Synopses & Reviews
Written in the classic noir tradition of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, Straits of Fortune is a fast-paced and sometimes deadly adventure set in America's sexiest city.
Ex-cop Jack Vaughn, the best thing to happen to crime fiction since Chandler's Philip Marlowe hung up his holster, moved from the gritty streets of New York to Miami to work as a personal trainer. The sun, sand, and tanned bodies of Miami are a welcome distraction from the haunting memory of another cop's death in New York. But when he becomes involved with millionaire businessman Colonel Patterson, he realizes his newfound peace is short-lived.
The Colonel offers Jack a hundred grand to do a seemingly simple favor. But getting involved with the Colonel also means getting involved with his daughter, the exotic wild child Vivian, who once broke Jack's heart. Jack had sworn to forget her, but this memorable cast of characters lures him back into their double-dealing circle.
The deeper he gets, the more Jack finds himself entangled in an ever-expanding web of lies, lust, and violence. A dark, hard-boiled look at the dangerous underbelly of glamorous Miami, Straits of Fortune is an unforgettable debut novel.
Review
“This novel should establish Gagliano as the newest of Florida noir writers.” Boca Raton News
Review
“Its fast-paced, down-and-dirty escapist grit lit, easily swallowed in one sitting.” Miami Herald
Review
“Straits of Fortune is intense, exciting, gritty, smooth, compelling and extremely satisfying. Youll want more from Gagliano.” Armchair Interviews
Synopsis
Jack Vaughn was a New York cop for a while, but that didn't end well. So he relocated to America's sexiest city and became a personal trainer for some of Miami's hottest hard bodies. In hindsight, he probably should never have gotten involved with Vivian, the footloose daughter of millionaire businessman Colonel Patterson. She ultimately dumped him for a pornographer, but Vaughn can't seem to shake her family. And now the Colonel's offering Jack one hundred grand to perform a “simple” favor: torch the yacht that's floating in the waters behind the Patterson estate . . . along with the dead body that's inside it.
One hundred thousand is a lot of money, so Jack agrees. Which could prove to be the biggest mistake of his life, bringing the carefree, fun-in-the-Florida-sun lifestyle he's learned to love to a very abrupt and very violent end. . . .
About the Author
Born in New York City, Anthony Gagliano now lives in Miami Beach, Florida.