Miami Blues: Charles Willeford’s Darkly Funny Florida Crime Classic

Charles Willeford’s 1984 novel “Miami Blues” introduced Hoke Moseley, a rumpled, unforgettable Miami homicide detective, and helped launch a wave of modern Florida crime fiction.

The plot pits Hoke against a charming, dangerous drifter who arrives in Miami looking for trouble. Willeford’s deadpan humor and sharp eye for South Florida’s quirks make it a cult favorite.

Set among Miami’s diners, motels, and sunstruck streets, the novel paints the city with affection and a knowing grin.

Influential and wickedly entertaining, “Miami Blues” is a cornerstone of the Florida crime canon and a great introduction to a singular writer.