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Hollow City #1
The Big Fear
It’s August in New York, and the steaming garbage littering the streets isn’t the only thing that stinks.
Civilian investigator Leonard Mitchell can keep his job as the new head of the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption only by successfully prosecuting veteran cop Ralph Mulino.
Mulino shot an armed man on a dark night; he didn’t know the man was a fellow cop. Now, to keep his badge and his freedom, he has to make his case to the investigator. But the gun Mulino saw in his victim’s hand has disappeared.
As Mitchell digs deeper into Mulino’s claim, it becomes clear that the “misconduct and corruption” infecting New York City go far beyond the actions of one allegedly dirty cop. Murder and sabotage force Mulino and Mitchell into an uneasy partnership to uncover the truth and protect the city they are both sworn to serve.
Assuming, of course, they can stay alive…
Civilian investigator Leonard Mitchell can keep his job as the new head of the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption only by successfully prosecuting veteran cop Ralph Mulino.
Mulino shot an armed man on a dark night; he didn’t know the man was a fellow cop. Now, to keep his badge and his freedom, he has to make his case to the investigator. But the gun Mulino saw in his victim’s hand has disappeared.
As Mitchell digs deeper into Mulino’s claim, it becomes clear that the “misconduct and corruption” infecting New York City go far beyond the actions of one allegedly dirty cop. Murder and sabotage force Mulino and Mitchell into an uneasy partnership to uncover the truth and protect the city they are both sworn to serve.
Assuming, of course, they can stay alive…
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2016
1200 people are currently reading
2501 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Case
3 books45 followersAndrew Case is an award-winning playwright and critically-acclaimed novelist. His plays have been produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, New Theatre in Miami, InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia, and many more across the country. His work has been commissioned and developed by the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Atlantic Theatre, Primary Stages, the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, and many more. He is a member of the Primary Stages Writers Group and PEN America Center, and a winner of the Samuel Goldwyn Award.
Additionally, he is an expert in civilian oversight of police misconduct. His scholarship on police oversight has been published in the Columbia Human Rights Law Review and he has been quoted on police oversight and reform in the New York Times and many other media outlets.
He is married to the extraordinary dramaturg and professor Claudia Case (@TheatreHistory) and the father of two spirited children.
Additionally, he is an expert in civilian oversight of police misconduct. His scholarship on police oversight has been published in the Columbia Human Rights Law Review and he has been quoted on police oversight and reform in the New York Times and many other media outlets.
He is married to the extraordinary dramaturg and professor Claudia Case (@TheatreHistory) and the father of two spirited children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
March 9, 2017
Leonard Mitchell is the new acting director of New York City's Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption. In particular, it's the job of his office to root out and punish corrupt cops. Mitchell is very anxious to get the job on a full-time basis and so it's important that he make a big score right out of the gate.
He gets his chance with a case involving a veteran detective named Ralph Mulino. Mulino is fifty-three years old, a cop with a bad knee and a shadow that's dogged his career for years. He's called out in the middle of a hot night to investigate an alarm from a ship at anchor in the harbor. He's not really the logical person to respond to such a call and can't imagine why he captain has insisted that he should go. But once ordered to do so, he naturally agrees.
When the Harbor Patrol delivers him to the vessel, Mulino climbs a long slippery ladder and makes his way up onto a deck that appears deserted. After a few minutes, though, he discovers a body lying on the deck and suddenly realizes that he is not alone. He tracks down a man moving through the containers and orders him to freeze. The man raises a gun in his direction and Mulino fires a single shot, dropping the man in his tracks. As the man lays dying, Mulino pulls a lanyard from under the guy's shirt and discovers a detective's badge.
At which point, all hell breaks loose.
A swarm of cops arrives and Mulino tells his story. The only problem is that no one can find the gun that Molino saw in the dead man's hand. Thus the case falls to Leonard Mitchell who sees a chance to make his bones by bringing down Molino. But as he digs further into the case, Mitchell finds that he's pulled back the curtain on a web of corruption and financial intrigue, and the more he presses the case the more complicated--and dangerous--it becomes.
This is a taut thriller with a unique protagonist and a very clever set of crimes. The author, a playwright, is himself a veteran of New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board, and he clearly knows the territory. The city itself is a major character in the novel, and Case puts you right in the middle of it. For example, there's a garbage strike going on during the course of the book, and by the time the author gets through describing it, you could swear that there was a bag of rotting garbage sitting right next to your Barcalounger.
This is a book that will appeal to a large group of crime fiction fans, especially those who enjoy complex and fast-paced stories set on the Mean Streets of the country's most important city--an excellent debut novel.
He gets his chance with a case involving a veteran detective named Ralph Mulino. Mulino is fifty-three years old, a cop with a bad knee and a shadow that's dogged his career for years. He's called out in the middle of a hot night to investigate an alarm from a ship at anchor in the harbor. He's not really the logical person to respond to such a call and can't imagine why he captain has insisted that he should go. But once ordered to do so, he naturally agrees.
