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Joe Rizzo #2
Rizzo's Fire
As twenty-year NYPD veteran Joe Rizzo edges closer to retirement, things only seem to get a new partner, a promise to his wife to quit smoking, and the most baffling case of his career—a murder investigation.
The victim, Robert Lauria, was practically a hermit and was dead ten days before anyone found him. Fired from his job as a shoe salesman weeks ago, he rarely left his apartment and had no visitors except his cousin, who says she hardly knew him. So who strangled him late one night as he made tea in his kitchen? And could there be a connection to the headline-grabbing murder of a Broadway producer a day earlier?
Armed with more street smarts than the FBI agents assigned to the more glamorous case, Rizzo and his new partner, Priscilla Jackson, are tasked with navigating the twin labyrinths of the case and NYPD politics in order to find the killer and bring him to justice.
Full of the sounds and sights of walking the beat in Bensonhurst, Rizzo’s Fire comes on the heels of Lou Manfredo’s acclaimed debut, Rizzo’s War , and brings the streets of Brooklyn to life in a way that no New York City crime novel has before. Rizzo's Fire is a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011 Mysteries title.
The victim, Robert Lauria, was practically a hermit and was dead ten days before anyone found him. Fired from his job as a shoe salesman weeks ago, he rarely left his apartment and had no visitors except his cousin, who says she hardly knew him. So who strangled him late one night as he made tea in his kitchen? And could there be a connection to the headline-grabbing murder of a Broadway producer a day earlier?
Armed with more street smarts than the FBI agents assigned to the more glamorous case, Rizzo and his new partner, Priscilla Jackson, are tasked with navigating the twin labyrinths of the case and NYPD politics in order to find the killer and bring him to justice.
Full of the sounds and sights of walking the beat in Bensonhurst, Rizzo’s Fire comes on the heels of Lou Manfredo’s acclaimed debut, Rizzo’s War , and brings the streets of Brooklyn to life in a way that no New York City crime novel has before. Rizzo's Fire is a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011 Mysteries title.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2011
11 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Lou Manfredo
16 books13 followersLou Manfredo served in the Brooklyn criminal justice system for twenty-five years. His short fiction has appeared in Best American Mystery Stories, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Brooklyn Noir. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now lives in New Jersey with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 22, 2016
SETTING: Brooklyn, NY
SERIES: #2 of 2
RATING: 3.75
Detective Joe Rizzo has been a cop for 27 years; he’s at the point where he is planning to retire once he gets his finances together, possibly in a year or less. He knows the 62nd precinct like the back of his hand, and he’s sharing that knowledge with his new partner, Priscilla (“Cil”)) Jackson. Their partnership is a great match; although Cil may be a junior detective, she has excellent instincts and the gumption to stand up to Joe when needed.
The case they’re working on involves the murder of a hermit-like man, Robert Lauria, whose death goes undetected for days. There are no leads until Cil makes a connection between Lauria, who was a writer, and a Broadway hit play. Soon there are other deaths with the victims having links to the play as well. The most notable is the play’s playwright, Carl Jurgens whose case is assigned to a different precinct. Solving his murder would be a huge political coup; understandably, Joe and Cil do everything in their power to ensure that they get the credit for solving the case.
On the personal front, Joe is facing a problem that can’t be resolved as tidily as a murder investigation. His daughter, Carol, is in college and has decided that she wants to become a cop. Rizzo is adamantly opposed to this idea and forbids her to do so. After having been a cop for so long, he is well aware of the reality of the job, the shortcuts that are taken to close cases and he doesn’t want his daughter exposed to the dirty side of the work. As he notes, he often does illegal things to enforce the law; and there are many examples of that throughout the book. “I break as many laws as I enforce. Maybe more.”
RIZZO’S FIRE is one of the most authentic police procedurals I’ve ever read. Manfredo, who was himself a cop for 25 years, excels at showing the exact nature of the job and how routine it is to bend the rules when on a case or how often success is based on the collection of favors due. It is quite eye opening to see such a truthful rendering compared to many police procedurals where the lead is a lot more “noble”. The partnership of the old white guy with a young black lesbian is inspired. The main negative of the book for me was the plot—the whole situation around what happened with the play, the victims and the villain was not credible. And although the future of his daughter was certainly of great concern to Joe, far too much of the narrative was devoted to this thread. In fact, Manfredo spent too much time on the personal issues of both Joe and Cil.
If you want to see a warts-and-all depiction in the life of a homicide detective, then the Rizzo series is definitely for you.
