A review by xangemtheelibrarian
Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen

dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I'm just so confused by this book. Like, sure, all the threads tied up very nicely. But there was so much going on. 

First, the main plot: Wrecker getting sucked into a smuggling operation and having to outsmart the smugglers to save his life and his family's.

Second: the most unromantic romance side plot between Wrecker and Willi

Third: The environmental war being waged against cruise ships killing Key West reefs.

Fourth: Wrecker's mom, dad, and step-father. Just all of them. Literally everything every single one of them do.

Fifth: the pandemic. People dying left and right. The antivaxxer stuff and the fake vaccine cards.

Sixth: the random history dumps about Manuel Cabeza and other historical people who have landmarks in the Florida Keys. And the fictional history dumps about Wrecker's ancestors. He's *seriously* obsessed with his ancestors. Just all the info dumps actually. I feel like I know Key West better than my hometown now.

This just literally felt like it wanted to be so many things and the author couldn't focus on one really great idea. But I did find his writing style to be engaging and easy to consume.