Florida Straits

Joey Goldman arrives in Key West with dreams of opening a restaurant but no money to make it happen. He reluctantly teams up with his semi-estranged father Gino, a retired small-time gangster, in a scheme to raise the needed funds. The plan draws the attention of local Cuban exiles and members of the Key West criminal underworld. As father and son navigate increasingly dangerous waters, they must also confront their complicated relationship and long-buried family history. Events accelerate through the sun-drenched streets of Key West and across the Florida Straits as different factions pursue their own interests. The story combines crime caper elements with family drama while maintaining a brisk pace. The novel explores themes of father-son relationships, the weight of family legacy, and the price of pursuing one's dreams. Through its vivid depiction of Key West's unique culture and characters, it examines how the past shapes present choices and actions.

Readers describe this as a light, humorous crime caper that doesn't take itself too seriously. The story moves quickly and delivers entertainment rather than depth. Readers appreciated: - The Key West setting and local atmosphere - Quirky, memorable characters, especially Joey Goldman - Comedy mixed with mob elements - Fast-moving plot - Clean writing style without graphic content Common criticisms: - Plot becomes predictable - Some found it too lightweight - Character development remains surface-level - Dialogue occasionally feels forced Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (707 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (236 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Perfect beach read with enough plot to keep you engaged but not so complex you can't put it down" - Goodreads reviewer "Like a Carl Hiaasen novel but without the edge" - Amazon reviewer "The mob storyline feels cartoonish rather than menacing" - LibraryThing reviewer Many readers went on to read other books in the series.

Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen Criminals target Florida tourists while a reporter investigates the case, blending crime, humor, and Florida's distinct culture.

Island Life by Tim Dorsey A former newspaper reporter tracks a serial killer through the Florida Keys, mixing dark comedy with local color and eccentric characters.

The Deep Blue Good-By by John D. MacDonald Travis McGee, a self-styled salvage consultant, helps a woman recover stolen treasure in the Florida Keys while confronting dangerous criminals.

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen A suspended Miami police inspector investigates a suspicious death involving Medicare fraud, real estate schemes, and voodoo in the Florida Keys.

Key West Tales by John Hersey Connected stories depict life, crime, and relationships in Key West through multiple perspectives of locals and outsiders.

🌴 The novel kicks off a 10-book series known as the "Key West Capers," all set in the colorful and eccentric Florida Keys. 🏴‍☠️ The Florida Straits waterway featured in the title has a rich history of piracy, rum-running, and smuggling dating back to the Spanish colonial era. 🖋️ Author Laurence Shames worked as a New York magazine writer and Miami Herald reporter before moving to Key West and beginning his fiction career. 🏖️ The book perfectly captures Key West's unique "Conch Republic" culture—a blend of laid-back island life and fierce independence that emerged after the city symbolically seceded from the U.S. in 1982. 🎭 The story combines elements of crime fiction with comedy, establishing Shames' signature style of blending mob storylines with humorous Florida culture, which would become his trademark throughout the series.