Helpful Score: 6
The first Fritz Malone, P.I. mystery set in NYC. The story opens the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as Fritz stops to watch while on his way from the bakery to his girlfriend's with a package of bagels. Fritz sees a gunman aiming at a float and chucks his bagels at Mother Goose and is in hot pursuit. The scene ends with Fritz shooting the gunman in the shoulder and then being whisked away by the cops with a bag over his head. As Fritz would say, "What the f*ck?" LOL There is an underlying thread of wry humor through the book, though I'd classify it as hard-boiled if I had to pigeon-hole it. Conspiracies abound as the Mayor and Police Commissioner hire Fritz off the books to help them figure out who is behind the blackmail of the Mayor by threatening more violence to the city's citizens. Meanwhile in Fritz's personal life, his father's wife hires him to follow his half-brother to see if he's having an affair. A good start to a new series with a tough-but-likable main character and an interesting host of supporting characters that promise good things for future installments in the series. The author has a way of stringing words together that adds color and flavor to the story and makes it go down smooth.
Helpful Score: 1
As child of Hell's kitchen and the bastard son a beloved son of a former police commissioner, Fritz Malone is all too familiar with Nwe York's rougher side. So when a gunman opens fire at the crowded Thanksgiving Day parade, Fritz steps into action, giving chase. He then lears that someone dubbed "Nightmare" has been taunting the city's leaders for weeks. Theres more carnage to come. The police need an outside man. A fast paced thriller. Can't put down, packed with lots of action.
Corrupt cops, venal politicians and a madman killer propel shamus Fitz Malone to the top of the wisecracking romantic-heroic PI heap in Hawke's hugely enjoyable debut thriller. It's Thanksgiving morning in New York and Fitz has stepped out for bagels and a peek at the annual parade when he spots a gunman taking aim at Mother Goose, waving from atop a winged float. Moments later seven are dead, including a cop, and a handcuffed Fitz is on the floor of a police cruiser with a bag over his head. The cops and the mayor try to keep the lid on the escalating disaster; once freed, Fitza failed cop and son of a former police commissioneris hired to catch the killer who orchestrated what the press are calling the "Parade of Terror" as pieces of the deputy mayor (who's been taken hostage) begin arriving at police headquarters. A loaded backstory, compelling minor characters and clever, literate writing promise great things ahead for Hawke, who crams too much into the finale. In fact, it's hard to believe this is a first novel; it reads like number five in a series. Note to Spenser: best stay in BostonFitz has got the Big Apple covered.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW