Night at Key West

A Simon Wolfe Mystery #1

by Craig A. Hart

Key West. Hemingway. Murder

When private investigator Simon Wolfe is hired to follow his friend’s wife under suspicion of adultery, he could never have guessed it would lead him into a friendship with the world’s leading writer, Ernest Hemingway. Nor could he have predicted the strange and disturbing twists the investigation would take.

The case accelerates quickly when the wife is found murdered in a Key West hotel and discovered to have a secret life. But that revelation is downright boring as the plot thickens with increasingly bizarre revelations, capped off with a macabre ending no one saw coming.

Based on actual events, Night at Key West is a wild ride into history and intrigue, populated by many true-to-life characters and places.

Genres: Mystery, Historical

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2018

About the author

Craig A. Hart is a writer of thrillers. In a past life, he was also director for Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, a broadcast outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired.

In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.

In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.

In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting story, starting with a true event which the author has elevated using great characters, amazing scenes and an intriguing look into Key West life in the 1930's. Even a look into the life of Ernest 'Papa' Hemingway, as he plays a major role in the escapades in Key West!
A private investigator, Simon Wolfe,is hired by an old high school teammate to investigate his wife as he believes she may be cheating on him. One night following the wife leads him onto a property, as he decides to go through the hole in the fence to follow a voice threatens him. When Simon looks up, it is Ernest Hemingway! Of course Simon has been trying to publish some writings,and is amazed to meet Hemingway. The story takes us through the eccentricities of this great author, as the friend's wife is found with her throat slashed in a run down hotel!
The author's writing uses humor, fear and surprise to keep you enthralled by what's happening, and unable to put this story down! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and thank the author, Craig Hart, for the chance to read an ARC!! I am also able to put my thoughts in this review, hoping others will take interest and give this story a chance!!

[Michael Nethery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so ridiculously sublime its not funny. I really want Craig Hart to write at least 100 more books just like this.
I don't want to spoil anything, but let me just say this. If you do not read this ASAP you deserve to have you library card revoked, your reading privilges withdrawn. And send to you room to watch re-runs Hew aw! Oh something equally as bad.
This was fantastic. End, now go read it you silly people, go read it now!

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Said to be based on true events, this story takes place in 1937 with almost all the action taking place in Key West. Ernest "Papa" Hemingway plays a major role, and gives a little something extra to the story. Key West comes with a good supply of strange characters, and Hart does a great job of weaving their eccentricities into the plot. Actual descriptions of the environment are at a true minimum. The only landscape element covered in depth is the sparkling blue water of the Caribbean. Interactions between the characters and plot action provide much to enjoy. Unmasking the killer at the end is less of a surprise in comparison with the entertaining details in the many subplots.

[Diamondbabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this. It's not my usual genera so wasn't sure if I'd actually like the book. From page one I was drawn into the story. As your taken on an adventure with Hemingway then back to Key West you find yourself getting more & more drawn in. Some twists & turns, odd slightly disturbing side story & then an even more surprising ending this book will keep you reading. Your not subjected to excessive padding this book is all story & by the end you will want to read more not only of this new series but the other books by it's author.

[James Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read by the author. Although i like his other series better this was a good story line with great characters . i recommend this book and and his other series as well

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked Craig Hart's books and I love Key West. So when his newest book Night at Key West (A Simon Wolfe Mystery Book 1) was about to be published, I was happily awaiting it. But when I started to read and discovered that Simon Wolfe was becoming involved with none other than Ernest Hemingway, rockets began going off. This book was a thrill to read! Our 1930's hero PI Simon Wolfe, while all too human, does not disappoint. This story is based on actual occurrences published in newspapers of the time and documented in police records. I could read this book over and over.

I did miss Hemingway's multi-toed cats, but everything else was there to be savored. I was fortunate enough to be given an ARC of this wonderful book. Craig, more please, more! What a series this book has started!

