Before diving into this one, I had only the most cursory of knowledge regarding the case. An infamous Chicago murder, Leonard and Loeb kidnapped and mBefore diving into this one, I had only the most cursory of knowledge regarding the case. An infamous Chicago murder, Leonard and Loeb kidnapped and murdered a young boy from their neighborhood. Here, the author presents a much more detailed account of the crime, the teenage murderers and their victim as the 100-year anniversary approaches. This book certainly feels thoroughly researched and lot of this was completely new to me. Along the way, I had thought the pair were both current University of Chicago students - which they were not. At 18 and 19, they were both already college graduates. Nor was I aware that Loeb and the victim, Bobby Franks, were actually second cousins. I didn't pick up on the Anti-Semitic overtones of the newspaper coverage at the times, or the homosexual angle overall. And I didn't know that Clarence Darrow of Scopes Trial fame was one of the defense attorneys!
In this detailed and well-researched account, the book spans background on those involved, the crime itself, the investigation, trial and aftermath. I have to admit, that this was a slower read overall for me. And I am not quite sure why... though in the beginning it really bothered me the way that the authors interchangeably referred to the killers by either their first or last names. It made it seem inconsistent to say "Richard and Leonard" or "Loeb and Nathan". It just really distracted me and made the opening really drag on. But, from the trial onward, I really enjoyed it. I certainly learned quite a bit more in this deep dive into this infamous Chicago crime - it just wasn't quite the pageturner that I was expecting....more
I absolutely can't resist a book about twins! Thanks to growing up on Sweet Valley books, I really am always drawn to a plot that involves twins. In WI absolutely can't resist a book about twins! Thanks to growing up on Sweet Valley books, I really am always drawn to a plot that involves twins. In Weiss' debut novel, which opens at the end of the 19th century and continues into the 20th century up through the 1930s, the main narrator, Harriet, makes up one half of the titular Sisters Sweet, a vaudeville act of songs. Her twin, Josephine, is the more confident one on stage. Their act doesn't really take off until their parents construct a harness for them - to pose as conjoined twins. Though the book mostly focuses on Harriet and Josephine's life, Weiss also inserts the background of their parents, showing the whole family's tie to the entertainment world. Weiss also makes certain to include the history as well to act as an enriching background to the whole family's story.
While the book covers their life touring, much of it is also set in Chicago - which I especially appreciated. It was also fun to share a birthday with Harriet and Josie! Who doesn't enjoy seeing their birth date pop up throughout?! Weiss brings the characters - and their flaws - to life quite well. I felt a bit unsatisfied with the ending, though. It seemed that the most exciting parts of Harriet's life were excluded from the story! And I wanted there to be more of a reconciliation between the sisters. Still, it's a compelling read and one that I definitely enjoyed. This is a strong debut novel and I think it would make for a great choice for book clubs and discussion groups!...more
While I don't usually gravitate toward the romance genre - I'm always a sucker for a book set in Chicago. The premise of this book is admittedly a bitWhile I don't usually gravitate toward the romance genre - I'm always a sucker for a book set in Chicago. The premise of this book is admittedly a bit silly - Brinkley works at a company that sells revenge. Women hire the company Heartbreak For Hire to exact revenge/public humiliation on men who have wronged them. After a bad breakup, Brinkley decides not to continue in her graduate program at Northwestern and takes this job in secret, banking most of her salary to someday start her dream job of owning and operating her own art gallery.
Brinkley hasn't dated anyone in two years - and is shocked when one of the men she is hired to humiliate actually seems like a decent and attractive man. Life ends up thrusting them together again and sparks fly between them. It's a little bit more graphic than I expected from the cover, but it fits within the genre.
Parts of the book - particularly in the beginning - felt very passive and it takes the book a little while to hit its stride. It's not exactly the most authentic-feeling Chicago read, but there are some parts that do ring especially true. Brinkley's character is sympathetic and while the company itself feels rather unbelievable;e, the romance itself carries the novel well. The ending isn't really as plausible and I think some of the family angle is quite predictable, but overall it just feels like too much is crammed in. Still, I pretty much read this in one sitting and it's a lighthearted and rather fun read!...more
This is the second book of Clayborn's that I've read - and I really enjoyed it! Set in Chicago, the two main characters (and perspectives), Will and NThis is the second book of Clayborn's that I've read - and I really enjoyed it! Set in Chicago, the two main characters (and perspectives), Will and Nora, come together in a classic Chicago apartment building. Will unexpectedly inherits a unit from his estranged uncle. An emergency room doctor, he doesn't have the desire or inclination to actually fulfill the clause stipulating that he reside there for 12 months before selling. Nora, meanwhile, has moved into her grandmother's beloved apartment - and loves everything about the building and the family that her fellow residents have always been to her since she used to spend summers there as a child. But Will threatens to upend all of that security.
