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    The Pope of Palm Beach: A Novel
    The Pope of Palm Beach: A Novel
    The Pope of Palm Beach: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Pope of Palm Beach: A Novel

    Written by Tim Dorsey

    Narrated by Oliver Wyman

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    From Florida’s king of mayhem—""compulsively irreverent and shockingly funny"" (Boston Globe) New York Times bestselling author Tim Dorsey—comes a diabolically madcap adventure featuring the indomitable Serge A. Storms.

    No one worships the Sunshine State as much as Serge A. Storms. Perpetually hunting Floridian arcana and lore, he and his permanently baked sidekick, Coleman, are on the road again. This time they’re on a frenzied literary pilgrimage that leads them back to Riviera Beach, the cozy seaside town where the boys spent their formative years.

    Growing up, Serge was enthralled by the Legend of Riviera Beach, aka Darby, a welder at the port who surfed the local waves long before the hot spots were hot. A god on the water, the big-hearted surfer was a friend to everyone—the younger surfers, cops, politicians, wealthy businessmen and ordinary Joes—a generosity of spirit that earned him the admiration of all. Meanwhile, there was a much murkier legend that made the rounds of the schoolyards from Serge’s youth—that of the crazy hermit living in a makeshift jungle compound farther up the mysterious Loxahatchee River than anyone dared to venture.

    Then Serge moved away. But never forgot.

    Now he’s back, with those legends looming larger than ever in the rearview mirror of his memory. As his literary odyssey moves north from Key West, closer and closer to his old stomping grounds, Serge digs into the past as only Serge can. Along the way, he unintentionally disturbs some long-forgotten ground, attracting the attention of a cast of villains that only Florida can produce.

    As the body count grows, so does the list of questions:

    Why are the guys in the hard hats worried about the monkeys? When do you hack a motel air-conditioner? How does Coleman get high with cat toys? Who is expecting the dildo? And will book tours ever be the same after Serge decides to check one out?

    Told in alternating flashbacks between Serge and Coleman’s childhoods and the present day, The Pope of Palm Beach is a witty and deliciously violent delight from the twisted imagination of Tim Dorsey.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 30, 2018
    ISBN9780062801937
    Author

    Tim Dorsey

    Tim Dorsey was a reporter and editor for the Tampa Tribune from 1987 to 1999, and is the author of twenty-five other novels: Mermaid Confidential, Tropic of Stupid, Naked Came the Florida Man, No Sunscreen for the Dead, Pope of Palm Beach, Clownfish Blues, Coconut Cowboy, Shark Skin Suite, Tiger Shrimp Tango, The Riptide Ultra-Glide, When Elves Attack, Pineapple Grenade, Electric Barracuda, Gator A-Go-Go, Nuclear Jellyfish, Atomic Lobster, Hurricane Punch, The Big Bamboo, Torpedo Juice, Cadillac Beach, The Stingray Shuffle, Triggerfish Twist, Orange Crush, Hammerhead Ranch Motel, and Florida Roadkill. He lives in Florida.

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    Reviews for The Pope of Palm Beach

    4/5

    85 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Way to go Tim! I’ve always enjoyed Dorsey’s book as light, easy reads. But this latest is much tighter than previous ones. The interweaving of the Serge/Coleman stories with the flashbacks of their childhood and the wonderful story of the Pope were nicely done. I really enjoyed the literary and geographic references.
    • 4/5
      Serge drags Coleman along on his latest quest – a literary pilgrimage of Florida, “Harrison, McGuane, Thompson,” not to forget Willeford, Leonard and others that wrote in and about Florida. As with any of Serge’s trips, not all is pleasure – for some people. Mainly the rude, inconsiderate, greedy, and others that have the misfortune of crossing paths with Serge while violating his unique code of ethics. Coleman isn’t convinced either at first. “Your reading tour blows serious chunks.” Until Serge impersonates a famous Florida writer and Coleman scores pockets full of joints on the book tour.Dorsey, via Serge, manages to fit in what sound like some of his childhood legends from Riviera Beach, Like Trapper Nelson, a hermit who lived in a camp up the Loxahatchee River. And maybe the surfer Darby Pope himself. He also manages to resurrect the reclusive famous writer’s career. This book has it all, cat toys, blinking GPS enabled dildos, and as usual, a dose of Florida history, along with the inventive lessons Serge dishes out to the deserving.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite series - yes, there's a bit of a formula, but I like the familiarity, and the imaginativeness and outrageousness of the characters and situations more than make up for some predictability in the structure. I also like reacquainting myself with wacky and wonderful characters from past escapades. I love all the familiar places and learning more about Florida history in depth - Dorsey really does his research. And laughing out loud is good for you, as long as you don't wet yourself (which Serge and his friends just might elicit).
    • 2/5
      I am attempting to alter my opinion of Tim Dorsey’s writing, but not much has changed. I feel that too much violence and foul language and utter disregard for life. In this adventure, Serge and Coleman undertake a literary tour in Florida of notable authors such as Leonard Elmore and Charles Willeford. Two other stories portray The Pope of Palm Beach-Darby, a legendary surfer, and a survivalist hermit, Trapper Nelson. Coleman jumps in and out of his drug and alcohol cloud while Serge punishes or kills the bad guys in exotic ways. Then Kenneth Reese, an author, goes into virtual hiding when he believes the bad guys are searching for him. The writing is choppy, but the characters and setting display finesse. I am still not crazy for Tim Dorsey.
    • 4/5
      This was my initiation to Dorsey and to Serge Storms. For a book so deep into a mature series, I didn't have a lot of trouble getting into the flow of things, as Storms and his sidekick Coleman are not that complicated. Storms basically helps his friends and takes deadly revenge against anyone who violates his code of ethics whether it be a murderer, a toxic waste dumper, or a turtle egg disturber. This book is seriously funny, but it is also seriously violent. The violence, however, is dealt with so summarily in some instances--when more or less good guys are the victims--that it is all a bit jarring. While the diverse threads eventually wind themselves together satisfactorily, the book still has a bit of a disjointed feel. But there are some incredible scenes, particularly the way Serge conducts author book signings. I'd be interested in going back to the beginning of the series to see how it compares in tone. Also, while Dorsey's comments on literature--Florida literature in particular--are interesting, he seems to imply that Charles Willeford's writing career didn't begin until the mid-1960s when he was an editor at Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. In fact, he had already done much of his best work by then.
    • 5/5
      Brilliantly described in the blurb as ‘part spree killer, part local historian’, Serge A Storms is a man with a strong moral code. He loves his native Florida and is committed to its ecology and culture and does not take kindly to those who undermine either. His version of ‘not taking kindly’ is both brutal and inventive.In the present day, Serge is on a literary road trip round the state with his stoner friend Coleman, in search of the truth about a writer whose disappearance is a mystery. Meanwhile, there is a drugs gang led by a man with a criminal toupée which is diversifying into new markets. A third story strand takes us back to the Palm Beach of Serge’s childhood, and to the life of the iconic surfer known as the Pope of Palm Beach.The setting, dark humour and focus on environmental issues mean that inevitably Dorsey has been compared to Carl Hiaasen (there is even a joke that plays on this in the book). Dorsey’s writing, though, has its own unique appeal. His prose is beautifully evocative and I loved the contrast between the languid, loving descriptions of Serge’s childhood home and the energy driving the narrative.Serge is a man of many passions and encyclopaedic knowledge. He raises everyday griping to an art form. There is poetry in his declamatory style and humour that runs from bone dry to madcap, but there are also moments of great poignancy.This is a long-established series but new to me. The book worked well as a standalone but I’m now eager to read more about Serge and Coleman.*This review first appeared on my blog at katevane.comI received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
    • 4/5
