Flamingo Express by Kenneth D. Michaels is part of The Nick and Norm Gay Detective series. When Nick headed to Key West, he expected to spend a few days in paradise. All he wanted was a dip in the pool and a few drinks. Instead, he’s in the middle of cartel drama, after his and Norm’s friends Jojo and Lola ask them for help. To make things weirder, he’s also drawn into the disappearance of two flamingos, which were snatched from one of the most popular attractions in Key West. A string of ODs took place after the victims purchased fentanyl, leading Nick to confront his own addictions, which could complicate things as he gets closer to tracking down the suspect.

The mystery shows the perks of Key West, from the beautiful landscape to the vacation vibes, but it doesn’t shy away from the dark undercurrent that runs through it. This specifically focuses on a cartel selling drugs that are causing a string of ODs. This makes things a little too real for Nick as he is pulled into the middle of chaos. However, this brings back the delightful characters of Jojo and Lola, whose larger-than-life personalities give a vibrancy to the setting. The mystery also features charming supporting characters, such as Sho. Kenneth D. Michaels makes each character authentic and uses them to round out Nick’s world. The mystery has an interesting mash-up of a cartel and missing flamingos, which Michaels pulls off with great success. The further Nick gets into working out these mysteries, the more he’s pushed to confront his own addictions, along with making him face the issues he’s been burying. Each layer that Michaels gives him makes Nick a well-rounded character that you want to root for. Flamingo Express is a fun jump back into Nick’s world by taking a trip to paradise for a complicated case, relationship drama, and old friends.

Nick and Norm are back and on their third mystery adventure. Nick is the Gay Detective, and Norm is his straight partner. They’ve been invited by friends in Key West, Lola and Jojo, who have opened their own detective agency, to assist in an investigation. People are dying from Fentanyl overdoses, and it’s suspected that a major drug kingpin is controlling this from his jail cell. Nick is currently struggling with sobriety and, at every turn, desperately needs a drink. The arrival of his over-the-top mother, Wanda, in the middle of everything does nothing to ease his struggles. Then along comes Max, another AA meeting attendee, who sparks Nick's interest. Another case pops up when a priceless pair of flamingos is stolen from a sanctuary known as The Bird House, and they’re asked to investigate this, too. Are the crimes connected? Can Nick and Norm get to the bottom of both incidents, and can Nick get through it all without a drink? Find out in Flamingo Express by Kenneth D Michaels.

Flamingo Express is my first introduction to the Gay Detective series, and there were enough references to the previous two books so that I didn’t feel as if I’d missed too much. It would be fun to read them from the beginning, though, to fully understand why Nick is in his current ‘crisis’ state. Norm is a fantastic work buddy for Nick, despite his affair with Wanda. Their banter makes for some of the best dialogue in the book. In true mystery fashion, there are twists and turns galore, and not everybody can be trusted; the final reveal is shocking. Flamingo Express is an entertaining LGBTQ+ mystery, and I’m fast becoming a fan of Kenneth D Michaels.