It's not quite an enemies-to-lovers, but close enough to make it fun and fresh. Plus, I love a good Chicago setting - and all of the characters, major and minor, really come to life. It's an entertaining - and pretty romantic - read. There are some steamy scenes but nothing crass or overly explicit (though I am not sure that I would want to listen to an audio version). I am definitely going to continue keeping my eye out for more from Clayborn!...more
I have been a fan of O'Brien's for a few years now - he's a talented writer with a good grasp on pacing, plot and characters. Needless to say, I am alI have been a fan of O'Brien's for a few years now - he's a talented writer with a good grasp on pacing, plot and characters. Needless to say, I am always keeping an eye out for his books - both the earlier titles that I missed and his newest. Though not really marketed as such, this latest one is actually something of a sequel to last summer's thriller, The Betrayed Wife. You don't have to read that one first (though O'Brien quickly sums up the pertinent points which will spoil the action for those who haven't read it - my bad memory greatly appreciated the reminders, though!).
This one focuses on the O'Rourke half-sisters, Hannah and Eden. They have received scholarships to a small, private (and fictitious) university on the North Shore of Chicago - in Delmar (squeezed in around Lake Bluff and Lake Forest). The author's own familiarity with the area really shows - and I greatly appreciated the details of the geography that all added up so flawlessly - seriously, everything just felt spot-on from the Metro stops, the correct highway exits and grocery stories (sometimes those details aren't correct in other Chicago-based books and it drives me crazy!). The authenticity really added to my overall enjoyment of this one!
The book moves along at a fast pace, with multiple perspectives, and multiple strings of the plot - from echoes of 1970s murders at the college, to suspicious characters and plenty of intrigue. A few of the plot's turns are more expected than others, but there are some real shocks here, too! Plus, the book addressed many of the open threads that were left unaddressed in its predecessor. This time, though, the epilogue seems to indicate that this is the end for the O'Rourke family - but I secretly hope that it isn't! I really liked all of the characters! I really and genuinely had fun reading this one from start to finish! I can't wait to see what O'Brien will write next! ...more
While I don't recall precisely how this title first caught my attention, I must say that once I started reading it, it completely captivated me from sWhile I don't recall precisely how this title first caught my attention, I must say that once I started reading it, it completely captivated me from start to finish! Set in Elmhurst, Illinois (a fictional first for me - it's always fun to read stories set in towns that you are familiar with!), Bec moved into her mother's house after the sudden death of her husband. The book opens not long after the subsequent death of her mother, as Bec navigates not only her grief, but also in caring for her three month old son without the use of her sight.
Bec's blindness certainly adds to the overall suspense of the story - especially when she begins to think that all is not right in her home. And nightmares become reality one afternoon when she wakes up to discover the that baby in her crib isn't her son at all. Needless to say, this is definitely a page turner! But, as the story unfolds, there are a few things that do seem to defy logic (particularly the police procedure). And while I always appreciate a Marshall Fields reference, this doesn't work for the timeline presented (unless of course, Bec has access to a Delorian and the capacity to hit 88 mph without hitting anything else without her vision). Still, despite these few niggling distractions, the book thoroughly hooked me. I did find the final resolution to be a bit overly neat and was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more to it, I still read this in practically one sitting! Frey certainly knows which heartstrings to pull to keep the reader turning pages! And I did appreciate the thoroughness of the epilogue. I didn't love everything about this one, but I would still read more from Frey in the future! ...more
I was so excited about this book as soon as I first heard about it! Being a doglover, and having spent most of my life living in and around Chicago, tI was so excited about this book as soon as I first heard about it! Being a doglover, and having spent most of my life living in and around Chicago, this one seemed tailor-made for me! The main character, Mason or "Mace" Reed trains dogs, particularly cadaver dogs and the series begins with his new partnership with a very special golden retriever.