      Serge and Coleman are on their literary tour of Florida when he discovers that not only is one of his favorite authors still living in their shared home town, but knows the true story of what happened to local surfing legend Darby Parker. In his own unique way, Serge goes about setting things right.
    • 1/5
      A short excerpt:~~~~Sterling ran up to them and grabbed someone by the shirt. "Compassion! I'm begging!""Get the fuck off me, you spoiled brat!" A hard shove.Someone else: "You better start running!""Why?" asked Sterling.Punch."Ow, you hit me.""Run!"He ran.Sterling glanced over his shoulder. "Stop chasing me!""Keep chasing him!""And let's hit him with rocks!""Good idea!"Fling, fling, fling."Ow, rocks."~~~~~~~~~A child's comic book? Nooooo. If this is your fare, then this is your book. Me, not so much. I forced myself to page 65 where this literary gem is found, and just couldn't take any more. I've never read a Tim Dorsey book, so maybe this is the one where he jumps the shark, or maybe this is his normal schtick. Either way, life is too short and my TBR list is too long.
    • 4/5
      “The sun was going down behind the Big Burger when the alligator came flying in the drive-through window.”When a book opens with a sentence like that it can only mean one thing. God help us, they’re back. Yep, Serge A. Storms & his perma-stoned sidekick Coleman are on the road again, embarking on a literary tour of Florida. It goes without saying there will be some speed bumps along the way…you know, just the usual stuff. Angry monkeys, drug dealers, a hermit, sex toys with GPS…the mundane things we all deal with on a daily basis.Dorsey has been described as Carl Hiaasen on acid. Both write novels that are hilarious, fast paced & full of colourful characters they employ to highlight the state’s constant battle between greedy developers & environmentalists. But Dorsey turns it up to eleven. Serge, his certifiable MC, is a true original & in this outing we get to see how he & Coleman became the terrors of Florida’s backroads. In part one we meet them as children growing up in the more idyllic 1960’s & follow Little Serge’s adventures which include meeting the Pope. No, not that one.Another thread set in the same time frame introduces the Pope of Palm Beach. Darby Pope is a legendary surfer & all around zen guy much admired in his community. When he takes a young boy named Kenny under his wing, it’s the start of a life long friendship that unfolds in alternate chapters. The story line is funny & poignant & provides a counter balance to zany violence of Serge & Coleman’s road trip. As the significance of Darby & Kenny’s friendship becomes clear, it’s inevitable the 2 time lines will collide in the present. Aaaand we’re off. They join forces to fight back against skanky criminals intent on settling an old score. Mayhem ensues & some is not for the faint of heart. But you have to hand it to Serge. He may be a killer but he dispatches bad guys in ways you could never imagine. It’s a wild, violent & completely bonkers vehicle that allows the author to toss satirical barbs at the politicians & policy that are destroying Florida’s fragile ecosystem. And whether you’re giggling or gasping, you’ll learn the history & culture of Florida they never taught in school as you ride shotgun with this deranged duo.
    • 3/5
      I really tried to read this book, but the changing years, past - present , was just to hard to keep track of the story. After 100 pages was just totally lost,,,this could be one of those books that I'll pick up later and can not put down...but not now...
    • 4/5
      Oh, my! Tim Dorsey’s books are works of wonder. There are 20+ books in his Florida based novels, each one funnier (and weirder) than the last. The newest entry is Pope of Palm Beach which debuts on January 20. Serge Storms and his drug-addled sidekick Coleman are on the road again. They don’t know why and we certainly wonder. Serge, the self-proclaimed historian of all things Florida ends up back where he began. He has always been awed by the tales of “Pope” a welder who surfed the waves of Riviera Beach years before anyone else thought it was cool. He and Coleman get in more problems than usual, and that’s saying something.Dorsey’s mind may be a little addled but he writes out-flat cool fiction!Oh, my! Tim Dorsey’s books are works of wonder. There are 20+ books in his Florida based novels, each one funnier (and weirder) than the last. The newest entry is Pope of Palm Beach which debuts on January 20. Serge Storms and his drug-addled sidekick Coleman are on the road again. They don’t know why and we certainly wonder. Serge, the self-proclaimed historian of all things Florida ends up back where he began. He has always been awed by the tales of “Pope” a welder who surfed the waves of Riviera Beach years before anyone else thought it was cool. He and Coleman get in more problems than usual, and that’s saying something.Dorsey’s mind may be a little addled but he writes flat-out cool fiction!
    • 2/5
      I received this through the Early Reviewers. I have not read any of the prior books in the series, so maybe I'm missing some background, but this just seemed thrown together. It seemed like the author was really stretching to try to make things funny, but they just seemed dumb. I probably will not go back to read any of the prior books.
    • 3/5
      In The Pope of Palm Beach, Serge and Coleman return to the community of their youth. We gain some insights into young Serge's life, and it presents a nostalgic view of childhood in a time when kids spent their summers outside and parents weren't monitoring every moment of their lives. Part One, which is the majority of the book, alternates between the present with Serge and Coleman, and the past, in which we meet Darby Pope, known as the Pope of Palm Beach, and his friend and protegee, Kenny Reese. In the last quarter of the book we have Part Two, in which they meet.The mood of this book seems a little different than most of the others. It's less zany, more serious. Of course we have some bad guys dying inventively, and Serge works off some frustration by murdering a fictitious analogue of a particular sociopath who has been in the news in the last couple of years. But there are also perfectly innocent people being senselessly killed, and it's not played for laughs. There are certainly funny things in the book (I laughed when Coleman acquired a cat toy), but this wasn't quite the wacky, funny, breezy read I usually expect from this series.
