"A hilarious political satire ... that reflects our blackest fears about the politicians we elect."

-- New York Times Book Review

"Famed Florida writer and columnist Carl Hiaasen may have an heir apparent in S.V. Dáte…. Deftly plotted and seasoned with the sort of unforgettable characters that seem drawn to Florida like flies to cow pies, this is one of the more underrated works of the year."

-- The Providence Journal

NPR's "Fresh Air" Interview -- Nov. 9, 2000

“Knowing wit and biting sarcasm…. A worthy companion to the subversive work of fellow journalist/crime-writer Carl Hiaasen.”

-- Chicago Tribune

"A raucous indictment of the tobacco industry and its manipulation of the political process that reads like Carl Hiaasen on testosterone.... A hilarious tale that takes random shots at both the tobacco industry and the political process gone awry."

-- Library Journal

An "edgy, ripped-from-the-headlines novel.... A baker's dozen of subplots converge in a wild and woolly finale that teeters on the edge of farce. But thanks to Dáte's animated characters, who are quirky without being cartoonish, and impeccable narrative timing, the fast moving plot never veers out of control."

-- Publisher's Weekly (* starred review)

"Pantsless legislators. Poison dart guns. Million-dollar bribes. Just another day at the Florida Legislature.... If only the real world were as clear and as fun."

-- Tampa Tribune

"A rollicking good time.... Smokeout is a fictional way of clearing the smoke from what Capitol reporters, legislators and lobbyists have always known about the system."

-- Tallahassee Democrat

"A behind-the-scenes political satire set in Florida's capital.... Dáte's tale of legislative lobbying and dealmaking has the ring of truth."

-- The St. Petersburg Times

"Lizards scurry across nearly every surface of the (Florida) peninsula, but in Tallahassee, they wear patent leather shoes and draft laws.... Smokeout is brisk fun."

-- Orlando Sentinel

"Dáte brings these and other venal Floridians together, shuffles the deck and deals out increasingly ludicrous scenes whose comic inventiveness underscores his point: that against big money interests, it's a miracle that anyone can do the right thing."

-- Kirkus Reviews

"Politics as usual in Tallahassee includes comedy, corruption, bed-hopping, even murder…. It's a rollicking satire, a Carl Hiaasen-type collection of characters any Florida-watcher will recognize as drawn from life, mostly."

-- Florida (Jacksonville) Times-Union

"A hoot!"

-- Florida's News Channel

The St. Petersburg Times called S.V. Dáte the "star pupil" of Carl Hiaasen, and Hiaasen himself agreed: "Speed Week is good, twisted fun, cheerfully subversive. The Chamber of Commerce should hate it, which is the highest possible compliment for any Florida novel."

Now Dáte returns with Smokeout, and if the powers-that-be hated the first one, the second one will send them to bed with the vapors. A tobacco bill has been introduced into the Florida State Legislature, and on its passage rest the livelihoods -- and, in some cases, the lives -- of many of the state's finest denizens. Soon, ruthless executives, venal politicians, sexy lobbyists -- and that rarest of breeds, a few honest citizens -- reach critical mass as the campaign comes down to its final frantic days, prompting skulduggery, mayhem, heroism…and maybe even true love.

Filled with razor-sharp characterizations and pinpoint observations, Smokeout is a delight from start to finish -- one might even say, addictive….