Book Review: ‘The Lizard King’ timely, relevant
by Larry Cox on Jul. 31, 2008, under CalendarGrade: A
By Bryan Christy (TWELVE, $24.99)
The next time you’re flying steerage on an international flight, you might pause to wonder if the passenger seated next to you is smuggling reptiles. It’s more common than you may think.
Take the case of Tomas Medina, a computer-parts salesman aboard American Airlines Flight 900 on March 25, 1992, en route from Buenos Aires to Miami. Wearing a gray business suit and pulling a suitcase, he found himself being searched by an inspector from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although Miami has become the epicenter of reptile smuggling in the U.S., even officials were surprised when they discovered his suitcase contained hundreds of baby tortoises and two pillowcases swollen with adult Argentine rainbow boas. In a third pillowcase, three newspaper-gray Argentine boas were revealed, a species considered to be on the verge of extinction.
Christy, an attorney and freelance writer, has written a book that exposes one of the most underreported fields of international crime, reptile smuggling. A reptile lover since childhood, Christy investigates and explores this subculture filled with intrigue, shady characters and violence. Think “The Sopranos” but with less of the charm. At the center of this tale is the Van Nostrand family, owners of Strictly Reptiles, a booming business in Hollywood, Fla. Mike, and his father, Ray, are, acording to federal law enforcement officials, the biggest and most notorious reptile smugglers in the United States. Their story underscores the importance of why more action must be taken to stop international wildlife trafficking.
In no-nonsense, crisply written prose, Christy serves up a timely, relevant book. His research is impeccable and his narrative impassioned and focused. This is exceptional crime reporting by a courageous man who went to unbelievable means to get his story. For example, while conducting his research, he was bitten between the eyes by a blood python, chased by a mother alligator and sprayed by a bird-eating tarantula.
Larry Cox can be reached at contactlarrycox@aol.com
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