A series of books by John McDonald. Travis McGee is a sort of occasional private eye who lives on a houseboat in Ft. Lauderdale. The boat is called The Busted Flush because he won it in a poker game by bluffing with a busted flush. Very entertaining if you're into that sort of stuff.
McGee is not really a detective. People come to him when something has been lost or stolen and they can't turn to the law. McGee will recover whatever it is for half of what it's worth. I think there was a movie staring Sam Elliot as Travis McGee.
Ever read any James Lee Burkes book? He has a Cajun detective named Dave Robicheaux as a main character, good stuff.
My wife's grandfather used to read his books all the time. When I met him that was the first thing he wanted to talk about.
Burke has a home in Montana and New Iberia and shows up at Clementines Restaurant in New Uberia from time to time, an interesting guy.
