Saints of New York
NYPD Homicide Detective Frank Parrish is wrestling with his partner’s death, his father’s police-department legacy, and foundering relationships with his kids. But between booze, a dazzling array of self-destructive defense mechanisms, and a nifty department-issued shrink, he has it all covered. When Frank is assigned the murders of petty criminal Danny Lange and his teenage sister, he’s immediately certain the case isn’t the usual petty-crime fallout. Rebecca Lange never fell into the traps that ensnared her brother. So why was she found half-naked and strangled in his apartment? A chance aside from one of Rebecca’s friends leads Frank to four other murders similarly linked to child-welfare cases, and he’s on a mission to redeem his life’s mistakes by finding justice for these girls. Frank Parrish’s pathos is familiar, but he’s the sharp-minded, likable wreck genre fans love, and he’s a great vehicle for investigative details. Discussion-worthy parallels between underworld and official predators should tempt book groups, and Ellory solidly plants his literary flare in a gritty foundation that hard-boiled fans of Lehane and Lippman will appreciate. --Christine Tran--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.