''Tricky Business'' is

Dave Barry David McAlister Barry (born July 3, 1947) is an American author and columnist who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for the ''Miami Herald'' from 1983 to 2005. He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comic ...

's second novel. It was first published in

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

. Like his previous novel, '' Big Trouble'', its events take place over only 1-2 days, in and around

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

Synopsis

The ''Extravaganza of the Seas'' is a

gambling ship A gambling ship is a sea vessel of any kind on which gambling takes place. Historically, international waters began just from land in many countries. Gambling ships, like offshore radio stations, would usually be anchored just outside the th ...

headed into a tropical storm, with more immediate trouble in the form of gamblers, crime bosses, gangsters and other shady characters fighting over money and drugs. Wally, a clueless rock guitarist, and Fay, a clever CGIS agent posing as a cocktail waitress, serve as the romantic leads.

Reception

The book received mixed reviews. CNN said that Barry was "very good" at this new direction, writing his first crime comedy. Kirkus Reviews said that the book's low humor would appeal to "all those guys who keep America moving slightly off-course and to the women who love them." ''Publishers Weekly'' wrote that Barry showed his "penchant" for potty humor and slapstick, but was able to craft "some captivating characters and keep a reader's attention" throughout.

References

{{reflist 2002 American novels Novels by Dave Barry American comedy novels G. P. Putnam's Sons books Novels set in Miami