It's a fast-paced and engaging read, involving a nefarious serial killer, Mace and his dogs and I had a very hard time putting this down! I do wish that there had been a little bit more realism to some of the locations (Egg River rest stop?!) and I am surprised that Mace doesn't take more flak for being a Cubs fan on the Southside... but otherwise, this didn't strike me as inauthentic the way some book set in Chicago do. And I am sure that some less well-known suburbs will be glad to have a shout-out as well!
Burton offers different perspectives - from both the villain and the heroes - and though this does somewhat detract from the mystery of it all, it doesn't really negate any of the suspense. In some ways this allows for a short-cut sort of approach to include more details, which I did appreciate. Mace is a bit remiscient of Andy Carpenter, though he's not quite as funny. Still, this definitely makes for a solid foundation for a new series - and I definitely do plan on following this series in the future! ...more
Missing (and returned) children stories always capture my interest, so I was excited to experience this novel - my first from this author. And going iMissing (and returned) children stories always capture my interest, so I was excited to experience this novel - my first from this author. And going in, I had no idea that she was also a local to me author! It's always fun to read something that is set close to home (the suburb of Lake Bluff in this case). And while the author has an implausible taste in baseball (really - not the Cubs, but the other team??), no other details about the setting stood out as being unbelievable.
Told in two perspectives, the adult daughter who went missing for 94 days when she was four, and her alcoholic mother who is in a coma - this one hooks the reader right in. While the main characters both make bad decisions and the drama level is high, the story is genuinely entertaining. The plot does take a few predictable turns, but the latter half was especially impossible to put down. I would definitely read more from Reeds in the future! ...more
Although one of the author's earlier novels is already in my massive TBR, this book is actually my first experience with Rader-Day's writing. And I knAlthough one of the author's earlier novels is already in my massive TBR, this book is actually my first experience with Rader-Day's writing. And I know it won't be my last!! I had no idea that she is a Chicago author - and I really enjoyed the setting here mainly in Chicago, but with some scenes in Milwaukee, and Indiana that really provides a realistic backdrop to the plot.
Split for the most part between two narrators, Alice and Merrily, this is an engaging read that makes it easy to keep turning pages. Alice is a young woman who doesn't really have a lot of friends - she's pretty sheltered, working for the family construction company, but has one rebellious hobby - she volunteers her time with the Doe project - a website that aims to match missing people with unidentified remains. Merrily, is also a young woman living in Chicago, who is interrupted at work after a day off to learn that the man that she was closest to of those her single mother had been with had been reported missing.
As events intersect to bring these two women together, the plot gets twister and the book becomes harder and harder to put down! While I never really connected with either main character, I was still curious throughout to see where the story was going. I do wish that I had liked them better - Merrily for being 30 is so immature and Alice feels impossibly sheltered to me... some of the supporting characters also act in very contradictory ways, too. A few of my predictions regarding the plot turned out to be right, but there were definitely surprises, too! I did enjoy it - though the action in the ending was a bit convoluted, detracting a little bit from my satisfaction with the story. But, I liked the multimedia frame of the Doe project a lot. and though the characters' motivations and development are not quite as strong as I had hoped for, for the most part, this is a fast-paced and entertaining read. I am definitely looking forward to checking out more books from this author - plus, it's always fun to read a local author! ...more
For over a decade now, I have even a big fan of Armstrong's books - across multiple genres. She creates not only realistic, dynamic characters (all thFor over a decade now, I have even a big fan of Armstrong's books - across multiple genres. She creates not only realistic, dynamic characters (all the more so impressive since in some genres these people have some rather extraordinary abilities!), but also exciting plots and stories that always move at a fast pace. This standalone thriller, set in a fictional Chicago suburb, is no exception - and is utterly absorbing from its very first pages.
Aubrey Finch clearly has a lot of problems in her past - and in her present with a recent separation with her husband. And when she witnesses a kidnapping, and no one seems to take her seriously, this provides a catalyst for Aubrey to take matters into her own hands and start to stop ignoring her own past. It is an addictive read - I genuinely couldn't put it down when I began it. It's just an exciting story - with a plot that holds plenty of twists and a satisfying conclusion. Armstrong is definitely one of my very favorite writers, and this is just a great standalone book! Although, I would certainly be eager to pick up a sequel if it ends up being the starting point for a new series!! ...more
Despite the talent of both of the audio performers, I just didn't like this book very much at all... I wanted to like it - there were some very likablDespite the talent of both of the audio performers, I just didn't like this book very much at all... I wanted to like it - there were some very likable things that really appealed to me - from the authentic Chicago setting, and the engaging opening of the missing roommate and the fun of the dual storylines that seemed connected, but kept you guessing just how they would be... What spoiled the book were the characters themselves... I never connected with either storyline and found myself anxious to just stop listening, and knowing that it was only the skill of the narration that kept me listening on, despite my downright hatred of the characters.
