Florida Books Review: ‘Heat of Night’ by Harry Whittington
Heat of Night by Harry Whittington
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Whittington goes for the melodramatic in this Florida-based fiction. It’s a simple, over-written story that is plopped along Florida’s gulf coast, near Tampa, where Whittington lived. The standard backdrop of a ‘Blow’ tucked into the background to aid the atmosphere. Big developer and Spanish-speaking family added to the most stereotypical story written of Florida in one way or other. I’ve read dozens of these from the late 1800s to present.
In this case, Whittington seems to have been churning a tale out to churn a book out. Despite WHittington’s typical great skill of writing, this book is a step down.
About the Florida part: Far weaker than other Whittington books. He makes up the name of the area as ‘Dead Bay’. He does well capture the fishing village feel. The storm was unneeded and not-well depicted.
Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 4 out of 10 points.
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