[Erik Therme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fact and fiction intertwine in Craig A. Hart’s best novel since Becoming Moon. Simon Wolfe, a private investigator, is hired to find a killer who has murdered an old classmate’s wife. When the body is stolen from the morgue, everyone’s a suspect. Hart’s writing (as always) is top notch and cuts to the chase with a mixture of suspense and humor. Highly recommended!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon is hired to follow his friend's wife in a possible adultery case, he never dreamed it would lead him to meet Ernest Hemingway! But then the wife is found killed in a Key West hotel. Seems she had a hidden life from her husband, but that is only the start of things that no one sees coming! This is based on a true story. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night at Key West - a review by Rosemary Kenny

The first novel in the new Simon Wolfe Mystery Series, by Champion Hemingway fan Craig A Hart, Night at Key West, is set in 1937 and tells of PI Simon Wolfe, hired to trace the wife of a pal of his, who's suspected of cheating on him, who's disappeared. When she's later found murdered in a Key West hotel, fact and fiction blur, as the case is based on actual events in the same location. By chance Wolfe meets and gets involved with the famous author, Ernest Hemingway.
The more Wolfe learns, the more bizarre and unlikely facts emerge, to give a conclusion both exciting and unexpected, when the killer is unmasked.
This novel was well worth the wait for fans of Ernest Hemingway (including myself), film noir scenarios and true life crime stories could hardly wait for the publication, (in September 2018). Once begun you will be spellbound and perched on the edge of your seat in this unputdownable, 5-star best-seller miracle of popular fiction, by the inimitable Craig A Hart.
Buy your copy, immediately and enjoy a walk on the Key West wild side - then tell all your friends!

[Diane Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Private Investigator Simon Wolfe is just starting as a P.I. He’s a serious wannabe novelist that has to earn a living somehow. The time is four years after prohibition ends. The place is Key West of course.

Night at Key West is a Film Noir that hasn’t made it to the big screen yet. I can not think of another way to describe the atmosphere of Night at Key West. That’s how I felt as I read and listened to it.

Night at Key West, A Simon Wolfe mystery is also true. I love true crime. Simon is hired to find out what a friends wife is up to. In the process, he becomes friends with Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway is quite a character which comes through clearly in this book/audible.

I enjoyed the audible more. That’s where the Film Noir feel shines. It’s a 5-star book too, but the audible was terrific. This book and audible is a refreshing experience for me. Completely different. You must pay attention because the story has so many twists to it. At the same time, it’s so much fun taking a step back in time.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night at Key West by Craig A. Hart is an exciting new direction from this well-established author. As with his other series, the Serenity Thrillers and the SpyCo Novellas, there is plenty of action, compelling characters, and rock-solid writing.

But Key West is special. What makes it so? I offer a quick list of reasons for this statement, and examples that I expect will give credence to my point.

Let’s begin with the setting. Key West is, of course, part of the Florida Keys, and as such is a part of the Sunshine State. But don’t tell that to the residents of the island. Many of the locals have never set foot on the soil of any place else. Why would they? They’re in paradise! Assuming that the air in paradise is thick and oppressive, dictating what will get done, and determining the pace at which it will happen. The air of Key West and the island itself are robust and important characters in the narrative. This is an astutely conceived and an expertly used device.

Another skillfully developed element of the story is the time frame. This is the Key West of the 1930’s. As the son of a man who came of age in that period I can tell you that this was a different time. You will, of course, reply with some variation of the “Duh!” sentiment. At the surface that does sound like a rather inane statement but consider: The things that people ate and drank then are often still familiar to us yet simultaneously almost always a bit different. Coca-Cola is enjoyed, but it is never referred to as “Coke.” The shorter name was not used until after the period of the story. Maxwell House coffee was an old favorite by the 30’s, while other items which would be commonplace during The Great Depression are mostly forgotten now – though some make their way into the book, adding further authenticity and charm to its telling.

Next, we should consider the frame of reference of the main character and narrator, Simon Wolfe. Like most of the people populating the novel, Wolfe is a “conch,” a Key West native, born and bred. Unlike the others, however, Wolfe left the Key to pursue his higher education in New England. The years he spent away from paradise, combined with the well-presented nuances of his natural personality give him a perspective on the place that is just enough different from that of the many characters in the story for whom Key West represents the boundaries of the known world, that it allows him to see things in ways they couldn’t, going places mentally their minds just never would. It is a trait which serves him well in both of his chosen endeavors, working as a private investigator and seeking to make his way as a writer.

The latter brings us to the next item on our laundry list. This one truly separates NaKW from others in the current pool of mysteries, and that is Hart’s use of Ernest Hemingway as a character.

