Anywho, they find him, beat him, tie him up, and poison him. Then a mob recognizes the CEO and stones him, literally. The writing is giddy and smug about the “justice” that has been dispensed. It's weird. Really, really weird.
Not a good read.
thanks... yow, bill
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