June – a retired widow who has spent her years dealing with the chaos created by her four children.
Jimmy – her youngest son and recurring addict.
To escape his endless rounds of relapse and the rehabs (that she funded), June moves to Florida to enjoy the freedom of putting herself first. Surely she deserves that.
Of course Jimmy appears at her door, his current sobriety offering the possibility of repairing their relationship. Alas, Jimmy relapses but somewhat surprisingly, disappears.
June hires Hank, a private detective to find Jimmy. His search reveals an unsavoury collection of drug dealers, gangsters, and corrupt police officers. Before long everyone is scheming against everyone else.
Jeff Bercuson writes in a clipped, slightly off-kilter style that suits the absurdity and menace of this Florida setting. The result is funny, brutal and unpredictable.
A sharp and assured debut, The Queen of Florida is dark humour and the kind of crime fiction where nearly everyone is looking for an angle. Well recommended read.
~ June Lorraine Roberts
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