Squeeze Me

Carl Hiaasen is the author of numerous humorous/ satirical adult novels, some non-fiction works and collections of newspaper columns--mostly about political corruption, as well as a handful of teen books that are focused on various ecological issues. His adult books, he claims, are inspired by actual newspaper headlines; he still is a reporter for the Miami Herald. I actually had the privilege of hearing him speak at a library conference and he had the audience laughing out loud throughout the talk with his wild and witty observations about Florida, politics, and anything else that came to mind. In this book, he goes after the current president with a joyful vengeance; Melania comes in for more sympathetic treatment. And his protagonist, Angie, is a pest removal expert who you will cheer for from beginning to end. She started as a veterinarian but lost her desire for the job after watching one too many animals be put to sleep. Then she was a wildlife officer but ended that job by going to jail because of her vigilante punishment for a poacher who ran over a baby deer with his airboat. There seems to be a plague of giant pythons threatening social events in ritzy Palm Beach, and Angie is pretty sure that at least one diminutive wealthy matriarch was swallowed by one, although the Trump propaganda machine asserts that an illegal alien is the murderer. Angie tries working with the local police chief and one of the secret service agents based in West Palm Beach to get the innocent man released. But eventually she once again has to take matters into her own hands. We see the reprise of a character that appeared in an earlier book, but there is no requirement that you have read any previous Hiaasen books to thoroughly enjoy this tale. Typical over-the-top biting satire--a great antidote to these dismal days. 

Reviews are abundant in their praise:

The New York Times: warns, "If you are wearing a MAGA anything, you won’t like this book." However, they go on to say, "But if you could use some wild escapism right now, Hiaasen is your guy."

The Washington Post: says of the main character, "Hiaasen can always be relied on to give readers a likable, decent-hearted, beset young female protagonist to fight for justice, and Angie Armstrong is great fun to follow around."

Kirkus: praises Hiaasen's "deftly drawn characters and zingy dialogue"  and concludes, "This exuberant elegy for Florida's paved-over paradise performs the near miracle of making us laugh even as we despair."