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Foggy Moskowitz #1
Cold Florida
It s 1974. Foggy Moskowitz, a Jewish car thief on the run from the Brooklyn authorities, ends up in Florida working for the first office of Child Protective Service. For personal reasons.
An unlikely, but tenacious, child protection officer, he takes on an investigation to find a missing infant, taken from the hospital by her addict mother. But the case takes several unexpected turns as Foggy makes his way from seedy Fry's Bay to Indian Seminole swampland, undertaking a vision quest, a rite of passage in some Native American cultures, in the process.
Along the way he encounters more than a few interesting characters, including John Horse, an Indian mystic, and works to foil a vast land-grab scam by an uber-rich felon.
An unlikely, but tenacious, child protection officer, he takes on an investigation to find a missing infant, taken from the hospital by her addict mother. But the case takes several unexpected turns as Foggy makes his way from seedy Fry's Bay to Indian Seminole swampland, undertaking a vision quest, a rite of passage in some Native American cultures, in the process.
Along the way he encounters more than a few interesting characters, including John Horse, an Indian mystic, and works to foil a vast land-grab scam by an uber-rich felon.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2016
32 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Phillip DePoy
36 books84 followersPhillip DePoy has published short fiction, poetry, and criticism in Story, The Southern Poetry Review, Xanadu, Yankee, and other magazines. He is currently the creative director of the Maurice Townsend Center for the Performing Arts at the State University of West Georgia, and has had many productions of his plays at regional theaters throughout the south. He is the recipient of numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the state of Georgia, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Arts Festival of Atlanta, the South Carolina Council for the Arts, etc. He composed the scores for the regional Angels in America and other productions and has played in a numerous jazz and folk bands. In his work as a folklorist he has collected songs and stories throughout Georgia and has worked with John Burrison, the foremost folklorist in the south and with Joseph Cambell.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 3, 2016
First Sentence: It was two in the morning, the middle of February.
Foggy Moskowitz left Brooklyn rather abruptly, and arrived in Florida working for Child Protective Services. His boss, Sharon, lands him with a case of a missing infant and an addict mother. Their trail leads him to the Florida swampland, Seminole Indians, some unexpected and unusual adventures, while trying to prevent being killed, and rescuing the baby.
We begin with a very good introduction and back story on Foggy, as well as introducing us to the situation. It’s nice to have a protagonist with a somewhat different profession; in this case, an investigator is CPS. But how he got there is also very interesting; a personal Yom Kipper—the tenth day of Tishri; atonement and repentance. Foggy is a bit of a paradox. He can clearly handle himself in threatening situations, yet being a Brooklyn boy very much out of his element, he can also be naïve.
All of the characters are unique and intriguing. While some are not people you’d necessarily want to meet, DePoy makes them real, and often someone about whom you’d like to know more. The Seminoles Mr. Redhawn, Phillip, Foggy’s boss, Sharon, and even a killer named McReedy are very much part of the tapestry of the story.
They story itself is classic DePoy. There’s a touch of mysticism; or isn’t there. He creates circles in circles. Even when the story seems to wander as does a trail through a swamp, one wants to keep following it. Even when he becomes repetitive, the characters acknowledge that one has already been told the information.
DePoy as a wonderful, story-teller’s voice—“Behind the bar was a guy called Fat Tuesday. He was called that because he came from New Orleans and his name was Martin Craw, but he went by Marty, so that his name sounded like Mardi Gras, which anyone would know was the French way of saying ‘Fat Tuesday. Foggy’s musings often give one pause—“then it occurred to me that a place can hold on to the things that happen in it. Not exactly like a haunted house, more like an echo. Just because you can’t hear the echo any more doesn’t mean that the molecules of every sob or sign or wince of pain don’t hand around…”--, and there’s nothing quite like a good analogy—“In the light of the afternoon, it did not look so good. Some things – old buildings, semi-romantic landscapes, certain faces – are always best left to moonlight. The old joint looked very much like a tired hooker asleep on a park bench in the warm afternoon sun.”
“Cold Florida” is a wonderful mix of action, philosophy, just the rights about of violence, thoroughly intriguing characters, and a motive, when realized, that makes perfect sense.
