Law and Order

by Dorothy Uhnak

From 1937 to the 1970s the NYPD owned the New York City streets, and the Irish owned the NYPD. Officers ruled their beat, fighting crime the way they wanted, and bending the law to take what they could. There was only one rule— look after your own. When Sergeant Brian O’Malley’s prostitute lover pushes him out of a window, his friends in the police cover up the details and give him a hero’s funeral. His eldest son is encouraged to join the boys in the force, but as he rises the ranks he realizes that all favors must be repaid, whatever the repercussions.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook

Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Uhnak's first book was autobiographical Policewoman (1964), written and published while she was still a New York Transit Police detective.

Her debut fiction, The Bait (1968), received a 1969 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel (in a tie with E. Richard Johnson's Silver Street). ,The Bait was also made into a 1973 made-for-television film of the same title. It was followed by The Witness and The Ledger, which was adapted for the TV-movie and series Get Christie Love! starring Teresa Graves. All three novels featured Christie Opara, an NYPD detective assigned to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, where Uhnak herself was assigned for many years.

Later works included Law and Order, which was made into a TV-movie starring Darren McGavin and The Investigation, which was adapted into a TV-movie, "Kojak: The Price of Justice", with Telly Savalas.


In her later years she suffered from depression. She committed suicide by a self-administered drug overdoes in 2006. She was seventy-six at the time of her death.

Reviews

[Paula Galvan]

This gritty novel, written by Dorothy Uhnak, a policewoman herself, chronicles thirty-three years of the O’Malleys—an Irish family of New York City cops in a time when bigotry and corruption ran rampant throughout the NYPD. It begins with the cover-up of Sergeant O’Malley’s unsavory death at the hands of a prostitute, follows his son, Brian O’Malley, on his rise through the ranks to Deputy Chief Inspector, and ends with his grandson, Patrick O’Malley’s crusade to expose dirty cops and clean up the department. The story is filled with racial slurs common for the time and sexual perversions that the O’Malleys—and men in general—seem prone to. It also gives us a glimpse into life on the crowded streets of a city where generations of immigrants tried to survive without the law and order we enjoy today.

[Mitzi Cyrus]

It was easy to read, but wish I had not spent this much time on a 500 page book that displayed such racism, sexism, and what I consider some sexual perversion by all three generations of the men in this family. I have never considered myself a prude, but wonder how realistic it is that the behaviors were prevalent in each man.

I suppose I started the book thinking it was the precursor to the long running television series of the same name, which I have been known to binge on snowy days; I kept reading, hoping something good would happen, which it finally did, but took a long time getting there.

If I had it to do over, I’d binge a day or two of the series instead of reading this book.

[Nicole Wagner]

If you can get past the grisly racism and casual misogyny, this is a fascinating generational drama that showcases the insular and corrupted culture of the NYPD during the 20th century. The author herself comes from a law enforcement background, so there's an extra grim sense of realism to this narrative. A Thin Blue Line, indeed, because or in spite of the passions and loyalties of the individual officers.

[Wojtek Konieczny]

(Audiobook), 6.5/10
Lektor - 4.5/6

[Katharine]

Unbelievably believable based on the history of some precincts.....ended with hope.

[Frank Hickey]

Uhnak always broke new ground.

After her death, I interviewed her daughter. She

said that Uhnak corresponded often with Truman

Capote, the world-famous writer of 'In Cold Blood.'

Uhnak's first novel 'Policewoman' came out in

1964. She wrote cleanly and vividly in what

later became known as the New Journalism,

using real incidents with fiction writers' techniques.

Some would call it 'the non-fiction novel.'

After her book, Capote published 'In Cold Blood.'

Nobody can ever pinpoint when a school of

writing flowers. It may have many midwives and

surrogate godfathers. But you might see a

time-line here. I do. The New Journalism

came of age in the mid-1960's. Writers such as

Tom Wolfe, Norman Mailer, Gail Sheet and Gay

Talese come to mind.

After her other books, Uhnak wrote 'Law and

Order.' It seems to be a mainstream novel about

a family's generations entering the New York City

Police Department. It shows how time changed

the department and those in it.

It reads easily. It draws you in. It takes a hard

look at racism, brutality and corruption. It leads

up to the Frank Serpico-type character trying to do

a decent honest job.

Some of the writing is clumsy. Some characters

need more developing.

But Uhnak tried to do something new and

different with this book and her efforts held me

to the last page.

*** Frank Hickey, writer of the Dancing Max Royster

crime novels about the world's only ballroom

dancing detective.

[L. Penn]

Unsure if this was ever a TV movie but if it wasn't, it needs to be. Though I felt a total lack of anything for literally all the characters, (bar Kit O'Malley, found them ordinary, soulless, and stereotyped), it had a good pace and easy visionary for a TV movie. Much brutal, yet justified vigilante style justice, its tough settings reminded me of the great Starsky and Hutch TV series. There were twenty episodes crammed in to this book.
And I hate to say, but, bring back 'cops' like these, please. Hoodlums, savages, rapists, the whole offenders' shebang need one hell of an unsanctioned kicking at times, more so in today's violent times. Again in the end, a bit routine for me, however, it would make a damn fine TV film/mini-series. I'd be tuning in.

[Ladyjexie]

A better than most example of 'my type of book' in the early to mid eighties.

[Roberta]

I had read this book years away and loved it. Now I am reading the Ryer Avenue Story and really enjoying it because that is the neighborhood of my teenage years.

[David Vanness]

My copy is 512 pages hardback

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: when Sergeant O’Malley’s prostitute lover pushes him out a window, his police friends cover up the details. Eventually his son finds out.

[Jairo Osorio M]

Me pareció interesante y entretenido, gran trabajo al describir las tres generaciones de la familia y su vocación por la autoridad