Basket Case by Carl Hiassen isbn 0-375-41107-0 Knopf January 2002

Carl Hiassen's new book Basket Case introduces us to Jack Tagger, whose career as a journalist has been reduced to writing obituaries for a smaller Florida newspaper. Seeing a chance to get back into the journalistic limelight; Jack figures that the death of one time rock star Jimmy Stoma, lead of Jimmy and the Slut Puppies, (and writer of the song from which the book gets its title) isn't quite the accident Jimmy's wife wants it to appear.
As Jack begins to dig into the story it seems he's not uncovering "dirt" so much as digging himself into a deeper hole. Suspects and editors alike seem determined to bury either him or the story.
Hiassen's sense of humor is something his fans have come to rely on and he doesn't fail them here. Although those expecting something over the top might be disappointed, he does poke fun at the newspaper business as only an insider can yet his first three or four paragraphs in chapter 10 alone teach us why newspapers will never be what they once were. Still, Mr. Hiassen, clearly loves being a reporter and use his journalism background to spin Basket Case as a more conventional story. Basket Case, is told in the first person, which I found a pleasant return to earlier form. Some of Mr. Hiassen's other works include Tourist Season, Stormy Weather and Strip Tease.

Basket Case is available now.

David Biemann