COLD FLORIDA (Lic Inv-Foggy Moskowitz-Florida-Contemp) - G+
DePoy Phillip – 1st in series
Severn House, April 2016
Foggy Moskowitz left Brooklyn rather abruptly, and arrived in Florida working for Child Protective Services. His boss, Sharon, lands him with a case of a missing infant and an addict mother. Their trail leads him to the Florida swampland, Seminole Indians, some unexpected and unusual adventures, while trying to prevent being killed, and rescuing the baby.
We begin with a very good introduction and back story on Foggy, as well as introducing us to the situation. It’s nice to have a protagonist with a somewhat different profession; in this case, an investigator is CPS. But how he got there is also very interesting; a personal Yom Kipper—the tenth day of Tishri; atonement and repentance. Foggy is a bit of a paradox. He can clearly handle himself in threatening situations, yet being a Brooklyn boy very much out of his element, he can also be naïve.
All of the characters are unique and intriguing. While some are not people you’d necessarily want to meet, DePoy makes them real, and often someone about whom you’d like to know more. The Seminoles Mr. Redhawn, Phillip, Foggy’s boss, Sharon, and even a killer named McReedy are very much part of the tapestry of the story.
They story itself is classic DePoy. There’s a touch of mysticism; or isn’t there. He creates circles in circles. Even when the story seems to wander as does a trail through a swamp, one wants to keep following it. Even when he becomes repetitive, the characters acknowledge that one has already been told the information.
DePoy as a wonderful, story-teller’s voice—“Behind the bar was a guy called Fat Tuesday. He was called that because he came from New Orleans and his name was Martin Craw, but he went by Marty, so that his name sounded like Mardi Gras, which anyone would know was the French way of saying ‘Fat Tuesday. Foggy’s musings often give one pause—“then it occurred to me that a place can hold on to the things that happen in it. Not exactly like a haunted house, more like an echo. Just because you can’t hear the echo any more doesn’t mean that the molecules of every sob or sign or wince of pain don’t hand around…”--, and there’s nothing quite like a good analogy—“In the light of the afternoon, it did not look so good. Some things – old buildings, semi-romantic landscapes, certain faces – are always best left to moonlight. The old joint looked very much like a tired hooker asleep on a park bench in the warm afternoon sun.”
“Cold Florida” is a wonderful mix of action, philosophy, just the rights about of violence, thoroughly intriguing characters, and a motive, when realized, that makes perfect sense.
COLD FLORIDA (Lic Inv-Foggy Moskowitz-Florida-Contemp) - G+
DePoy Phillip – 1st in series
Severn House, April 2016
February 22, 2016
I enjoyed this new Phillip DePoy novel so much that I read it in one day. I have rather recently come across Mr. DePoy's novels which feature Flap Tucker and are placed in Atlanta, Georgia. Those were so good that I didn't even hesitate when I saw this new series was available. DePoy creates accessible main characters which really endears them to me. Here I found Foggy Moskowitz living in Fry's Bay, Florida. The year is 1974 and the weather is cold and rainy. People have a tendency to overlook the fact that it actually gets cold in Florida and the sun doesn't shine every day. The weather, in this case, definitely adds to the overall feel of everything Foggy is going to be up against as he tries to find a newborn, substance addicted infant removed from the hospital by the mother. Three hours without medication and the child will die so Foggy, as a representative of Child Protective Services, goes hunting in all the low places a drug addicted woman would likely go to hide herself away. So why is Foggy in Fry's Bay when he is definitely a Jew from Brooklyn and why is a professional hit man trying to kill him and where does the Seminole tribe come into all this?
The mystery novels I've read by DePoy all have a very good mystery with intelligent protagonists and a touch of humor which often makes me chuckle - even out loud. As an example from this book: ".....but are we certain that the four of us don't make the most obvious group target in the southeastern United States? A wounded Indian, a soggy Jew, a known hitman, and a tall, bleeding woman? All we need is Sidney Greenstreet and we have the makings of some lost Bogart movie." The plot of this story revolves around the motivation for Foggy's move away from Brooklyn. Thankfully, the author does explain what happened to Foggy in the past which makes him feel the need to protect children, the ultimate victims of the bad behavior of adults. The Florida Seminole tribe is represented by many characters in the novel, notably John Horse. Don't believe anything John Horse tells you until you are sure he is truly your friend - he's one tricky dude!