Anyone who has followed Craig Hart’s work may have seen prior hints that he has an affinity for the man from Oak Park (via the world). One need look no further than the title of his collection of short fiction, The Girl Who Read Hemingway. But I doubt anyone was prepared for the degree to which he would channel that respect and knowledge to present us with a living, breathing Ernest Hemingway. I don’t know how many people still living had the pleasure of speaking with Papa in person, but I would be willing to lay a very heavy wager that there would be nothing in Hart’s presentation of the Nobel laureate’s behavior, temperament, generosity, ferocity, impulsivity, even his unique speech pattern that would run counter to their memory.

There is one last important element of the book that I need you to see and understand. You’ll encounter it twice in the book. I’ll tell you about the second time first.

When Hemingway learns that the private detective Simon Wolfe also has literary ambitions, he offers to look at Simon’s work. His verdict: “You got it, kid.” Imagine Wolfe’s mind at that moment! As a writer, I can think of few thrills that would surpass that four-word endorsement.

But you don’t have to wait until that scene, and Papa’s proclamation, to experience the “got it” factor. That will happen on page one, as you start reading Hart’s prose. This is a writer who has worked very hard to master his craft, make no mistake.

But that legwork was built upon a framework that anyone who has been a reader for any length of time will recognize. It is the same framework you’ve sensed a few other times in your life. We’ve all read a truly great author for the first time and said to ourselves, “Well, that changes everything.”

By this point I believe you might be reading this review thinking that I’m overstating my case. After all, we’re talking about a relatively quick-read period-piece murder mystery! And it is that. It is that, and it works perfectly well on that level. I support that opinion. I encourage it.

Just don’t miss the brilliance that infuses it. Don’t mistake Night at Key West with another escapist romp through the gritty past. Get this book, read it, then wait with the rest of us for Simon Wolfe to return.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell Barnes Adventure Series:
BURIED DANGER - A quickly read, humorous novella with the usual interesting story lines with armed bad guys and a powerful talisman and some interesting characters. Source: The author, ARC. 4*

Night at Key West - While not in the same ballpark as the Shelby series and lots better than the Assignment series, this is a good start to a new series. Set in 1937 and using real background material, Mr. Hart weaves a substantially interesting and partly humorous story. All the characters are interesting, quirkly in some cases, but all hold the reader's interest, along with their realistic dialog. The story lines are entertaining and well thought out; yes, there are a few kinks, but the story moves along at a good pace. Key West has always been interesting during this time period and Mr. Hart keeps that interest going with this story. 5*

The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series:
Serenity #1 - A great read. A well written, action packed suspense story that draws you in and doesn't let go until you've finished the book. The characters range from likable to despicable, all believable and make you respond to them. 5*

Serenity Stalked #2 - Fast paced but a cliffhanger. A well written suspense, darker than Serenity, heavy with vulgar language. The plot and characters keep you reading until the end. Rather short in length and a cliffhanger ending, although this subject of this story is complete. In the Serenity series, the author has some real doozies for villains for the main characters to fight. 5*

Serenity Avenged #3 - Dark but complete. A well written, but dark, suspense that grabs you and doesn't let go. Surprisingly light with the vulgar language, Serenity Stalked had too much, but contained the darkness found in the short stories of The Girl Who Read Hemingway. If you like one of these books, you'll like the other. The darkness was not graphic. Although picks up where S. Stalked ended, this novel has closure. 5*

Serenity Submerged #4 - Fast paced story. Another well written, action packed suspense story that keeps you reading until the story ends, which was all too soon. The characters are believable and real, and the twisting plot is riveting. I haven't been disappointed with any of the author's books that I've read so far. 5*

Serenity Engulfed #5 – Another dynamic addition to the Serenity Family. Another well written, fast paced, suspense filled novel with our favorite characters Shelby and Mack and some not so favorite; but without them there’s no intriguing book to read. There’s a new sheriff in town and she and Shelby are learning to play nice together, with Mack’s help. The ending makes me wonder what kind of trouble Shel and Mack will face in the future. I contacted the author to review his books and have enjoyed them all. 5*

SERENITY TRAPPED - A quickly read short that is intriguing and difficult to put down. While dark, there is still humor and minimum violence. No matter how well you plan, there is still a detail missed. Good coffee break read. One of my favorite authors and series with well written story lines and believable, likeable characters, and no silly hollywood drama. Source: The author, ARC. 5*