Quinn narrates half the novel - a flighty young college grad who has recently moved to this Chicago apartment from a constantly mentioned, but frustratingly never named, suburb. When Quinn discovers that her roommate is missing, she proceeds to make one bad decision after another, all in the name of her "investigation". This includes continuing her romance of her taken co-worker. Quinn constantly bemoans her own shortcomings, which coupled with her bad decisions make her so easy to hate - and not in a love-to-hate kind of way, but a hate in which you find yourself wishing that she was the missing roommate.
As for Alex, the Michigan half of the story... well his story is the real tragedy. He's intelligent, kind, warm and broken by the abandonment of his mother and subsequent alcoholism of his father. He devotes his life and survival to the care of his father, and then finds himself drawn to this newly arrived (and clearly unbalanced) pretty young stranger. And though he too has a penchant for poor decisions, he is probably the most likable character in the novel.
And while the plot does take some genuinely surprising turns, the ending that I was hoping for (with Quinn's hideous death) didn't take place... I am glad that I got this as a deal of the day, and didn't waste a full credit on it!...more
I feel like it's been a while since I've tried out a new collection of essays - and with less than two months until David Sedaris' newest book coming I feel like it's been a while since I've tried out a new collection of essays - and with less than two months until David Sedaris' newest book coming out, I am in the mood to jump back into the genre as soon as possible! Though I am unfamiliar with this author (I am not a blog-follower), it's shockingly easy to connect with this collection right away! And not just because of Irby's obvious skill as a writer (her word choices are unique - and shockingly hilarious at times!), but also because of the range of emotion. Though many of the essays are quite funny (I read bits out loud to my husband, who also laughed with me), but there are deeper issues and topics covered here giving the book a real emotional range. It's really terrific and I definitely plan on keeping my eye out for more from her in the future!
What is especially neat to me though is that I was practically neighbors with Irby - she lived literally one street over from me in Chicago! Needless to say, all of the details about the city and its neighboring suburbs rang true! I really liked this a lot - and I am sure that an audio version would be equally fun!...more
This debut novel initially caught my attention with its Chicago setting - I just love to see my city (and its suburbs, too!) in fiction. And it alwaysThis debut novel initially caught my attention with its Chicago setting - I just love to see my city (and its suburbs, too!) in fiction. And it always seems the most authentic when the author is also familiar with the city - and Fassnacht most certainly is, so I also like to help support local authors! Another famous Chicago author, Audrey Niffenegger, has written a promotional blurb for the book, which makes me even more excited to read this one!
Like many debut novels, this one feels lovingly crafted by the author with the opening chapters in particular having a well-crafted feel. The details are impeccable and quickly captures not only the city but makes the characters recognizable as well. The fractured Brunson family feels familiar - not always particularly likable - but definitely realistic and could easily be the family just down the street. The details all add up to a very genuine and likable whole. The younger son, Barkley (with his unfortunate name better suited to a golden retriever) is a struggling young graduate who finally lands his first grown-up job while working on his own writing. Charlie, the older son, is recently returned from the military (the book is set in 2011), their mother has her head in the Zoloft sand and their father, Henry has flown the suburban family home for a bachelor pad in the city and a string of meaningless sexual encounters.
But all of the characters (as this most definitely a character-driven plot) grow and develop over the course of the novel - though Barkley is probably the main character with his changes both mentally and physically being perhaps the most drastic, though this transformation is reflected in all of the characters. Though it has moments that are dark, quite sad and ugly scenes with the characters, the conclusion is surprisingly uplifting. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read, well-crafted and satisfying. But it does drag a bit (it’s over four hundred pages long), though I admit to enjoying the added detail that makes the city and ‘burbs come to life. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for what Fassnacht writes next!...more
The titular Boo (or Oliver), makes for an immediately sympathetic narrator as he details the "nitty-gritty" details of the afterlife. He has passed onThe titular Boo (or Oliver), makes for an immediately sympathetic narrator as he details the "nitty-gritty" details of the afterlife. He has passed on and now resides in Town, a bordered town comprised of dull architecture and only other (deceased American) thirteen year olds. As he was in life, so in death, Boo has difficulty making friends and instead the beginning chapters (all named after the 106 elements in existence at the time of his death) are devoted to experiments in the Town. There are some neat details to Town (the buildings repair themselves), but it's only when Boo discovers that he has been murdered that the plot goes from detailing the quotidian afterlife to something even more intriguing.
