'Best' Humourous Crime Novel

[Jeff Ross]

I've begun reading Carl Hiassen and wonder what other people believe are the 'funniest' or 'most humorous' crime novels out there. Steve Hamilton's stuff is great as well, but I feel like I'm missing out on a bunch.
Any ideas?

[doug anderson]

Wasn't there some kind of scandal where Gramm was implicated in financing a porn film? Guy's a piece of work.

[Cammy May Hunnicutt]

"Ransom of Red Chief" is a classic American crime humor story.  The first of the genre?

[Reece Hirsch]

I'd nominate "Double Whammy" by Hiassen (one of the few books that made me laugh out loud), "Get Shorty" by Elmore Leonard and (for something more recent) "The Spellman Files" by Lisa Lutz.

[mike D]

I like J.A. Konrath for a little comedy. The earlier Jack Daniels books are pretty darned funny, I actually laughed out loud in a few of them.

[B.R.Stateham]

Dana--

You're quote about Phil Gramm was great. And it reminded me of a quote from a friend of mine who is a mechanic. My brother and I wanted to borrow a tool from him and asked if he had one.

He replied, "If I don't have it--you don't need it."

[Dennis Leppanen]

Tim Dorsey and his 'serial murderer' Serge A. Storms. Talk about inventive, hilarious way to rid the world of its biggest creeps, Serge will do the job while he takes you on his incredible tours of Florida.

Loren D. Estleman's Peeper; is one PI for the ages. Funny stuff.

[Jeff Ross]

Great stuff. i've been reading through a number of the suggestions. The Westlake is just silly sometimes, but that's all right. Intricate at times as well.

[Dana King]

Jeff,
I just read an excellent humorous crime novel over the weekend, High Season, by Crimespace's own Jon Loomis. In the interests of full disclosure, Jon and I have been friendly here on Crimespace for about a year now, but this really is a good book. He manages to tread the line between funny and homicide without lessening the effects of either. Highly recommended.

[Jon Loomis]

Thanks, Dana! I owe you 27 cents, or whatever my royalty would be, if SM/M ever actually wrote me a royalty check.

[Jeff Ross]

High season is in the mail.

[Jeff Ross]

I'm 5 chapters in and it's just what I was looking for. Well written, interesting, and funny.

[Jon Loomis]

Yay!