Criminal Element (A Larry Cole Mystery)
A crooked cop and an ambitious Chicago alderman battle it out with an honest detective in this overly long and drawn-out work from the late Holton (Time of the Assassins). Police officer Joe Donegan and Alderman Skip Murphy have long used their positions for personal financial gain. After Donegan assists Murphy in covering up a somewhat accidental murder, they become partners in numerous illegal activities. Playing the role of good cop is Larry Cole, who spends over ten years and 300 pages trying to take down Donegan and Murphy while also furthering his own career and dealing with the requisite love interest. Holton, a former Chicago police captain, obviously knows his police procedures, but stilted dialog, poor prose, and implausible plotting sink this one. A weak effort but one that may move in public libraries where crime fiction is popular. Craig L. Shufelt, Lane P.L., Fairfield, OHCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.