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Book Review of The Chicago Way (Michael Kelly, Bk 1)

The Chicago Way (Michael Kelly, Bk 1)
reviewed on + 67 more book reviews


The Chicago Way is a first novel by Michael Harvey, who is a co-creator of Cold Case Files. Here we have detective Michael Kelly delving into a cold case that uncovers long hidden crimes. Although a rough and tumble warrior, Kelly is also a devotee of classical Greek literaturepretty unusual for a hard-nosed crime fighter. Somehow this all flows smoothly together.

This book was given to me, and for some reason, I put it on the back burner, thinking it would not be all that much fun to read. I was wrong and regret the delay. The story line flows smoothly and the tale intrigues. Those readers who are Chicago natives should recognize various landmarks throughout the book, as Harvey has tried to stay true to the city he obviously adores, but at the same time you should also recognize where/when he diverges from the actual fabric of what makes the city hum.

All in all, I enjoyed the read and will order the two subsequent books Harvey has written since this was published. I recommend it as a nice, relaxing tale. The ending offers surprises that seem plausible and perhaps could be anticipated if you recognize the clues that are dropped along the way.