SERIES: #2 of 2
RATING: 3.75
Detective Joe Rizzo has been a cop for 27 years; he’s at the point where he is planning to retire once he gets his finances together, possibly in a year or less. He knows the 62nd precinct like the back of his hand, and he’s sharing that knowledge with his new partner, Priscilla (“Cil”)) Jackson. Their partnership is a great match; although Cil may be a junior detective, she has excellent instincts and the gumption to stand up to Joe when needed.
The case they’re working on involves the murder of a hermit-like man, Robert Lauria, whose death goes undetected for days. There are no leads until Cil makes a connection between Lauria, who was a writer, and a Broadway hit play. Soon there are other deaths with the victims having links to the play as well. The most notable is the play’s playwright, Carl Jurgens whose case is assigned to a different precinct. Solving his murder would be a huge political coup; understandably, Joe and Cil do everything in their power to ensure that they get the credit for solving the case.
On the personal front, Joe is facing a problem that can’t be resolved as tidily as a murder investigation. His daughter, Carol, is in college and has decided that she wants to become a cop. Rizzo is adamantly opposed to this idea and forbids her to do so. After having been a cop for so long, he is well aware of the reality of the job, the shortcuts that are taken to close cases and he doesn’t want his daughter exposed to the dirty side of the work. As he notes, he often does illegal things to enforce the law; and there are many examples of that throughout the book. “I break as many laws as I enforce. Maybe more.”
RIZZO’S FIRE is one of the most authentic police procedurals I’ve ever read. Manfredo, who was himself a cop for 25 years, excels at showing the exact nature of the job and how routine it is to bend the rules when on a case or how often success is based on the collection of favors due. It is quite eye opening to see such a truthful rendering compared to many police procedurals where the lead is a lot more “noble”. The partnership of the old white guy with a young black lesbian is inspired. The main negative of the book for me was the plot—the whole situation around what happened with the play, the victims and the villain was not credible. And although the future of his daughter was certainly of great concern to Joe, far too much of the narrative was devoted to this thread. In fact, Manfredo spent too much time on the personal issues of both Joe and Cil.
If you want to see a warts-and-all depiction in the life of a homicide detective, then the Rizzo series is definitely for you.
December 5, 2017
I don't have any altogether strong opinions on Rizzo's Fire; it wasn't great, it wasn't bad, I read it.
To start off with something I loved about Rizzo's Fire: Rizzo and Jackson. Both individually and together, I found these two partners interesting, entertaining, and great leading characters. I was hesitant at the beginning of their partnership: a lesbian, black cop, and old-timer white dude, but in the end, their differences worked in their favour, providing a great dynamic, and openings into discussions of the political nature of the police force. I found their ultimate friendship endearing and, importantly, realistic.
The other main highlight of the novel for me was the realistic nature of the police work. Yes, the novel does take a long-ass time to build. It starts out slow, and even when it does get to the main case, it is still slow. The lack of drama in the narrative and the attention to detail in the detective work would, I imagine, polarise most readers: you'll love it or you'll hate it. Personally, I loved it. Manfredo's background in the criminal justice system is clear from the detail in Rizzo and Jackson's operations, to the murky political nature of the NYPD. The good, the bad, and the dirty, Manfredo created a realistic narrative around Rizzo and Jackson's cases, which I found far more interesting than the cases themselves.
Whilst I would not recommend Rizzo's Fire to anyone looking for a fast-paced crime story, a page-turner or any high-stakes story, I would recommend it to those who don't mind a slow story. If you are willing to sacrifice an interesting plot for the fascinating dynamics of the NYPD's political side, give Rizzo's Fire a shot—though, maybe read Rizzo's War first, because I did not, and it is clear how it would enrich certain elements of Rizzo's Fire.
To start off with something I loved about Rizzo's Fire: Rizzo and Jackson. Both individually and together, I found these two partners interesting, entertaining, and great leading characters. I was hesitant at the beginning of their partnership: a lesbian, black cop, and old-timer white dude, but in the end, their differences worked in their favour, providing a great dynamic, and openings into discussions of the political nature of the police force. I found their ultimate friendship endearing and, importantly, realistic.
The other main highlight of the novel for me was the realistic nature of the police work. Yes, the novel does take a long-ass time to build. It starts out slow, and even when it does get to the main case, it is still slow. The lack of drama in the narrative and the attention to detail in the detective work would, I imagine, polarise most readers: you'll love it or you'll hate it. Personally, I loved it. Manfredo's background in the criminal justice system is clear from the detail in Rizzo and Jackson's operations, to the murky political nature of the NYPD. The good, the bad, and the dirty, Manfredo created a realistic narrative around Rizzo and Jackson's cases, which I found far more interesting than the cases themselves.