If you want to find a new author to put at the top of your "follow" list, Phillip DePoy just may be your man. This novel is serious while still having that light, humorous edge that gives you a feeling that these are people who might well actually exist outside the pages of a book. The location is shown in a different light than normal which adds dramatic impact. Plus, the good guys are actually nice, good people. I wish I had the recipe for Foggy's Aunt Shayna's beef brisket, though. Maybe DePoy should think about putting recipes in the back of the book?
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House.
The mystery novels I've read by DePoy all have a very good mystery with intelligent protagonists and a touch of humor which often makes me chuckle - even out loud. As an example from this book: ".....but are we certain that the four of us don't make the most obvious group target in the southeastern United States? A wounded Indian, a soggy Jew, a known hitman, and a tall, bleeding woman? All we need is Sidney Greenstreet and we have the makings of some lost Bogart movie." The plot of this story revolves around the motivation for Foggy's move away from Brooklyn. Thankfully, the author does explain what happened to Foggy in the past which makes him feel the need to protect children, the ultimate victims of the bad behavior of adults. The Florida Seminole tribe is represented by many characters in the novel, notably John Horse. Don't believe anything John Horse tells you until you are sure he is truly your friend - he's one tricky dude!
If you want to find a new author to put at the top of your "follow" list, Phillip DePoy just may be your man. This novel is serious while still having that light, humorous edge that gives you a feeling that these are people who might well actually exist outside the pages of a book. The location is shown in a different light than normal which adds dramatic impact. Plus, the good guys are actually nice, good people. I wish I had the recipe for Foggy's Aunt Shayna's beef brisket, though. Maybe DePoy should think about putting recipes in the back of the book?
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House.
September 1, 2016
I didn't think I'd really like this, but Foggy Moskowitz, Jewish car thief from Brooklyn, now working in Florida to assuage his guilty conscience, won his way into my heart. Foggy is trying to find a baby whose junkie mother took her from the hospital. The baby needs medicine, and anyone who tries to stop Foggy is clearly a bad guy. But it turns out that the mother is part Seminole, and soon Foggy is really in a fog when he's hit by more mysticism than he can handle. There is a lot of violence as well as humor, but the bad guys get theirs in the end.
July 11, 2016
It has been six days since I finished this book. I needed time to think about what to write. Cold Florida was a surprise to me as I expected (from the writer himself) another Fever Devilin novel was coming my way. I love Fever Devilin novels with their strange characters and spirits sprinkled liberally throughout. And thanks to Goodread's sweet feature of letting you know when an author you have read before has another book out, I learned about Phillip DePoy's new novel. [I've been searching for Fever Devilin since January (2016) in my anticipation of a new book.] Anyway, my first act should be to apologize to Mr. DePoy for that briefest moment of irritation I felt at not having Fever back in my life. Today, I am elated with Mr. DePoy's decision to go another route and in his creation of Foggy Moskowitz. To me, this is his best work yet and I am so looking forward to a second one. I loved the book, loved the humor, loved the unique (hard to do these days) story. Hey, loved it all. Highly recommend this book. It absorbed me (read it in a day) and left me hoping for more. Thank you Phillip DePoy.
January 20, 2016
I fell in love with Phillip DePoy's writing when I discovered his Fever Devillin series, and now I have another reason to love him. Foggy Moscowitz is my new hero and I can't wait to read more!!!
January 14, 2019
A drug-addicted newborn is stolen from the hospital in Fry's Bay, Florida, by the child's junkie mother. Foggy Moskowitz, investigator for Florida Child Protective Services, is called to assist the police in finding the endangered baby who needs medicine within three hours or could die.
Foggy had previously been a happy-go-lucky car thief in Brooklyn until he was arrested in 1971. Knowing he would wind up in jail, Foggy managed to escape from the police, hightailing it to Florida and a new life. Three years later he has a steady government job.
