Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression (USA 2015)

From the Publisher:
"As enjoyable as a day at the beach."
That's how USA TODAY summed up this hilarious and big-hearted romp in the Florida sunshine.

When Murray Zemelman, a.k.a. The Bra King, pops another Prozac and heads to the Keys, he has nothing much in mind beyond a quixotic hope of winning back his first wife, Franny, whom he dumped years before. But when he forms an unlikely friendship with Tommy Tarpon, the last remaining member of an obscure Indian tribe, another plan also starts shaping up in his fevered brain. Why not open up Key West's first casino?

Why not? Well, how about because the Mafia, in league with some of the nastiest politicians you will ever meet, is determined to kill anyone who tries? Somehow, Murray, Tommy, and Franny didn't think of that until they were in way too deep. Laugh along as they improvise a manic and ever more desperate campaign to keep their casino dreams -- and themselves -- alive.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression. CreateSpace Independent Publ., ISBN: 9781508418566 (February, 2015), 290 p., $12.99, eBook $4.99.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression (USA 2000)

From the Publisher:
Laurence Shames is the author of Eight Key West novels: Mangrove Squeeze, Virgin Heat, Tropical Depression, Sunburn, Scavenger Reef, Florida Straits, Welcome To Paradise, and The Naked Detective. He is also the uncredited co-writer of the New York Times Bestseller Boss of Bosses. Shames lives with his wife Marilyn in Key West, Florida.

Key West may very well get its first legal gambling parlor if Murray Zemelman, a.k.a. The Bra King, and his new partner Tommy Tarpon, a local Native American, can pull off their kooky, Prozac-induced plan. When a local mafioso and Key West's most crooked politician decide to get a piece of their action, Murray and Tommy fight for their money and their lives in a battle of wits, writs and anti-depressants.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression. Backinprint.com, ISBN: 0595006396 (September, 2000), 360 p., $20.95.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression (UK 1998)

From the Publisher:
Businessman Murray Zemelman is on the lookaout for a new life away from Prozac and the New Jersey snow. Sunny Florida offers a second chance with his first wife and a scenond career running the first legal casino in the local Native American reservation. Murray reckons he might have the streets smart enough to make a fortune by turning the tables on the local white mafia. But, the aligators aren't the only man eaters on the island reservation, and the native Mafioso is also on the look out for an easy lunch.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression. Orion Books, ISBN: 0752816004 (May, 1998), 349 p., £5.99.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression (UK 1997)

From the Publisher:
If you always look on the bright side of life... sometimes the shade's a relief.
The Bra King, more regularly known as Murray Zemelman wakes up one morning and thinks the worst. But positive as ever, he pops a Prozac, start his car and leaves New Jersey, his second wife and thriving brassiere business. For ever...

Arriving in Key West, Murray is determined to woo his first wife out of her jacuzzi and back into his life. In the meantime however he'll take the professional advice of both his business partner an his analyst; Murray's going fishing. But there are dark waters even in the Florida Keys, and soon the local Mafioso are intent on making Murray an offer he just can't refuse...

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression. Pan Books, ISBN: 0330343572 (March, 1997), 336 p., £5.99.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression (USA 1997)

From the Publisher:
"TROPICAL DEPRESSION EXPENTLY BLENDS FAST-PACED ACTION WITH COLORFUL DIALOGUE AND A TANGIBLE SENSE OF PLACE. SMART AND CONSISTENTLY ENTERTAINING, IT LIFTS SHAMES A NOTCH CLOSER TO THE TOP RUNG OF WRITERS IN THIS GENRE." - CHICAGO TRIBUNE BOOK REVIEW

Murray Zemelman, a.k.a. "the bra king, wakes up one moming contemplating suicide. Instead, he leaves his trophy wife and his thriving lingerie business, gets in his car, and drives to Key West to start a new life. Was it brilliant insight or a glitch in his Prozac dosage? Who cares?

"JUST ABOUT EVERY PAGE OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION IS A RIOT. WITH AN EXPERT EYE AND A NATIVE'S EAST CONFIDENCE, SHAMES ONCE AGAIN CRUISES THE STREETS OF KEY WEST, THAT MECCA FOR WEARY NEW YORKERS SEEKING A BETTER (AND MUCH, MUCH WARMER) LIFE... SHAMES' EAR FOR NEW YAWKESE IS AS SHARP AS EVER... THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK." - MIAMI HERALD

There, he meets up with Tommy Tarpon, a local Native American embittered by the unfairness of life. Together they cook up a plan: with Murray's business acumen and Tommy's ability to use the government statutes as last surviving member of his small Florida tribe, they'll create Key West's first legal gambling parlor on Tommy's tribal ground-a tiny alligator-infested island just off the coast.

"A SUICIDAL BRASSIERE MANUFACTURER ADDICTED TO PROZAC. A RETIRED MAFIOSO WITH AN ARTHRITIC CHIHUAHUA. AN INDIAN WHO MAY BE THE LAST OF HIS TRIBE, AND ASSORTED CORRUPT POLITITIANS. WELCOME TO LAURENCE SHAMES' WORLD..." - FT. LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL

But there are all sorts of reptiles interested in the plan, including a local Mafioso who wants a piece of the gambling business, and before you can say Bugsy Siegel, Murray and Tommy are fighting for their money and their lives in a battle of wits, writs, and anti-depressants.

"FEW WRITERS CAN INVENT CRAZIER, YET CONVINCING CHARACTERS THAN SHAMES AND THEN PUT THEM INTO SITUATIONS THAT CLEVERLY DEVELOP THEIR MANIC ABILITIES... TROPICAL DEPRESSION IS THE PERFECT CURE FOR THE BLUES." - NEW YORK TIMES

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression. Hyperion, ISBN: 0786889098 (March, 1997), 356 p., $5.99.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression (USA 1996)

From the Publisher:
Murray Zemelman -- lingerie mogul, a.k.a. the Bra King -- wakes up one morning, starts his car in the confines of his airtight garage, and contemplates the worst. But instead of doing himself in, he pops a Prozac and hits the road, waving good-bye to his trophy wife, the thriving brassiere business, and the streets of New Jersey for good. He's headed to Florida, home of his first wife, Franny, whom he was stupid enough to leave all those years ago. But now he wants to start fresh. Is it a brilliant insight? A glitch in his Prozac dosage? Who cares? He's off to Key West.

There, he meets Tommy Tarpon, a local Native American-beaten down and made bitter by the unfairness of life around him. and the last surviving member of his small Florida tribe. Together they cook up a plan: with Murray's business acumen and Tommy's ability to make the most of government statutes, Key West could very well get its first legal gambling parlor on Tommy's tribal grounds a tiny, alligator-infested island just off the coast.

But gambling in Key West isn't an original idea, and a whole other species of reptiles is interested in the plan. With the "assistance" of Key West's crookedest politician, a local Mafioso makes Murray and Tommy an offer they can't refuse. All Murray wanted was to woo his first wife away from her reading group and into the Jacuzzi-but he ends up getting her, himself, and Tommy into more hot water than he ever bargained for.

Laurence Shames is the author of the novels Sunburn, Florida Straits, and Scavenger Reef. He divides his time between homes in Key West, Florida, and Shelter Island, New York.

Laurence Shames: Tropical Depression. Hyperion, ISBN: 0786861096 (March, 1996), 293 p., $21.95.