SALTY by Mark Haskell Smith

SALTY is the latest from Mark Haskell Smith, one of the most inventive writers working today. If you missed MOIST or DELICIOUS, run to the bookstore immediately. These books are smart, fast, and not just funny but hilarious. There are a lot of writers out there trying to be funny, trying so hard that you feel the effort with every forced punchline, but Smith understands the restraint needed for humor and hits all the right notes.

Salty tells the story of Turk Henry, retired heavy-metal bassist and recovering sex addict who unwisely agrees to vacation in Thailand, the illicit sex capital of the world. When his supermodel wife gets kidnapped by a band of pirates, Turk's attempts at rescue get him sideways with homeland security and lead him into a rogue search for his wife. Soon Turk finds himself caught between his duty to his wife and the undeniable undertow of the prospect of being single in Bangkok.

Reviewers have favorably compared Smith's writing to Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard and even Ross Thomas, but he has a manic voice all his own, full of smart social commentary and a genuine affection for his characters that infuses even the most bizarre situations with empathy.

This book is part crime novel, part adventure, part travelogue and part romance. As a writer Smith is hard to categorize but impossible to put down. Pick up Salty and see what I mean.