Relative Humidity (Key West Capers) Paperback – January 9, 2023

Lawrence Shames is a gifted writer with a love for the wacky end of the Earth residents of Key West. His books are so entertaining that I am tempted to buy a bald teacup chihuahua for a pet. This book as well as the other half dozen I've had the pleasure to read occupy the two days it takes me to run through them and look to read another. Mr Shames' work stands on its own; he offers a different perspective than other more famous Florida writers. His stories are great and his characters are engaging. His books are just a barroom full of fun. Just ignore that old man who actually retired from the Mafia.

Bert the Shirt and Nacho save the day again. Enjoyed this book. Not my favorite but all my favorite characters are present.

Without Kindle Unlimited I would never have found the series by Laurence Shames or been exposed to his slightly whacky view of Key West, Florida. Well, being Key West, maybe his view isn't at all whacky.Shames writing is conversational; you can hear the narrator telling the story at the same pace a person would take, with pauses, scene changes, and flashbacks at the same places you would interrupt the story teller with a question. Very realistic.Oh yeah, very funny in a low key way. Every book is good for a bunch of snorts, a lot of chuckles, and a few outright laughs. A true art form, in my opinion.A few of his descriptions, like the comparison of Bert's convertible roof to an old baby buggy, feel a bit tiresome, but I understand that not all readers will start at book one so each book must be treated as a stand alone story.All in all, a fun romp through the seedier side of a favorite destination.

I love this series and was so happy to see Bert the Shirt show up. Never let him die, please. I also love Laurence Shames’s ability to write the amazing run-on sentence dialogue of Bert. This story had great interaction between Pete and his mother. As an older woman with 2 replaced hips and possibly far younger boyfriend, I could relate to the mother. Although I’m not quite ready for the skirted bathing suit and I’m a good cook. Can’t wait for the next installment in the series.

the colorful clouds and temperatures of the Florida Keys. There's some surprises at the ending of the story when the characters gather and share their backgrounds...families can be complicated. LHMFamilies canberi

Really enjoyed an earlier novel by Shames, but disappointed here, largely because the potential conflict set up early in the novel turned out to be an irritating bit of fluff and got resolved by a deus ex machina solution. Can’t help but believe Shames ran out of ideas. Still enjoyed Burt the Shirt, retired Mafia(?) figure and his dyspeptic chihuahua. Not his best work.

A great story with delightful characters that you want to know and care about. Funny story with enough twist to keep it interesting.

Yup, the Mafia, bad drugs, bad drug guys, Pete Amsterdam, a hot Pickleball instructor with a past, our buddy Bert and Nacho. Oh, and Pete’s mom. Throw in a windscreen from hell, a wise guy with kids, a couple of mob operations, a restaurant owner with an interesting past, Fred and Piney, and, well, Pickleball. All makes for a good escape in Key West.

I will be very sorry when Mr Shames finally kills Bert the Shirt and puts the Chiuaua downI think maybe it is time to get another retiree maybe from the cartels or a disgraced former British money launderer ,a Russian arms dealer or a French hit man could also work!Keep working don't retire Lawrence