Laurence Shames is known for humorous crime fiction set in quirky Key West, Florida. Notable novels include Florida Straits and Sunburn, showcasing his talent for sharp wit and entertaining storytelling.
If you enjoy reading books by Laurence Shames then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoyed Laurence Shames' blend of humor and eccentric Florida characters, Carl Hiaasen is an author you'll love. His novels mix comedy with sharp social commentary about environmental issues and corruption.
A great place to start is Tourist Season, which introduces quirky, outrageous personalities caught up in chaotic yet hilarious Florida adventures.
Fans of Laurence Shames will appreciate Tim Dorsey's fast-paced, darkly comedic novels set in Florida. Dorsey crafts bizarre plots with wild action, centering on quirky characters who border between charmingly odd and amusingly deranged.
Start with his novel Florida Roadkill, featuring Serge Storms, an eccentric serial killer whose comic brand of vigilante justice is impossible to forget.
Donald E. Westlake offers readers a witty, entertaining style filled with clever criminals and absurdly funny situations. If Laurence Shames' humorous, offbeat characters caught your attention, Westlake's novels may be appealing.
Try his book The Hot Rock, which showcases his talent for amusing dialogue, memorable characters, and inventive heist schemes.
Elmore Leonard excels at sharp dialogues, unique characters, and intricate storytelling with a dash of humor—a style readers of Laurence Shames can appreciate. Leonard's novels often involve likable crooks, eccentric misfits, and smart plotting that keeps readers turning pages.
Begin with his classic Get Shorty, a vivid tale of crime and Hollywood that highlights Leonard's distinctive humor and style.
If you liked Laurence Shames for his Florida-based adventures and quirky personalities, Randy Wayne White is worth checking out. White combines suspenseful storytelling about crime and environmental mysteries with authentic Florida atmosphere.
His book Sanibel Flats, introducing marine biologist Doc Ford, delivers mystery, intrigue, and fascinating insights into coastal life.
If you like Laurence Shames' smart wit and lively crime plots, Gregory Mcdonald could be a great pick. His Fletch series, especially Fletch, follows wise-cracking investigative reporter Irwin Fletcher.
Mcdonald's style is sharp and humorous, and his books overflow with playful dialogues and clever mysteries that make reading them great fun.
For those who appreciate the humor and vivid characters of Laurence Shames, Janet Evanovich could be right up your alley. Her Stephanie Plum series, beginning with One for the Money, stars an unapologetically funny bounty hunter who often finds herself in over her head.
Evanovich matches crime, comedy, and romance effortlessly, making her books addictive and easygoing entertainment.
If you're drawn to the quirky dark humor and memorable personalities present in Laurence Shames' fiction, Charles Willeford may catch your interest.
His novel Miami Blues introduces detective Hoke Moseley and captures a gritty Florida landscape filled with eccentric characters and unexpected humor. Willeford's storytelling balances rough edges with sharp cynicism in an engaging way.
If Laurence Shames' blend of tropical locations, sharp characters, and intriguing plots appeals to you, John D. MacDonald's writings could become favorites.
MacDonald's Travis McGee series, opening with The Deep Blue Good-by, features a laid-back detective living on a houseboat in Florida.
With their easy-going narrative, thoughtful insights, and vivid settings, MacDonald's novels provide satisfying mysteries alongside relaxed entertainment.
Readers who appreciate Laurence Shames' clever plots and intriguing characters would likely enjoy Ross Thomas' novels as well. Thomas writes sharp, intelligent crime fiction filled with vivid schemes and expertly drawn characters, as seen in Chinaman's Chance.
He spins intricate plots with a sense of playful conspiracy and dry humor that makes his novels engaging from start to finish.
Christopher Moore is clever, quirky, and a champion of absurdist humor. Like Laurence Shames, he brings out quirky characters tangled up in off-beat, humorous plots.
In his novel Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Moore throws readers into a hilarious mess involving a disgraced pilot, eccentric islanders, and a bizarre conspiracy. Fans who appreciate the witty and slightly wacky world of Shames will feel right at home with Moore's style.
Pete Dexter balances sharp wit, dark humor, and a keen sense of place in his storytelling. His novel Florida Straits offers a memorable portrait of Florida's colorful underbelly populated with tough, humorous characters.
Readers of Laurence Shames' Key West stories will feel connected to Dexter's vivid settings and gritty yet humorous tales about down-and-out characters striving to get ahead.
Joe R. Lansdale writes with humor, grit, and a big dose of southern charm. His stories often blend elements of mystery, thriller, and dark comedy, just like Laurence Shames does.
In Savage Season, Lansdale introduces his wisecracking duo Hap and Leonard, who stumble into trouble and chaos, providing readers amusing banter and action-packed misadventures. Fans of Shames' colorful and comedic novels should certainly give Lansdale's quirky stories a read.
Kinky Friedman blends mystery, satire, and outrageous humor in novels filled with eccentric characters and biting wit. Friedman pokes fun at everyone, including himself, while unraveling entertaining crimes linked to the Texas scene.
In Armadillos and Old Lace, he puts his wisecracking detective alter ego front and center, solving oddball cases with style and humor. Readers who appreciate Laurence Shames' entertaining characters and humorous plots will surely enjoy Friedman's offbeat mysteries.
Thomas Perry creates suspenseful thrillers featuring clever twists and engaging characters who consistently evade danger. He shares with Laurence Shames a knack for crafting tightly-paced plots with plenty of wit.
Perry's novel Metzger's Dog stands out for its dark comedy and brilliant ensemble cast of criminals involved in a heist gone wonderfully wrong. If Shames' amusing takes on crime capers resonate with you, Perry offers another thoroughly enjoyable option.