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Michael Kelly #2
The Fifth Floor
Michael Harvey's sizzling follow-up to The Chicago Way (A magnificent debut that should be read by all--John Grisham; This book heralds the arrival of a major new voice--Michael Connelly) opens with a murder in contemporary Chicago and winds its way back to Mrs. O'Leary's cow and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. When PI Michael Kelly is hired by an ex-flame to tail her abusive husband, he expects trouble of a domestic rather than a historical nature. Life, however, is not so simple. The tail leads Kelly to an old house on Chicago's North Side. Inside it, the private investigator finds a body and, perhaps, the answer to one of Chicago's most enduring mysteries: who started the Great Chicago Fire and why. The ensuing investigation takes Kelly to places he'd rather not go, specifically, City Hall's fifth floor, where the mayor is feeling the heat and looking to play for keeps. Ultimately, Kelly finds himself in a world where nothing is quite what it seems, face-to-face with a killer bent on rewriting history and staring down demons from a past he never knew he had. A fast-stepping, intricately woven narrative, rich with the history and atmosphere of a great city, The Fifth Floor is a worthy successor to Harvey's critically acclaimed debut.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
92 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Michael Harvey
9 books392 followersMichael is the best-selling author of seven crime novels, The Chicago Way, The Fifth Floor, The Third Rail, We All Fall Down, The Innocence Game, The Governor’s Wife and Brighton, scheduled for release in June of 2016. Film rights to Brighton, a stand-alone thriller set in Michael’s hometown of Boston, were recently optioned by Graham King, producer of The Departed and The Town.
Michael is also an investigative reporter, documentary producer and co-creator, producer and executive producer of A&E’s groundbreaking forensic series, Cold Case Files.
Michael’s investigative journalism and documentary work has won multiple news Emmys and CableACE awards, numerous national and international film festival awards, a CINE Golden Eagle, two Prime-Time Emmy nominations, as well as an Academy Award nomination. Michael was also selected by the Chicago Tribune as Chicagoan of the Year in Literature for 2011.
Michael holds a bachelors degree, magna cum laude with honors, in classical languages from Holy Cross College, a law degree with honors from Duke University and a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Michael is currently an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
Michael was born in Boston and lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
September 17, 2024
For those who have read my reviews, you are probably tired of me sharing a review of this author and his Michael Kelly series.
Normally, I don’t do this, but…something changed with this story.
This story is nowhere near as gritty as its predecessor.
Not even close.
Instead, Harvey tried to do something different this time around. In my opinion, he tried to do too much.
I noticed he employed an Agatha Christie storytelling style in this book that I hadn’t noticed in his last two.
You know the style… the one where clues are thrown out without explanation, in which you had to wait for Hercule Poirot or Mrs. Marple to pull it all together at the end.
Sometimes that works – when you believe it is building momentum for the storyline. But for this book, there was something really off about the rhythm of the story. It felt like a paper thin and convoluted plot.
It was more political thriller than gritty noir detective story.
One good thing though…the author did do some amazing research on the Chicago Fire (a major historical event in 1871), even though fictional liberties were taken to fit the “thriller” part of the story.
Normally, I don’t do this, but…something changed with this story.
This story is nowhere near as gritty as its predecessor.
Not even close.
Instead, Harvey tried to do something different this time around. In my opinion, he tried to do too much.
I noticed he employed an Agatha Christie storytelling style in this book that I hadn’t noticed in his last two.
You know the style… the one where clues are thrown out without explanation, in which you had to wait for Hercule Poirot or Mrs. Marple to pull it all together at the end.
Sometimes that works – when you believe it is building momentum for the storyline. But for this book, there was something really off about the rhythm of the story. It felt like a paper thin and convoluted plot.
It was more political thriller than gritty noir detective story.
One good thing though…the author did do some amazing research on the Chicago Fire (a major historical event in 1871), even though fictional liberties were taken to fit the “thriller” part of the story.
June 5, 2024
Майкъл Кели се оказва забъркан в нова безпощадна надпревара.
Битката за кметското място в Чикаго е в разгара си и някои от играчите са готови и на убийство, за да отстранят съперник.
Има и нишка за Големия пожар, изпепелил почти напълно града през 1871 година. Макар и забравен от почти всички, историята му крие своите мръсни тайни, чиито пипала достигат и до съвремието.
Не липсва и фаталната жена, която без малко да обърка всичко в тази сложна ситуация!
Битката за кметското място в Чикаго е в разгара си и някои от играчите са готови и на убийство, за да отстранят съперник.
