Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Valdez Jones VIII, age 15, adopted the nickname Wrecker after his 5x-great grandfather who was a shipwreck salvager. He lives in Key West with his adult step-sister (mom and stepdad didn’t really want him in their home). One day when Wrecker is out on his boat fishing, he comes across a fancy speedboat that has run aground. The occupants of the speeder want Wrecker to tow them but his boat is too small and they won’t let him call the Coast Guard. In fact, the leader gives him a wad of cash to forget he ever saw them. Except Wrecker keeps seeing them throughout the town, including the historic cemetery where Wrecker is being paid to keep an old man’s sister’s headstone clean of iguana guano. As Wrecker is sucked into more dealings with these mystery men, he is finding it difficult to back out. The leader, whom Wrecker refers to as Silver Moustache, knows way too much about Wrecker and his blended family and after some veiled threats, Wrecker has to figure a way to extricate himself from illegal schemes.
This latest novel was clearly Hiaasen’s covid project but keeps all the intrigue and excitement of his other middle grade novels. Wrecker is a bit older than his other protagonists, making this appropriate for upper middle grade (5th) or YA. A definite read for fans or Carl Hiaasen but would also recommend for those who like a fast-paced mystery.
#Wrecker #NetGalley
This title will be available September 26, 2023.
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