SWAMP STORY by Dave Barry will be released on May 2, 2023 by Simon Schuster.
After some colossal bad decisions, Jessie Braddock finds herself stuck in an isolated cabin in Florida's Everglades along with her infant daughter, narcissistic ex-boyfriend, and the sleazy man who is trying to turn the ex-boyfriend into a reality TV star. With little else to do, Jessie explores the Everglades. During one of her excursions, Jessie finds a cache of buried gold bars. Jessie believes that the treasure is her way out of the swamp, but it winds up causing her more problems than it solves. Jessie is not the only person trying to get their hands on the gold bars, and it's the greed of these dangerous men that put Jessie's and her daughter's life in danger. Meanwhile, Ken Bortle comes up with the brilliant idea to fake a video of a mysterious creature in the swamp to draw more business to the struggling Bortle Brothers Bait and Beer shop. The video goes viral, and soon the Everglades are swarming with people searching for the elusive "Everglades Melon Monster." Ken and his crew of evidence-faking misfits cross paths with Jessie and her treasure-seeking stalkers, and, in true Florida fashion, chaos ensues.
I am a sucker for ridiculous "Florida Man" stories and cryptids—even if the cryptid is faked to create a viral video across social media. SWAMP STORY combines my two passions in a hilarious story full of good guys, bad guys, and multiple Florida men. Dave Barry takes the reader on a whacky adventure that is so incredible that it's almost believable. Barry pokes fun at multiple societal issues including viral internet fame, the unreality of reality TV, and the overall greed of humans.
I strongly recommend SWAMP STORY for any fans of Carl Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey. This was my first time reading one of Dave Barry's novels, but it will not be the last.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.