Tropical Heat (Curley Large Print Books) [Large Print] [Paperback]

John Lutz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1988 | Series: Curley Large Print Books

Tropical Heat is a first-rate detective story. Fred Carver, an Orlando cop until a gunman's bullet shattered his kneecap, acquires a cane and a new career, private investigating. From beach resorts and luxury condos, to the swamps and smuggler's coves of the Everglades, Carver looks for a man who police think committed suicide. Mysterious coincidences follow, Carver's life is threatened and he falls for his client, Edwina Talbot. Deception and confusion make the case into a maze, until bitter betrayal provided an explosive vehicle for a surprising climax.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in Florida, the new world capital for mysteries it seems, this is a taut, suspenseful private-eye novel by the author of the well-received Nightlines. With a tone and style reminiscent of Elmore Leonard, the plot concerns Fred Carver, an ex-cop disabled by a hold-up man's bullet, who has turned to private investigating. When Edwina Talbott, a striking real-estate broker, asks Carver to investigate the suspected suicide of her lover, Willis Davis, Carver finds himself as interested in his client as he is in the case. Soon, Carver is stalked by a group of violent Cuban "Marielitos," and it becomes apparent that the missing Davis is involved in something criminal. When a drug enforcement agent enters the picture, the signs point to drugs, but Lutz uses some neat twists to avoid the obvious. There is plenty of action and good local scenery in this absorbing tale of intrigue.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“The plotting is tight, the characterizations are sharp, the police work has an authentic feeling, and there is an ending that may make the reader gulp once or twice.” —The New York Times Book Review

 

“A taut, suspenseful private eye novel . . . plenty of action and great local scenery.” —Publishers Weekly

 

“Lutz has never written leaner prose, and the novel’s ending, especially the last sentence, is a delight.” —USA Today 

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: John Curley & Assoc; Lrg edition (October 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555045502
• ISBN-13: 978-1555045500
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,289,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT QUITE A SIZZLER, September 20, 2004

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tropical Heat: A Fred Carver Mystery (Paperback)

I had read the second novel in this series (SCORCHER)first, and actually it is better than the debut novel, TROPICAL HEAT. John Lutz obviously has to establish his characters in this one, and so some of this exposition tends to diminish the plot's suspense ratio.

We meet Fred Carver, a 45 year old, former Orlando police detective. Carver was forced into retirement after suffering a debilitating knee wound in a convenience store robbery. Now, he is a private investigator, still rehabilitating after his life-changing injury. He is friends still with Detective DeSoto, a handsome and debonair Latin/Italian, who wears tailored suits and wants Carver's life to get meaning again. Carver's wife, Laura, has left him taking his two children with her. So when deSoto sends the lovely Edwina Talbot to procure Carver's services to locate her missing lover, Carver reluctantly takes the case.

Did Edwina's Willis Davis commit suicide, fake suicide, or has he been kidnapped or murdered?

Carver's quest leads him on a search for potential drug runners and real-estate scams.

Lutz has created a complex, albeit human, protagonist in Fred Carver. Carver of course finds himself falling for Edwina, and she's still clinging to Willis' chances.

The novel doesn't have the terse, brisk pace of SCORCHER, but it is a worthwhile series. The Florida locales add a lot to the narrative.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, July 19, 2007

By 

Christine Wood - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tropical Heat: A Fred Carver Mystery (Paperback)

John Lutz does an incredible job of creating a novel packed chalk full of suspense, humor, mystery and tops it all off with a just a hint of romance to make you crave more.

I find myself snickering to myself throughout most of the book and laughed out loud more than once.

Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Detective Mystery, December 3, 2011

By 

Michael (SoCal) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tropical Heat: A Fred Carver Mystery (Book One) (Kindle Edition)

This is a very enjoyable detective mystery and the first book I have read by John Lutz.

The story and characters were interesting and the writing style made it an easy read. The only ding I would give it is that some of the details unwinding the mystery are spoon-fed near the end in an all-too-convenient fashion.

I look forward to reading through the whole ten book series of Fred Carver mysteries which I picked up at a recent Kindle book sale for $1.99 each!

Appended to the end of the book is an endearing biography of the author including photos beginning from childhood and noteworthy achievements. Clearly, this is an author who thoroughly enjoys his craft.