Miami Midnight

Alcoholic ex-journalist and part-time PI Pete Fernandez suffers through all the familiar devices and conventions of the mystery genre—almost to a breaking point. His friends die and mysteriously come back. Cohorts disappear for long periods and return; others struggle with addictions. Coincidence abounds. When mob boss Alvaro Mujica “hires” a reluctant Miami-based Pete (and his ex-lover, Kathy) to uncover who killed his son, Javier, Pete (and friends) become targets of escalating violence and bloodshed. Javier, a talented jazz musician and heavy drug user, flits in and out of the jazz scene and drug world until his murder. Investigating his death puts Pete, Kathy, and crew squarely in the sights of a slew of mob assassins, bodyguards, tough guys, and henchmen. Even Pete’s good friend Dave Mendoza threatens him, as does ex-fiancée, Emily Sprague, not to mention Cuban law enforcement officials.