Има и нишка за Големия пожар, изпепелил почти напълно града през 1871 година. Макар и забравен от почти всички, историята му крие своите мръсни тайни, чиито пипала достигат и до съвремието.
Не липсва и фаталната жена, която без малко да обърка всичко в тази сложна ситуация!
April 30, 2012
Ho hum, just what I was worried about, this one didn't even compare to the first book in the series. Here's why:
- There was something really off about the rhythm of the story.
- It was more political thriller than gritty noir detective story.
- This one was much more showier than the first one and focused more on action, romance and heroism, which I just don't care for that much.
- Something was wrong with Michael Kelly he grew a conscience this book and was way too nice, what the heck?
However, there were some good parts to this book as well and they included:
- Great research on the Chicago Fire (even though fictional liberties were taken to fit the "thriller" part of the story)
- I liked Teen, the volunteer at The Historical Society and Hubert the hacker (even though they were minor characters they brought some interesting factors to the story.)
Again not exactly what I was expecting after reading and enjoying The Chicago Way. I hope Michael Harvey goes back to the noir detective roots as I will continue to read those kinds of stories, but if he keeps writing thrillers, I'm going to have to put this series down.
- There was something really off about the rhythm of the story.
- It was more political thriller than gritty noir detective story.
- This one was much more showier than the first one and focused more on action, romance and heroism, which I just don't care for that much.
- Something was wrong with Michael Kelly he grew a conscience this book and was way too nice, what the heck?
However, there were some good parts to this book as well and they included:
- Great research on the Chicago Fire (even though fictional liberties were taken to fit the "thriller" part of the story)
- I liked Teen, the volunteer at The Historical Society and Hubert the hacker (even though they were minor characters they brought some interesting factors to the story.)
Again not exactly what I was expecting after reading and enjoying The Chicago Way. I hope Michael Harvey goes back to the noir detective roots as I will continue to read those kinds of stories, but if he keeps writing thrillers, I'm going to have to put this series down.
August 17, 2019
Ами това е, намерих си нови любимци - автор и герой. Майкъл Харви и литературният му адаш Майкъл Кели ми доставиха неподправено удоволствие за втори път след Така го правят в Чикаго. Коравото ирландско частно ченге вече се нареди до Спенсър на Robert B. Parker, Джак Ричар на Lee Child и Шон Дръмънд на Brian Haig (все от издателското портфолио на "Обсидиан"), а в "Петият етаж" имаше всичко - и политически интриги, и свежа историческа плънка с факти около Големия пожар в Чикаго от края на XIX в., изпепелил целия град, и няколко отделни криминални нишки, и крайно любопитен епилог.
December 3, 2018
The second Kelly book finds our detective hero investigating Chicago's greatest mystery: who caused the Great Fire of 1871 and why. He finds himself involved as he tails an old friend's abusive husband. Of more current interest is the secrets of City Hall's fifth floor. The century-old puzzle threatens Kelly as he finds himself under arrest. As with The Chicago Way, Kelly feels more like a combination of several sleuths who have gone before rather than his own character. Despite that, these are solid mysteries that are fun to read.
September 13, 2018
The Fifth Floor is modern noir. Good stuff but honestly it had been too long since I read the first book in the series-I just could not get into the swing of things, despite multiple mysteries and mayhem. Still willing to try the next book in the series tho. Michael Harvey knows how to write and I remember Chicago fondly from my visits there.
January 5, 2011
The Fifth Floor is the second of Michael Harvey’s novels to feature private investigator Michael Kelly. After enjoying The Chicago Way, the first Michael Kelly novel, so much, I was in a hurry to pick up The Fifth Floor. I was highly disappointed.
This story is nowhere near as gritty as its predecessor. Not even close. Instead, Harvey tried to do something different this time around. In my opinion, he tried to do too much. Whereas the grittiness and rawness of The Chicago Way created emotional tension, Harvey tried the opposite approach in The Fifth Floor. This time, the story began with the emotional tension and the author tried to use that tension to great the story’s grit. It did not work.
The story begins with Kelly meeting with a physically abused woman in his office. From the very beginning, Kelly’s is drawn in by emotion. He took this case because of his emotions. The plot of the first novel revolved around a case that Kelly took because he was fighting for justice. That element is missing from The Fifth Floor. While it is true that this novel heavily involves Chicago’s corrupt political leadership, the inhabitants of The Fifth Floor of City Hall, Kelly is not looking for justice in his fight with mayor and his cronies. It’s all personal, and it all stems from a relationship that ended fifteen years in the past.
