| In Stingray Shuffle, Dorsey's fifth book, but only fourth chronologically, the author finally wraps-up the storyline begun in Florida Roadkill and continued in Hammerhead Ranch Motel.
Serge A. Storms, psycho-killer and history-buff, and his spaced-out partner Lenny are back, still searching for the elusive silver suitcase containing the proceeds of his insurance fraud. After two novels, the suitcase has changed hands eight times and now resides in the hands of Paul, the passive-aggressive private eye, and a Hemingway-impersonator named Jethro, but it does not reside there long, as a whole new cast joins the adventure, including: -Booze, Books, and Broads, a book club made-up of single-moms who all shared a dorm at the University of Florida. -Ivan, a former KGB hitman, and his two teams of Russians who are hot on Serge's trail, but with more aptitude for self-destruction than murder. -Eugene Tibbs, a former blues-musician-turned-restroom-attendant, who patterns his life on an out-of-print mystery novel. -Ralph Krunkelton, a former author, now a crab fisherman. His books are resurrected from the remainder pile by a drug-pushing scheme involving a bookshop as a front. -The Great Mez-Mo, Spider, Bruno Litsky, Frankie Chan, Xolack the Mentalist, Steppenwolf, and DeeDee Lowenstein as Carmen Miranda, two-bit nightclub performers who made in medium touring the flea-bag circuit. All of these characters, plus the suitcase, are thrown together in this manic novel that races from the southern-most Key to the streets of New York and back to Miami on a wild ride aboard the Silver Stingray, an antique Amtrak locomotive hosting a two-day "mystery theatre" that mysteriously mimics the events being played-out under the noses of those aboard, finally leading to a jarring and unforgettable conclusion. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - very humorous Time/era of story: Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book The crook is.... - criminals killing each other descript. of violence and chases - 20 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30 % Crime Thriller Yes Crime plotlets: Is MAIN CHARACTER an EVIL criminal? Yes General Crime (including known murderer) Yes Who's the criminal enemy here? - drug dealers If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Unusual characteristics: Main Adversary Identity: - an organization Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure The antagonists are: - Russians How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Dumb Setting United States Yes The US: - Southeast City? Yes City: - New York - Miami Misc setting - moving train Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references - actual description of sex Unusual forms of death - asphyxiation - dropped from large heights - frying (cooking) - frying (electrocuted) - run over - flamed - drowned - perforation--bullets - blunt clubbing (like seals) - exploded into bits Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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