Cranks and Shadows

Mario Balzic Detective Mystery #11

by K.C. Constantine

Rumors of cutbacks during election time were hardly a novelty, especially in the wake of the Reagan-Bush trickle-down eighties. Already the Sanitation Department, the city's vehicle mechanics, its plumber, and two carpenters were history, replaced by private contractors. Nevertheless, Rocksburg hadn't had a big firing in years. When Balzic gets a summons from the mayor, the last thing on his mind is police layoffs. The chief finds himself forced to eliminate five officers, leaving him twenty-five members to police a city of fifteen thousand. As Mayor Kenny Strohn puts it, a city with a boarded-up Main Street and an empty treasury hardly has a choice. Yet Balzic - profane, arrogant, occasionally dangerous, and up until now, a survivor - is losing more than his policing capability. He's also losing his imagination. From somewhere inside his own department, a new and even more unexpected menace has surfaced. Witnesses report a small number of heavily armed, camouflaged commandos rappelling out of blue-and-white helicopters. Rocksburg may not have much left, but someone is willing to outfit and deploy a small private army to get it. They call it privatization. They say it works better than government. But Balzic's job is to protect his city. And Balzic's city is not for sale. It's all been happening under Balzic's chin, and he never saw it. The cop who never voted, who always pretended he was above power plays and politics, now has to perform the easiest and the hardest act of his career. Look down.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction

314 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1995

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

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a mystery - more of a novel of small town life in Western PA. This is the final installment in the authors "Mario Balzic" serires, about a police chief in fictional Rocksburg, PA. I understand that this town is modeled after the author's last known haunt: Greensburg, PA. I am a former resident of Greensburg and I picked this book up out of curiousity. Constantine gets all the nuances of SW PA with skill. The book itself uses corrupt local politics as a framework, but anyone looking for a traditional detective novel will be disappointed. There is a mystery, but that is not the point of the book. There is a solid "noir" vibe, but it is more of an existential noir than a crime "noir". I liked it a lot.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure how to take Cranks and Shadows, the 11th book in the Mario Balzic crime series by K.C. Constantine. There is a sort of mystery; who is funding the mysterious Emergency Response team, that seems to have unlimited funds and is run by the 'volunteer' fire chief, one Eddie Slitko.

Rocksburg police chief Mario Balzic is feeling out of touch and out of sorts. His long suffering wife Ruthie is tired of Rocksburg, of their tiny too small house and wants Mario to retire and go to Florida, even if just for a vacation. Mario is getting frustrated with the town council, whose mayor wants him to 'fire' / retire 4 police officers. This is due to removal of federal funding by the Reagan administration.

Mario discovers this new emergency police force when responding to a domestic situation and discovers an armed team lurking outside the house. The more he looks into this group, the more suspicious it seems. Where are they getting their funding? What is this whole IRS tax break thing about? Why does the Fire Department seem to have an unlimited source of funds and is it legal?

Mario finds himself so out of touch with this situation. He's tried to be above the political fray as police chief but now realizes that this has just left him not knowing what is going on. How is Mario going to resolve the situations? Will he even manage to do so, especially with an election coming up and his own position at threat?

It's interesting even though so much time is spent in argument and discussions, seemingly pointless.... There is a sort of resolution, even if it's not all that satisfying. Mario is grumpy and when I say grumpy, I mean GRUMPY. Luckily he does have a core of good cops around him. Very different crime story than I've been used to and even though there is an air of finality to a series, oddly enough there are still 6 more stories in the series. I do have to read other books in the series as there is something appealing about the books I've read so far. (3 stars)

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mario is forced to take a long hard look at himself and his time as Chief of Police as he nears retirement. This series continues to prove it's grasp of place and character. I really appreciate how the form of the stories has shifted for the past several novels. This isn't a story pounded out by the numbers with story arc the same and the details changed (e.g. John Gardener's continuation of the James Bond series).

I will once again recommend that new readers to back at least to the 3rd or 4th volume in the series to start. Though this is a series you should pick up from the first book. The series and characters subtly shift and develop. Just remember that it's not always an easy series to read; many characters--especially in the early novels--show some deep-seated racism. It's rough, but so worth it.

Love the last scene/episode and the last line. And love the appearance of nonprofits in the book...even if they are in the form of corrupt nonprofits misusing the federal code for the benefit of the people controlling the town.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Mario Balzic is concerned about a SWAT-like team being put together by the fire chief and other community leaders. It is being staffed by volunteer firemen possessing Sheriff Deputy badges and no training. Rocksburg budget woes have Mario ready to lay off some of his depleted staff. Wife Ruth is pushing him to retire.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps my favorite Balzic so far. He's decided to retire, no more bullshit and the politics are changing anyway. It's the celebration of his retirement, the Polish and Italian food, the love, the singing and dancing and drinking that is just so splendid. Read it for the ending alone and you'd love it too.