I must say that the characters in The Fifth Floor are more interesting and more complex than those in The Chicago Way. There is much more moral ambiguity in this novel. These are good things. But as I said, Harvey attempted to put too much into this story. Not only does it bog down the story, but it also leads to too many secondary plots. There isn’t anything wrong with these plots per se, but they do not fit into the overall story arc very well. For instance, a federal judge who appeared in The Chicago Way played an unnecessarily bigger role this time. This judge could have fulfilled her plot functions in much the same way as in the first novel, but Harvey gave a bigger role in the second. It felt awkward and unnatural in a way that nothing in the first novel did. There was also an added scene whose purpose seems to be nothing more than showing us how tough and fearless Michael Kelly is. After the PI was thrown in jail, he started a fight with his cellmate. I know why, but I don’t know why. These two are examples that show how cluttered The Fifth Floor was. It just doesn’t flow well.
Other than what was written above, I had two major issues with The Fifth Floor. The first is a break-in of Kelly’s apartment. It was too much of a contrived coincidence for me that the break-in occurred on the first night a particular woman spent the night with Kelly. The fact that the woman was present becomes a big deal for moving the plot forward. Also, after we learn the identity of the intruder, I wanted to know how this individual knew anything about item that was the motivation for the break-in. The item in question was a secret. Not many people knew about it. The only people who could have told the intruder about said item were the men of The Fifth Floor. Those men had no reason to share what they knew with the intruder. It doesn’t make sense to me, and it is a big negative in terms of my feelings about the novel.
The other major issue is that there was a gem of a plot point that Harvey ignored until the epilogue. There were moments that hinted at Kelly thinking about it, but it was never explored. In my mind, it was a more intriguing and potentially more emotional secondary plot than anything involving the federal judge. This would have also created more of the grit and rhythm of The Chicago Way.
More than anything else, it was that rhythm that was missing from The Fifth Floor. For now, I’ll chalk it up to a sophomore slump. I hope The Third Rail does not suffer from the same issues.
This story is nowhere near as gritty as its predecessor. Not even close. Instead, Harvey tried to do something different this time around. In my opinion, he tried to do too much. Whereas the grittiness and rawness of The Chicago Way created emotional tension, Harvey tried the opposite approach in The Fifth Floor. This time, the story began with the emotional tension and the author tried to use that tension to great the story’s grit. It did not work.
The story begins with Kelly meeting with a physically abused woman in his office. From the very beginning, Kelly’s is drawn in by emotion. He took this case because of his emotions. The plot of the first novel revolved around a case that Kelly took because he was fighting for justice. That element is missing from The Fifth Floor. While it is true that this novel heavily involves Chicago’s corrupt political leadership, the inhabitants of The Fifth Floor of City Hall, Kelly is not looking for justice in his fight with mayor and his cronies. It’s all personal, and it all stems from a relationship that ended fifteen years in the past.
I must say that the characters in The Fifth Floor are more interesting and more complex than those in The Chicago Way. There is much more moral ambiguity in this novel. These are good things. But as I said, Harvey attempted to put too much into this story. Not only does it bog down the story, but it also leads to too many secondary plots. There isn’t anything wrong with these plots per se, but they do not fit into the overall story arc very well. For instance, a federal judge who appeared in The Chicago Way played an unnecessarily bigger role this time. This judge could have fulfilled her plot functions in much the same way as in the first novel, but Harvey gave a bigger role in the second. It felt awkward and unnatural in a way that nothing in the first novel did. There was also an added scene whose purpose seems to be nothing more than showing us how tough and fearless Michael Kelly is. After the PI was thrown in jail, he started a fight with his cellmate. I know why, but I don’t know why. These two are examples that show how cluttered The Fifth Floor was. It just doesn’t flow well.
Other than what was written above, I had two major issues with The Fifth Floor. The first is a break-in of Kelly’s apartment. It was too much of a contrived coincidence for me that the break-in occurred on the first night a particular woman spent the night with Kelly. The fact that the woman was present becomes a big deal for moving the plot forward. Also, after we learn the identity of the intruder, I wanted to know how this individual knew anything about item that was the motivation for the break-in. The item in question was a secret. Not many people knew about it. The only people who could have told the intruder about said item were the men of The Fifth Floor. Those men had no reason to share what they knew with the intruder. It doesn’t make sense to me, and it is a big negative in terms of my feelings about the novel.
