cover image Gulf Boulevard

Gulf Boulevard

Dennis Hart. Permanent, $29.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-57962-353-1

Dave Barry fans will welcome Hart’s debut and series opener, a comic thriller complete with a beachfront Florida locale, everyman hero, Mafia thugs, colorful characters, and ubiquitous fart jokes. In Providence, R.I., contract killer Salvatore Scalise performs a two-for-one murder for the local boss in the hope of being given further work. Unfortunately for Salvatore, one of his victims is the boss’s son. In Boston, accountant Jason Najarian wins $63 million in the Powerball lottery, and in short order relocates to a beach house on a barrier island near Sarasota, Fla., where he begins enjoying the sunsets with new neighbors like Sal Santini and Fiona Tallahasee. Jason is excited by the signs of interest from the beautiful Fiona, but not all is rosy. Jason’s ex, Megan O’Mally, believes she deserves some of his windfall, something is definitely wrong with Sal, and men in black with binoculars are hanging about. This is neither great literature nor politically correct, but it’s a lot of fun. Agent: Joyce Holland, D4EO Literary Agency. (Feb.)