When the Harbor Patrol delivers him to the vessel, Mulino climbs a long slippery ladder and makes his way up onto a deck that appears deserted. After a few minutes, though, he discovers a body lying on the deck and suddenly realizes that he is not alone. He tracks down a man moving through the containers and orders him to freeze. The man raises a gun in his direction and Mulino fires a single shot, dropping the man in his tracks. As the man lays dying, Mulino pulls a lanyard from under the guy's shirt and discovers a detective's badge.
At which point, all hell breaks loose.
A swarm of cops arrives and Mulino tells his story. The only problem is that no one can find the gun that Molino saw in the dead man's hand. Thus the case falls to Leonard Mitchell who sees a chance to make his bones by bringing down Molino. But as he digs further into the case, Mitchell finds that he's pulled back the curtain on a web of corruption and financial intrigue, and the more he presses the case the more complicated--and dangerous--it becomes.
This is a taut thriller with a unique protagonist and a very clever set of crimes. The author, a playwright, is himself a veteran of New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board, and he clearly knows the territory. The city itself is a major character in the novel, and Case puts you right in the middle of it. For example, there's a garbage strike going on during the course of the book, and by the time the author gets through describing it, you could swear that there was a bag of rotting garbage sitting right next to your Barcalounger.
This is a book that will appeal to a large group of crime fiction fans, especially those who enjoy complex and fast-paced stories set on the Mean Streets of the country's most important city--an excellent debut novel.
May 8, 2022
Interesting mystery and believable characters, March 4, 2016
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This review is from: The Big Fear (Hollow City Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I noticed complaints about the author having the wrong agencies performing various tasks. I too wondered where the Coast Guard was when the police department officers boarded a ship and conducted an investigation. There is an explanation further along in the book. So far as other details of the New York City government and police department are concerned, I know very little about New York. I do know a lot about conducting investigations and found Leonard Mitchell to be a very believable investigator. I also found Detective Mulino to be a believable police officer but I had to wonder why he was not suspicious of the circumstances surrounding his assignment to answer a call aboard the ship. No partner, no backup, no details and no Coast Guard. Mental alarm bells should have been ringing. (I was once sent alone to conduct a few interviews. Our agency never previously did that nor did it again afterwards. We always worked in pairs. I was a little concerned until I saw the place where I was to conduct the interviews. Then I was alarmed. It was the worst looking housing project I ever saw in Mississippi. Looked like a nightmare transported from Chicago. I was right to be alarmed. There was trouble at my first stop.)
Mr. Case developed both characters to the point that I found them interesting and cared about their fates. The mystery and story are intriguing and the novel is well written. There are some editing problems but I became so interested in what was going to happen next, that I began to easily ignore the problems.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Big Fear (Hollow City Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I noticed complaints about the author having the wrong agencies performing various tasks. I too wondered where the Coast Guard was when the police department officers boarded a ship and conducted an investigation. There is an explanation further along in the book. So far as other details of the New York City government and police department are concerned, I know very little about New York. I do know a lot about conducting investigations and found Leonard Mitchell to be a very believable investigator. I also found Detective Mulino to be a believable police officer but I had to wonder why he was not suspicious of the circumstances surrounding his assignment to answer a call aboard the ship. No partner, no backup, no details and no Coast Guard. Mental alarm bells should have been ringing. (I was once sent alone to conduct a few interviews. Our agency never previously did that nor did it again afterwards. We always worked in pairs. I was a little concerned until I saw the place where I was to conduct the interviews. Then I was alarmed. It was the worst looking housing project I ever saw in Mississippi. Looked like a nightmare transported from Chicago. I was right to be alarmed. There was trouble at my first stop.)
Mr. Case developed both characters to the point that I found them interesting and cared about their fates. The mystery and story are intriguing and the novel is well written. There are some editing problems but I became so interested in what was going to happen next, that I began to easily ignore the problems.
March 26, 2016
This was an Amazon First Read choice for me and I chose wisely this month. I understand this is Andrew Case's first novel. This is a fantastic first book and I will definitely look for more.
The plot developed through a small number of pov with great character development. I was hooked from chapter one. We start off with a veteran police detective being called out to a ship in the New York harbor, for some unknown reason (other than a crime or disturbance has been reported). What he finds sets up this suspenseful plot and the story takes off.
I've never been to New York, but this book takes place there and the events of 9/11 still hang as a dark cloud over this great city. I imagine the book captures the feel that must surly be present. It's not a dark book really but it does deal with dark themes.
This is a fast paced, enjoyable read.
The plot developed through a small number of pov with great character development. I was hooked from chapter one. We start off with a veteran police detective being called out to a ship in the New York harbor, for some unknown reason (other than a crime or disturbance has been reported). What he finds sets up this suspenseful plot and the story takes off.
I've never been to New York, but this book takes place there and the events of 9/11 still hang as a dark cloud over this great city. I imagine the book captures the feel that must surly be present. It's not a dark book really but it does deal with dark themes.
This is a fast paced, enjoyable read.
