A Fix Like This

Mario Balzic Detective Mystery #4

by K.C. Constantine

As the novel opens, Armand "Fat Manny" Manditti has been stabbed and is brought into the emergency room by his brother Tullio the Tub, who refuses to tell Chief Balzic what happened. Balzic suspects the men will take take revenge, and he works to prevent the death of a citizen or two of Rocksburg.

Genres: Mystery

185 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Carl Constantine Kosak is an American mystery author known for his work as K.C. Constantine. Little is known about Kosak, as he prefers anonymity and has given only a few interviews. He was born in 1934 and served in the Marines in the early 1950s. He lives in Greensburg PA with wife Linda.



http://www.badattitudes.com/KCCintvw....

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5

[Kathy KS · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery series takes place around 1980, give or take some years, in a "small" town in Western Pennsylvania. Now, I'll wager that this small town is much larger than what I consider a small town, but the feeling of community is strong here and that makes it relatable. Police Chief Mario Balzic has grown up and lives in the community and seems to know most of the people and how they are all related. If he doesn't know, his wife or mother can usually fill in that last information. The community he moves in seems to be largely Italian Catholic and connections are immportant.

The volume in the series begins with a local man is stabbed and brought to the emergency room by his brother. Unfortunately, no one seems to want to cooperate with Mario and his police officers. As other incidents occur, Mario begins to feel they are related and must navigate his way through the acitivities of a wide range of people in town, on both sides of the law. He seems to do a lot of his investigating in one of the local bars, since he's gone to school and grown up with many of the locals involved.

Readers who are offended by some of the comments and actions in the book because they are now considered politically/socially incorrect must remember that the book portrays an earlier time in our history and the dialogue seems believable for the period (I was an adult then, myself). More difficult for me is the moral ambiguity that is shown here by nearly everyone, included Mario and the local priests. Although other books in the series show some of this, I felt uneasy about that at times. I actually thought the ending should have been a few pages earlier and didn't really care for it that much.

Yes, I'll read the next in the series. I'm getting to know Mario and his circle of friends and enemies; let's see how it all works out next time...

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read. Again, great characters and a snapshot of a small town mystery, a specific set of people and time. But very dated. This one has sexism, casual racism and fat phobia. I am sure it is true to the time but jarring to see the N word thrown around so lightly. Lots of alcohol abuse played for laughs as well. I have more of his books and will plow on to see if they have improved but I am not surprised they have fallen out of print

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mario Balzic must unsnarl a real "fix" this time. Two of his intimates, Dom Muscotti and Father Mazarro, for entirely different but related reasons, become involved in a double murder! When the only witness to one of the murders dies in a mine cave-in before he can make an official statement, a portion of the justice's underside in Rocksburg is all too evident.

[Jeff Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's plots are truly innovative and his hero, Chief Mario Balzac, is a unique policeman. This was an easy, interesting read filled with unforgettable characters from McKees Rocks, PA (having the pseudonym of Rocksburg).

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mario Balzic series gets better with each volume. We learn about the ethical decisions that Mario made in the past. Though these decisions have worked for Mario and the community, a few situations threaten to break everything apart. Mario, the priest, and the gangster all have some tough new decisions to make as they try to puzzle out what is happening in the town. The ethnic and racial relationships still are quite uncomfortable to read, but only because of how real they feel. There is also an incredible passage about the sausage sandwiches served at Muscotti's bar. This is southwestern Pennsylvania.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Mario Balzic / Rocksburg, PA series.

Mario Balzic warns mob leader Dom Muscotti to keep a lid on things after his runner Fat Manny lands in the hospital with multiple stab wounds. Mario is concerned that Manny's big brother Tullio will seek revenge. Tullio does go on a rampage and Mario gets to the heart of the matter after listening to Father Marazzo's problems.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this fourth outing (published back in 1975) Rocksburg police chief Mario Balzic is called to the hospital to investigate the stabbing of a grossly overweight runner for the local crime boss