Book reviews: Dave Barry mucks around in ‘Swamp Story’; ‘Ozark Dogs’ steeped in rural noir

‘Swamp Story’ by Dave Barry. Simon & Schuster. 336 pages, $27.99

Dave Barry’s livelihood is making people laugh — a job he does exceedingly well through his various columns, nonfiction books, assorted novels often with co-writer Ridley Pearson and his three hilarious caper mysteries.

Make that four comic mysteries with his latest, “Swamp Story,” Barry’s first novel in 10 years.

As the title implies, “Swamp Story” is rooted in Florida lore and scenery with plenty of Florida Man (and Florida Women) leading the irreverent, quite funny plot. Readers will find themselves laughing out loud — though try not to do that in an airport sitting area or other public place unless you want to risk someone trying to take the book out of your hands.

"Swamp Story," by Dave Barry. (Simon Schuster / Courtesy)

“Swamp Story” follows several characters trying to find their way through the morass of Florida, starting with Jesse Braddock, who lives in the Everglades with her infant daughter, Willa, and Slater, Willa’s lazy father. Slater is gorgeous, and he loves to show off his well-toned muscles. He has a talent for taking money from women and not much else. He’s also stupid; later in “Swamp Story,” it’s suggested that the Everglades vegetation may have a higher IQ than Slater. But he’s really talented at taking off his shirt.

Slater wants to launch a reality show with him as a stalwart Everglades resident, but he can’t even remember the name of the show he and his often-stoned friend Kark are trying to develop. An often-repeated refrain: “It’s Gladesman; that’s what they are called. Not Glades Guy.”

Jesse feels she and Willa are stuck. Slater blew through her trust fund and the additional money her now estranged parents sent. Even the cabin, bought with her money, is in his name. Jesse knows she’s made some bad choices.

Then she stumbles on hidden gold bars, possibly part of a lost Confederate Army payroll, and she might have a way out.

But she isn’t the only one with gold fever, as two ex-con brothers also are hunting the treasure, and her.

Get rich schemes permeate “Swamp Story.” Ken, part owner of nearly bankrupt Bortle Brothers Bait & Beer, tries to convince his younger, smarter sibling, Brad, that he has the perfect scheme to bring in customers. They’ll hire unemployed journalist Phil to impersonate the mythical Everglades Melon Monster by wearing a huge head of Dora the Explorer. They will paint the costume, of course, and film in low light. Ken believes his plan will work — after all, he watches “Shark Tank.”

Humor melded with suspense isn’t easy to sustain but Barry makes “Swamp Story” work throughout. The origin of the Dora the Explorer head is quite a tale by itself. Barry adds a poignant subplot of an alcoholic father connecting with his smart, concerned daughter in scenes that move the plot along, while adding depth.

“Swamp Story” doesn’t neglect its namesake as Barry delves into the Everglades environment — ”the perfect place to hide . . . or hide things.” Barry also gives his supporting characters their moments to shine — or make fools of themselves.

Barry is back. Let the laughs begin.

Meet the author

Dave Barry will discuss “Swamp Story” in person at 5 p.m. May 6 at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, 305-442-4408. Tickets are free but reservations required. Visit www.booksandbooks.com/event for more information

Eli Cranor's new novel is "Ozark Dogs." (Joshua Caleb Wilson / Courtesy)

‘Ozark Dogs’ by Eli Cranor. Soho Crime. 312 pages, $26.95

Rural noir — that category of mysteries set in remote countrysides — received a major push from Daniel Woodrell, who found involving stories set in areas seldom used in mysteries and with isolated characters in his novels such as “Winter’s Bone.”

In his second novel, Eli Cranor easily secures a spot in the Woodrell oeuvre, aided by solid plotting. Cranor’s “Ozark Dogs” finds poetry amid the darkness in the most unlikely of places — in this case a car junkyard outside Taggard, Ark. Like Woodrell, Cranor writes about people who, on the surface, might be called simple folks but are, in reality, complicated with complex motives and emotions.

"Ozark Dogs" by Eli Cranor. (Soho Crime / Courtesy)

“Ozark Dogs” centers on Vietnam veteran Jeremiah Fitzjurls, who owns that junkyard. Jeremiah barely gets through the day, missing his late wife and his son, Tom, who is serving a life sentence in prison for shooting Rudnick Ledford in the back. Jeremiah’s “hope, his salvation,” the reason he lives, is his granddaughter, Jo, who he has raised since she was abandoned by her mother when she was an infant.

Jo is now a bright high school senior, eager to go away to college to become a veterinarian and escape Jeremiah’s hovering over her social life. Jeremiah doesn’t want her to move away, though he knows tearing up her college acceptance letters won’t prevent her from enrolling.

Jeremiah’s main fear is that he won’t be able to protect Jo if the Ledford family retaliate.

Jeremiah is right. Rudnick’s ex-con, meth-dealing brother, Evail, is targeting Jo, drawing in his white supremacist associates. Violence comes too easy to Evail, who also underestimates Jeremiah, believing the junkyard owner is just another old man. During his tour in Vietnam, Jeremiah was a skilled marksman, a skill he has never lost.

“Ozark Dogs” grippingly delves into families, small town life and the effects of the past. Here, rivalry, feuds and relationships seem bigger because the area is more confined. Houses may be scattered by miles or acres, but the residents know each other too well. Taggard hasn’t done any favors for Jeremiah, his family or his allies. Still, as one character says, “Roots are hard to pull free of.”

Cranor established his skill in the critically acclaimed “Don’t Know Tough” (2022), which was nominated for several awards and made several best-of lists. “Ozark Dogs” seals his career.

Meet the author

Eli Cranor will discuss “Ozark Dogs” in person with author Dwyer Murphy (“An Honest Living”) at 7 p.m. May 4 Books & Books, 3409 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, 305-477-0866. The event is free. Visit booksandbooks.com/event for more information.

Oline H. Cogdill can be reached at [email protected].