March 22, 2016
In “The Big Fear,” author Andrew Case does a remarkable job of capturing the overweight ambience that surrounds New York City. The enormous city fascinates people who are not only awestruck by its immensity, but by its diverse humanity, constant hubbub, political turmoil, and its suffocating press of gigantic buildings. Case brings it all to life with his creative language and descriptive prose. The reader actually feels the pulse of NYC.
Veteran cop Ralph Mulino shoots a killer after chasing him around a huge cargo ship in the dark. The miscreant turns out to be a fellow police officer that never responds to Mulino’s warnings to surrender and pulls a gun on his pursuer. The gun disappears and Mulino becomes the object of an investigation for shooting an unarmed man. Murder and sabotage emerge as vast corruption contaminating the city becomes evident. Leonard Mitchell, the new director of a department that investigates misconduct in city officials will only keep his job if he successfully prosecutes Mulino, but his doubts begin to overcome the evidence and both he and Mulino become targets for dirty cops and greedy financial predators that have their illegal and deadly operations threatened. The frantic search for answers is on along with the need to identify staged catastrophes, the end product of all the illegal activity.
Case has imagined a riveting story that showcases the dark underbelly of NYC that includes not only the police department but extends into the financial world, wealthy industrialists, and union activities. The author worked at New York’s Civilian Complaint Review Board for some 10 years, experience that lends credibility to his story. His experiences have, no doubt, contributed to the authenticity one feels in his work.
Walking long distances in NYC is common (I know because I’ve been there) and, because walking plays a large part in the story, one gets physically exhausted while reading the book. Many areas of the city are explored and described during the treks, including stacks of leaking and stinking garbage bags that, even today, are a common sight. The author also describes the despair of the homeless, the mass of normal citizens that never sees activities occurring right in front of them, and the zealous civil rights activity that keeps the pot boiling. Capping it off is the weather, either hot and steaming or cold and wet, that takes all the fun out of hoofing it. One has to be strong to live in this metropolis.
“The Big Fear” is Andrew Case’s first novel. He was a well-received poet before venturing into fiction and that adds a lyricism to his writing. I found it an excellent read.
March 10, 2016
I received this book free through Kindle First, and I bought into some of the good reviews, but I wish I had gone with one of the other choices. I just wanted an easy detective story, and this was not it. Something about his writing style was very hard for me to focus. Any type of description paragraph made my mind wander. I understand you need a side salad in a novel, because if you only wrote the "meat and potatoes" your book wouldn't be very long. But the details added were just arduous and convoluted with fragmented sentences. I saw the "twist" coming long before it was revealed and honestly don't understand how the main character never saw it coming. I didn't enjoy the setup of the entire situation - all the description about what had happened to NYC and how certain characters felt about it - the corruption, the lengths, the coverups, it was all so ridiculous. I can't recommend this book for any type of reader.
January 1, 2017
This novel is about several investigations proceeding at the same time with some aspects not clear to those doing the investigating that the investigations are most likely related.
Rather than a single main character, there are several major characters that the novel deals with.
I am really conflicted about this review and here's why - this novel is one of the better "police procedural" novels I have read in a long time. Having insight into the world of law enforcement and governmental machinations, this area of the novel is dead on and I enjoyed that greatly.
I also enjoyed how the author wove different threads found in different parts into a singular plot.
While reading the novel, where the novel went astray for me was that of the main plot point and how for me to have fully enjoyed it, it required somewhat of a suspension of rational belief.
Still, the novel was enjoyable and recommend with reservations.
Rather than a single main character, there are several major characters that the novel deals with.
I am really conflicted about this review and here's why - this novel is one of the better "police procedural" novels I have read in a long time. Having insight into the world of law enforcement and governmental machinations, this area of the novel is dead on and I enjoyed that greatly.
I also enjoyed how the author wove different threads found in different parts into a singular plot.
While reading the novel, where the novel went astray for me was that of the main plot point and how for me to have fully enjoyed it, it required somewhat of a suspension of rational belief.
Still, the novel was enjoyable and recommend with reservations.
April 10, 2016
The Big Fear was a long way from being the worst book I've read, but I found it rather uninspiring. The only time I looked forward to picking it up was when I got near the end so I could be done with it and get on with something else. Technically it was well written, but I found it quite tedious in places and considering it was relatively short it dragged, especially early on. To be fair, the plot was interesting and there was a good mix of characters but there wasn't enough spark and a 2 star "it was ok" rating sums it up for me.
June 5, 2018
This is an interesting crime novel with a well constructed and complex plot. It begins rather slowly but gathers speed gradually throughout, moving compellingly into the conclusion with a satisfying, albeit somewhat predictable twist.
The book hosts many important characters, but the two primary ones are Leonard Mitchell, the acting director of the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption in the NYPD, and veteran detective, Ralph Mulino. Mitchell's character seemed to hold little interest for me in the early chapters, but I warmed up to him as he became, essentially, the main protagonist, searching for the truth as a cadre of crooked cops seek to cover up their misdeeds and apparently are willing to stop at nothing as they pursue their plans. His investigation leads him not only to bad cops, but to Wall Street as well. Mulino, who features prominently in the beginning of the book, sort of fades out during the middle, only to make an important comeback toward the end of the story.