Serenity Divided, #10 - It felt good to be able to read another Serenity book by Mr. Hart. Another well written story with intrigue and suspense filled story lines. Interesting characters, some humor along with plenty of action, all set at a good pace. 5*

I contacted the author to review his books after reading the first two books of the Serenity Series.
The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series end.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night at Key West - While not in the same ballpark as the Shelby series and lots better than the Assignment series, this is a good start to a new series. Set in 1937 and using real background material, Mr. Hart weaves a substantially interesting and partly humorous story. All the characters are interesting, quirkly in some cases, but all hold the reader's interest, along with their realistic dialog. The story lines are entertaining and well thought out; yes, there are a few kinks, but the story moves along at a good pace. Key West has always been interesting during this time period and Mr. Hart keeps that interest going with this story. 5*

Serenity series:
Serenity #1 - A great read. A well written, action packed suspense story that draws you in and doesn't let go until you've finished the book. The characters range from likable to despicable, all believable and make you respond to them. 5*

Serenity Stalked #2 - Fast paced but a cliffhanger. A well written suspense, darker than Serenity, heavy with vulgar language. The plot and characters keep you reading until the end. Rather short in length and a cliffhanger ending, although this subject of this story is complete. In the Serenity series, the author has some real doozies for villains for the main characters to fight. 5*

Serenity Avenged #3 - Dark but complete. A well written, but dark, suspense that grabs you and doesn't let go. Surprisingly light with the vulgar language, Serenity Stalked had too much, but contained the darkness found in the short stories of The Girl Who Read Hemingway. If you like one of these books, you'll like the other. The darkness was not graphic. Although picks up where S. Stalked ended, this novel has closure. 5*

Serenity Submerged #4 - Fast paced story. Another well written, action packed suspense story that keeps you reading until the story ends, which was all too soon. The characters are believable and real, and the twisting plot is riveting. I haven't been disappointed with any of the author's books that I've read so far. 5*

Serenity Engulfed #5 – Another dynamic addition to the Serenity Family. Another well written, fast paced, suspense filled novel with our favorite characters Shelby and Mack and some not so favorite; but without them there’s no intriguing book to read. There’s a new sheriff in town and she and Shelby are learning to play nice together, with Mack’s help. The ending makes me wonder what kind of trouble Shel and Mack will face in the future. I contacted the author to review his books and have enjoyed them all. 5*

I contacted the author to review his books after reading the first two books of the Serenity Series.
Serenity series: End.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Well, Wolfe,” the man said. “I’m Hemingway.”

Iowa author Craig A. Hart is both a writer and an editor: he has served as editor-in-chief for The Rusty Nail literary magazine, as manager for Sweatshoppe Media, and director of Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, an outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired. His works have been published in The Orange Room Review, Voices, The Stray Branch, Red Poppy Review, The Mindful Word, Inclement, Right Hand Pointing, 7x20 Magazine, among others. In addition to writing fiction Craig has published self help manuals on writing and critiques of other writers’ works. NIGHT AT KEY WEST Is the initial installment in a series he calls A Simon Wolfe Mystery Series – a grand new series based on both fact and fiction.

Craig has a fine grasp on character development, and when he launched a series based on a main character (Simon Wolfe) he realizes it is even more important that we get to know him quickly and watch his development grow so that the series can maintain our interest and secure our addiction Craig supplied that in the first installment and in this book he sets in motion the grisly deed that is the focus of the novel – the connection between our Simon Wolfe and Ernest Hemingway!

The plot as, as usual, well summarized by Craig: ‘Key West. Hemingway. Murder. When private investigator Simon Wolfe is hired to follow his friend’s wife under suspicion of adultery, he could never have guessed it would lead him into a friendship with the world’s leading writer, Ernest Hemingway. Nor could he have predicted the strange and disturbing twists the investigation would take. The case accelerates quickly when the wife is found murdered in a Key West hotel and discovered to have a secret life. But that revelation is downright boring as the plot thickens with increasingly bizarre revelations, capped off with a macabre ending no one saw coming. Based on actual events, Night at Key West is a wild ride into history and intrigue, populated by many true-to-life characters and places.’

