Urban Renewal: A Cross Novel (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Original)
Cross, a deadly ex-con with a crew of kindred souls, operates outside the usual parameters of Chicago crime. The gangs, the ethnic mobs, and the cops stay clear of Cross’ crew. The crew will separate the straights from their money via an off-the-grid strip club, but its primary M.O. is extracting money from other criminals. The threat of violence if one confronts Cross is high, but so few have survived a head-to-head that sensible criminals avoid the situation. With Chicago’s gang situation fractured—microgangs claim territory by the block rather than the neighborhood—Cross buys recently abandoned property prime for rehab. Wha? This Old House: Ex-Con Edition? What is he up to? His rivals want to find out. Let the games begin. Vachss is unlike any other crime writer. His Burke series set the standard for dark noir. Cross is a bit more conventional than Burke, but not much. The straight world is as corrupt as any “criminal” enterprise, and Cross and crew, fiercely loyal to each other, set out to exploit it. Readers who want to visit a new twist on the dark side will be mesmerized. --Wes Lukowsky