Along the way, the thing that really stood out for me was the sense of tension building-- of evil edging closer and closer to victory over the few individuals that seemed aware and were in a position to thwart the bad guys. Credit goes to veteran playwright author, Andrew Case, for knowing how to add steam to the locomotive engine of a story that gathers strength and urgency as it moves unrelentingly towards its conclusion.
This is really a 3.5 star book and could easily have been 4 stars, but for my initial cool reaction to the Mitchell character and the seeming shift away from Mulino, who I thought would become the core of the story. I can easily see how others would give it higher ratings and would certainly recommend this to any fan of crime/mystery and especially those that enjoy the setting being NYC. Left me nostalgic for Det. Andy Sipowicz!
The book hosts many important characters, but the two primary ones are Leonard Mitchell, the acting director of the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption in the NYPD, and veteran detective, Ralph Mulino. Mitchell's character seemed to hold little interest for me in the early chapters, but I warmed up to him as he became, essentially, the main protagonist, searching for the truth as a cadre of crooked cops seek to cover up their misdeeds and apparently are willing to stop at nothing as they pursue their plans. His investigation leads him not only to bad cops, but to Wall Street as well. Mulino, who features prominently in the beginning of the book, sort of fades out during the middle, only to make an important comeback toward the end of the story.
Along the way, the thing that really stood out for me was the sense of tension building-- of evil edging closer and closer to victory over the few individuals that seemed aware and were in a position to thwart the bad guys. Credit goes to veteran playwright author, Andrew Case, for knowing how to add steam to the locomotive engine of a story that gathers strength and urgency as it moves unrelentingly towards its conclusion.
This is really a 3.5 star book and could easily have been 4 stars, but for my initial cool reaction to the Mitchell character and the seeming shift away from Mulino, who I thought would become the core of the story. I can easily see how others would give it higher ratings and would certainly recommend this to any fan of crime/mystery and especially those that enjoy the setting being NYC. Left me nostalgic for Det. Andy Sipowicz!
January 2, 2016
Well, it seems obvious that Andrew Case was raised on a pabulum of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. However, Case’s vivid voice in his debut novel THE BIG FEAR demonstrates a refreshing different noir-style of storytelling. With all the tropes of the genre—the good guys and bad guys all cloaked in varying degrees of dubiousness—the reader will relish this intricate tale of corruption and crime so uniquely New York City. As a New Yorker himself and someone implicitly knowledgeable with the politics of the town, Andrew Case brings a certain credibility to THE BIG FEAR. What a great story. What a ride. In THE BIG FEAR, Andrew Case puts the mystery back into the mystery genre. You have to read this one. I highly recommend THE BIG FEAR by Andrew Case. –Susan Wingate, author of multiple award-winning novel and Amazon bestseller, “The Deer Effect”
June 27, 2017
Ralph Mulino hated the sea. He was comfortable in the stairwells of housing projects and the stubble of vacant lots, but on the water he felt exposed.
-First sentence
So, Ralph is a cop and in the first chapter, he shoots another cop who is sneaking around a crime scene with his gun drawn. But, when the crime scene is processed, no gun is found. The book follows Ralph, Leonard Mitchell (who works at the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption), and Christine Davenport (Leonard's boss) as they try to discover who is setting Ralph up and who is behind the disasters occurring around the city.
I found this book just ok. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and the conspiracy was kind of dull. There actually was a twist at the end that I didn't expect but not enough to make up for the rest of the book.
-First sentence
So, Ralph is a cop and in the first chapter, he shoots another cop who is sneaking around a crime scene with his gun drawn. But, when the crime scene is processed, no gun is found. The book follows Ralph, Leonard Mitchell (who works at the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption), and Christine Davenport (Leonard's boss) as they try to discover who is setting Ralph up and who is behind the disasters occurring around the city.
I found this book just ok. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and the conspiracy was kind of dull. There actually was a twist at the end that I didn't expect but not enough to make up for the rest of the book.
March 12, 2016
Reads like a movie. Very well written and characters are fleshed out. It is reminiscent of past crime books, shows and movies and a good read for those who want a good old fashioned crime novel. I look forward to more novels by the author.
March 4, 2016
Page turner
Smells and sites of New York City. Sanitation workers strike, sabotage, blackmail, burglary and murders. It's pre 9/11, corruption in the police department, almost like 70's. Hedge funds betting on catastrophes.
Smells and sites of New York City. Sanitation workers strike, sabotage, blackmail, burglary and murders. It's pre 9/11, corruption in the police department, almost like 70's. Hedge funds betting on catastrophes.
March 12, 2016
Riveting action packed thriller
Mr case made you feel as if you were really experiencing the action
His keen eye for details is wonderful
I feel like I know how the underbelly of the city works now
He is a real New Yorker as it takes one to know one
Well done sir
Mr case made you feel as if you were really experiencing the action
His keen eye for details is wonderful
I feel like I know how the underbelly of the city works now
He is a real New Yorker as it takes one to know one
Well done sir
May 5, 2020
I really enjoyed 'The Big Fear', playwright Andrew Case's initial foray into crime fiction. Writing way above midpoint for this genre, an interesting plot, and plenty of action combine for an enjoyable read. Additionally, what feels like 'inside information' about the way politics, government, and law enforcement intersect in the nation's largest city is an added bonus.
