Miami Blues (Hoke Moseley #1) 4 of 5 stars ⭐ If you liked the movie, you'll like this book.

 If you haven't read the book, or seen the movie...I recommend both.

Miami Blues (Hoke Moseley #1) 4 of 5 stars ⭐ 

By Charles Willeford

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys real noir. It's in no way stereotypical. It's a wild ride, from start to finish. You're injected into Frederick J. Frenger, Jr's world (aka: Junior), with strict rules and codes, most of us wouldn't understand. It's a bucket of crazy we're being dunked in, and it could go off the rails at any moment. There's only 'the now' for Junior; he does what he wants, when he wants. The book starts with the accidental murder of a Hare Krishna. Need I say more?

It's an interesting take, starting a noir from the antagonist's point of view. You don't get to the anti-hero, (Sergeant Hoke) until the second chapter. The book successfully flips back and forth between the two, without it being confusing, or difficult to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

If you liked the movie, you'll like this book. That's not something I say often, in fact, I can think of only one other example (James Lee Burke's Heaven's Prisoners. I'm sure some will disagree, but I actually liked the movie better than the book.) The movie Miami Blues and the book are virtually identical, except the movie added a few scenes, and with them came some needed black humor. I think if those scenes were added to the book, it would have flowed better. I know noir is supposed to be dark and humorless, but that's not always so. As it stands now, there's nothing in the book to cut the constant tension. The will he or won't he rob and kill Susan is always pressing. In the movie, he's also "solving crimes" as he steals. The added insult to injury for Hoke, tones down the crazy of living in Junior's world, by adding some hilarity. In my opinion, the book could have used more of what the movie gave, "Have a good time, all the time." I think Junior would agree. 

I definitely recommend Miami Blues (book & movie) and the second book in the series, New Hope for the Dead. I DO NOT recommend the third in the series, Side-Swipe, it's terrible!