All the ingredients are there, but it is the chef’s hand at mixing them that makes this novel so successful. This is a bite out of Florida, bursting with flavor and atmosphere. The book is relative short – making for a fine evening’s read. Highly Recommended.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night At Key West, by Craig A.Hart.
I've always been amused by the Hemingway Personality Cult in the United states. Not because Hemingway wasn't a great writer. He was. But he got his start at the Toronto Star in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. writing pot-boilers for the Star Weekly Magazine--a publication that, alas, died many years ago, was revived for a bit, and then died again. A writer has to learn his craft somewhere, after all. Toronto was just as important as Paris, Cuba and Spain in Hemingway's development, a fact that is often forgotten about Papa.

Just like Morley Safer got his start at the Canadian Press in Toronto the same year I went to work for them in 1956. I always remember Morley asking me how to write a night lead because I had gone to college and taken English. This from the man who reported from Pork Chop Hill in the Korean War. Of course we were both under the martial eye of Bill Boss, an editor's editor, the only man I ever knew who could edit Canadian writers like Charles Bruce and Fraser McDougal.

But I digress. I want you to know, Craig, that the first thing I did after reading your excellent part autobiographical real-life murder mystery, was to make myself a peanut-butter-and-onion sandwich for supper and have it with a tumbler of rose wine, which I much prefer to red. (Sweeter taste). I usually have it with iceberg lettuce from Quebec, but the sweet Vidalia onion I used was just as good with the creamy taste of my Canadian, buttery Kraft peanut butter.

But I'm still digressing. I guess that's because so much of the story stuck with me, and I shall forever think of your book when I have the same combination again--which I definitely will.

The mystery, along with all the Key West detail, was beautifully done. I guess it is as close to true-life crime writing as it is possible for a writer to get without falling out of the novel category. It was cleanly told, went straight to the point, and left me with a full stomach and a pleasant aftertaste. What more can you ask of a good book! You have learned your Hemingway lessons well, my friend!

[Tina G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night at Key West (A Simon Wolfe Mystery, Book 1) by Craig A. Hart overall was a good book and I do recommend, especially if you’re looking for something shorter, love Key West, or a bit of true stories woven into books. It took me a couple chapters to get into the book, but once I did, I enjoyed it.

What to expect: Simon Wolfe, a private investigator, in the Key West area is investigating a murder and living life as an inspiring writer. You’ll find the story twists in and out of the murder case and the various characters involved- at the end in the author’s note you hear about the different characters/elements of the story being based off real history, which makes you appreciate the story and research put into the story even more.

Narrator: Tom Jordan did a fabulous job! He was easy to listen to. Would and will check out other works by him.

I wish there would have been a little more backstory on certain characters and the murderer coming about happened rather quick vs. a build up. Prior to this book, I was not familiar with the author or narrator, but would have no problem checking out another book by both.

Parental guidance/Trigger warnings: swearing (god, god damn, I believe there were a couple more but managed to lose my notes when out of town so I apologize for this- when I re-listen, I will update my review to reflect), murder, drinking at bar, fight where a guy is punched, adultery, marriage problems, STD’s. Adult situations are prominent throughout the book.

*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!

#murdermystery #book #amreading #amlistening #audible #NightAtKeyWest #KeyWest #SimonWolfe #Hemingway #CraigAHart #TomJordan

[Teresa LaBella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I answered an invitation from the author to receive an advance review copy of this book to voluntarily read and submit an honest review.

The noir feel of this first person story spun by private investigator Simon Wolfe, the extensive research , and attention to detail dropped me completely into the scenes and setting of 1930s Key West between World Wars. Wolfe's fly-on-the-wall voice was strong and consistent from the first page to the last.

But the writer wannabe PI's obvious admiration for the island's famous author-in-residence and the presence of Ernest Hemingway puzzled me. Why was he there, other than to set the story in the time frame of his life in Key West? Hemingway encouraged Wolfe to write. Showed him a good time on his boat and provided Simon with the use of his plane. But the author didn’t really add to the murder investigation, the main thread of the story line, other than to identify the victim as a prostitute early on. That fact may have changed the course of Simon’s investigation. But he could have, and actually did, discover the victim’s true identity without Hemingway’s help.

I wanted to know more about Simon's connection with the rest of the characters who were more central to the plot, especially the rocky relationship with the friend that hired him to find out who killed his philandering wife. The plot didn’t build to the climax I anticipate and expect in a murder mystery and the ending seemed very rushed to me, an afterthought rather than a resolution.

The good bones of this novel need more flesh to get more stars.

