A Fool's Death

Key West, a tropical paradise brimming with criminals and misfits - nearly all of whom have something to hide - is the steamy setting for A Fool's Death, the sensational debut mystery featuring Mason Collins, a tough-guy private eye and undercover softy.
Collins is hired by a high-priced Miami law firm to investigate the grisly death of his Vietnam War buddy, "Mesquite" Charlie Donne. Charlie, who had a family history of unusual deaths, has suffered the most unusual one of all. He has the dubious distinction of being the first person ever eaten by alligators in Everglades National Park.
The investigation starts off smoothly, but Collins, who has been suspicious from the outset, is soon certain that Charlie's death is not the result of a simple boating accident; all clues point to cold-blooded murder. But why?
Reclusive Charlie's only companions have been his four ex-wives, who were all devoted to him. This unusual group joins forces with Collins to find Charlie's murderer, until, one by one, the wives become targets themselves. Whether it's digging for sunken treasure or dodging an old family curse, Mason Collins keeps his cool in the Key West heat until he uncovers the killer.

Introducing Key West p.i. Mason Collins, who takes on a case for a nameless client who wants to know more about the death of Mason's friend Mesquite Charlie Donne, eaten by alligators in Everglades National Park. A little digging among such laid-back grotesques as coin-dealer Precious Adams, bartender Georgie Two Foot, and kiddie- pornographer Fat Dom reveals that Charlie's father's marine salvage outfit scored a big recovery that left some homicidal feelings among the participants. But as Mason dashes around the Keys trying to protect Charlie's four wives from his killer, he can't figure out whose account of the salvage to believe: Charlie's, his father's sinister sidekick Nick Andalusia's, or rival salvager Carlos (Switchblade) Marti's. Cody writes with a clipped, friendly authority rare in first- novelists, and Mason is the perfect hero for the setting and the case. Fans of Travis McGee have a treat in store. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.