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Basket Case (novel)
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Basket Case, published in 2002, is the ninth novel by Carl Hiaasen. It is a classic Hiaasen crime novel, set in Florida as always. It opens with the death of James Stomarti (aka Jimmy Stoma), an ostensibly washed-up former lead man of "Jimmy and the Slut Puppies".
Plot introductionA typical Hiaasen protagonist, a journalist, suspects the widow of former rocker Jimmy Stoma to be involved in his death, and investigates the case while dealing with several personal issues.
In addition to being a good old-fashioned murder mystery, the novel is also a frank exploration of the pros and cons of a career in newspaper journalism, and a passionate screed against the downsizing of American newspapers and their corporate owners’ emphasis on profitability over depth. This theme is introduced tentatively in Hiaasen’s novel “Lucky You” but explored fully here.
Explanation of the novel's titleThe book is named for Jimmy Stoma's hit song. While writing the book, Hiaasen collaborated with singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, a longtime friend. The song appears as the second track on Zevon's 2002 album My Ride's Here. It is quoted several times throughout the book, and is printed in its entirety at the end (credited to Jimmy Stoma and Warren Zevon).
Characters in "Basket Case"- Jack Tagger, journalist now relegated to the obituaries section
- Cleo Rio, widow of Jimmy Stoma
- Emma, Jack's editor and lust interest
- James Stomarti, AKA Jimmy Stoma, the musician and the victim
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