The other major issue is that there was a gem of a plot point that Harvey ignored until the epilogue. There were moments that hinted at Kelly thinking about it, but it was never explored. In my mind, it was a more intriguing and potentially more emotional secondary plot than anything involving the federal judge. This would have also created more of the grit and rhythm of The Chicago Way.
More than anything else, it was that rhythm that was missing from The Fifth Floor. For now, I’ll chalk it up to a sophomore slump. I hope The Third Rail does not suffer from the same issues.
September 11, 2009
This is the second novel featuring the wise-cracking Private Investigator Michael Kelly who returns in full force. The heart of the story is based around the mayor's office on the fifth floor of Chicago City Hall.
It starts when Michael is contacted by Janet, an ex-girlfriend and is asked to use his P.I. expertise to protect her from her abusive husband, Johnny Woods who happens to be one of the mayor's fixers. While on his trail he discovers a link to a recent murder. During his research he stumbles across a credible theory of the Chicago fire with a connection between the mayor's family and a land grab that set up a political dynasty. Of course revealing this would be scandalous, especially in an election year. The historical angle along with several plot twists made for a very interesting story.
Michael a man of action and very meticulous at his profession soon finds himself in the middle of political corruption and targeted by powerful men. He is framed for murder and embroiled in scams he had nothing to do with, plunged into an unfamiliar world where nothing is quite what it seems.
I share my thoughts with those saying this is a sizzling follow-up to "The Chicago Way". It is suspenseful and atmospheric, has intricate woven narrative and snappy dialogue and the characters are loveable and gritty. Mr Harvey has written an entertaining thriller with an historical twist. . This is a real page-turner that masterfully delves into the myth behind Mrs O'Leary's cow, the suspected cause of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Michael is one hero worth rooting for in this fast paced drama.
It starts when Michael is contacted by Janet, an ex-girlfriend and is asked to use his P.I. expertise to protect her from her abusive husband, Johnny Woods who happens to be one of the mayor's fixers. While on his trail he discovers a link to a recent murder. During his research he stumbles across a credible theory of the Chicago fire with a connection between the mayor's family and a land grab that set up a political dynasty. Of course revealing this would be scandalous, especially in an election year. The historical angle along with several plot twists made for a very interesting story.
Michael a man of action and very meticulous at his profession soon finds himself in the middle of political corruption and targeted by powerful men. He is framed for murder and embroiled in scams he had nothing to do with, plunged into an unfamiliar world where nothing is quite what it seems.
I share my thoughts with those saying this is a sizzling follow-up to "The Chicago Way". It is suspenseful and atmospheric, has intricate woven narrative and snappy dialogue and the characters are loveable and gritty. Mr Harvey has written an entertaining thriller with an historical twist. . This is a real page-turner that masterfully delves into the myth behind Mrs O'Leary's cow, the suspected cause of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Michael is one hero worth rooting for in this fast paced drama.
October 15, 2008
This is a tightly-written, well-paced hardboiled mystery set in Chicago. Michael Harvey's protagonist Michael Kelly, tough guy and private eye, deals with a wife-beater, confronts a powerful mayor and his ruthless fixers, and investigates why the mayor might be concerned about his ancestor's role in the Chicago Fire of 1871.
As in a lot of good mysteries, the setting is intrinsic to the tone of the story, just as Edinburgh infuses Ian Rankin's Rebus mysteries or Los Angeles shapes the created world of Raymond Chandler's Marlowe. Michael Harvey's protagonist Michael Kelly lives in a world where corruption seems to be part of the air, a world dominated by the mayor's office on the fifth floor of City Hall.
Michael Harvey mainly gets Chicago right. As I read this, I could feel the cold April wind off the Lake and started getting a taste for a sloppy Italian beef sandwich. He does Chicago as well as Sara Paretsky (but without the annoying tone of sociopolitical righteousness that Paretsky sometimes displays). The power-players in Harvey's Chicago are unsavory, perhaps evil, but his detective doesn't spend a lot of time moralizing. Michael Kelly treats them as one would sharks, like dangerous predators, part of the local ecology.
This is a good example of Chicago noir. It's punchy and taut, with the right amount of cynicism. It goes down like a cold Old Style.
As in a lot of good mysteries, the setting is intrinsic to the tone of the story, just as Edinburgh infuses Ian Rankin's Rebus mysteries or Los Angeles shapes the created world of Raymond Chandler's Marlowe. Michael Harvey's protagonist Michael Kelly lives in a world where corruption seems to be part of the air, a world dominated by the mayor's office on the fifth floor of City Hall.