The search for baby and mother leads Foggy to a small time dealer, a bar and pool hall with excellent brisket and testy teens, and a hungover Seminole trying to help the baby while staying out of trouble. Finding the baby won't stop the questions in Foggy's mind. In fact, it generates even more, many involving the Seminole Tribal Council's involvement. Someone is trying to kill Foggy. He is also being warned away from Tribal business. Things get stranger and stranger, but amazingly intriguing.
It honestly took me a couple of chapters to get into this one, but once I could "hear" the cadence of Foggy's speech, I began to love the book. An intriguing weaving of mystery, mysticism, unusual characters, and a time of change for the Seminoles.
While it has become a cliche to write books set in Florida filled with strange, unusual, or crazy people, like most cliches it has a basis in truth. I grew up in Florida and moved back so I could retire from what I consider my home state. I can attest that there is something about Florida that either breeds or attracts people who are...different.
I'm enchanted with this book and cannot wait to read a sequel someday soon. So much so that I am inclined to check out the author's other series, Fever Devilin, which one reviewer has called "Southern Gothic".
Foggy is the main character, but there are so many others that caught my attention, from John Horse to dear Phillip to Mister Redhawk and so many others who live in or near the small town. 4.5 out of 5.
Foggy had previously been a happy-go-lucky car thief in Brooklyn until he was arrested in 1971. Knowing he would wind up in jail, Foggy managed to escape from the police, hightailing it to Florida and a new life. Three years later he has a steady government job.
The search for baby and mother leads Foggy to a small time dealer, a bar and pool hall with excellent brisket and testy teens, and a hungover Seminole trying to help the baby while staying out of trouble. Finding the baby won't stop the questions in Foggy's mind. In fact, it generates even more, many involving the Seminole Tribal Council's involvement. Someone is trying to kill Foggy. He is also being warned away from Tribal business. Things get stranger and stranger, but amazingly intriguing.
It honestly took me a couple of chapters to get into this one, but once I could "hear" the cadence of Foggy's speech, I began to love the book. An intriguing weaving of mystery, mysticism, unusual characters, and a time of change for the Seminoles.
While it has become a cliche to write books set in Florida filled with strange, unusual, or crazy people, like most cliches it has a basis in truth. I grew up in Florida and moved back so I could retire from what I consider my home state. I can attest that there is something about Florida that either breeds or attracts people who are...different.
I'm enchanted with this book and cannot wait to read a sequel someday soon. So much so that I am inclined to check out the author's other series, Fever Devilin, which one reviewer has called "Southern Gothic".
Foggy is the main character, but there are so many others that caught my attention, from John Horse to dear Phillip to Mister Redhawk and so many others who live in or near the small town. 4.5 out of 5.
January 17, 2018
I love the characters in Phillip Depoy - they are always unusual and quirky... I like quirky :)
Foggy Moskowitz does not disappoint - defintiuely unusual and quirky. And since I am Jewish and was a Child protective service worker - I like Foggy even more. I love the other characters also in the book - they are so "real"
Depoy's depiction of the Native American Reservation is great. There is truth and hilarity - even in the most dire situations
And yes, I have read the "Easy series" and the "Fever Devlin series"
Foggy Moskowitz does not disappoint - defintiuely unusual and quirky. And since I am Jewish and was a Child protective service worker - I like Foggy even more. I love the other characters also in the book - they are so "real"
Depoy's depiction of the Native American Reservation is great. There is truth and hilarity - even in the most dire situations
And yes, I have read the "Easy series" and the "Fever Devlin series"
October 8, 2018
Mr. de Poy has yet another winner in Cold Florida! He creates absorbing characters and locations, and his descriptions of food have me salivating.
I hope he writes a cookbook some day containing recipes from all of his novels.
I hope he writes a cookbook some day containing recipes from all of his novels.
September 28, 2025
Too outlandish for me. There are lots of characters in this book, and every time Foggy comes across one again their place in the plot has twisted in a new direction. It made for a convoluted mystery and destroyed any flow the book ever could attain.
November 16, 2017
Witty. A fun and unexpected character--car thief turned child protection officer. I look forward to more.
