Chicago Blues

Larry Cole #3

by Hugh Holton

In Chicago Blues Police Commander Larry Cole returns in his most dangerous case to date. The investigation of the murders of two hitmen employed by a Chicago crime boss leads Cole to an old colleague, FBI Special Agent Reggie Stanton. Cole had known Stanton fifteen years before when the FBI man was a Chicago cop accused of vigilante knife-murders on Chicago's South Side. Now the murders of the two assassins bear the same M.O. as those long-ago cases.

Genres: Mystery

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Chicago police captain at his death. Chicago Tribune obituary http://articles.chicagotribune.com/20...

Reviews

[Thomas Radigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the only book I have read by this author, and undoubtedly the last one I will read. He may have been a Chicago police officer, and he does a fair job of describing the city itself, but this story was not to my liking.

The story involves a mob boss named DeLisa, trying to assassinate a local senator who is launching an investigation into his activities. Having failed before, he hires new hit men to do the job, but several heroes from previous stories, including one believed to have done vigilante killings, are also trying to thwart him. Also in the story is the boss's emotionally abused daughter, whom we see suffering under her father's tyranny.

The nature of the story is that of an action adventure rather than a police investigation, and unrealistic events and cartoonish characters might have suited a story meant to be fun, but which instead is dreary and depressing. Mickey Spillane did this sort of material far better.

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished spending a few days with the mobsters in Chicago. I'm glad I lived through the assassins and the underworld activities that went on in this novel. Many of the characters were not so lucky and their murders were gruesome. The quote from Nietzsche -- "That which does not kill you makes you stronger" introduces Part 2 of the book. When I finished the last page I didn't feel stronger; I felt relieved.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written in an era when chapters became very short (still true in thrillers ala James Patterson and co) and there was an attempt to account for the exact days and times of the action (every one of the chapters chronicles the days and times over the three or so days chronicled in this novel).

Exciting enough and generally believable with its mish-mash of Spillane, Boys from Brazil, and James Bond--up to the end, when the Outfit kingpin's house is revealed to be guarded with Blofeld-style robotic machine guns and mortars (in Oak Park...)

I found the novel interesting and it kept me reading, but I wanted more of the main detective--Larry Cole--and more of Chicago. The town is mentioned in terms of neighborhoods and expressways, but beyond that there wasn't enough character invested in the place.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's too violent for me but I think it is true to the blues song in the book. It comes at you like a freight train. I found the second half of the book easier to deal with. I don't really like violence and was reading it because it was so unlike the sorts of things I like to read. It is a good commentary on police, politicians and mobsters and how that is all so precariously balanced.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

After I got past the first really gruesome murder, I actually started to enjoy the book. Reggie Stanton, in a way, reminded me of Dexter without a sense of humor. I'd read another in the series.

[Mary Overmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read anything by this author, but was pleasantly surprised. Although violent, this is a fast-paced mystery that is compelling to the end.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Toesnorth's mom]

police story, ok

[MariQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Even if you're not from Chicago. It just begs to be made into a movie with of course Denzel Washington.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this writer but this one had a few too violent parts in it.