Michael Harvey mainly gets Chicago right. As I read this, I could feel the cold April wind off the Lake and started getting a taste for a sloppy Italian beef sandwich. He does Chicago as well as Sara Paretsky (but without the annoying tone of sociopolitical righteousness that Paretsky sometimes displays). The power-players in Harvey's Chicago are unsavory, perhaps evil, but his detective doesn't spend a lot of time moralizing. Michael Kelly treats them as one would sharks, like dangerous predators, part of the local ecology.
This is a good example of Chicago noir. It's punchy and taut, with the right amount of cynicism. It goes down like a cold Old Style.
October 4, 2008
Michael Kelly, the private eye returns in this light breezy mystery set in Chicago. Kelly is approached by an old flame who is taking a regular beating from her husband. She doesnt want Kelly involved but Kelly follows her husband around and stumbles upon a mureder at a historic house. The only item missing is a copy of a rare book about the history of the Chicago Fire. It seems that two groups are after a copy of the book which supposedly has a secret letter that shows how the current Mayor's relative really set the fire as a way to get land. Is it a red herring? The book is full of other non starters and the mystery keeps evolving, but there are some good leads, another murder to sort out, bare knuckle politics from the Mayor and his fixers and some good old fashioned detective work to satisfy any fan. The chapters are light, the reading is easy and the book goes down like a cheap beer at one of the dives that the main character visits, but the ending like the last book's ending has a couple of interesting developments.
Good fast read
Good fast read
March 5, 2013
This is the second book in the series with Chicago private-eye Michael Kelley. Again, I love the attention paid to the Chicago locales. I also loved that the mystery in the book has an angle related to Chicago history, specifically the Great Fire of 1871. But the unfolding of the mystery itself was kind of lame. Harvey has his P.I. narrator refer obliquely to some things he's thinking about and asking people to do in order to keep things "mysterious" to the reader up until the big revelations. That seems kind of lazy. Also, it was hard to believe that a police dept. and the Feds were going to wait patiently outside with their arrest and seizure warrants, while they allowed a P.I. to confront the perpetrator in his office for an "I've nailed you" moment. Such are the pitfalls an author should be aware of when mixing "neo" with "noir".
October 4, 2008
An OK murder/political mystery set in modern Chicago with ties to the 1871 Chicago fire. Bogs down in the middle, but picks up speed toward the end. A pleasant three day read.
July 1, 2022
Great book! I truly enjoy reading about the city of Chicago. It was once such a wonderful city and a great place to visit. I have read two books by this author and have thoroughly enjoyed both.
Favorite excerpt...
Are we fated to lead the life we do? Or do we really chart our own path?”“I think we’re all given different tools,” I said. “Capable of great good and great evil. What we do after that is up to us.”
Favorite excerpt...
Are we fated to lead the life we do? Or do we really chart our own path?”“I think we’re all given different tools,” I said. “Capable of great good and great evil. What we do after that is up to us.”
September 9, 2024
There just isn't much here. The characters are cardboard archetypes we've seen a thousand times, the plotting is stale, the twists are visible from a mile away, and the language is sparse to the point of uninteresting.
I realize that he's almost consciously aping the greats in the genre, Hammett in particular, but the author just lacks the skill and the vision to do it well, I'm afraid.
I realize that he's almost consciously aping the greats in the genre, Hammett in particular, but the author just lacks the skill and the vision to do it well, I'm afraid.
December 6, 2019
Great mystery with many storylines. Plus it was great to be taken back to my time living in downtown Joliet and tipping back a few drinks at Hawkeyes Bar in Chicago's Little Italy!
September 20, 2013
The Fifth Floor by Michael Harvey is a bit like an old fashioned detective story written by Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler. The sentences are short and crisp; the verbiage is simple and straightforward; The hero is somewhat noir in character and irresistible to women. Harvey's stories take place in Chicago which, for me, is a plus since I lived there prior to retirement. Chicago also has the gritty texture and machine-like power structure that fits Harvey's style perfectly.
The book is written in the first person with our hero, private detective Michael Kelly narrating. Given Harvey's style, you can well imagine Bogey (if you're old enough to remember him) playing Kelly in the movie and uttering words like, "The detective's response came too fast. Fear does that to a person. Does it to old reporters in Joliet. Does it to tough detectives in Chicago. The waitress wandered over and gave us a refill."
The Fifth Floor moves quickly and Harvey does an excellent job of building suspense. It's a difficult book to put down, particularly when you get to the last third.The characters are a little stereotypic but that is part of the book's charm.