The Big Fear begins with a police shooting. An older officer, Ralph Mulino, who shouldn't have been assigned to begin with, answers a mysterious call on a container vessel in NYC's docks. He encounters a man scurrying among the containers, sees a gun in his hand, and shoots him dead. Turns out he was a cop as well. In the followup police investigation, somehow the victim's gun disappears and what initially seemed to be a clear cut accident becomes something less solid. The civilian government group that investigates police misconduct gets involved, but its leader, Christine Davenport, resigns to take a job in the private sector, leaving her 2nd in command, Leonard Mitchell in charge. As he begins the process of charging Mulino for the shooting, Davenport is murdered after she'd started to make progress on a financial impropriety case in her new job. It suddenly appears that anyone connected to his ex-boss was in someone's cross-hairs. Through a 'leaker' in the financial organization Davenport was analyzing, Mitchell get possession of some explosive material and soon finds himself on the run as well. The various story threads all intersect neatly at the end, but not before lots of violence, deception, and death.
The Big Fear is a well-plotted and nicely written beginning for an author that seems like he has a lot of stories in him. I look forward to following his work for a long time!
The Big Fear begins with a police shooting. An older officer, Ralph Mulino, who shouldn't have been assigned to begin with, answers a mysterious call on a container vessel in NYC's docks. He encounters a man scurrying among the containers, sees a gun in his hand, and shoots him dead. Turns out he was a cop as well. In the followup police investigation, somehow the victim's gun disappears and what initially seemed to be a clear cut accident becomes something less solid. The civilian government group that investigates police misconduct gets involved, but its leader, Christine Davenport, resigns to take a job in the private sector, leaving her 2nd in command, Leonard Mitchell in charge. As he begins the process of charging Mulino for the shooting, Davenport is murdered after she'd started to make progress on a financial impropriety case in her new job. It suddenly appears that anyone connected to his ex-boss was in someone's cross-hairs. Through a 'leaker' in the financial organization Davenport was analyzing, Mitchell get possession of some explosive material and soon finds himself on the run as well. The various story threads all intersect neatly at the end, but not before lots of violence, deception, and death.
The Big Fear is a well-plotted and nicely written beginning for an author that seems like he has a lot of stories in him. I look forward to following his work for a long time!
March 1, 2018
The Big Fear
Andrew Case
As his premier novel, the marks are quite high and the book bodes well for his future novels should he choose to write them.
The author’s intimacy with and fondness for NYC are quite apparent and comforting in a way. His relationship with his city is as many who share the love/hate/tolerate approach to a melting pot of imperfection soiled by their proximity to the common denominator of 8 million people on a patch that doesn’t hold half that many people anywhere else in the country. His undramatic references to the absence of the WTC towers were tastefully done.
The character development was pretty good even though it was largely Leonard, Veronica and Eliot. It was deep enough to want to see more of them in this series. I would have preferred to learn more about Detective Mulino. I expected more and there was no groundwork for his heroic appearance in the parking garage even though of all of the dark horses in the book, Mulino could have hit his stride earlier.
The author probably could take for granted that no one at NYPD or the Mayor’s office could care less about the troubling factual issues concerning the call out to the ship and the events on the ship but in my opinion, most of them were unavoidable. So as not to spoil but only to warn, the reader must be prepared to ignore some troubling issues so as to go along with the theme.
The author clearly has a grasp of the city of which he writes in order to convincingly describe the ebb and flow of the unwitting public awareness of public safety and how a little unsafety can produce a happier relationship between those who are kept safe and those who keep the peace. As to whether or not the city is safer as a result, the jury is still out on that.
I will read his next book in the Hollow City Series.
Andrew Case
As his premier novel, the marks are quite high and the book bodes well for his future novels should he choose to write them.
The author’s intimacy with and fondness for NYC are quite apparent and comforting in a way. His relationship with his city is as many who share the love/hate/tolerate approach to a melting pot of imperfection soiled by their proximity to the common denominator of 8 million people on a patch that doesn’t hold half that many people anywhere else in the country. His undramatic references to the absence of the WTC towers were tastefully done.
The character development was pretty good even though it was largely Leonard, Veronica and Eliot. It was deep enough to want to see more of them in this series. I would have preferred to learn more about Detective Mulino. I expected more and there was no groundwork for his heroic appearance in the parking garage even though of all of the dark horses in the book, Mulino could have hit his stride earlier.
The author probably could take for granted that no one at NYPD or the Mayor’s office could care less about the troubling factual issues concerning the call out to the ship and the events on the ship but in my opinion, most of them were unavoidable. So as not to spoil but only to warn, the reader must be prepared to ignore some troubling issues so as to go along with the theme.
The author clearly has a grasp of the city of which he writes in order to convincingly describe the ebb and flow of the unwitting public awareness of public safety and how a little unsafety can produce a happier relationship between those who are kept safe and those who keep the peace. As to whether or not the city is safer as a result, the jury is still out on that.