[Cinda Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Craig A. Hart. Being a fan of Ernest 'Papa' Hemingway, I was intrigued from the start. Private investigator, Simon Wolfe, is hired by his high school football buddy, Mike Danby, to follow his wife because he thinks she is cheating on him. While following her one night, he sneaks through a hole in a fence and wanders onto Hemingway's property. Thus begins a great friendship with his idol, Hemingway. Wolfe is also a wanna be author and when Hemingway reads something of his and tells him he shows promise, Wolfe is elated. Danby's wife is found dead in a seedy hotel with her throat slashed from side to side. Simon has to tell wife not only is his wife dead but she was also working as a whore. When Mrs. Danby's body is stolen from the morgue, Simon is also hired by the coroner, Franklin 'Big Louis' Arenberg to help him find the body. When Mike is arrested for Thelma's murder, Simon talks to his lawyer and is hired by him to investigate Mike's real wife whom he never divorced. Based on true events and characters the story keeps you hooked from beginning to end. I cannot wait to read more. I highly recommend this mystery. I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Craig A Hart book, and I loved it! A mixture of historical fact and fiction, this whodunnit had me guessing until the very end. Simon Wolfe, an aspiring author and detective, is hired to investigate the murder of his classmate's wife. Everyone becomes a suspect, and Simon is checking all possible people out, even the one who hired him! When the body goes missing, there is even more to evaluate, and the plot thickens. Ernest Hemingway makes an appearance, guiding Wolfe through his writing and his investigation giving us a glimpse into their lives and the times. I loved this story for the sheer fact that Wolfe is a normal guy giving it his best shot at figuring out this puzzle. We get to be right there with him, searching for the clues and trying our best to find the murderer. And what a surprise!

Narration by Tom Jordan is always good, but I love him as he does the suspenseful mysteries. His inflection in the story is just as I would assume Simon would have and gives it that edginess to keep you guessing. Including an accent or two as well, he is a talent that gives the story total enjoyment for me and I loved listening to him.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

As soon as I started listening to this book, I knew I was going to enjoy it. The first thing that came to mind were the Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe books - that type of stylish noir feeling. The setting is Key West; it's the 30's; and you can't lose when Ernest Hemingway makes a cameo. This is a really good start to a series.

I found it interesting that Simon Wolfe doesn't really want to be a private detective - he wants to write - but being a detective pays the bills and he's good at it - even the medical examiner deferred to Simon's expertise. But, after Hemingway reads one of his stories, Simon is good at writing as well.

The mystery was interesting - nothing was quite as it seemed. I loved that Simon worked for both the defense and the prosecution (helpful in getting information when you identify with the side with which the witness feels most comfortable).

The narrator, Tom Jordan, did a great job in bringing the cool noir setting to life.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

Simon Wolfe is a Private Investigator in Key West in 1937 era. When a friend of his asks him to follow his wife to find out if she is cheating, it leads to danger, murder, and Ernest Hemingway. Simon, while determined to help his friend, is waylaid by his unexpected relationship with Papa Hemingway.

Mr. Hart’s research into this real-life tale is extensive and he delivers it with humor, mystery, and attention to detail. His recreation of the era and the mood of Key West is spot on. Mr. Hemingway’s humor, moodiness, fearlessness creates a very special feel for the revered author.

Simon is caught up in the generosity of Papa Hemingway and winds up on a three-day boat cruise with fishing, drinking, and careless celebration. But life catches up with him and when he returns there is a lot of work to do. His friend’s wife’s body has disappeared, his friend is arrested for murder and he has to find the truth.

I have read many of Mr. Hart’s books and found this to be different, but fun and mysterious. I hope he continues with this sort of genre. It was a pleasant break from the usual PI books. Carry on Mr. Hart.

[Toula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio book review
This is my first listen to the author Craig Hart . Like how he wrote some parts as fiction and some parts as real life into the story . I believe the timeline 1930 was known as the Edwardian time , or the roaring 20s as most call it .

Hero is Simon Wolfe , who as a PI is hired by an old school chum to follow his wife . Simon , the PI while at Key West meets Ernest Hemingway , Simon forgets all about his mission when he meets Papa Hemingway . The time Simon took to be with Papa leads to some interesting events , first the wife he was suppose to follow is found killed. The wife’s husband is accused of murder . What is Simon suppose to do now. Grab it and see , who killed the wife was it the husband, does Simon investigate .

