A missing realtor. A feral hog with a grudge. And a land deal shady enough to make a swamp look clean. Just another Tuesday for the Swamp Detective.
Gumbo Malone, the world's most accidental private investigator, is back in Cedar Key, and he's finally keeping his head above water-mostly because he upgraded the bilge pump on his leaky houseboat. But when high-powered realtor Linda Hastings hires him to find her missing business partner, Sterling Morrow, right before a massive land deal closes, Gumbo realizes that "simple" jobs in Florida are never actually simple.
Sterling has vanished into the mangroves, leaving behind a trashed office, a smashed espresso machine, and a calendar full of cryptic notes. To find him, Gumbo must navigate a treacherous landscape of environmental fraud, bribery, and betrayal known as the "Black Reef Project".
But the local real estate sharks aren't the only things with teeth. Gumbo is up against Jarrod Vance, a developer with a pink mansion and a screaming parrot; Vanessa Hollis, a lawyer who weaponizes lawsuits and blue suits; and a mysterious "Consultant" who scares even the bad guys.
With the help of his eccentric sidekick Flip Wiggins-who believes duct tape solves all problems-and a very patient manatee, Gumbo has forty-eight hours to unravel a conspiracy that involves feral hogs, arson, and a karaoke performance that will live in infamy.
Can Gumbo save the mangroves, find the missing realtor, and avoid being eaten by the local wildlife? Or will this case be the one that finally sinks him?
Perfect for fans of Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey, and Dave Barry, Ill Intent is a fast-paced, satirical Florida mystery packed with quirky characters, chaotic twists, and enough humidity to melt your Kindle.
