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Mick Murphy #1
Chasin' the Wind
Chasin' the Wind takes place in Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba. It is written in the first person view of journalist Liam Michael Murphy, his friends call him Mick, and he lives on his 40 foot sailboat, 'Fenian Bastard,' in Key West. The book opens with Mick finding his friend Tom Hunter brutally beaten at the Key West Sail Club's clubhouse on the day Mick, Tom and Bob Lynds were meeting to organize the next Key West to Havana sailboat race. Days later Tom dies. The story involves the corruption of small town politics in the southernmost city of the United States, Key West. It revolves around a scheme to topple the communist government in Cuba, that could have international repercussions and unites Cuban exiles, Cuban military deserters, and neurotic federal agents against ordinary, but unique, local citizens.
- GenresMystery
239 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2008
22 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Michael Haskins
24 books35 followersMystery Writer living in Key West, Florida. A member of MWA and ITA and PWA. Short story, Vampire Slayer Murdered in Key West, was nominated for a best short story of 2012 for a Shamus Award. He has seven books in his Mick Murphy Key West Mystery series.
Haskins worked as the business editor/writer for the local Key West daily and then as the public information officer for the city, all of which has enriched his understanding of how Key West functions.
Haskins worked as the business editor/writer for the local Key West daily and then as the public information officer for the city, all of which has enriched his understanding of how Key West functions.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 2, 2012
Intelligent Sleuth & Great Setting
The cover of Chasin' The Wind has palm trees gilded by a setting sun and a boat, silhouetted on a patch of gleaming water. All else in the peaceful scene is darkness. The cover artist perfectly captured the essence of this book, the first Mad Mick Murphy Mystery, by Michael Haskins.
Set in Key West, the darkness beneath the bright surface of this tourist mecca is revealed in the opening sequence when Murphy, former globe-trotting investigative journalist, stumbles upon the near-dead body of his friend and fellow sail enthusiast.
Haskins has a lean, spare style that gives you the facts and paints a picture of the Key West known to its denizens but rarely seen by the tourists. Forget the glitz and glamor of the other odes to Floridian excess as seen in book, television, and film. Chasin' The Wind is the real deal. It's the bite of lime in a mojito, the festering, relentless antipathy still nurtured for Fidel, and the spray of salt in your face when you're on the water.
Mick Murphy is not some unrealistic super hero sleuth. He might be the guy you pass on the street. He's known tragedy, and he's haunted by the past. He probably isn't extraordinary in his beliefs: that loyalty and friendship are everything and that justice should be sought.
Haskins has created an intelligent sleuth, and you'll get a kick out of following Mad Mick Murphy from Key West to Cuba in Chasin' The Wind. You'll wish you could hang with Murphy in a seedy bar and share a beer.
The cover of Chasin' The Wind has palm trees gilded by a setting sun and a boat, silhouetted on a patch of gleaming water. All else in the peaceful scene is darkness. The cover artist perfectly captured the essence of this book, the first Mad Mick Murphy Mystery, by Michael Haskins.
Set in Key West, the darkness beneath the bright surface of this tourist mecca is revealed in the opening sequence when Murphy, former globe-trotting investigative journalist, stumbles upon the near-dead body of his friend and fellow sail enthusiast.
Haskins has a lean, spare style that gives you the facts and paints a picture of the Key West known to its denizens but rarely seen by the tourists. Forget the glitz and glamor of the other odes to Floridian excess as seen in book, television, and film. Chasin' The Wind is the real deal. It's the bite of lime in a mojito, the festering, relentless antipathy still nurtured for Fidel, and the spray of salt in your face when you're on the water.
Mick Murphy is not some unrealistic super hero sleuth. He might be the guy you pass on the street. He's known tragedy, and he's haunted by the past. He probably isn't extraordinary in his beliefs: that loyalty and friendship are everything and that justice should be sought.
Haskins has created an intelligent sleuth, and you'll get a kick out of following Mad Mick Murphy from Key West to Cuba in Chasin' The Wind. You'll wish you could hang with Murphy in a seedy bar and share a beer.
January 25, 2019
Mad Mick Murphy is a highly respected, investigative journalists. Good thing, because he is going to need a lot of contacts to pull this one off. A good friend is murdered by some Cuban refugees and Murphy has proof. FBI agents Smith and Jones (probably not their real names. :) ) get involved and tell him to butt out. They are working with the feds and are untouchable. The fact that they are terrorizing and killing innocents is immaterial. If Mad Mick wants justice, he is going to have to find another way, but first he has to locate them. He collects a lot of helpers, but only one has the skill set he needs. The others, Including two strip club owners and an old man that talks to angels, are helpful in other ways. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
June 20, 2023
Good easy afternoon read.
July 7, 2013
A good story in the Key West murder mystery genre. Haskins creates a great sense of place that is easily recognizable by anyone who has been to KW. Great references to favorite hangouts and local characters like Michael McCloud (can picture him at the Schooner Wharf Bar singing "Chasin' the Wind" and "Tourist Town Bars"). Perfect for reading on the beach or lazing in your hammock on a hot summer day.
September 19, 2013
Somewhat predictable, with some technical and grammatical errors, but nonetheless an easy adventure read through the streets of Key West and Havana. Lots of familiar places and familiar-sounding characters if you're a regular on Key West.
January 28, 2013
It was an easy read, but a bit overboard on some of the descriptions. I will read his next one to see how Michael progresses with his writing. I know he has written several and I always like to read them in order to see how the characters develop.
June 1, 2011
The best thing about this book was the narrator, Reed McColm who sounds a lot like Edward Herrmann. Talented and skillful voice.
March 8, 2015
Well written mystery thriller set among the boating community of the Florida keys.
December 10, 2012
A Key West mystery. Not a bad story. It's just not my favortie genre. But the author got the correct feel of key West, with correct use of places and characters. An authentic Key West mystery.
September 1, 2012
A great Key West mystery.
March 18, 2013
enjoyable, quick read, more of a novella than a novel
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews