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Cat Marsala Mystery #7
Hard Bargain
When a Chicago policewoman catches a fellow officer in the act of attacking his wife and shoots him, Chicago investigative reporter Cat Marsala tries to piece together the truth behind the event, which has ignited a media frenzy. Reprint.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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About the author
Barbara D'Amato
45 books27 followersAka Malacai Black
Barbara D'Amato has had a checkered career, working in the distant past as an assistant surgical orderly, carpenter for stage magic illusions, assistant tiger handler, stage manager, researcher for attorneys in criminal cases, and recently sometimes teaching mystery writing to Chicago police officers.
"Writing is the greatest job of all," D'Amato says. "I get to hang around with cops, go ask people questions about their jobs that I would be too chicken to ask without a reason, and walk around Chicago looking for good murder locales. Best of all, I get to read mystery and suspense novels and call it keeping up with the field."
She was the 1999-2000 president of Mystery Writers of America. D'Amato is also a past president of Sisters in Crime International.
D'Amato is a playwright, novelist, and crime researcher. Her research on the Dr. John Branion murder case formed the basis for a segment on "Unsolved Mysteries," and she appeared on the program. Her musical comedies, The Magic Man and children's musical The Magic of Young Houdini, written with husband Anthony D'Amato, played in Chicago and London. Their Prohibition-era musical comedy RSVP Broadway, which played in Chicago in 1980, was named an "event of particular interest" by Chicago magazine. A native of Michigan, she has been a resident of Chicago for many years.
Barbara D'Amato has had a checkered career, working in the distant past as an assistant surgical orderly, carpenter for stage magic illusions, assistant tiger handler, stage manager, researcher for attorneys in criminal cases, and recently sometimes teaching mystery writing to Chicago police officers.
"Writing is the greatest job of all," D'Amato says. "I get to hang around with cops, go ask people questions about their jobs that I would be too chicken to ask without a reason, and walk around Chicago looking for good murder locales. Best of all, I get to read mystery and suspense novels and call it keeping up with the field."
She was the 1999-2000 president of Mystery Writers of America. D'Amato is also a past president of Sisters in Crime International.
D'Amato is a playwright, novelist, and crime researcher. Her research on the Dr. John Branion murder case formed the basis for a segment on "Unsolved Mysteries," and she appeared on the program. Her musical comedies, The Magic Man and children's musical The Magic of Young Houdini, written with husband Anthony D'Amato, played in Chicago and London. Their Prohibition-era musical comedy RSVP Broadway, which played in Chicago in 1980, was named an "event of particular interest" by Chicago magazine. A native of Michigan, she has been a resident of Chicago for many years.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 15, 2017
Even more enjoyable than some of the earlier ones in this series. As always multi-layered and interesting characters and storylines. Basically a police procedural in this installment, but the personalities were important to the storyline and to solving the case. And, of course, there was a heart-pounding, desperate fight for Cat and the perp. This one was pretty spectacular as one a Midwesterner would understand!
March 17, 2015
Hard Bargain, Cat Marsala Mysteries Book 7
by Barbara D'Amato
Once again D'Amato presents an engrossing and exciting mystery for her readers. In this episode, Cat jumps into the fray to help her Chief of Detectives, Harold McCoo. A situation has arisen in the police force that has far reaching political tentacles (whoda thunk it, right?)? An officer, Shelly Daniello, on patrol was called to a domestic abuse call at her sister's residence. The sister's husband, also a police officer, is shot and killed by Daniello. Using the following internal investigation that follows any officer involved shooting, forces that be in the department seem to be using this situation, and media interest in it, to sabatoge McCoo. With mayoral elections coming up, could someone be hoping to use this situation to advance to the level of Superintendent by sabotaging McCoo?
Leaks in the case begin showing up in the press, all damaging to Daniellio and to McCoo as her boss. Is it one of the top cops? Is it someone among the trusted employees in McCoo's office? When a letter bomb explodes in McCoo's office, killing one of his staff and injuring the others and McCoo, Cat must put her own life in jeopardy in order to clear McCoo of any incompetence or wrongdoing.
As usual, D'Amato's style carries the reader into the heart of the situation, unfolding the mystery piece by tantalizing piece, always leaving the reader hungry for more of the story. I'd just be repeating my reviews from the earlier books to go on, so I'll just quote from the book's jacket:
"With its distinctly Chicago atmosphere this tale, the seventh in D'Amato's series, is edgy, surprising and spiced with rich characterizations." -- Chicago Tribune.
What did I notice most about this episode? Well, Cat's love life has obviously changed. None of the top players is mentioned too often in this book. John is referenced early and Sam, from novel #5, is referenced toward the end. Mike, who was badly injured in the 5th novel, isn't mentioned at all. But there is very little mentioned about any of them at all, with Cat's focus being all on the situation surrounding McCoo and the police department politics.
Another fun, quick read that made me reach for #8 in the series before the evening was out!
by Barbara D'Amato
Once again D'Amato presents an engrossing and exciting mystery for her readers. In this episode, Cat jumps into the fray to help her Chief of Detectives, Harold McCoo. A situation has arisen in the police force that has far reaching political tentacles (whoda thunk it, right?)? An officer, Shelly Daniello, on patrol was called to a domestic abuse call at her sister's residence. The sister's husband, also a police officer, is shot and killed by Daniello. Using the following internal investigation that follows any officer involved shooting, forces that be in the department seem to be using this situation, and media interest in it, to sabatoge McCoo. With mayoral elections coming up, could someone be hoping to use this situation to advance to the level of Superintendent by sabotaging McCoo?
Leaks in the case begin showing up in the press, all damaging to Daniellio and to McCoo as her boss. Is it one of the top cops? Is it someone among the trusted employees in McCoo's office? When a letter bomb explodes in McCoo's office, killing one of his staff and injuring the others and McCoo, Cat must put her own life in jeopardy in order to clear McCoo of any incompetence or wrongdoing.
As usual, D'Amato's style carries the reader into the heart of the situation, unfolding the mystery piece by tantalizing piece, always leaving the reader hungry for more of the story. I'd just be repeating my reviews from the earlier books to go on, so I'll just quote from the book's jacket:
"With its distinctly Chicago atmosphere this tale, the seventh in D'Amato's series, is edgy, surprising and spiced with rich characterizations." -- Chicago Tribune.
What did I notice most about this episode? Well, Cat's love life has obviously changed. None of the top players is mentioned too often in this book. John is referenced early and Sam, from novel #5, is referenced toward the end. Mike, who was badly injured in the 5th novel, isn't mentioned at all. But there is very little mentioned about any of them at all, with Cat's focus being all on the situation surrounding McCoo and the police department politics.
Another fun, quick read that made me reach for #8 in the series before the evening was out!
October 22, 2009
Another in the Cat Marsala Chicago free lance reporter and amateur detective mystery series. Cat's good friend Chief of Detectives Harold McCoo needs her help as he is in the middle of a serious problem related to the death of a police officer by another police officer and what looks like an effort to ruin his reputation. Cat comes to his aid and helps get to the bottom of the problem. Plot has a lot of twists and turns along with a series of possible suspects.
December 9, 2010
This was the first of this series I read. Guess I will look for more. It did keep my interest throughout.
January 22, 2016
Cat Marsala is an investigative reporter. This is Number 7 of the series set in Chicago. Good characters and intriguing plots. This is a great series for fans of police investigations.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews