In this 26th installment of the Serge and Coleman roadshow, author Tim Dorsey hasn’t lost his zaniness, sense of humor or ingenious plotting.

THE MALTESE IGUANA is set at the beginning of the pandemic, as reformed bad guy Serge A. Storms decides to ride out the lockdown with his buddy in the Florida Keys. Committed Florida residents, they figure that they can find a place to hang out in the early days of quarantine while enjoying a relaxing south Florida vibe. (Like their creator, an erstwhile journalist for The Tampa Tribune, they’re huge Sunshine State boosters.) They keep to themselves just long enough to get vaccinated, and then it’s time to connect with fellow condo dwellers, local tradesmen and, ultimately, the CIA.

"In this 26th installment of the Serge and Coleman roadshow, author Tim Dorsey hasn’t lost his zaniness, sense of humor or ingenious plotting."

While perpetually stoned Coleman shares his new bong that is reminiscent of the Maltese falcon (hence the title) with his neighbors, Serge hosts bus tours of little-known Florida roadside attractions.

Meanwhile, a covert operation in Honduras goes disastrously wrong, leaving police officer Yandy Falcón and Miami reporter Reevis Tome to fend off gang members and militia. Just who the militia is working for --- a rebel cell or the U.S. government --- is unclear, but the two make their separate ways to Serge’s doorstep. And, of course, Serge steps in to save the day. That he also manages to stage a pyrotechnic feat that is captured on film by an ambitious movie director is all in a day’s work.

For those who haven’t been exposed to Dorsey’s rat-a-tat wackiness, it’s hard to follow (and sometimes fathom) the crude jokes, comments, local lore and occasional insights. But there’s a payoff in keeping up with the digressions and serious revelry.

Dorsey, a writer of remarkable energy and erudition, is an acquired taste. It’s difficult to imagine how he keeps up with his characters’ foibles and diversions. But there’s no doubt that entering Serge and Coleman’s world is an experience unlike any other, and --- assuming the reader leaves quibbles behind --- enjoyable on its own terms.