I will read his next book in the Hollow City Series.
April 9, 2017
A debut novel by a playwright shows his mystery skills. People are being set-up in the NY police department and then they start getting killed. Two black sheep put the clues together and finally get to the person who is directing the damage and the killings. The author has a decade of experience with the NYPD Civilian Complaint Review Board and I am betting that he has used some of his experiences there in this novel. It is fast paced, well written and has lots of clues and various surprise turning points. I loved one of the best ones near the end of the novel. There is a tiny gap at the end of the novel and we just have to trust the intuition of two of the main characters. All in all, a great first novel. I expect Case to only get better with more mystery novels.
March 24, 2017
Excellent research, intricate plot, believable characters, good mysteries
As a career government employee, while not in NYC, I recognized most of the characters in this novel. They resonated as real...the ambitious but honest attorney...the career bureaucrat who has the skills but has lost the fire...the good cop caught in the dilemma of the "Blue Line" versus the truth...the activist who sees too much to handle in the iniquities of the world...
The mysteries (of which there are many) require a bit of knowledge of the financial world, but the search for the head of the beast is intriguing and the story is very well written. I couldn't put it down and hope that we see more of the Hollow City series.
Thanks to Andrew Case for a thoroughly engrossing read!
As a career government employee, while not in NYC, I recognized most of the characters in this novel. They resonated as real...the ambitious but honest attorney...the career bureaucrat who has the skills but has lost the fire...the good cop caught in the dilemma of the "Blue Line" versus the truth...the activist who sees too much to handle in the iniquities of the world...
The mysteries (of which there are many) require a bit of knowledge of the financial world, but the search for the head of the beast is intriguing and the story is very well written. I couldn't put it down and hope that we see more of the Hollow City series.
Thanks to Andrew Case for a thoroughly engrossing read!
April 9, 2017
Great thriller, twists until the very end. Reads fairly quickly, keeps attention through the novel.
An excellent ny police, murder mystery, great character depth and complete surprise ending. Would highly recommend to all looking for summer thriller.
An excellent ny police, murder mystery, great character depth and complete surprise ending. Would highly recommend to all looking for summer thriller.
July 25, 2018
A very good debut novel with great pacing. The characters are fully developed and invite you to read more about them. Definitely must read more by this author.
March 5, 2017
Usually if a book is set in New York City it gets an extra star from me. I love NYC books generally. But this one just didn't win my heart.
This is a mediocre book about crooked cops. It really has nothing much to recommend itself in my opinion. The notion is that cops have lost the respect of the citizens in their community but if they create enough chaos the people will see that they need to once again respect to the police. It all seems quite ironic. Crooked cops are creating disasters in the city while behind the scenes other people are manipulating the stock market for financial gain.
I found no admirable characters and very little admirable writing. Not much reality and no one to love or hate. Even the reading of this audible presentation was less than stellar.
This is a mediocre book about crooked cops. It really has nothing much to recommend itself in my opinion. The notion is that cops have lost the respect of the citizens in their community but if they create enough chaos the people will see that they need to once again respect to the police. It all seems quite ironic. Crooked cops are creating disasters in the city while behind the scenes other people are manipulating the stock market for financial gain.
I found no admirable characters and very little admirable writing. Not much reality and no one to love or hate. Even the reading of this audible presentation was less than stellar.
September 3, 2020
A great read
This is one of the best detective fiction reads I have had in a long time. Can't wait for the next one. The characters were entertaining and very real. I enjoyed every twist and turn and unexpected death. Keep them coming.
This is one of the best detective fiction reads I have had in a long time. Can't wait for the next one. The characters were entertaining and very real. I enjoyed every twist and turn and unexpected death. Keep them coming.
October 20, 2019
For what it is - an inexpensive, neo-pulp crime novel - this was a great little read.
I was engaged by the characters and the story, which kept you guessing as to whether it would be typical pro-police junk.
It was actually a surprisingly insightful story about gentrification, a changing society, dirty cops, and typically-crooked politicians.
It also lacked any dumb distractions or "gotcha" plot twists that many similar stories seem to have.
I'll be buying the sequel, A Falling Knife, Hollow City Book 2.
I was engaged by the characters and the story, which kept you guessing as to whether it would be typical pro-police junk.
It was actually a surprisingly insightful story about gentrification, a changing society, dirty cops, and typically-crooked politicians.
It also lacked any dumb distractions or "gotcha" plot twists that many similar stories seem to have.
I'll be buying the sequel, A Falling Knife, Hollow City Book 2.
October 24, 2017
Great Read
This was one of the best novels I've read this year. The book is well written with excellent character development. The author is very knowledgeable regarding police work in New York City and the city's environs. Very enjoyable.
This was one of the best novels I've read this year. The book is well written with excellent character development. The author is very knowledgeable regarding police work in New York City and the city's environs. Very enjoyable.
