Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times bestselling author-and actual Florida Man-Dave Barry returns with a "hilariously funny" (Steve Martin) caper full of oddballs and more twists and turns than a snake slithering away from a gator.
Jesse Braddock is trapped in a tiny cabin deep in the Everglades with her infant daughter and her ex-boyfriend, a wannabe reality TV star who turned out to be a lot prettier on the outside than on the inside. Broke and desperate for a way out, Jesse stumbles across a long-lost treasure, which could solve all her problems-if she can figure out how to keep it. The problem is some very bad men are also looking for the treasure, and they know Jesse has it.
Meanwhile, Ken Bortle of Bortle Brothers Bait and Beer has hatched a scheme to lure tourists to his failing store by making viral videos of the "Everglades Melon Monster." The Monster is, in fact, an unemployed alcoholic newspaperman named Phil wearing a Dora the Explorer costume head. Incredibly, this plan actually works, inspiring a horde of TikTokers to swarm into the swamp in search of the Monster at the same time villains are on the hunt for Jesse's treasure. Amid this mayhem, a presidential hopeful arrives in the Everglades to start his campaign. Needless to say, it does not go as planned. In fact, nothing in this story goes as planned. This is, after all, Florida. Dave Barry is the author of more bestsellers than you can count on two hands, including Swamp Story, Lessons from Lucy, Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys, Dave Barry Turns Forty, and Dave Barry Is Not Making This Up. A wildly popular syndicated columnist best known for his booger jokes, Barry won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He lives in Miami. "In his "just-happy-to-be-here" tone, Pulitzer-Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry delivers the tale of down-on-her-luck Jesse Braddock, who hopes all her problems are solved when she stumbles across a trove of long-lost Confederate gold. But there are a few dozen nitwits standing in the way of that, including her ex-boyfriend, the Russian Mob, the Everglades Melon Monster, and a clueless presidential candidate. Throughout, Barry sounds just as entertained and delighted by his crazy characters and his trademark gentle lunacy as his listeners will be."