The only thing that I didn't care for was a very silly mistake that Kelly made about forty pages form the end. It was too silly to have been made by a seasoned private detective and their were other ways to handle the situation. Had it not been for that, I might have given the book a five star rating. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable book to read and I have no difficulty in recommending it to anyone who likes a good mystery. I will definitely look for Harvey's future efforts.
The book is written in the first person with our hero, private detective Michael Kelly narrating. Given Harvey's style, you can well imagine Bogey (if you're old enough to remember him) playing Kelly in the movie and uttering words like, "The detective's response came too fast. Fear does that to a person. Does it to old reporters in Joliet. Does it to tough detectives in Chicago. The waitress wandered over and gave us a refill."
The Fifth Floor moves quickly and Harvey does an excellent job of building suspense. It's a difficult book to put down, particularly when you get to the last third.The characters are a little stereotypic but that is part of the book's charm.
The only thing that I didn't care for was a very silly mistake that Kelly made about forty pages form the end. It was too silly to have been made by a seasoned private detective and their were other ways to handle the situation. Had it not been for that, I might have given the book a five star rating. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable book to read and I have no difficulty in recommending it to anyone who likes a good mystery. I will definitely look for Harvey's future efforts.
Read
July 25, 2011This was a good, quick read. Michael Harvey's second mystery-ish novel featuring PI Michael Kelly wasn't quite as good as the first, "The Chicago Way," but it definitely kept me guessing. I really do enjoy Kelly's character. As someone told him in this book, "you don't give a s--t who you piss off," and that's a trait I try to live by myself, so I like it in my protagonists as well!
Kelly's former girlfriend asks him for help with her abusive husband, who happens to be one of the Chicago mayor's "fixers." In doing her this favor, he becomes embroiled in another murder, not to mention political pressure and a great deal of wrangling over who really did start the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. (Yes, I'm serious.)
If I had any issue with this book, it's that there was a lot crammed into it that I needed to keep straight, because suddenly things would happen with characters I'd already forgotten. And the story's conclusion was a little too pat for me, one I've seen at least a few times before. But that being said, I'll definitely look for Harvey's next book.
Kelly's former girlfriend asks him for help with her abusive husband, who happens to be one of the Chicago mayor's "fixers." In doing her this favor, he becomes embroiled in another murder, not to mention political pressure and a great deal of wrangling over who really did start the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. (Yes, I'm serious.)
If I had any issue with this book, it's that there was a lot crammed into it that I needed to keep straight, because suddenly things would happen with characters I'd already forgotten. And the story's conclusion was a little too pat for me, one I've seen at least a few times before. But that being said, I'll definitely look for Harvey's next book.
February 24, 2016
Ugh. I just wrote my review and then my computer crashed... here goes again. I'd give it 4.5 stars. This is a very well written mystery. It's set in Chicago, and the author describes the city and the characters in a fresh and creative way, avoiding the cliches you often get with hard-boiled fiction- which I find so tiresome. This one rings true - I especially liked the way he describes the inner political workings of the Mayor's office - everything has a price, and we follow along as the detective negotiates a grand bargain to resolve this complex plot in which multiple threads are woven very well (sometimes by coincidence - but it works) and the characters are well drawn, with compelling back-stories. It moves along at a very fast clip... you'll devour the book in two or three days easily... Also of interest - the great fire of Chicago, which plays a part in the plot- what a firestorm... and it's still burning in this page-turner!
March 4, 2019
Nicely nuanced second effort by Michael Harvey with his Michael Kelly private investigator. I liked his first effort - The Chicago Way - a bit more because of its tie-ins and references to places in Chicago (full disclosure, I was born and raised in Chicago). He repeats these references here, but that schtick won't carry the series/book by itself. This tale is nicely laid out and intricate, but not quite up to his first effort.
This tale ties in the Mayor's office (from the Fifth Floor) and many from the Chicago police department ... even has a federal judge weighing in at many points. The murder and mayhem is nicely described, but a bit too formulaic. All in all, I like the series and I like the main character (Michael Kelly) but we need to make sure we don't bog down in the same rut (ie: hard drinking Irish former policeman). I will read his #3 - The Third Rail - but am looking for a new hook. Drops to three stars, buts still worth the read.
This tale ties in the Mayor's office (from the Fifth Floor) and many from the Chicago police department ... even has a federal judge weighing in at many points. The murder and mayhem is nicely described, but a bit too formulaic. All in all, I like the series and I like the main character (Michael Kelly) but we need to make sure we don't bog down in the same rut (ie: hard drinking Irish former policeman). I will read his #3 - The Third Rail - but am looking for a new hook. Drops to three stars, buts still worth the read.