Whilst I would not recommend Rizzo's Fire to anyone looking for a fast-paced crime story, a page-turner or any high-stakes story, I would recommend it to those who don't mind a slow story. If you are willing to sacrifice an interesting plot for the fascinating dynamics of the NYPD's political side, give Rizzo's Fire a shot—though, maybe read Rizzo's War first, because I did not, and it is clear how it would enrich certain elements of Rizzo's Fire.
January 22, 2025
I thought this 2nd book in the series was great! I love how multiple crimes happened per book & how involved the reader becomes with the characters- I can’t wait to read the 3rd & final book in the series.
November 3, 2019
The past few weeks I have been checking out a lot of library books that I just don't like. Here's another one. )-:
January 21, 2025
Terrific police procedural that does good job of describing the routine details of detective work. I love the way Rizzo connects two seemingly unconnected murders.
July 1, 2025
The second in Manfredo's Rizzo series, Rizzo's Fire continues the story of 20 year NYPD veteran Joe Rizzo. Brooklyn crime procedural that ranks among the best of the genre!
Want to Read
August 27, 2022'Rizzo's Fire' is dark, grim, challenging, uncompromising. It is also shot through with moments of hope, humour (of both the dark and politically incorrect kind) and brimming, most of all, with humanity.
It follows the story of veteran cop, Sgt Joe Rizzo and his new partner, freshly minted 3rd-grade Detective Priscilla Jackson. At first glance, these two are polar opposites. Rizzo is an ageing guy who refers to women as 'broads' and makes numerous politically incorrect statements. Jackson is black, female, and gay. But as they work together, they discover each other's true natures, including both flaws and strengths. Rizzo may make the odd head-desk-slam/wince inducing comment about non-Caucasian people (at one point he refers to a black doctor as 'Dr Voodoo'), but he also slams white liberals and politicians regardless of whatever colour they happen to be. Following the developing partnership, the growing trust and understanding between Rizzo and Jackson, which is wonderfully conveyed through their conversations - bantering and serious - as they ride together in their precinct, is what really makes this book shine.
Although the major 'murder' investigation doesn't crop up until halfway through the book, there are plenty of smaller, and interesting crimes which Rizzo and Jackson handle. In all their investigations, Rizzo's golden rule of policing Brooklyn shines through - there is no right, there is no wrong, there just is. A crime is a crime, and worrying about the wrong and right of how to solve it doesn't really matter.
Rizzo is a complex character, and not always a likeable one. He does things which are slightly over the line at best, and getting awfully near to outright corruption at worst. But he's ultimately a good guy, who sometimes has to do 'bad' things in order to put much much worse people away. He's manipulative and crafty, but he's also loyal. He's far from honest sometimes, and brutally honest at others.
I might not always like the things he does but Rizzo is a guy I'd like to go for a beer with, and that is how I rate a 'good' character ('good' here meaning one I like and can understand, not one who is always morally perfect).
Jackson is a wonderful character. Sure, she's a female, African-American, gay person in what is still a world dominated by male, white, straight people, but she doesn't go around screaming her difference from the rooftops. It is who she is, and woe betide anyone who might have a problem with that. She's funny and smart, and I loved it when she played Rizzo at his own game, shutting him down with just a few words or a simple action when his mouth got too out of line. Unlike a lot of female detectives in crime fiction, she's tough without crossing the line into unlikeable ball-breaking-witch-with-a-B territory. This is a nice surprise. I'd very much like to go for a beer with her, too.
The plot itself (the big murder case which Rizzo and Jackson wind up investigating) involves the murder of a Brooklyn loser-wannabe-writer who turns out to have links to a Manhattan superstar playwright. What starts as looking like a simple burglary-gone-wrong turns into quite the dark, complex case.
The crime element really takes second spot to the characters and how they investigate it, though. In my book, this is all for the good. I'll be interested to see just how much further into the nominally 'wrong' side of things Rizzo ventures in the next book in the series. He's walking a thin line, keeping a lot of balls in the air, and I get the feeling that sooner or later his luck's gonna run out and he's gonna wind up in a situation he can't easily justify or get out of. This just makes him all the more appealing.
Great book, kind of like 'The Wire' set in Brooklyn, but with its own unique perspective, and a little less swearing and a little more liberal-baiting/bashing from Rizzo and even Jackson (which, I say as a moderate-liberal-type-person myself, is actually very, very funny).
