In the Gator’s Grip: A Drake Marlow Mystery

When Private Investigator Drake Marlow embarks on his first alligator hunt, he expects thrills, but nothing prepares him for the discovery of a severed hand wearing a ring–a ring he recognizes. This unexpected find plunges Drake into a perilous mystery that winds from the wild Everglades to the opulent Palm Beaches and into Tampa’s historic Ybor City. The man he meets there changes everything. With stakes higher than ever, Drake and his team must outwit a clever foe to solve the mystery of the ring and bring those involved to justice. Welcome to Drake Marlow’s world. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Florida, In the Gator’s Grip is a Palm Beach noir mystery and part of the Drake Marlow Mystery series. Here’s what readers say: “This book was fantastic! It is the second in the series, and even though I read the first, I appreciated how the author included timely flashbacks to ensure first-time readers would know the backstory. It was a well-plotted and paced historical mystery.” “I enjoyed the 30s-era characters, especially the strong females, like Betty Lou, Drake Marlow’s no-nonsense secretary, and Constance, his potential girlfriend. I enjoyed this mystery or PI story – it reminded me of the Samuel Dashiell Hammett hard-boiled detective stories that later were made into great black and white Humphrey Bogart movies set in the 1930s…” “This is an enjoyable read. I like how P.I. Drake Marlow operates and how the story unfolds steadily with enough tension. All of the characters are interesting. And they are portrayed in a manner consistent with the time of the story setting. The noir style and the atmosphere of 1930s Florida are well presented. I was transported back in time and enjoyed my trip.”