November 16, 2018
Voice and characters are the highpoint of this twisty mystery.
Neo-noir.c
Neo-noir.c
June 25, 2021
gets off to a slow start. i enjoyed it; it is best read with some understanding of the history of the Seminoles, and environmental issues of Florida.
October 30, 2021
Foggy is for keeps. Phillip Depoy definitely has a terrific series brewing. Easy and fun read with characters to match. On to the next Foggy entertaining spectacle! Sammy Two Shoes got me hooked.
June 13, 2023
Interesting twists & turns & the author messing with the reader’s head a bit. Similar style to his Fever Devilin series, different culture.
February 19, 2025
This was an incredibly good read! Onwards to #2 Foggy Moskowitz🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏆
March 25, 2016
How can you not love a hero whose name is Foggy Moskowitz? Set in 1974, Foggy has relocated to Florida after retiring from his former profession, car thief. Foggy does not bring only the skills of his trade but the angst of his last job, the one that convinced him to leave NYC and head south.
Foggy is hired to protect children from the adults who were supposed to protect them. He takes his work very seriously. In fact, the effort that he makes to rescue a drug addicted baby whose mother has kidnapped her from the hospital wins him brief accolades and the interest of two very different groups of people.
Foggy needs to figure out what is going on and who are the good guys and who are the bad. As in a Carl Hiassen book, black and white it is not.
it's truly good story with fascinating characters, lots of action, lots of humour and a hero who keeps the reader wanting more.
If you enjoy quirky mysteries that make you think, you will enjoy this one.
Five purrs and two paws up!
Foggy is hired to protect children from the adults who were supposed to protect them. He takes his work very seriously. In fact, the effort that he makes to rescue a drug addicted baby whose mother has kidnapped her from the hospital wins him brief accolades and the interest of two very different groups of people.
Foggy needs to figure out what is going on and who are the good guys and who are the bad. As in a Carl Hiassen book, black and white it is not.
it's truly good story with fascinating characters, lots of action, lots of humour and a hero who keeps the reader wanting more.
If you enjoy quirky mysteries that make you think, you will enjoy this one.
Five purrs and two paws up!
May 26, 2016
I really enjoyed DePoy's Flap Tucker series, so when this popped up on my Amazon feed, I was intrigued. With a lead character named Foggy Moskowitz, how can you go wrong? This story is set in 1974 small-town Florida. Lots of interesting bad guys and even more interesting characters from the Seminole rez. The story twists and turns all over and Foggy is an interesting guy. Will be on board for another in this series! Recommend!
August 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this book! I liked the fast pace, the flawed characters, and the exciting story. The book is set in a small Seminole community in the 1970's. Not your typical suspense setting- and I like that. A coworker read this book and raved about it, so I gave it a shot. I'm so glad I did. I think this one will be getting good reviews at the library staff book group for a long while.
August 19, 2016
Depoy is a new author for me. I thoroughly enjoyed his fast-paced style and this mystery that takes place in drug infested, white-man corrupted, 1974 Florida. I hope that he writes another Foggy Moskowitz mystery, but meanwhile, I am going to have to read some of his Fever Devilin Series.
May 6, 2016
Can't wait for more of Foggy Moskowitz.
July 22, 2016
Comedy mystery that became increasingly boring as it moved along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2016
This book is fast paced and beautifully narrated. Mystical and gritty at the same time,you will get lost in Cold Florida
April 8, 2017
I really like the Fever Devilin series. This doesn't have quite the same feel. Maybe the next one will be stronger.
January 6, 2017
This book showed us a few days in the life of Foggy Moskowitz during a cold snap in Florida. Along with the help of some Seminole Indians he manages to save a child or two.
March 31, 2017
I love this author, loved the book. I'll be looking for more of these
April 15, 2017
A good story but too many characters too easily remember who belongs to which faction at which time.
The plot is too convoluted for me to really enjoy.
The plot is too convoluted for me to really enjoy.
May 17, 2017
Foggy is a refreshing character with a conscience which is unique in South Florida.
Read
May 1, 2017First book in the series, first book of his that I have read and I will definitely be reading the next one!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews