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Mayhem and Murder in Florida Trivia Quiz

Florida is an attractive location for mystery fiction of all sorts, from John D. Macdonald to Carl Hiaasen.

A multiple-choice quiz by agony. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
agony

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
125,815

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
885

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series was one of the first, and most famous, Florida mystery series. What city does McGee call home? Hint

Miami

Key West

Fort Myers

Fort Lauderdale

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. What is a distinguishing characteristic of all the Travis McGee books? Hint

all the books have red covers

they were all originally written in French

they all have a colour in the title

the titles are quotations from Shakespeare

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Question 3 of 15

3. Who is the author of, among others "Tropical Freeze", "Bones of Coral", and "Red Sky at Night"? Hint

James W. Hall

D.J. Donaldson

James Lee Burke

Julie Smith

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. What is Edna Buchanan's heroine, Britt Montero's profession? Hint

police officer

newspaper reporter

social worker

potter

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Question 5 of 15

5. Carl Hiaasen's novel "Basket Case", is about the investigation of the death of a rock'n'roller. Hiaasen wrote a song to go with the book in collaboration with which musician? Hint

Glenn Frey

Bruce Springsteen

Warren Zevon

Randy Newman

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. Laurence Shames' very funny novels often feature a transplanted northerner adjusting to the very different lifestyle in _____? Hint

Key West

Miami

Tampa

Jacksonville

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Question 7 of 15

7. Dave Barry is famous as a humour columnist, but he has also written two comic mysteries set in Miami. The first of these came out in 1999. It was called _____? Hint

Big Trouble

Virgin Heat

Tricky Business

Condominium

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. Ed McBain, best known for the 87th Precinct series, also has written a series of books about Matthew Hope, a Florida lawyer. These can be spotted by their titles, most of which _____? Hint

refer to a nursery rhyme or fairy tale

have a number in them

have a colour reference

are quotes from Emily Dickinson

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Which of these novels is NOT written by Tim Dorsey? Hint

Orange Crush

Hammerhead Ranch Motel

Buzz Cut

Florida Roadkill

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Question 10 of 15

10. "Trust Me on This", is a comic mystery set at a Florida-based sleazy supermarket tabloid, the "Weekly Gazette". Who wrote it? Hint

Donald E. Westlake

Sue Grafton

Robert B. Parker

Raymond Chandler

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. Who created John Deal, hero of such books as "Done Deal" and "Deal With the Dead"? Hint

Paul Levine

James W. Hall

Dave Barry

Les Standiford

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Question 12 of 15

12. Elmore Leonard, the Grand Old Man of Florida nut-case mysteries, originally made his mark in another writing genre. Which? Hint

westerns

true crime

science fiction

children's lit

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. Although Elmore Leonard does not write series novels, occasionally characters re-appear in his books. One such character is Raylan Givens. What does Raylan do for a living? Hint

writer

building contractor

federal marshal

salvage consultant

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. The series about Jake Lassiter, a former Dolphin's linebacker, now turned defense attorney, is written by _____? Hint

Les Standiford

Tom Corcoran

Paul Levine

Tim Dorsey

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. What does Thorn, the hero of James W. Hall's series, do for a living? Hint

he writes mysteries

he is a police officer

he makes fishing lures

he is a lawyer

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 25 2024 : shvdotr: 12/15
Nov 19 2024 : dee1304: 8/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series was one of the first, and most famous, Florida mystery series. What city does McGee call home?

Answer: Fort Lauderdale

Travis McGee parks his houseboat, the "Busted Flush", at slip F-18, Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale. The boat is not named after a broken toilet; he won it in a poker game.

2. What is a distinguishing characteristic of all the Travis McGee books?

Answer: they all have a colour in the title

From 1964's "Nightmare in Pink" to 1985's "The Lonely Silver Rain", there are twenty-one books in the series. They are all well-plotted and well-written with a certain wry twist.

3. Who is the author of, among others "Tropical Freeze", "Bones of Coral", and "Red Sky at Night"?

Answer: James W. Hall

Hall's novels are mainly set in and around Key West. All the other choices are authors who write mostly about Louisiana.

4. What is Edna Buchanan's heroine, Britt Montero's profession?

Answer: newspaper reporter

Buchanan herself was a Pulitzer-prize winning police beat reporter in Miami for twenty years. The Miami that she portrays in her novels is a city of violence and high comedy; a city of Santeria sacrifices on the courthouse steps, political machinations, and hurricanes; a city where literally anything can happen.

5. Carl Hiaasen's novel "Basket Case", is about the investigation of the death of a rock'n'roller. Hiaasen wrote a song to go with the book in collaboration with which musician?

Answer: Warren Zevon

"Basket Case" was the one big hit of the band in the book, "Jimmy and the Slut Puppies". You can hear the real song on Warren Zevon's album "My Ride's Here".

6. Laurence Shames' very funny novels often feature a transplanted northerner adjusting to the very different lifestyle in _____?

Answer: Key West

Shames' books include "The Naked Detective", "Welcome to Paradise", and "Sunburn". These books are not a series, but they do feature some recurring characters, such as "Bert the Shirt", a retired mobster, and his ancient chihuahua.

7. Dave Barry is famous as a humour columnist, but he has also written two comic mysteries set in Miami. The first of these came out in 1999. It was called _____?

Answer: Big Trouble

Both "Big Trouble" and "Tricky Business", his second novel, are fast and furious, with silly situations, sympathetic good guys, and bad guys that have to be seen to be believed. Lots of fun.

8. Ed McBain, best known for the 87th Precinct series, also has written a series of books about Matthew Hope, a Florida lawyer. These can be spotted by their titles, most of which _____?

Answer: refer to a nursery rhyme or fairy tale

The series started with "Goldilocks" in 1978, but McBain seems to have abandoned Hope in the last few years. By the way, there IS a quote from Emily Dickinson in each of the books - at some point, some character is bound to make some reference to "Hope is the thing with feathers".

9. Which of these novels is NOT written by Tim Dorsey?

Answer: Buzz Cut

Tim Dorsey's books are another entry in the "Florida Insanity" genre. Zany? Loony? Out and out weird? Maybe it's the climate.

10. "Trust Me on This", is a comic mystery set at a Florida-based sleazy supermarket tabloid, the "Weekly Gazette". Who wrote it?

Answer: Donald E. Westlake

"Trust Me on This" is the story of a respectable young journalist's introduction to the bizarre world of the supermarket tabloid.

11. Who created John Deal, hero of such books as "Done Deal" and "Deal With the Dead"?

Answer: Les Standiford

Standiford is Director of the MFA program at Florida International University, and holds a PhD in English and Creative Writing. He also founded the writing program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

12. Elmore Leonard, the Grand Old Man of Florida nut-case mysteries, originally made his mark in another writing genre. Which?

Answer: westerns

Leonard wrote "Hombre" (1961), "Valdez is Coming" (1970), and a handful of other excellent traditional westerns.

13. Although Elmore Leonard does not write series novels, occasionally characters re-appear in his books. One such character is Raylan Givens. What does Raylan do for a living?

Answer: federal marshal

Raylan Givens first appeared in "Pronto" (1993), and then in "Riding the Rap" (1995). He has also appeared in the story "Fire in the Hole". Leonard also re-visited the life of Chili Palmer from "Get Shorty" in 1999's "Be Cool".

14. The series about Jake Lassiter, a former Dolphin's linebacker, now turned defense attorney, is written by _____?

Answer: Paul Levine

The wise-cracking lawyer appears in such books as "Fool Me Twice", "False Dawn", and "Slashback".

15. What does Thorn, the hero of James W. Hall's series, do for a living?

Answer: he makes fishing lures

The first four or five of Hall's novels had some really quirky characters and unusual plot lines. The books have gotten a bit blander as the author became more well-known and popular, but, alas, isn't that always the way?

Source: Author agony

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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