The Riptide Ultra-Glide

A Novel

By: Tim Dorsey

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Welcome to Paradise!

Freshly laid-off Wisconsinites Patrick and Barbara McDougall are going to sunny Florida for a modest romantic vacation. But the motel they picked isn't quite a pastel paradise, and they have to be midwesterners and make the best of a bad situation. Except bad goes to worse, and a string of misfortunes renders them unable to leave the state.

Meanwhile, the next Mexican-American War is being fought, this time in Fort Lauderdale, between the Kentucky mafia and the Oxy cartel over control of the lucrative pain clinic market. Latinos are turning up dead, hillbillies are wandering the beach trampling sand castles, and cops continue arresting doctors wriggling out of office windows.

But it's never really a party until Serge and Coleman arrive. Cruising down U.S. 1, Captain Florida and his perpetually altered sidekick are on a mission to film the best reality show ever!

Back at their motel, the McDougalls are peeking out the curtains. They've become very popular, especially with Serge, who believes he's found the perfect stars for the pilot of his new TV series.

Are the McDougalls safer with Serge or should they take their chances on the mean streets?

Will Coleman get tired of signing autographs?

Can pelicans be used as murder weapons?

Is time running out for our heroes?

And, finally, the question still on everyone's lips: What's up with Florida? Stay tuned for all the answers in...The Riptide Ultra-Glide!

©2013 Tim Dorsey (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Tim Dorsey->good laugh; Oliver Wyman->OGnarrator

Great book and great narrator. Serge is such an odd character and this is such an interesting way to discuss Florida's vibrant/eclectic culture.

awesome story

Florida fiction written by one of the best Florida writers. The story will keep you captivated. Plenty of humor to keep you laughing. Very entertaining.

Wish it was better

I love Tim Dorseys Serg stories but this one was a struggle. it started out great but it took too long for Serg to enter the McDougals lives. Very disappointed in the ending. Still love Dorsey...will start the next book and review again

oh my word!!!

When I first began listening to Tim Dorsey's stories of Serge A. Storms, I was appalled! I initially thought ... WHAT HAVE I DONE! Now, I am addicted to Serge's method of "justice". He never met a scumbag that didn't need killing 😉

Full speed ahead!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Oh, yes, the whole series is a must listen/read

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Riptide Ultra-Glide?

the double cross, you know

Which character – as performed by Oliver Wyman – was your favorite?

all of them, but Serge is the best

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the end, because now, I have to wait for a new one to come out!!!

Any additional comments?

going thru withdrawal waiting on the next installment

My hometown!

I am a huge Serge fan and love all his quirky historical drives through Florida, but this book has my heart as it was set in my hometown! Lol. It was great to hear Serge trekking though my neck of the woods and chuckling at his adventures as usual. Great book!

More Serge and Coleman

Readers of this series will have to continue with this episode. New listeners would be better advised to start at the beginning of the series, but not completely necessary. As usual, Dorsey pokes at Florida issues, (violence and crime), and even some local Wisconsin political crazyness. Same great reader. He does an excellent job with this zanyness and the characters.

Serge isn't a member of Alvin and the Chipmunks

What made the experience of listening to The Riptide Ultra-Glide the most enjoyable?

Dorsey once again delivers a frightfully realistic tale of the the twisted Fun House that is the State of Florida. A place where only the iced-coffee and water propelled Serge A. Storms inflicts his own delightful vengeance on modern day Carpet Baggers and con men.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Serge...of course.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

This is the first audio book that I've listened to from Dorsey. I've read all of his previous books. I didn't like that Serge had this higher-pitched, somewhat spastic sounding voice. With that said, it did assist in always letting the reader know exactly when Serge was speaking.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very enjoyable listen, References to places and issues in the State were always dead-on! If you're a Dorsey fan, I strongly recommend it.

Any additional comments?

Once you're able to get past the fact that Serge sounds like Alvin from the Chipmunks, the story is excellent.

what a combination!

What could possibly be more fun than a Tim Dorsey book read by Oliver Wyman? (answer, a Christopher Moore book read by Oliver Wyman, but its a near miss). Dorsey takes his irrepressible Serge through a chase involving two sets of drug dealers, shady pain clinics, Coleman becoming a celebrity, and an unsuspecting couple from Minnesota. Never lose track of even chance characters in a Dorsey novel, because they'll probably be back. I'm particularly fond of his way of retelling, Rasholmon like, the tale from different angles.

Wyman, as always, is a joy. He's like a one man repertory company. He's got a voice (the right voice!) for each character, he never confuses them, or you. I've got a library full of books i wouldn't otherwise read, just because Wyman reads them.

"Rip tide Ultra Glide" ends with Serge racing off with the couple, and you're glad the story hasn't ended , because you know there's another on the way.

Unbelievably Funny

Tim Dorsey comes up with some of the most ridiculous phrases and situations one can imagine. When I first start one of his books, I think 'no, this is just too much' yet if I listen much beyond 15 minutes, I'm hooked! I typically read spy and murder mysteries and Dorsey is a nice switch to lighten up my listens! Give any of his books a go! I do prefer the previous reader. Serge sounded more Serge-like in the earlier books.