Dancer in the Flames

by Stephen Solomita

The NYPD hides a killer within the ranks in this “dark, satisfying” hard-boiled noir thriller (Publishers Weekly).   Detective Boots Littlewood of Brooklyn’s Sixty-Fourth Precinct has been assigned an investigation that’s hitting close to the murder of his police captain. It’s been called another tragic cop killing. Boots suspects something closer to an organized hit—and he knows in his gut that the perp in custody is an innocent man. Boots’s new partner, “Crazy” Jill Kelly, is taking it personally, too. The daughter of a murdered officer, she’s got a quick temper, a vengeful streak, and perfect aim.   Once Boots and Jill hit the streets, they uncover more than dirty secrets. The investigation reaches back a decade to the sordid serial crimes of the Lipstick Killer—and ahead to a cesspool of corruption and conspiracy that taints the badges of New York’s finest. But as Boots and Jill prepare for hunting season, they realize that they themselves are being hunted.

Genres: Mystery

240 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Stephen Solomita (b. 1943) is a prolific author of thrillers. Born in Bayside, Queens, he worked as a cab driver before becoming a novelist in the late 1980s. His first novel, A Twist of the Knife (1988), won acclaim for its intimate depiction of New York’s rough patches, its gritty style, and its dark vision of urban terrorism. This debut introduced Stanley Moodrow, a disaffected New York Police Department detective. Solomita wrote six more novels starring Moodrow, moving the character into a PI practice, and concluded the series with Damaged Goods (1996).

Solomita continued writing in the same hard-boiled style, producing tough, standalone novels such as Mercy Killing (2009) and Angel Face (2011). Under the pseudonym David Cray, he writes gentler thrillers such as Dead Is Forever (2004), a traditional mystery in the mode of Ellery Queen. His most recent novel is Dancer in the Flames (2012). Solomita continues to live and write in New York City.

aka David Cray.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is as much a family drama as it is a murder mystery and thriller. The main focus of the story is a New York City detective, Boots Littlewood. He's a people person, skilled in using his resources to find suspects he needs to interview. He also has a good relationship with his father who is planning to remarry and with his son, a college student skilled in computer analysis.

The author is a former cab driver in New York and his knowledge and descriptions of the streets of Brooklyn, New York City and surrounding areas is right on.

There have been a number of murders involving NYC cops, one was on the job investigating the Lipstick Murderer. Another was a captain who thought he was invincible.

Boots investigates these murders and when one of his snitches is arrested for one of the murders, he knows there is a coverup in place and will have to work to prove his snitch is not guilty.

He's assigned a partner, Jill Kelly, daughter of one of the murdered police officers and niece of the chief of detectives.

Boots is also a small time gambler, usually betting on Yankee games and it's pleasant to observe his reactions to listening to the ball games on the TV or radio.

I read this book over two days and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[wally · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished 10th april 2025 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner first from solomita chalk another up on the "frontier justice" shelf this one has it in spades and i wonder just what that tells us about ourselves like do we hold the concept of the law in such contempt? that we continue to see society degrade the ole lemming rush to the sea? yeah, verily, hallelujah, now and forevermore. this one plays off harms done years earlier along with more recent crimes and maybe that's the point...karma and all, eventually catches up with one. but that can't be it, considering the story and the outcome. but all in all, an entertaining read.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another time,when I wish this had become a series!!!
very good mystery.
New York Detective Boots Littlewood gets a tip from his local bookie about the recent killing of a fellow police officer.
Soon he is knee deep in a mystery,with a new partner Jill Kelly who has a reputation for shooting first,and asking questions later.
This is very much a New York City tale,and I liked that.
Great characters all round ,and I liked Boots a lot! I really enjoyed this one.

[Thomas E Bercher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

Tarnished cop trying to do good hooking up with a beautiful nutcase , make a wonderful pair. Story moved efficiently and logically. Author is new to me and I look forward to his other books.

[David Kolasky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read with string characters, humor and a good plot.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic police procedural, well written and fun. I will read more by this author.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and well plotted novel involving police corruption. What makes this particularly impressive is that in 230 pages a complex and well plotted novel takes place. It seems in these days too many novelists want to continue the novel as long as possible. I suspect most other writers would not have been able to write this using tight complex writing. I feel I am praising this to the rafters but it is refreshing to read a compelling novel that is 230 pages.

[Kevin Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about an honest, flawed police officer. A violent story about corruption and politics in the NY city police department.

[Kenneth Esau · Rating 4 out of 5]

New York Noir... Really well written books.

[Diogenes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced NYPD yarn.