Florida Straits, Laurence Shames
Florida Straits, Laurence Shames
3 Rating(s)
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Florida Straits

Author: Laurence Shames

Narrator: Richard Ferrone

Unabridged: 9 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 05/30/2014


Synopsis

"People go to Key West for lots of different reasons. Joey Goldman went there to become a gangster …" So begins this classic Key West caper, the hilarious and touching book that launched a much-loved series and introduced the world to Bert the Shirt and his chihuahua Don Giovanni, two of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary fiction.  Joey, the illegitimate son of a major NY mafioso, decides to break away from a decidedly unpromising future in the old neighborhood of Queens. But will the old neighborhood and the Family let him go in peace? Not if knucklehead half-brother Gino has anything to say about it. As Joey is finally establishing his new life in sunny Florida, Gino involves him in a disastrous scam featuring a boatload of stolen emeralds and several squads of very nasty thugs. Finding within himself resources of smarts and courage he never knew he had, Joey beats long odds and muddles through to a brilliant solution to the problems dumped on him by Gino.  Cleverly plotted, enlivened by pitch-perfect dialogue, FLORIDA STRAITS is a completely satisfying mystery, but it's more than that as well. Think of it as a fish-out-of-water coming-of-age novel, a comedy of very bad manners with an unlikely hero you will root for from page one.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Karl

Shames does a brilliant job of just about everything in this, the first of his Key West series. His characters: pale, menacing NY mobsters, laid-back, tanned counter-culture residents, and sunburned, fat midwest tourists; the setting--palm trees, coral reefs, sketchy apartments and beach-front condo......more

Goodreads review by James

This was my second read through of the book and I forgot what snappy dialogue it had. Originally I was planning to ditch it after finishing again but I'm inspired to keep it as lesson on how to give characters distinct voices. I also really liked how well realized Key West is as a place. The sights,......more

Goodreads review by James

I normally don't read "beach books", but I found this one surprisingly entertaining. I also haven't been to Key West, a place that I wouldn't mind visiting now. It's just a breezy, enjoyable book with interesting characters that doesn't make you think too hard. Sometimes you just need those.......more