NO SUNSCREEN FOR THE DEAD BY TIM DORSEY Reviewed by Kate Robinson
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FENDER
Kate Robinson is a grants administrator at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County. Originally from West Palm Beach, she attended college at the University of South Florida in Tampa before moving to Panama City in 2017, where her husband is stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base. Her interests include history and all things Florida, and her hobbies include road trips, cooking, and relaxing on the world’s most beautiful beaches.
“No Sunscreen for the Dead” (2019) is Tampa author Tim Dorsey’s 22nd novel featuring the ultimate Florida man, Serge Storms, and his perpetually inebriated sidekick, Coleman. With a main character described as “the Sunshine State’s most lovable psychopath,” this book has all the ingredients of a wacky, wild Florida adventure: retirees, covert Russian agents, alligators, and historic ‘50s hotels.
Serge and Coleman decide to take retirement large and enjoy their golden years along the coast of southwest Florida, a land of vintage trailer parks and early-bird specials. While world-class Amish restaurants and gorgeous sunsets are great, the real highlight of the retired life is meeting Florida’s seniors. Serge and Coleman become friends with several retirees, many of whom are war heroes, Peace Corps volunteers, and former public servants with big hearts and endless wisdom. As they get to know these seniors, Serge realizes that several have been swindled, strong-armed, or pressured by various outside forces seeking to take advantage of them. Serge takes matters into his own hands to dispense justice to humidifier salesmen, greedy retirement park owners, and other unsavory characters.
Meanwhile, a meek Tampa data analyst named Benmont Pinch uncovers Cold War-era secrets that lead to present day consequences, thanks to the 21st century’s massive data mining industry. What started out as a statistical observation mushrooms into a federal investigation, parking lot shootouts, and a concerning increase in murders connected to a certain email chain. Benmont’s discovery ultimately entwines Serge, Coleman, and their new friends in a retirement park battle featuring “The Duck.”
With his dark humor, dry wit, and cultural commentary on everything from millennials to Meals on Wheels, Dorsey provides yet another wildly entertaining novel. Bits of Florida trivia are liberally sprinkled throughout the book, like Eglin Air Force Base’s historic role in WWII and forgotten film locations within the Tampa Bay area. “No Sunscreen for the Dead” is a fast-paced read that will leave you grinning from ear to ear and looking for the next Serge adventure.
I especially enjoyed Dorsey’s latest novel as I had the opportunity to meet him at an event hosted by the Bay County Public Library last year. After years of being a fan of his series, meeting Tim Dorsey in person was one of my highlights of 2019 and I look forward to reading his next book.