It follows the story of veteran cop, Sgt Joe Rizzo and his new partner, freshly minted 3rd-grade Detective Priscilla Jackson. At first glance, these two are polar opposites. Rizzo is an ageing guy who refers to women as 'broads' and makes numerous politically incorrect statements. Jackson is black, female, and gay. But as they work together, they discover each other's true natures, including both flaws and strengths. Rizzo may make the odd head-desk-slam/wince inducing comment about non-Caucasian people (at one point he refers to a black doctor as 'Dr Voodoo'), but he also slams white liberals and politicians regardless of whatever colour they happen to be. Following the developing partnership, the growing trust and understanding between Rizzo and Jackson, which is wonderfully conveyed through their conversations - bantering and serious - as they ride together in their precinct, is what really makes this book shine.
Although the major 'murder' investigation doesn't crop up until halfway through the book, there are plenty of smaller, and interesting crimes which Rizzo and Jackson handle. In all their investigations, Rizzo's golden rule of policing Brooklyn shines through - there is no right, there is no wrong, there just is. A crime is a crime, and worrying about the wrong and right of how to solve it doesn't really matter.
Rizzo is a complex character, and not always a likeable one. He does things which are slightly over the line at best, and getting awfully near to outright corruption at worst. But he's ultimately a good guy, who sometimes has to do 'bad' things in order to put much much worse people away. He's manipulative and crafty, but he's also loyal. He's far from honest sometimes, and brutally honest at others.
I might not always like the things he does but Rizzo is a guy I'd like to go for a beer with, and that is how I rate a 'good' character ('good' here meaning one I like and can understand, not one who is always morally perfect).
Jackson is a wonderful character. Sure, she's a female, African-American, gay person in what is still a world dominated by male, white, straight people, but she doesn't go around screaming her difference from the rooftops. It is who she is, and woe betide anyone who might have a problem with that. She's funny and smart, and I loved it when she played Rizzo at his own game, shutting him down with just a few words or a simple action when his mouth got too out of line. Unlike a lot of female detectives in crime fiction, she's tough without crossing the line into unlikeable ball-breaking-witch-with-a-B territory. This is a nice surprise. I'd very much like to go for a beer with her, too.
The plot itself (the big murder case which Rizzo and Jackson wind up investigating) involves the murder of a Brooklyn loser-wannabe-writer who turns out to have links to a Manhattan superstar playwright. What starts as looking like a simple burglary-gone-wrong turns into quite the dark, complex case.
The crime element really takes second spot to the characters and how they investigate it, though. In my book, this is all for the good. I'll be interested to see just how much further into the nominally 'wrong' side of things Rizzo ventures in the next book in the series. He's walking a thin line, keeping a lot of balls in the air, and I get the feeling that sooner or later his luck's gonna run out and he's gonna wind up in a situation he can't easily justify or get out of. This just makes him all the more appealing.
Great book, kind of like 'The Wire' set in Brooklyn, but with its own unique perspective, and a little less swearing and a little more liberal-baiting/bashing from Rizzo and even Jackson (which, I say as a moderate-liberal-type-person myself, is actually very, very funny).
August 31, 2012
‘Rizzo’s Fire’ by Lou Manfredo
Published by Corvus, 1st July 2011. ISBN: 978-1-84887-584-5
Detective Joe Rizzo is your old style cop. Nearing retirement after twenty-six years service he has lived most of his life in Brooklyn as a New York City cop. Whilst he still believes passionately in his job he is only too aware of the seamy side of Law and Order, the deals and the politics that operate behind the scenes. It’s a dirty business but someone has to do it. But now his youngest daughter Carol has told him of her intention to join the police force - Rizzo is appalled by the idea, and is determined to talk her out of it..
Called with his new partner Detective Priscilla Jackson to investigate a spate of assaults on old people in an area where mobster Quattropa rules, illustrates to his new partner just how things work.
Robert Lauria had been dead in his apartment for ten days before anyone found him. A quiet guy with virtually no friends, just a cousin who seems to have hardly known him, it looks like a burglary gone wrong. But for Rizzo a couple of things don’t add up, they keep niggling at him. So when further probing produces some interesting anomalies that could link to another killing he wants to run with it. But there are internal politics.
Cleverly plotted with some good characterisation, this is a fascinating and intelligent insight into the deals done by law enforcement officers in order to get the job done and bring the perpetrators’ to justice.
Recommended.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
Published by Corvus, 1st July 2011. ISBN: 978-1-84887-584-5
Detective Joe Rizzo is your old style cop. Nearing retirement after twenty-six years service he has lived most of his life in Brooklyn as a New York City cop. Whilst he still believes passionately in his job he is only too aware of the seamy side of Law and Order, the deals and the politics that operate behind the scenes. It’s a dirty business but someone has to do it. But now his youngest daughter Carol has told him of her intention to join the police force - Rizzo is appalled by the idea, and is determined to talk her out of it..
