Bless Our Sleep — Neil Plakcy

In the sultry heat of 1968 Miami, private investigator George Clay finds himself entangled in a web of murder, smuggling, and forbidden desire. Fresh out of the Navy with an honorable discharge and a taste for adventure, George sets up shop on Miami Beach, where the glittering facade of Art Deco hotels hides a thriving underground gay scene. When wealthy banker Will Broadwater hires George to find a missing signet ring, the PI stumbles upon the battered body of a teenage boy known as Worm in Matheson Hammock Park. As George digs deeper, he uncovers a tangled network of privileged teens, Cuban exiles, and shadowy figures with dangerous secrets to protect. Complicating matters is George's growing attraction to the handsome and enigmatic Alex Reyes, a Cuban exile with his own ties to Miami's criminal underworld. As their relationship deepens, George must navigate the treacherous waters of love and trust in a world where nothing is as it seems. With the help of his new friend Raj and the reluctant cooperation of Detective Aloma, George races to unravel the mystery behind Worm's death and a high-stakes smuggling operation. From the neon-lit streets of South Beach to the lush mangroves of the Florida Keys, George's investigation takes him into the heart of Miami's Cuban community and the dangerous world of drug trafficking. As the body count rises and the danger mounts, George finds himself caught between his duty to solve the case and his loyalty to Alex. Can he bring justice for Worm without destroying the man he's falling in love with? And can a rough-around-the-edges PI from the wrong side of the tracks find happiness with a wealthy, sophisticated Cuban exile? Set against the backdrop of a city in flux, where the sexual revolution clashes with conservative values and the influx of Cuban refugees reshapes the cultural landscape, Bless Our Sleep is a gripping noir thriller that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of love to transcend social boundaries. Neil S. Plakcy's razor-sharp prose and keen eye for historical detail bring 1960s Miami vividly to life, from the smoky depths of the Cockpit bar to the sun-drenched beaches of Haulover. With its diverse cast of characters and unflinching exploration of sexuality and crime, Bless Our Sleep offers a fresh and compelling take on the classic hardboiled detective novel.