"I thought this was a very interesting book. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It had a lot of historical information about Texas, which I didn’t exactly care about but it was interesting, and it had lots of information about genealogy which I really liked. I am not sure how I feel about the way the author presented information that Lucy learned during her investigation. Sometimes it seemed that she turned up with new information but there was no segue to lead you along as she gathered facts. The connection between the Ayers and Applewhites was a little hard to follow as they began to be intermingled. Ultimately the bad guy was just not that interesting and it was a stretch to believe that he carried a grudge that went back so many generations. Overall it was well written and the ongoing interaction between Lucy and Ben was fun. Not sure I would recommend this but if someone asked me I would tell them it was a quick read that doesn’t leave a big impression."

"Like most such serially written books, Naked Came the Manatee starts out strong, but as it progresses, each previous writer is more and more likely to write the next one into a corner. In some such stories, the ending is a foregone conclusion, so the writers needn't struggle too much to assure that the assassination is foiled, the lovers are united, etc., but something that starts with an open ending, like this book, paradoxically creates more troubles for writers and readers. For example, Carl Hiassen, the final writer, finishes more by undoing, sometimes cleverly, sometimes gracelessly, many of the previous complications and even characterizations.

That said, all the writers know and love/hate/mostly love southern Florida and capture its crazy and corrupt essence. The manatee is an endearing protagonist and the story is full of McGuffins of all kinds.

Overall, though, the individual writers are more satisfying as individuals, and this book more as a curiosity than a story. "