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Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece series
Review: Charles Willeford has written great works of genre specific literature since the 1950's where he was spawned among the greats - Hammett, Chandler, Thompson, Woolrich, etc. Finally, Willeford got the recognition he deserved with the Hoke Moseley novels and in the process created what is now the popular Miami crime novel genre. This first in the series is a masterpiece and each novel in the series gets successfully better. Willeford's knack for creating immensely interesting characters with an edge and his rare yet insightful perspective on life should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: A hard boiled thriller with teeth.
Review: Charles Willeford wrote wonderful true to life's absurdities crime fiction, among his many other accomplishments. This novel (which was made in a movie starring Alec Baldwin) is the first in his only series, starring a much put upon Miami detective named Hoke Moseley. In this initial adventure Hoke runs afoul of an intelligent pyschopath named Freddy Frenger and his ditzy hooker girlfriend while investigating the murder of a Hare Krishna. Along the way Hoke loses his teeth, badge, gun and some of his pride, but never his determination. A mere description of the plot wouldn't begin to do justice to this ironic superb book, full as it is of madcap characters coupled with doses of deadly realism. Very few writers can pull off a mix of the comic and hard boiled, but Willeford was one of those few. Indeed, he was one of the best at it. Read the rest of the books in this series if you can find them, then move on to Willeford's other works and his biography penned by Don Herron.
A 5 stars for sure on this tale of Miami mayhem, murder and mischief.
Rating:
Summary: A hard boiled thriller with teeth.
Review: Charles Willeford wrote wonderful true to life's absurdities crime fiction, among his many other accomplishments. This novel (which was made in a movie starring Alec Baldwin) is the first in his only series, starring a much put upon Miami detective named Hoke Moseley. In this initial adventure Hoke runs afoul of an intelligent pyschopath named Freddy Frenger and his ditzy hooker girlfriend while investigating the murder of a Hare Krishna. Along the way Hoke loses his teeth, badge, gun and some of his pride, but never his determination. A mere description of the plot wouldn't begin to do justice to this ironic superb book, full as it is of madcap characters coupled with doses of deadly realism. Very few writers can pull off a mix of the comic and hard boiled, but Willeford was one of those few. Indeed, he was one of the best at it. Read the rest of the books in this series if you can find them, then move on to Willeford's other works and his biography penned by Don Herron.
A 5 stars for sure on this tale of Miami mayhem, murder and mischief.
Rating: 
Summary: I rarely dislike books but this one is too special
Review: First of all I was glad that a book with such catchy title such as " Miami Blues" was out there because is hard to find fiction books locatined in Miami. I rad the reviews in the book, and the word " marvelous," but as I read on I found myself highly disgusted. The story made Cubans and Latin as same as Miami look like a dump-filled with crimminals. What got me mad was that everybody didn't shed a light to help me have a longlasting fun experience reading.I was disguted by the end since what I read before made tereading unpleasent. It'sgood the book was publish in 1984 because that Miami was not done justice. Sometimes is better to be quiet because not even the reviews seem to fit with such experience. In simple words: it Sucks!!!
Rating:
Summary: Willeford's the best
Review: If you've seen the excellent movie made from this novel, get ready for an original that's not only funnier but about ten shades grimmer. Dead-pan doesn't even begin to describe Willeford. He never condescends or winks, but his tone is devastating.You can't go wrong with any of his other books, either, or his memoirs.
Rating: 
Summary: a very competent, funny and enjoyable Miami mystery novel
Review: Miami Blues is my first Charles Willeford novel but it certainly won't be my last. I remember the film Miami Blues (with Alex Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh). I enjoyed it and hoped the novel would be at least half as good. Thankfully it was even better than the film. In Miami Blues we have a young psychopathic criminal from California landing at Miami International Airport. All he wants is to steal enough money to live on easy street, and he will not let anything get in his way. Unfortunately bad luck and stupidity are stacked against him. Worse, he partners up with an incredibly sweet yet dumb local girl who doesn't offer value for achieving his goals ... no matter how he manipulates her. Worse still, there is a rather crusty old cop out to get him. No spoilers here, but suffice to say Miami Blues has a good ending. The best part of Miami Blues is Willeford's excellent capturing of the "feel" of Miami. It's very much like Carl Hiaasen material without the caustic satire (..oh, I should add Miami Blues does have funny bits also). And it doesn't take itself too seriously, as if Charles Willeford wasn't planning to write fine literature but simply a good story. He succeeded very nicely. Bottom line: a minor jewel amongst the masses of mystery novels. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: a very competent, funny and enjoyable Miami mystery novel
Review: Miami Blues is my first Charles Willeford novel but it certainly won't be my last. I remember the film Miami Blues (with Alex Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh). I enjoyed it and hoped the novel would be at least half as good. Thankfully it was even better than the film. In Miami Blues we have a young psychopathic criminal from California landing at Miami International Airport. All he wants is to steal enough money to live on easy street, and he will not let anything get in his way. Unfortunately bad luck and stupidity are stacked against him. Worse, he partners up with an incredibly sweet yet dumb local girl who doesn't offer value for achieving his goals ... no matter how he manipulates her. Worse still, there is a rather crusty old cop out to get him. No spoilers here, but suffice to say Miami Blues has a good ending. The best part of Miami Blues is Willeford's excellent capturing of the "feel" of Miami. It's very much like Carl Hiaasen material without the caustic satire (..oh, I should add Miami Blues does have funny bits also). And it doesn't take itself too seriously, as if Charles Willeford wasn't planning to write fine literature but simply a good story. He succeeded very nicely. Bottom line: a minor jewel amongst the masses of mystery novels. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE Don't Bother
Review: This was so bad I barely got through it. I can't understand the high praise from other reviewers. This wasn't a thriller or in the least bit funny. Hoke Moseley lives in a dump hotel because he has to send his ex-wife every other paycheck and can't afford anything else. This veteran Miami cop manages to get his teeth, badge & gun stolen when he stupidly sticks his head out his hotel room door without knowing who it is and gets beat up. The whole book just reenforced what a loser he was.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Hard Boiled Detective Story
Review: Willeford's Hoke Mosely novels (of which there are four) are essential reading for any fans of this genre.
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