March 13, 2017
Rereading the second (of five) Michael Kelly p. i. novels I bumped it from four stars to five. It involves murders rooted in earlier murders, the Chicago Fire. (Kelly's discoveries about the fire, seen a based in insurance and real estate fraud, is historically well grounded, as a trip to the Chicago Historical Society will show.) The five Michael Kelly books (so far) are aces, both for their strong eviction of Chicago and for the sheer quality of Harvey's writing and plotting.
June 19, 2021
Author has fantastic grip on the City of Chicago. He portrays the politics with just a bit of flair and grasps the geography like he's lived there all his life. I really like reading about my hometown. Good characters and page turning plot. He does use the old "I put a plan in place" line without telling the reader what it is until the end. I will be reading the next book in the series just as I had read the first.
August 23, 2009
I really like Michael Harvey's style: noirish and old-fashioned and set in Chicago. Nothing too gruesome, and certainly no detailed forensic discussions--just trench-coated, slouch-hatted, cigar-wielding (one imagines) shoe-leather mysteries. The only possible criticism I can conceive may just be it's best side as well. It doesn't feel exactly urgent.
January 2, 2010
This author evidently lives in my neighborhood in Chicago, and eats and drinks in familiar joints, which makes the shenanigans of his detective only that much more enjoyable. I especially liked this one because the villain turned out to be a curator at the Chicago History Museum!
January 22, 2015
Gets docked a star for the utter creepiness of the heroic protagonist having the same name as the author. Yuck. Docked one star for the paper thin and convoluted plot. And docked one more star for the sense of phony toughness throughout from this academic egghead. Started off good though...
August 19, 2025
Michael Kelly, ex-cop and private investigator, is looking for a little information, and sources don’t get better than Fred Jacobs of the tribune. Let’s meet Fred.
Fred was six feet two and weighed slightly less than your average house cat. He was chasing sixty with . . . a head of black hair the color and consistency of shoe leather. . . . Fred was a life-long bachelor. Suffice it to say, he didn’t get a lot of chicks. What Fred did get was information. The man shambling along Michigan Avenue had on two Pulitzers and was probably the best investigative reporter this side of Bob Woodard.
There’s shenanigans happening on the fifth floor, or Chicago’s City Hall era 1990s. (When was there not, especially during those years?) It involves hinky real estate deal (a given) and the Great Chicago Fire of Mrs. O’Leary’s cow’s fame. The real break in the case, however, comes via a volunteer docent by the name of Teen. She has been working at the archives for decades, and is charged with the safekeeping of various historical document, such as with the annual internal audits. And she has noticed some discrepancies. She has something she wants to mention to Kelly, but she has a question first.
“Will I get my name in the papers?” . . .
“You want your name in the papers?”
“Of course.”
“Consider it done.
Never treat a loyal volunteer as if she’s just part of the woodwork. Especially if she knows where all the bodies are buried and you don’t.
Fred was six feet two and weighed slightly less than your average house cat. He was chasing sixty with . . . a head of black hair the color and consistency of shoe leather. . . . Fred was a life-long bachelor. Suffice it to say, he didn’t get a lot of chicks. What Fred did get was information. The man shambling along Michigan Avenue had on two Pulitzers and was probably the best investigative reporter this side of Bob Woodard.
There’s shenanigans happening on the fifth floor, or Chicago’s City Hall era 1990s. (When was there not, especially during those years?) It involves hinky real estate deal (a given) and the Great Chicago Fire of Mrs. O’Leary’s cow’s fame. The real break in the case, however, comes via a volunteer docent by the name of Teen. She has been working at the archives for decades, and is charged with the safekeeping of various historical document, such as with the annual internal audits. And she has noticed some discrepancies. She has something she wants to mention to Kelly, but she has a question first.
“Will I get my name in the papers?” . . .
“You want your name in the papers?”
“Of course.”
“Consider it done.
Never treat a loyal volunteer as if she’s just part of the woodwork. Especially if she knows where all the bodies are buried and you don’t.
May 12, 2018
The Fifth Floor, by Michael Harvey, is a sequel to his previous crime novel, The Chicago Way, and reintroduces private investigator Michael Kelly. I chose to read this book because The Chicago Way is one of my all time favorite books and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. The novel met my high expectations, primarily due to the fact that I was reading another crime mystery story by Michael Harvey, and the plot twists he implemented forced me to keep reading. A personal connection I can make towards the main character Michael Kelly is to my dad, a defense lawyer. Both men chose sides in their lives that aren't popular among the general population and decided to go against the norm to achieve their goals, no matter the risks they have to take.