Tom Jordan was great reading this story , his voice is strong, smooth and clear . His voice is like listening to the characters in the settings

[Jim B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is in the crime/mystery genre, but quite different in style and time period than other books by Mr. Hart. It is written in the first person and starts slowly and sounds almost like pulp fiction in the beginning. If that is what you like you will like the book. If not, keep with it, because it gets better and better as it goes along. Mr. Hart captures the strange characters who live in Key West. Having grown up in Miami Key West is one of my favorite towns for its proximity to great fishing and those strange characters. There is a reality to the story and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and more than a few surprises. I am looking forward to find where Simon Wolfe goes from here.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Wolfe is a hard boiled PI whose most prized possessions are his Rolex and his gun. He's also an aspiring author, living in Key West in it's hay day. He's been hired (by three different people) to investigate the murder of an old friend's wife.
Written in the tradition of the great detectives of the dirty thirties, men like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, Craig Hart's novel is a great who done it filled with twists, turns and more than it's share of surprises. It also provides an interesting portrait of not one, but two of the most legendary characters in 20th century American literature, Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Pasos.
Great characters, great setting and a murder story you'll love to unravel along with our hero.
A must for every gumshoe detective fan.

[Bettyboop · Rating 5 out of 5]

New insight into old Key West for me.

I have fond memories of the time I lived in Key West and visited Ernest Hemingway’s home, therefore, this book was most entertaining for me. Craig A. Hart has created an intriguing storyline weaving fact and fiction and a character, Simon Wolf, Private Investigator, that drew me in from the first page and left me wanting more of Simon Wolf and Mr. Hart’s storylines. Key West is an ideal setting with it’s well known bars and reputation for a storyline involving prostitution and murder. Adding Ernest Hemingway as a character, based on his life there was ingenious. For goodreads this was a great read! I recommended this book to a friend and recommend it to all readers of any genre, it’s more than just another PI book.

[Julian White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short novel and in a slightly different genre for this author. Beginner PI and would-be author Simon Wolfe is following a case when he meets his literary hero Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway takes to Simon and gives him some writing tips, while also befriending him, taking him on a fishing trip and helping him with some travel in pursuit of his case.

The 1937 setting and the location (the Key West of the title) seem well-researched and the plot (at first sight an uncomplicated murder) is intriguing. The Hemingway connection is well-used, too.

Simon Wolfe looks to be another in a line of interesting protagonists and this first of a projected series is well worth following.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night at Key West by Craig Hart

This is the first book I have read by Craig Hart and it most definitely won’t be my last. Night at Key West is the first in the Simon Wolfe Mystery Series.
Simon Wolfe lives in Key West in the time of Ernest Hemingway. Simon gets hired to investigate the wife of a good friend and along his journey he meets up with Hemingway. This “friendship” takes Simon places he never thought he would travel.
Night at Key West is based on actual events. Mr. Hart takes truth and mixes it with fiction and leads the reader on a “wild ride into history and intrique.” I loved this wild ride and am ready for Book Two to come out. Mr. Hart…keep them coming.

09.05.18

[Lisa Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed many of Hart's other books, especially the Shelby Alexander series, so when I found out he had a new series starting I had to check it out! Simon Wolfe is an interesting character. He's a private eye who doesn't always keep to his job. Between trying to be an author and partying with Ernest Hemingway, he was easily distracted. I really enjoyed the presence of the real life people mixed in with the fiction of this story. I'm definitely interested to see where Mr. Wolfe goes next.

Thanks to the author for an advanced copy of this book.

[Bonnie Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Craig Hart that I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved how it was based on a true event, that it took place in the 1930s, and that Ernest Hemingway was a recurring character. Mr. Hart has a fluid writing style that allows the reader to breeze through the pages swiftly. That is certainly necessary as I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. Many twists and turns lead the book to a surprising conclusion. I can’t wait for more books featuring the writer/private investigator Simon Wolfe.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible Edition:
Loved every moment of this mystery set in Ernest Hemingway's time, and he is even included in the cast of characters in the story. The narrator did a tremendous job keeping the pace and feel of the mystery. His voice reminded me of the 1960's TV cop shows like Get Smart and Dragnet. Exciting and interesting story with a real surprise of an ending.
I also liked that the audible book was a reasonable length for commuter's to listen to in the car.
Will definitely look for more books by this author and the narrator, Tom Jordan.