Florida Straits - Laurence Shames

Joey Goldman tries to escape the low level mafioso life he had in New York. Key West offers the paradise he is looking for, but not for long. Family ties and obligations follow Joey to the Keys. This book is a fun read. It is not a hard hitting crime novel or a true “Who done it?”, but it offers a colorful description of the Keys that is not on the tourist maps. Anyone who has spent a lot time in Key West should appreciate this one. I was really enjoying the book until the end. A little more research into the mafia and/or gangs/ cartels may have led to a more plausible ending. Halfway through this novel I bought several books in the series. Based on the Florida Straights ending, I haven’t read them. This was a fun and interesting novel that seemed to give up at the very end. If you want an escape to the Keys and don’t mind an implausible ending, get this one. If you’re a stickler for details, “Forget about it.”

Devil's Slew - Darryl Wimberley

Darryl Wimberley’s fifth book, Devil’s Slew, is a true hard hitting mystery that kept me reading. FDLE agent, Bear Raines is forced to kill an old friend’s son. Is the death tied to a missing Treasury Department agent, a Mexican drug cartel, a rogue group of Marines, or a major counterfeiting operation? There were several twist to this fast moving plot that I did not expect. Wimberley knows the flora, fauna, and culture of the Panhandle well. He also has done his research with law enforcement operations which makes this a smooth read. This is a very well written and researched true mystery that takes the reader from their home, to the Panhandle of Florida. Probably the biggest mystery is; why haven’t I heard of Bear Raines before now?

Baja Florida

It's the beginning of the Florida mystery/crime season when our favorite writers release their new novels. Bob Morris starts us off with what I think is his best writing yet. Below is a review of Baja Florida.

Zack Chasteen is living the peaceful life with his wife and infant daughter until an old friend comes asking for a favor. All he has to do is pilot a mega-yacht to a private island in the Bahamas and find the friend’s missing daughter along the way. Sounds easy; but as Zack looks for the missing woman, he finds more questions than answers. This is Morris at his best; bringing the charm of the Caribbean into your living-room while taking the reader through twist and turns of true mystery. The character and relationship development took on a genuine quality that drew me in while the plot unfolded at a pace that kept me reading late into the night. I couldn’t put this one down. This novel has put Bob Morris at the top of my favorite mystery writers list and I would recommend this book for anybody.

Dead Silence - Randy Wayne White

While this may depart a bit from early works, Dead Silence is still superb.  The action was so intense the reader is tempted to rush to the end.  As a fan of the series, I had to slow down to catch the connections throughout the novel and the entire series. The character development is at a new high.  Those who only last a chapter or two still leave a memorable impression.  Even the well established main characters had some very interesting development.  Doc seems to getting more spiritual and cold-blooded at the same time.  I can’t wait to see how the conflict resolves itself.  Enough of Tomlinson’s family history is revealed to leave the reader wanting more. A new series?  White has always been bold in his writing and character development.  This novel is no different.  I would recommend this book and series for anyone.          

Nuclear Jellyfish- New Tim Dorsey Release

Stripper:  “This has gotten way too weird.  You’re no travel writer.”

Serge: “Yes I am.”

Stripper: “You’re a psycho in a diaper.”

Serge:  “I’m....multi-tasking.”

Lines like this were jumping off the pages making me laugh out loud throughout the entire book.  Our favorite Florida-phile takes us on a hyper-speed tour of Florida while trying to sell his unique perspective of his beloved state to the travel companies.  Of course the multi-tasker that Serge is, he is also tracks down a crew robbing diamond couriers, avoids the Feds, hooks up with a Florida trivia buff/stripper/tutor, and kills people who deserve it in creative ways.  I’ll never look at garden supplies the same way again. 

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone not overly sensitive.      

Favorite Florida Mystery Writer

Who is your favorite Florida mystery writer and why?

There are a few at the top that make it hard for me to choose, but I have to pick Randy Wayne White.

I don't think anyone does a better job of taking the reader to Southwest Florida, Columbia, Panama, or any other setting than Randy does.  I didn't realize just how good he is until I moved down here (SW Florida).  He nails it.  

Also, the writing keeps getting better and better.  Especially the dialogue.  It's really getting intense.  I can't wait for Dead Silence.

You can enjoy the books on different levels.  A fun and exciting read to escape Winter.  The books also each seem to have their own "hidden" message just under the surface.  Then there is the running plot between Doc, Tomlinson, and the "ghost"of Dinkins Bay. 

Finally, can there be a cooler job than marine biologist.  Even the "down" time when Doc is doing research is fascinating to me.  I always learn something new from Randy's well researched books.

Doresy, Hiaasen, Bob Morris, are right at the top, but I gotta go with Randy.

Who's your pick?