15 Best Carl Hiaasen Books Everyone Should Read
Known for his slapstick comedy set around Florida’s best-known sights and people, Carl Hiaasen has been a bestselling author since the 1980s.
His novels are whacky, and action-packed, and always with morale and themes that many authors choose to ignore. Many of his best works comment on the state’s ecological and political issues, thus cementing his position as a prominent Florida author.
The best Carl Hiaasen books are those that best showcase his comic writing style, political themes, and witty characterization.
It puts him in a league of his own, with bestsellers like “Sick Puppy”, “Double Whammy”, and the classic “Skinny Dip”. Hiaasen’s satirical novels have found a place in modern literature and are widely recognized as a unique literary statement in today’s modern literature.
So if you’re looking for an entertaining read that will make you think, then the below list is definitely for you.
15 Best Carl Hiaasen Books [Ranked]
1. Squeeze Me
Kiki Pew Fitzsimmons disappears at a charity ball, leaving a half-eaten ecstasy tablet near a Koi pond. This triggers multiple threads of bonkers events that ex-vet Angie Armstrong must unravel.
Her investigation leads her to an innocent Honduran illegal, Diego Beltran, who is being unfairly accused of murder due to the Orange One’s tweets. Eventually, with the help of a Secret Service agent and Police Chief, Angie is able to prove Diego’s innocence and uncover the truth.
This book provides some much-needed comic relief amidst the surreal madness and tragedy of actual American politics.
Published — 2020
2. Hoot
Roy Eberhardt moves to the fictional town of Coconut Cove. There he meets his bully Dana Matherson and embarks on a mission to save the endangered burrowing owls.
That is the exact same area where Mother Paula is building a pancake house franchise, jeopardizing the habitat of the owls.
With help from his new friend Mullet Fingers (Napoleon Bridger Leep), Roy and his classmates attend the groundbreaking ceremony and expose the truth about illegal paperwork. As a result, Mother Paula’s promises to preserve the property but at what cost? Meanwhile, Dana is sent to a detention camp.
Will the owl’s and their habitat be eventually saved?
Published — 2002
3. Double Whammy
R.J. Decker is a trailer park resident and novice private investigator who’s been hired by a wealthy bass fishing enthusiast to uncover cheating in tournaments hosted by Dickie Lockhart on the Outdoor Christian Network (OCN).
To help him, he teams up with Skink, an odd hermit living in Harney who eats road kill. Together they must uncover this sports scam involving murder and face threats from TV evangelists, women, and also a seductively sultry redneck.
In the end, the best prize will go to the most cunning murderer.
Published — 1987
4. Flush
Eleven-year-old Noah Underwood and his younger sister Abbey plot to take down Dusty Muleman — the crooked owner of the casino boat Coral Queen. He has been dumping toilet waste illegally into the ocean, something illegal and illicit for the environment.
With their dad Paine in jail for sinking the ship, they enlist Lice Peeking — a former employee of the Coral Queen — and Shelly, Lice’s brassy blonde girlfriend, to help.
But even with their best-laid plan in motion, Noah and Abbey find themselves in more danger than they ever expected. Dusty’s son Jasper Jr. and his cohort Bull is harassing them and to add to the misery, strongman Luno threatens to take it to the next level.
Thankfully, a mysterious stranger appears to lend a helping hand — and the siblings now might have a chance of succeeding in their mission.
Published — 2005
5. Tourist Season
Private detective Brian Keyes takes on a case involving the bizarre murder of a prominent local businessman.
He suspects an unlikely Latino suspect, but his investigation takes a wrong turn when his client commits suicide. Meanwhile, an old rival and mentor at the newspaper has gone missing.
It’s up to Skip Wiley — a ‘gonzo’ columnist fighting against industry pollution — to bring together a rebellious Seminole Indian, former football star and hot-headed anarchist in an attempt to drive away the tourists.
Can Skip save Florida from destruction? It’s up to him to find out.
Published — 1986
6. Scat
Three students — Nick, Marta, and Duane Scrod Jr. — get caught up in an adventurous mystery when their teacher Ms. Starch disappears during an outing to Black Vine Swamp.
Having subtle doubts about Smoke, a serial lawbreaker in class, Nick and Marta set out to find Ms. Starch, only to discover a house full of stuffed animals. With the help of Twilly, who claims to be Ms. Starch’s nephew, the trio embark on an exciting journey to uncover the truth about their teacher’s disappearance.
Will they be able to solve the mystery and find Ms. Starch? Read to find out.
Published — 2009
7. Skinny Dip
Chaz Perrone is a marine scientist who has found a way to make money illegally by altering water samples.
When he suspects his wife, Joey has figured out his scheme, he pushes her overboard from a cruise ship. However, she survives and teams up with former cop Mick Stranahan in order to take revenge on Chaz and come face-to-face with the warped politics of their environment.
This humorous adventure novel by Carl Hiaasen follows the lives of these characters and takes readers on a wild ride through the world of human behavior.
Published — 2004
8. Bad Monkey
Andrew Yancy of the Miami and Key West Police finds a human arm in his freezer and start the necessary search protocols.