August 21, 2016
The Big Fear is Andrew Case's first novel, but hopefully, it will not be his last. The dialogue is cool, crisp, and totally believable and the characters are well developed, although the reader is not given much information on the characters' private lives. Perhaps that was the perfect approach as we know only what characteristics are important to the story line. The story itself is intriguing and held my interest throughout. It tells the story of Ralph Mulino, an old school cop who shoots a fellow police officer in the course of doing his job. He sees a gun which is aimed at him in the cop's hand and shoots to save himself; however, when the scene is investigated, there is no sign of the weapon and Mulino faces charges of murdering his fellow officer. Enter investigator Leonard Mitchell' who has suddenly inherited the position of head of the Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption from Christine Davenport, who has left to take a position in the private business sector. The lives of these three individuals will soon become entwined in a complicated manner. As Mitchell begins to investigate Mulino's claim of a missing gun, it becomes clear that there is corruption and misconduct prevalent in the NYC Police Department. Mulino and Mitchell are forced into a partnership to discover the truth and to save the city from a scheme that involves both the police and the private business sector that now involves Christine Davenport. The author worked for a decade as an investigator, spokesman, and policy director at the Civilian Review Board, which was responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct in the NYC Police Department. This experience is evident in the novel. There are both "good" cops and "bad" cops in the novel and there is often a thin line into which category one should be placed. Andrew Case shows great promise as a novelist with The Big Fear and I hope that he receives the praise and the success that he deserves.
April 18, 2016
I found "The Big Fear" to be engaging without being interesting. What was engaging was the juxtaposition of the sanitation strike frequently described and the garbage within the echelons of New York. Which garbage is worse, the putrid rotting of the detritus of society or the festering sore of corruption within the government and business. Andrew Case's use of language is quite remarkable in describing these different aspects.
What left me uninterested was the lack of interaction between any of the characters. Leonard Mitchell is the primary protagonist. An investigator for the agency called DIMAC, Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption. There is very little that he does within the department before he is himself being investigated for the death of his former boss. Just as suddenly her death is ruled a suicide. As is typical of many crime novels the protagonist can rely on no one else since the police are corrupt. He must solve the crime by himself. The antagonist is this same faceless entity, the police, the heartless money changers, the government officials. The plot itself is razor thin. Different characters have different reasons to arrive at different ends. Ultimately leaving a convoluted trail that is thwarted but never truly solved.
Had the book actually been closer to the description of the book it may have been more interesting. Giving you a sense that there was a deeper connection to both Leonard Mitchell, Detective Ralph Mulino, and the crimes being committed.
My thanks to NetGalley for the book in exchange for this honest review.
What left me uninterested was the lack of interaction between any of the characters. Leonard Mitchell is the primary protagonist. An investigator for the agency called DIMAC, Department to Investigate Misconduct and Corruption. There is very little that he does within the department before he is himself being investigated for the death of his former boss. Just as suddenly her death is ruled a suicide. As is typical of many crime novels the protagonist can rely on no one else since the police are corrupt. He must solve the crime by himself. The antagonist is this same faceless entity, the police, the heartless money changers, the government officials. The plot itself is razor thin. Different characters have different reasons to arrive at different ends. Ultimately leaving a convoluted trail that is thwarted but never truly solved.
Had the book actually been closer to the description of the book it may have been more interesting. Giving you a sense that there was a deeper connection to both Leonard Mitchell, Detective Ralph Mulino, and the crimes being committed.
My thanks to NetGalley for the book in exchange for this honest review.
June 14, 2016
Tight plot, gnarly texture, excellent book
The Big Fear is one of those books that will mess up your sleep patterns, because once you start it you stay up into the wee hours to finish.
Case was an award-winning playwright before turning to novels, and The Big Fear shows the tight plotting of Chekov’s gun (Chekov’s famous quote: “If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there.”) The suspense builds, and then keeps building, complete with plot twists that are both surprising in the moment and inevitable in hindsight. At 3AM when I should be sleeping but can’t put the book down.
But what appealed to me even more is Case’s expertise in the environment in which the book takes place, allowing a level of texture that you don’t often find in thrillers. The thing that made Tom Clancy’s early books work so well was his intimate knowledge of military hardware and procedures. The same is true for Case’s initiate-level understanding of the underbelly of policing. Because Case actually worked for an agency that investigated bad cops, he’s seen it all. And unlike a cop-turned-author, he’s not going to gloss it over.
That combination of subject-matter knowledge and writing skill make The Big Fear much more than it appears on the surface. It’s not just a thriller. It’s a great book by every measure.
The Big Fear is one of those books that will mess up your sleep patterns, because once you start it you stay up into the wee hours to finish.
Case was an award-winning playwright before turning to novels, and The Big Fear shows the tight plotting of Chekov’s gun (Chekov’s famous quote: “If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there.”) The suspense builds, and then keeps building, complete with plot twists that are both surprising in the moment and inevitable in hindsight. At 3AM when I should be sleeping but can’t put the book down.
But what appealed to me even more is Case’s expertise in the environment in which the book takes place, allowing a level of texture that you don’t often find in thrillers. The thing that made Tom Clancy’s early books work so well was his intimate knowledge of military hardware and procedures. The same is true for Case’s initiate-level understanding of the underbelly of policing. Because Case actually worked for an agency that investigated bad cops, he’s seen it all. And unlike a cop-turned-author, he’s not going to gloss it over.
