Cold Florida

A wisecracking former car thief turns amateur sleuth in this “appealing, offbeat” thriller series debut from an Edgar Award–winning author (Booklist).   It’s 1974. Foggy Moskowitz, once a Jewish car thief on the run from the Brooklyn authorities, is now in Florida working for Child Protective Services. For personal reasons.   An unlikely but tenacious child protection officer, he’s investigating the case of a missing infant taken from the hospital by her addict mother. But the case takes several unexpected turns—including a vision quest—as Foggy journeys from seedy Fry’s Bay to Indian Seminole swampland. Along the way he encounters more than a few interesting characters, including John Horse, an Indian mystic, and works to foil a vast land-grab scam by an uber-rich felon.   By turns amusing and moving, mixing passion with pathos, and introducing some truly colorful characters, Cold Florida is the first in an irreverent mystery series from the acclaimed author of the Fever Devlin novels.   “DePoy’s lively mix of Seminole history and the wry observations of a ‘Yankee Jew criminal’ make for an amusing tale.” —Publishers Weekly   “Those who are able to roll with Foggy will get an unholy kick out of the characters’ flexible allegiances and the hero’s colorful descriptions.” —Kirkus Reviews