    • 5/5
      I received a copy of Tim Dorsey's "The Pope of Palm Beach" from The LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I was so excited to get a novel by one of my favorite authors! This latest book did not disappoint. More shenanigans for Serge and Coleman. It never gets old and always makes me laugh out loud at inappropriate times.
    • 5/5
      I had just struggled through another major author's poorly written new novel, when I received by copy of "The Pope of Palm Beach". What a thrill to read a novel by a writer with true talent. How true is his talent...well Tim Dorsey has written 20 previous Serge Storms books and he's able to keep the stories fresh (even if they do follow a familiar plot format). This is #21 in the series and I'm already looking forward to #22.
    • 1/5
      I came to this book without having read any other books in the series featuring Serge Storms, so perhaps I'm not being fair. But. I just couldn't get past so many things that are wrong with this caper novel. The funny parts aren't funny, and much of the action is simply absurd--I might go so far as to say stupid (I'm looking at you, air conditioner hi-jinks)--without being any real fun. The book's view of how mobsters behave is comical in all the wrong ways. (The kingpin asks, seeing a trail of blood on the sidewalk, "What on earth happened here?") But the main difficulty for me is that it's hard to appreciate a main character who I assume is supposed to come off as amusingly irreverent, but who is actually so mean-spirited and clueless. He stumbles across people who are jerks--a Martin Shkreli type greedy pharma king, a drunken despoiler of sea turtle nests, a mobster dumping toxic waste into the Everglades--and (spoiler alert!) kills them in "humorous," convoluted, head-scratchingly illogical and unrealistic ways. That seems to be the thing he does, as those incidents make up a large part of the book. The major other plot here, a flashback story involving a beloved former surfer and his friend who has to run from the mob, actually has some engaging aspects that hooked my interest. But that couldn't save the story. Serge Storms's inane actions at the end of the book cause a totally innocent, even decent, character to be shot to death, along with so many other people being put in harm's way, and the author doesn't seem to think this should not be a reason to admire his main character's wacky exploits, and follow him through twenty other books in the series. It's a popular series, however, so if you're already a fan, I suppose nothing I say here should dissuade you from hopping on this one.
    • 4/5
      I can say that I liked this new story from Tim Dorsey better than his last – Clownfish Blues. Still, I find little enjoyment in his protagonist Serge Storms. Storms certainly marches to the beat of a different drummer. The Pope of Palm Beach has two tracks – starting with 1965 and the present and I was interested in seeing how Dorsey combined the two storylines. While he makes it work, I find the several of the deaths (justifiable homicide probably in Serge’s view) particularly gruesome (or as the back cover describes “deliciously violent”). This is done, in part I believe, for Dorsey to explain some science knowledge that he has accumulated along the way. The story revolves around a famous surfer, a famous author, a couple of famous legends, and Storm’s south Florida literary quest. His cast of villains are pure Floridian in nature – dealers, mobsters, and crooked cops – who, more or less, meet a justifiable end. While it is rather madcap in its delivery, Serge and his friend Coleman are not really pleasant people.
    • 4/5
      I wasn’t too fond of previous stories by Tim Dorsey with the Serge character, but this one I enjoyed. Serge goes back to Riviera Beach, a place he spent time as a child and follow the footsteps of Floridian authors. Through flash backs, we learn about the Pope of Palm Beach and the disappearance of one such author. I really liked how descriptive Dorsey is of the whole area. Makes me feel I was there. I even checked on some events and places he mentions and read that they were actually real. As the story unfolds, I wanted to see how it would all tie together and it worked and made for a fun read.
    • 4/5
      This was my first Tim Dorsey Book, and I started thinking it was going to be very similar to Carl Hiassen. It is in that it takes a very cynical yet extremely amusing look at Florida, especially the criminal elements. The twist is that the “hero” is a sociopath and invents very clever ways to kills those who offend his moral code. Obviously, given that this is the 21st Book in the series, this doesn’t create difficulties for a strong fan base, but it was disconcerting and uncomfortable at first to realize what was going in. Assuming that element is acceptable, it is very clever, well written, funny, and the good guys do win out in the end.
    • 5/5
      So begins another wonderful, winding ride through the wildness that is Florida. In this the 21st installment Serge heads home to Rivera Beach, and we also get to meet an enchanting new character, the eponymous Pope of Palm Beach, going back and forth in time until all of the plot lines converge into a fantastic conclusion.