That combination of subject-matter knowledge and writing skill make The Big Fear much more than it appears on the surface. It’s not just a thriller. It’s a great book by every measure.
April 1, 2016
I was asked to read and review The Big Fear in exchange for an honest review, I received the title from Net Galley. Originally; this title was supposed to go another reviewer on the Boundless team, but it wound up in my Net Galley shelf. I am so glad that happened. The Big Fear is such an incredibly thrilling crime drama; I was drawn in from the first page! Andrew Case brought the street of New York to life in his writing and transported me there. I could almost feel the heat and humidity, and the panicked rush of trying to escape!
I have never been to New York, and only know it by what I’ve seen on TV, but I feel like I am intimately familiar with the city after reading Case’s book. I have already made planes to purchase a copy for my father in law, and the audio book for myself when it comes out, so I can get my husband to listen to it on our next road trip.
This is a novel that will suck you in and keep you reading long into the night. It’s fast paced, thrilling and so packed with scandal and mystery, I was on the edge of my seat. I loved it!...Sara
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I have never been to New York, and only know it by what I’ve seen on TV, but I feel like I am intimately familiar with the city after reading Case’s book. I have already made planes to purchase a copy for my father in law, and the audio book for myself when it comes out, so I can get my husband to listen to it on our next road trip.
This is a novel that will suck you in and keep you reading long into the night. It’s fast paced, thrilling and so packed with scandal and mystery, I was on the edge of my seat. I loved it!...Sara
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https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
May 20, 2016
First, thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book pre-publication.
Second, I should disclose that I read only 60% of this book before giving up on it. Life is too short to continue to read a book that put me to sleep every time I tried to read it.
When I say "put me to sleep," I mean that literally. Every single time I opened it on my Kindle I read several pages and fell asleep. I even fell asleep reading it in the bathtub. (The water wasn't deep enough to reach my Kindle resting on my chest).
The storyline wasn't THAT bad but the writing didn't do it justice. I'm sure the author is a better writer than this! It read as if he wrote a good book and a bad editor ruined it. As a former editor, I could spot the changes because the writing was so different in a lot of places. Perhaps the final version is better?
I may check this book out of the library and see if the final book was restored to the original manuscript. I really hope so!
Second, I should disclose that I read only 60% of this book before giving up on it. Life is too short to continue to read a book that put me to sleep every time I tried to read it.
When I say "put me to sleep," I mean that literally. Every single time I opened it on my Kindle I read several pages and fell asleep. I even fell asleep reading it in the bathtub. (The water wasn't deep enough to reach my Kindle resting on my chest).
The storyline wasn't THAT bad but the writing didn't do it justice. I'm sure the author is a better writer than this! It read as if he wrote a good book and a bad editor ruined it. As a former editor, I could spot the changes because the writing was so different in a lot of places. Perhaps the final version is better?
I may check this book out of the library and see if the final book was restored to the original manuscript. I really hope so!
September 26, 2016
I won a copy of The Big Fear from a Goodreads Giveaway.
Jeez, was the writing f**king annoying! It was as if Mr. Case was trying to sound slick or Tarantino-like by sounding street or cool but it just came off as stilted and migraine inducing.
The novel is short so there is little to no exposition; you barely know the characters or understand their motivations but that's okay because you won't care about them anyway. Not one character sounds believable or genuine but that also doesn't matter since it won't take a genius to figure out who the perps are. But you won't care who they are either.
You'll only care about finishing this book as soon as possible.
My advice: do not bother picking this up. Go watch Pulp Fiction instead.
Jeez, was the writing f**king annoying! It was as if Mr. Case was trying to sound slick or Tarantino-like by sounding street or cool but it just came off as stilted and migraine inducing.
The novel is short so there is little to no exposition; you barely know the characters or understand their motivations but that's okay because you won't care about them anyway. Not one character sounds believable or genuine but that also doesn't matter since it won't take a genius to figure out who the perps are. But you won't care who they are either.
You'll only care about finishing this book as soon as possible.
My advice: do not bother picking this up. Go watch Pulp Fiction instead.
April 1, 2016
This is a hard review for me. I was really looking forward to this book. The synopsis drew me in. I couldn't wait to read it...
Then I read it. The plot itself is fantastic. The writing of the book is what I couldn't get on board with. Andrew is way too wordy for my liking. I found my mind wandering throughout the entire book. He rambles about unimportant things throughout the book that completely took away from what could have been a fantastic read.
I am not writing this review to be mean. I received this book from Amazon for an honest review. If I am being honest, this wasn't a book that hooked me like I had hoped.
Then I read it. The plot itself is fantastic. The writing of the book is what I couldn't get on board with. Andrew is way too wordy for my liking. I found my mind wandering throughout the entire book. He rambles about unimportant things throughout the book that completely took away from what could have been a fantastic read.
I am not writing this review to be mean. I received this book from Amazon for an honest review. If I am being honest, this wasn't a book that hooked me like I had hoped.
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