The writing, Boo's narrative is directed towards his parents, is engaging and it's easy read that I think will appeal to both YA (the swearing is semi-censored) and adults audiences. With the appearance of Johnny, the pacing picks up more and the pair begin to live up to their name of their dorm (they live in Frank and Joe - after the Hardy Boys) as they search for Gunboy. It really is an inventive novel with a solid execution. The ending feels a bit overly convenient, but it does work well. There are some funny scenes and turns of phrase that stops this book about dead children from being overly depressing (though no matter what, this is a dark novel). But it’s an enjoyable read and this is the first of Smith's books that I have read, but I don't think it will be the last - I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from him in the future!...more
Though the fourth book in Harvey’s series featuring Chicago PI Michael Kelly is my least favorite in the series, I am still curious to see where the sThough the fourth book in Harvey’s series featuring Chicago PI Michael Kelly is my least favorite in the series, I am still curious to see where the series will go, so I am excited to be reading this fifth installment. The book opens four years after the events of We All Fall Down. Kelly’s new case will set him to solve the mystery of where corrupt and convicted ex-governor Ray Perry has disappeared to on the day of his sentencing to thirty years without the chance of parole. As before, Harvey brings Chicago vividly to life (and with so many felons for governor in Illinois, the only surprise in this plot is how he hasn’t already used it earlier in the series!).
While the early books in the series have a sort of noirish feel and an almost timeless quality to them, this one mentions specific years and has smartphones and laptops in use. It feels more like a standard sort of thriller and it certainly moves at a fast pace. The plot takes some surprising turns, though Kelly’s personal life is less of a focus here than in previous books, so it will be interesting to see if a sixth book will add more to his personal arc. It’s a fun series and all the more fun for those who share Harvey’s obvious love for the city. For all the negativity, that affection is clearly present and it is always fun to recognize places within its pages (this one features the Golden Nugget by our old loft!)....more
Though it has been nearly five years of waiting (4 years and seven months for me since I first breathlessly devoured Infected), this conclusion is welThough it has been nearly five years of waiting (4 years and seven months for me since I first breathlessly devoured Infected), this conclusion is well worth the wait. The book opens up five years after the explosive (literally) conclusion of Contagious. In the deepest part of Lake Michigan, the story of the Orbital continues...
Sigler wastes no time in springing the plot into action. And this time, the scale is on a much more global scale. The Americans are not the only ones after the remains of the alien spacecraft that caused so much destruction five years earlier. Aboard a ship for hire, the Mary Ellen Moffett (an intentional Jaws reference, I hope!), the Chinese aim to take control of the remains, and bring them home to China - via O’Hare International Airport.
It’s an absolutely thrilling conclusion - full of horror, humour and knuckle-gnawing tension. I am glad that I re-read the previous books, though Sigler does a good job of refreshing a reader’s memory to the key past events. It’s an exciting trilogy - and one best enjoyed consecutively. Sigler inserts a lot of genuine emotion, too, to break up the gore (though don’t worry - he still manages to come up with new ways to turn a reader’s stomach!). As a Chicagoan, the new backdrop certainly makes it all the more frightening (my old office is literally in the midst of all the action!). It is hard to believe that this series is actually over... it’s a bittersweet conclusion in many ways, but I can’t wait to see what plots Sigler will create next!...more
Wow! I really loved this audiobook! The premise - an event ten years before the bestows supernatural powers on some select humans turning them into EpWow! I really loved this audiobook! The premise - an event ten years before the bestows supernatural powers on some select humans turning them into Epics which leads to the downfall of society as these Epics tyrannically abuse their power - hooked me from the very start. David, the young narrator, watched the titular Steelheart kill his own father on the Epic’s rise to to power as the leader of Chicago (now dubbed Newcago). This set David upon a decade of determination to exact his revenge on this coldhearted and callous ruler.
