Gunfight on Clearwater Beach: A Dave and Chris Manley Mystery

Clearwater Beach, Florida conjures up a picture of happy people sunbathing and romping in the surf. It’s not the kind of place where you’d expect an old-time Western gunfight. But, according to local legend, that’s exactly what happened there. According to the author, The basis for this book is purported to be a true story. It was told to me by an old gentleman I met years ago while living on Clearwater Beach on Florida’s West Coast. I searched old newspaper reports but never found another word about the gunfight, or the ‘drifter’ who shot the police chief. But it’s still a good story! The gunfight happened in 1938, but the story spans years, involving characters in the present as well as those who were there when it actually happened. Or did it? No matter if they’re fired in 1938 or 2020, bullets are real and can do serious damage.