Summary
After being thrown overboard by her unfaithful husband, a woman teams up with a charming ex-cop to seek revenge and expose a corrupt businessman in the thrilling novel, ‘Skinny Dip’ by Carl Hiaasen.
Book Genre
- Mystery/Thriller
- Humor
- Satire
Main Topic of the Book
‘Skinny Dip’ follows the story of a woman named Joey Perrone who is thrown overboard by her husband for their anniversary cruise. While stranded in the open ocean, she forms an unlikely alliance with a former detective, as they seek revenge against her husband and uncover a larger conspiracy involving shady business dealings and environmental destruction.
Key Ideas
- Trustworthiness and betrayal
- Environmental conservation
- Greed and corruption
- Resilience and determination
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part One: Adrift – After being pushed overboard by her husband Chaz, Joey is stranded in the ocean, clinging on to a bale of Jamaican marijuana. She is rescued by former detective Mick Stranahan, who is living as a hermit on a nearby island.
- Part Two: Natural Causes – Joey and Mick form an alliance to seek revenge against Chaz, who is believed to be planning to kill Joey and inherit her family’s fortune, as well as expose his shady business dealings with a fertilizer company.
- Part Three: Slickers – Joey and Mick come up with a plan to expose Chaz with the help of a cow named Mojo who is being used as a test subject for the fertilizer company’s toxic waste. They also enlist the help of a retired sniffer dog named Strom.
- Part Four: Skinny Dipping – The plan backfires and Joey is once again left stranded in the ocean, while Mick tries to escape from Chaz who is now on the island looking for Joey. With the help of the Feds, Joey is finally able to outsmart Chaz and expose his corrupt business dealings.
- Part Five: Rescued – Joey and Mick are rescued and begin to fall for each other, while Chaz faces the consequences of his actions.
Key Takeaways
- Appearances can be deceiving, especially in relationships.
- Money and power can corrupt people.
- Protecting the environment is crucial for our survival.
- Determination and teamwork can help overcome obstacles and achieve justice.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Carl Hiaasen is an American journalist and novelist known for his satirical, humorous novels and columns about the destruction of Florida’s environment due to greed and corruption. He has written over 20 books, including the best-selling novel ‘Hoot’ which was made into a movie in 2006. Hiaasen’s experience as a journalist gives his novels a realistic and informative edge.
Target Audience
The target audience for ‘Skinny Dip’ would be those who enjoy a fast-paced, humorous thriller mixed with social commentary. Fans of Hiaasen’s previous novels and those interested in environmental issues would also enjoy this book.
Publisher and First Publication Date
‘Skinny Dip’ was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2004.