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Book Summary InformationAuthor: Joseph Wambaugh Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 1997-03-03 ISBN: 0553575953 Number of pages: 304 Publisher: Bantam
Book Reviews of FloatersBook Review: wambaugh's scriptwriting is flawless Summary: 4 Stars
This is my second experience reading Wambaugh, the first being "The Golden Orange". Wambaugh's strength lies in his sharp, cynical, sarcastic and blackly humerous use of language. I laughed out loud at his witty and dark brand of humor. His command of the English language and cynical look at Americana seen through the eyes of cops and robbers is worth the price of admission alone. This novel works mostly through his style, and the plot is greatly enhanced through his wordplay. I learned more about Americas Cup racing than I ever wanted to know, yet was never bored throughout "Floaters". A lesser writer might not have been able to make such a plot work, since the finale is laced with coincedence and irony, yet Wambaugh's style more than makes up for any potentially lame plot twists. This is not to say that the plot is poor or predictable; it's neither. But the fact is that few writers would be able to pull off such a tale.
Summary of FloatersWho else but Joseph Wambaugh could write "a joy, a hoot, a riot of a book" that is also acclaimed as "one of this season's best crime novels"? That's how The New York Times Book Review and Time, respectively, described his last novel, Finnegan's Week. Nobody writes a faster, funnier, more satisfying tale of cops and criminals, the high life and lowlifes that Wambaugh--and Floaters is his sharpest yet.
Mick Fortney and his partner Leeds manage to cruise above the standard police stress-pools of coffee and Pepto-Bismol--they're water cops in the "Club Harbor Unit," manning a patrol boat on San Diego's Mission Bay. A typically rough day's detail consists of scoping out body-sculpted beauties on pleasure craft, rescuing boating bozos who've run aground, jeering at lifeguards, and hauling in the occasional floater who comes to the surface.
But now their days are anything but typical, because the America's Cup international sailing regattas have come to town and suddenly San Diego is swarming with yacht crazies of every nationality, the cuppies who want to love them, and the looky-look tourists, racing spies, scam artists, and hookers who all want their piece of the action. It's the outstanding body and jaunty smile--full of mischief, full of hell--of one cuppie, a particularly fiery redhead named Blaze, that gets Leeds and Fortney's attention. First Leeds drowns in frustratingly unrequited boozy love from afar. Then, with her increasingly odd behavior, Blaze tweaks every one of their cop instincts, alerting them that something's not quite right on the waterfront.
Indeed, Blaze will soon lead Detective Anne Zorn and Mick Fortney along a bizarre criminal trail that would be hilarious if it didn't wind up just as nasty as it gets, with a pair of murders right on the eve of the biggest sailing race of all.
Filled with all of Joseph Wambaugh's trademark skills--laugh-out-loud writing, crackling dialogue, outrageous excitement, and, of course, plenty of raunchy veteran cops who leap off the page--Floaters is Wambaugh at the very to of his form.
Literature & Fiction Books
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The Blue Knightby Joseph Wambaugh Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2008-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.38Price in other shops: $7.99
Hollywood Crows: A Novelby Joseph Wambaugh Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2008-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $1.43Price in other shops: $7.99
The Glitter Domeby Joseph Wambaugh Bantam; Published: 1992-05-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.39Price in other shops: $7.99
Echoes in the Darknessby Joseph Wambaugh Bantam; Published: 1987-09-01; Paperback; BookBest price: $3.77Price in other shops: $7.99
Finnegan's Weekby Joseph Wambaugh Bantam; Published: 1995-08-01; Paperback; BookBest price: $7.00Price in other shops: $19.00
Hollywood Moon: A Novelby Joseph Wambaugh Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2010-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $7.99
The Golden Orangeby Joseph Wambaugh Bantam; Published: 1991-06-01; Paperback; BookBest price: $4.20Price in other shops: $7.99
Fire Loverby Joseph Wambaugh Avon; Published: 2003-05-27; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $1.99Price in other shops: $7.99
The Delta Starby Joseph Wambaugh Bantam; Published: 1983-12-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.97Price in other shops: $7.99
Hollywood Stationby Joseph Wambaugh Vision; Published: 2007-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.69Price in other shops: $7.99
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