Mermaid Confidential

The real surprise of Dorsey’s 25th mystery starring serial killer Serge Storm and drug-addled Coleman is that there is a 25th installment. Serge wants to slow down and settle in a condo community, so he drags a reluctant Coleman into his plan. But wherever Serge is, mayhem and head-scratching, eye-rolling events follow. With so much going on, past and present, Serge’s HOA condo troubles and the endless activity required to “relax” seem to be an afterthought. Florida does not shine brightly in this or any other book in the series, and perhaps it’s time to let this gang of misfits retire for real before they realize they have outlived their entertainment value, and their shtick is more slapstick than humor. Oliver Wyman narrates all voices, old, young, female, male, stoned and delusional, and does his best with this tired material.