Palm Beach is in full swing, with the President in the Winter White House and balls and soirees to attend every night. But when one of the island's grande dames disappears when she goes outside to get some air, everyone is desperate to find her. That won't happen because she has been the victim of one of Florida's invasive Burmese pythons. A snake like that can get to over twenty feet and can kill and eat a deer or even a crocodile. An eighty-pound older lady isn't even a stretch.
The snake is seen the next morning and Angie Armstrong is called. She studied as a vet, then became a wildlife park ranger, roaming the Everglades in an air boat. When she went over the line arresting a poacher, she was imprisoned for a year and of course, lost her job. Now she runs a pet removal service. Angie knows right away what the lump in the snake means and she removes it for autopsy. Is there about to be an invasion of pythons?
Carl Hiaasen is known for his comedic mysteries featuring his beloved Florida. There is a wide cast of characters; the President who is ridiculed for his weight and lack of knowledge, the First Lady who may have roaming eyes, an immigrant who is blamed for the woman's death, various Secret Service and Palm Beach policeman, the recurring character Skink who was once the governor, Angie and a vengeful man who is stalking her. As others have said, the humor is a bit heavy-handed and this novel is not as enjoyable as others I've read. This book is recommended for readers who enjoy humor in their mysteries.
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