The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove

Christopher Moore

Think of this book as a Leslie Nielsen film in literary form. Unapologetically stupid, laugh-out-loud funny at least once per chapter, and full of the kinds of things that it takes a true madman to think up, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove is definitely something to remember.

Pine Cove, a small coastal community, has a series of small coincidences come together that snowball into something monstrous when a large amphibious creature (of undetermined type) crawls out of the sea and begins snacking on townspeople. A motley cast of characters try, each in their own odd and special way, to figure out the disappearances, including a pot-addled constable, an ex-scream queen, a psychiatrist with constant writer's cramp from writing out so many Prozac prescriptions, and a rodent researcher. Imagine the possibilities. No matter what you come up with, Chris Moore came up with something even more twisted.

It's fast, it's funny, it's sick, it's over the top. t's not great art, but then what is? Escapism in fine form.