David devoted ten years of his life to his plan - and he managed to join the elusive Reckoners, a group of non-Epics dedicated to bringing down the Epics and re-taking the world for “regular” humans. David impressed them with his knowledge and skill and finally created a new sort of family with this small group. A budding romance evan sprang up between him and the other newer member of the group. It was such a fun listen! The plot included some genuine shockers (along with some more predictable elements), but the book’s real strength was in the genuine quality to each character. David’s narration, too, added humour to all the excitement.
The strength of the story was further augmented by the very real skills of the reader, Macleod Andrews. He handled the accents with ease and gave a genuinely masterful performance. This was an incredibly fun listen and the sequel can’t come out fast enough! Hopefully the next installment will include even more of the Newcago setting!...more
I am always drawn to Chicago settings, and Avasthi captures the city well in this YA novel. Told in alternating chapters, best friends Holly and SavitI am always drawn to Chicago settings, and Avasthi captures the city well in this YA novel. Told in alternating chapters, best friends Holly and Savitri unite to find the killer of Corey (Holly’s twin and Savitri’s boyfriend). Avasthi incorporates freerunning (parkour) as well as a graphic element that adds a fresh and modern feel to the book. Unfortunately, the style choices for Holly’s narrative (littered with unnecessary capitalizations) detracts somewhat from the overall writing. Savitri’s sections are much more palatable. Loyola and DePaul graduates may, however, be somewhat offended, though...
It’s a unique look though at grief, friendship and even a descent into madness. An epilogue of some sorts would have made a nice addition to the story. Though Savitri’s arc feels quite complete, Holly’s is not as neatly wrapped up. Overall it is an interesting and fast-paced read. The comic book element reminds me a bit of Jodi Picoult’s The Tenth Circle. And while this is more enjoyable than that book, it lacks a quality to the characterizations that makes the girls more relatable. ...more
The fourth installment in Harvey’s Chicago-set Michael Kelly series starts up almost immediately after the events in The Third Rail. And though the plThe fourth installment in Harvey’s Chicago-set Michael Kelly series starts up almost immediately after the events in The Third Rail. And though the plot initially seems connected, it is actually surprisingly separate. Like the mass terror in the previous novel, this biological hazard-based plot is quite terrifying - even more so when living in Chicago! Harvey widens his perspective of the city, with its first real focus into non-Northside locales. The pacing is even faster than normal, giving the ending an almost rushed feeling.
Despite its frightening storyline, this is probably my least favorite book in the series. The plot leaves a lot more loose ends and has a much messier feel to it than some of the more neatly complex plots. The personal relationships between Kelly and others devolve here, too, and the book lacks those moments of humour that breaks up the tension so perfectly. The shifting perspective, though it does allow for more of Chicago to be captured, softens the focus of the novel too much and doesn’t benefit the overall plotline enough. This novel approaches sloppy when compared to some of Harvey’s other novels. Still, I plan on continuing with the series - it is a dark, but entertaining series and it adds to the fun to see Chicago captured so well (though it sort of bothered me that this book mentions the Daley center - in Harvey’s Chicago, it hardly seems possible to have had a real Daley...). ...more
This third book in the Michael Kelly series is much more exciting (and downright terrifying) than its predecessor in the series, The Fifth Floor. ThouThis third book in the Michael Kelly series is much more exciting (and downright terrifying) than its predecessor in the series, The Fifth Floor. Though my fear, I am sure is compounded by the fact that I started reading this novel on the CTA during a rush hour commute home - the setting for the opening scenes of a violent killing spree. Harvey deviates a bit here from his typical writing style to alternate Kelly’s perspective with that of the villain’s. This broader scope increases the excitement - and also allows for even more of Harvey’s Chicago to shine through. Familiar characters from the previous novels return - from John J. Wilson, the crooked mayor who loves his city to Victor Rodriguez, the noble CPD detective. New faces are introduced as well, and each character comes to life in this fast-paced thriller.
The Chicago Harvey paints here is a terrifying one - as the body count climbs and the plot thickens. This may just be the most exciting entry into the series! The emotional perspective of the narrator continues to deepen and Kelly becomes an even more conflicted and complex character. Harvey has a real for creating twisting, convoluted plots (that still work and unfold without gaps in logic) revolving around flawed, but still sympathetic characters. Mayor Wilson, in particular, becomes a more endearing character with each novel. I may not want to live in Harvey’s version of Chicago (especially not in this novel!), but I look forward to seeing where the next installment will go. These are fast, fun and frightening reads! ...more
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