When he investigates to find out how it got there, he embarks on an unexpected journey from Florida to the Bahamas with a cast of curious characters, including: a twitchy widow, an unintelligent real estate developer, a voodoo witch whose lovers are killed by her charms, a kinky medical examiner, and the titular Bad Monkey.
Will Yancy uncover the truth behind the mysterious arm’s disappearance?
All of this madness is nothing but quintessential Carl Hiaasen!
Published — 2013
9. Skin Tight
Mick Stranahan, a retired investigator for the State Attorney Office, is targeted by former friend and doctor Rudy Graveline — who is being blackmailed over the disappearance of a young woman.
To protect himself, Mick teams up with TV producer Christina Marks and sets in motion a plan to expose Graveline on a show called “In Your Face”. After Graveline botches a liposuction procedure that kills the TV reporter trying to expose him, he hires Chemo to kill Mick.
When Chemo fails in two attempts, Mick and Christina seek a hide out on a remote place in Biscayne Bay. As their relationship deepens, they eventually part ways.
Will Mick be able to stop Graveline and get justice? Or will Graveline’s plan prevail?
Published — 1989
10. Chomp
Wahoo Cray, his father, and best friend Mickey venture into the Florida Everglades to work on a reality show called “Expedition Survival!”, but things get complicated with Wahoo’s schoolfriend soon after.
Tuna runs away from home, and the show’s star, Derek Badger, goes off the rails. Wahoo must use his bravery to protect Tuna and Mickey from her drunken father, Jared, while Derek deludes himself into thinking he is turning into a vampire.
Ultimately Derek loses his job, and Wahoo musters the courage to challenge Jared with a gun. But the question looms large.
Will he be able to save them all, or will he lose someone he loves?
Published — 2012
11. Skink — No Surrender
Richard and his 14-year-old cousin Malley, are supposed to meet up to watch over sea turtle nests. However, Malley doesn’t show up. Richard instead meets Skink, a former governor of Florida who has been presumed dead since a state trooper reported finding his body in the swamp.
It turns out that Malley had run away with an older man named Talbo Chock. With Skink’s help, Richard can track her down to the Choctawhatchee River near Panama City.
In a confrontation with Talbo, it is revealed that his real name is Tommy Chalmers, and he was holding Malley against her will.
Will Richard and Malley be able to overpower Tommy or will they be bested in a wide-ranging struggle?
Published — 2014
12. Razor Girl
Yancy finds himself in hot water when he takes the fall for his friend Buck, who is accused of harassment.
His investigation leads him to Benjamin Krill, a man obsessed with becoming the best friend of Buck’s TV persona. Yancy manages to free them and stop Krill, but gets no reward from the sheriff as he still causes too much trouble.
He also learns his girlfriend has moved to Norway and is now dating another man, leaving him heartbroken. After spending a night out on the boat with Merry, Yancy’s adventure ends without any resolution.
Despite his best efforts, he still has to face life’s struggles head-on.
Published — 2016
13. Stormy Weather
Bonnie Lamb finds herself alone and lost in the chaotic aftermath of a hurricane, only to be rescued by Augustine Herrera.
She discovers from an answering machine message that her husband has been kidnapped. Meanwhile, Edie Marsh teams up with criminal Snapper to scam insurance companies for money.
When Tony Torres is kidnapped, Edie and Snapper are left alone with an opportunity to take the insurance payment for themselves.
Will Augustine and Bonnie find Max and rescue him from his kidnapper?
Will Edie and Snapper succeed in their scam?
Read to find out.
Published — 1995
14. Squirm
Dennis and Billy reunite in Montana, with Summer joining them for a camping trip. Dennis has to stop poacher Lincoln Baxter from killing a Florida panther. While on their mission, they discover that Baxter is targeting Dennis.
The trio manages to stop the villain’s plan, but then he disappears without a trace. They return to Florida, and Dennis visits his son’s family, suggesting they all move to Montana. However, when Billy realizes Baxter is in the area, he warns them not to go.
He and Summer remain behind and save Dennis from Baxter’s trap. Later, Dennis remains in contact with both his son and Christine, who decides to keep living close to an eagle’s nest.
Published — 2016
15. Sick Puppy
Twilly Spree has dedicated himself to saving Florida’s wilderness from destruction, so when he notices Palmer Stoat blithely littering on the highway, he decides to teach him a lesson!
Twilly soon discovers that Stoat is a powerful political fixer and decides to stop his latest project, which is the ‘malling’ of a pristine Gulf Coast island.
This triggers a chain of events involving eco-terrorists, bogus big-time hunters, a Republican-only hooker, an infamous ex-governor, and thousands of singing toads.
Published — 2000
Which Carl Hiaasen Book Are You Reading Next?
There you go.
You now have a list of the best Carl Hiaasen books that will keep you entertained for hours. Whether it’s a thrilling adventure, suspenseful mystery, or some belly-busting comedy, Hiaasen has something for everyone!
So go ahead and pick one of his books to start your journey into the strange yet entertaining world of this amazing and acclaimed author.
