“A missing girl. A hungry gator. Only one way out.”

Skink by Carl Hiaasen

I should have paid more attention to the cover: “A missing girl. A hungry gator. Only one way out.” This is classic Hiaasen. Skink is his first “teen” novel, and it’s every bit as fun as his “adult” novels. And, it’s easily as good as his books for younger readers (Hoot, Flush, etc.).

Mallory, cousin of Richard, has disappeared with a dodgy guy she met on the internet who claims to be Talbo Chock.  Except he’s not; he’s a creepy person pretending to be a decorated Afghan War Marine who died in combat.  The creep has stolen Talbo Chock’s identity. Enter Skink, ex-governor of Florida, believed dead. Skink teams up with Richard and they set off on a hunt to find Mallory and the fake Talbo Chock, T.C.

It’s a race against time. We find out some pretty unsavory things about the fake TC and what might be happening to Mallory.  Mallory is pretty flaky, but pretty tough, too.  Richard eventually finds her, but the adventure just gets more complicated because by that time, he’s lost Skink and he finds fake, armed TC with Mallory. Yikes!

In typical Carl Hiaasen fashion, the story spins out of control.  Enjoy it.  It’s crazy, silly, and just this side of believable.