Amissing realtor. A feral hog with a grudge. And a land deal shadyenough to make a swamp look clean. Just another Tuesday for the SwampDetective.

GumboMalone, the world’s most accidental private investigator, is backin CedarKey,and he’s finally keeping his head above water—mostly because heupgraded the bilge pump on his leaky houseboat. But when high-poweredrealtor Linda Hastings hires him to find her missing businesspartner, Sterling Morrow, right before a massive land deal closes,Gumbo realizes that “simple” jobs in Florida are never actuallysimple.

Sterlinghas vanished into the mangroves, leaving behind a trashed office, asmashed espresso machine, and a calendar full of cryptic notes. Tofind him, Gumbo must navigate a treacherous landscape ofenvironmentalfraud,bribery, and betrayal known as the “Black Reef Project”.

Butthe local real estate sharks aren't the only things with teeth. Gumbois up against JarrodVance,a developer with a pink mansion and a screaming parrot; VanessaHollis,a lawyer who weaponizes lawsuits and blue suits; and a mysterious“Consultant” who scares even the bad guys.

Withthe help of his eccentric sidekick FlipWiggins—whobelieves duct tape solves all problems—and a very patient manatee,Gumbo has forty-eight hours to unravel a conspiracy that involvesferalhogs,arson, and a karaoke performance that will live in infamy.

CanGumbo save the mangroves, find the missing realtor, and avoid beingeaten by the local wildlife? Or will this case be the one thatfinally sinks him?

Perfectfor fans of Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey, and Dave Barry, IllIntentis a fast-paced, satirical Florida mystery packed with quirkycharacters, chaotic twists, and enough humidity to melt your Kindle.