Straits of Fortune

By Anthony Gagliano

Book Overview

Jack Vaughn was a New York cop for a while, but that didn't end well. So he relocated to America's sexiest city and became a personal trainer for some of Miami's hottest hard bodies. In hindsight, he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060878096
• ISBN13: 9780060878092
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

I loved this book! Does anyone know if there are any other books by this author?

I read only suspense novels and it was a pleasure to read this book! Not only did it fulfill my penchant for mysteries, but it was not too gory or only about sex as so many of the new authors' books are these days. Moreover, the author has an ability to combine the right amount of everything, but not too much of one. Meaning, it was suspenseful, entertaining, and to my great surprise...funny! I found myself laughing so much! Does anyone know if this author has any other novels? I know that this is called his debut novel, but sometimes people have other books published that are not known to the public. Anyway, I am already searching the shelves for another Gagliano novel. Can't wait!

FAST FUN

I don't have a lot of time to read, so I need books that get me hooked from the start, or I put them down and forget about them. This book never made it out of my hands. Who is this author? He's funny and clever. This book is a great mystery, but I found myself laughing out loud more than I would in a funny movie. My compliments to the cook!

A New Entry Into The South Florida Thriller Genre

I am a long time fan of the South Florida mystery/thriller writers from John D Macdonald up to Randy Wayne White, Jonathon King, et. al. Gagliano has written a promising debut novel that certainly qualifies him for this select club in my eyes. Our hero in this one is Jack Vaughn, a disgraced ex cop turned personal trainer for the wealthy turned reluctant private detective turned disposer of dead bodies for the powerful. In the course of this fast paced novel, Jack encounters mystery, intrigue, government spooks, personal resurrection, and ultimately, betrayal. Little is what it seems to be. I was most attracted to Jack's damaged psyche and his distrust of others. I especially enjoyed the psychological sparring throughout the novel as represented in the cat and mouse games between Jack and Andrew Patterson, Jack and Vivian, and Jack and Andrew's psychotic bodyguard. I also appreciated the violence and the raw emotions that, at times, seemed to leap off the page. Jack Vaughn is a true flawed loner, carrying a load of baggage, hiding sensitive emotions, yet becoming more "real" by the page. Obviously, certain doors were left open for a sequel and certainly for a series. I personally will be here to read the further adventures of Jack Vaughn.

Sultry scenes combine to make this an enjoyable read!

A compelling and well written story of an ex-cop turned personal trainer (due to a set of circumstances beyond his control). Jack Vaughn is a man that most of us ordinary people can relate to. As he struggles to survive in the hot bed of deception called Miami Beach; he finds himself drawn into a treacherous plot by the very people he thought he could trust (almost). Mystery, intrigue, and sultry scenes combine to make this a very enjoyable read and hopefully will be a start to a new series. I can't wait to hear more about Jack Vaughn's exploits!

Could be the start of a GREAT new series

A thoroughly enjoyable novel, and hopefully the first of many to feature Miami Beach ex-cop/personal trainer/unwilling detective Jack Vaughn. Gagliano has obviously learned from the best, and there will be obvious comparisons to Raymond Chandler, but there's a lot of Ross Macdonald here, too (no insult there -- Macdonald, to me, is one of the most underappreciated practitioners of the genre). Definitely derivative of those who've come before (and what mystery series isn't?), but with many of its own original touches -- a quick, but satisfying read. Count me in for the next entry in the Jack Vaughn series.