IN THE HEAT

An-over-the hill boxer takes on a job of detection with dangerous consequences.

Miles Young and his daughter Lani live in Belize City on his earnings as a boxer. The bruises from his recently lost fight remind him that his career is ending. Boxing promoter Manny Marchand promises to arrange one last fight with a purse big enough to finance a new life if Miles will do a favor for wealthy Isabelle Gilmore. Her daughter Rian has run off with the son of Marlon Tablada, a retired police chief not known for honest dealings, and she offers Miles thousands of dollars to find Rian before her approaching 18th birthday. Isabelle tells the naïve Miles that his local contacts would be a bigger help in finding Rian than the police. Miles quickly discovers that some cash Rian took with her is of more interest to Isabelle than her daughter. The Gilmores are involved in laundering money for some very disagreeable people who have a vested interest in the missing cash. But Miles refuses to be called off even after losing a finger in a knife fight. He and his new girlfriend Alicia move through Belize’s mean streets and beautiful countryside searching for the missing teen and a reward that will finance a future for his family.

A promising debut with believable characters, steamy tropical settings and enough action to keep you reading.