Harvey's implementation of plot twists really adds another element to the story because you never know what to expect or the true credibility of events that occur. This element keeps you on your feet throughout the book. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoyed Michael Harvey's previous novels and crime mysteries in general. Yet again, the story can be hard to follow at times so this book would be greater suited for an older audience.
Harvey's implementation of plot twists really adds another element to the story because you never know what to expect or the true credibility of events that occur. This element keeps you on your feet throughout the book. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoyed Michael Harvey's previous novels and crime mysteries in general. Yet again, the story can be hard to follow at times so this book would be greater suited for an older audience.
May 15, 2018
The Fifth Floor is just what it says it is, a noir PI story. I don't usually read loner PI stories, but I was intrigued because the plot centered on the history of the Chicago fire. I thought that could be interesting. It was. Michael Kelly is the loner PI guy, thrown off the Chicago police force under false pretenses in the previous novel in the series. As is typical for this type of hero, he operates with his own brand of principles. He will protect a woman and is true to his word. He also likes the classics. He knows his Latin.
All of this makes him a character without much dimension, but if you are reading a noir PI story, this is what you want--the principled loner willing to take on the establishment who can take and deliver a punch. The plot was interesting overall. Kelly is trying to help his old lover, who is now the abused spouse of one of the mayor's fixers. In trying to help her, Kelly stumbles on a plot to cover up what is potentially an explosive document that tells the truth of the Chicago fire. The two stories intertwine, and the plot has enough twists to be entertaining. I rate this a 3.5. I enjoyed it, but I did find my eyes rolling at times. Our PI heroes can be a bit much.
All of this makes him a character without much dimension, but if you are reading a noir PI story, this is what you want--the principled loner willing to take on the establishment who can take and deliver a punch. The plot was interesting overall. Kelly is trying to help his old lover, who is now the abused spouse of one of the mayor's fixers. In trying to help her, Kelly stumbles on a plot to cover up what is potentially an explosive document that tells the truth of the Chicago fire. The two stories intertwine, and the plot has enough twists to be entertaining. I rate this a 3.5. I enjoyed it, but I did find my eyes rolling at times. Our PI heroes can be a bit much.
August 8, 2023
So I have been on a book trade with one of my best friends, and this was his pick. We have very different tastes in genres, and this might be the only crime/mystery/detective story I have finished...aka I have questions.
Are mystery books supposed to be funny? The tounge-in-the-cheek, unintentionally dry wit that sounds ridiculous when you say it aloud? Yeah, that kind of funny. Also, how did the narrator stay in character? (The audible narrator is now on my favorites list). Is the ending supposed to make me feel like the Spiderman meme, the one where he is pointing to himself? Aha-AH!!
I don't think I missed too much background info from starting the series with this book. I guess I have to go back and read The Chicago way to figure it out.
Are mystery books supposed to be funny? The tounge-in-the-cheek, unintentionally dry wit that sounds ridiculous when you say it aloud? Yeah, that kind of funny. Also, how did the narrator stay in character? (The audible narrator is now on my favorites list). Is the ending supposed to make me feel like the Spiderman meme, the one where he is pointing to himself? Aha-AH!!
I don't think I missed too much background info from starting the series with this book. I guess I have to go back and read The Chicago way to figure it out.
November 11, 2019
The second in the series this book surprised and delighted me. If you're looking for a book described as retro-noir, this is the book for you. The writer can describe a dark kind of nasty story with Micky Spillane or Dashiell Hammett, the best of them. The action takes place in Chicago and the 5th floor is the office of the Mayor, his he corrupt? It's Chicago, so one might think he definitely is, however there turn out to be good things about him too. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the first of the series next.
May 26, 2025
Ah, a modern Chicago mystery with the classics-loving detective (and disgraced former Chicago PD detective) Michael Kelly. All the elements are here, city hall--the 5th floor Mayor's office to be exact--bureaucrats, delicious restaurants that don't necessarily look great, and some classic double crosses and twists from characters that aren't supposed to be jerking you around. Plot revolves around Chicago's great 19th century tragedy, the fire, and a search for a book with an astounding secret. Seems like all books between 2003-2016 involved some secret historical book/mystery plotline. Fortunately, that turns out to be a red herring for something a bit more mundane and ultimately more interesting.
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