Scat Carl Hiaasen Published by Orion ISBN 9781842557747
American author Carl Hiaasen is one of those rare writers who can turn out exciting and classy novels for teenagers as well as for adults. He already had a good reputation as a thriller writer when he made the transition to young adult fiction with great success in 2002.
His latest, Scat, is a cleverly plotted nail-biter that won't disappoint any of his avid readers, no matter their age.
Hiaasen's adult fiction often reflects his concerns about what is happening to his home state of Florida in the United States. His novels are sometimes labelled 'environmental thrillers' and shelved in the mystery section of the bookshop.
Scat, too, falls into this category.
It opens with an intriguing mystery, one many students often dream will happen: a teacher goes missing. Mrs Starch is the most feared and reviled teacher at Nick Waters' school. Her biology lessons provide hours of misery and humiliation for students who are unlucky enough to come her way. The opening chapter is set in one of Mrs Starch's lessons and reveals just what a writer Hiaasen is. The students, Mrs Starch and the atmosphere in the lesson jump off the page.