Called with his new partner Detective Priscilla Jackson to investigate a spate of assaults on old people in an area where mobster Quattropa rules, illustrates to his new partner just how things work.
Robert Lauria had been dead in his apartment for ten days before anyone found him. A quiet guy with virtually no friends, just a cousin who seems to have hardly known him, it looks like a burglary gone wrong. But for Rizzo a couple of things don’t add up, they keep niggling at him. So when further probing produces some interesting anomalies that could link to another killing he wants to run with it. But there are internal politics.
Cleverly plotted with some good characterisation, this is a fascinating and intelligent insight into the deals done by law enforcement officers in order to get the job done and bring the perpetrators’ to justice.
Recommended.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
April 13, 2011
When I read Lou Manfredo's first book, "Rizzo's War", I was pleasantly surprised at not only the story but the character, Detective Joe Rizzo, and how he solves crimes.
Rizzo is a detective who is fast coming into retirement. He is streetwise and doesn't always adhere to the way things should be done. He is out to get results and if he has to break a few, or maybe more than a few, rules to get the job done than thats what he will do.
Both "Rizzo's War" and "Rizzo's Fire" have Joe and his partner working on a high profile case, but they are also trying to solve several other cases at the same time. It gives you the feeling that this is the way it really works in real life.
Joe and his partner, Priscilla Jackson, are working a baffling case of a man murdered who for all anyone can tell was pretty much a recluse and no friends or enemies. The only clue they have is that he was a phantom writer and had written several rejected novels. However, it looks like he may have written a play that is now a major hit on Broadway. The play though is advertised as being written by a well-known playwright. The plot thickens when the playwright is found dead and again there are few if any clues that lead to the murderer. Joe resorts to his unorthodox method of crime fighting.
I love these stories because of their authenticity. The stories are good, but the manner in which Joe Rizzo conducts his investigations have a realism that most stories are lacking.
Rizzo is a detective who is fast coming into retirement. He is streetwise and doesn't always adhere to the way things should be done. He is out to get results and if he has to break a few, or maybe more than a few, rules to get the job done than thats what he will do.
Both "Rizzo's War" and "Rizzo's Fire" have Joe and his partner working on a high profile case, but they are also trying to solve several other cases at the same time. It gives you the feeling that this is the way it really works in real life.
Joe and his partner, Priscilla Jackson, are working a baffling case of a man murdered who for all anyone can tell was pretty much a recluse and no friends or enemies. The only clue they have is that he was a phantom writer and had written several rejected novels. However, it looks like he may have written a play that is now a major hit on Broadway. The play though is advertised as being written by a well-known playwright. The plot thickens when the playwright is found dead and again there are few if any clues that lead to the murderer. Joe resorts to his unorthodox method of crime fighting.
I love these stories because of their authenticity. The stories are good, but the manner in which Joe Rizzo conducts his investigations have a realism that most stories are lacking.
December 30, 2013
Reviewed for Library Journal:
Set against the colorful backdrop of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the second installment of Manfredo's series (after Rizzo's War) follows Det. Joe Rizzo and his new partner, Priscilla Jackson, on their first assignment together. When a local recluse is found murdered in his kitchen, the case appears to be an ordinary robbery gone wrong. As the investigation unfolds, both detectives begin to realize that their homicide could be tied to the recent killing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In addition to the murder investigation, Rizzo must deal with the realities of his daughter joining the police force and his own realization of what it means to be a cop. VERDICT: Heavy on dialog and lacking in energy, this police procedural leaves the reader wanting. The relationship between Jackson and Rizzo feels forced, and their constant banter is distracting. With the surplus of detective mysteries available, pass on this purchase. [Library marketing.]-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted
Set against the colorful backdrop of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the second installment of Manfredo's series (after Rizzo's War) follows Det. Joe Rizzo and his new partner, Priscilla Jackson, on their first assignment together. When a local recluse is found murdered in his kitchen, the case appears to be an ordinary robbery gone wrong. As the investigation unfolds, both detectives begin to realize that their homicide could be tied to the recent killing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In addition to the murder investigation, Rizzo must deal with the realities of his daughter joining the police force and his own realization of what it means to be a cop. VERDICT: Heavy on dialog and lacking in energy, this police procedural leaves the reader wanting. The relationship between Jackson and Rizzo feels forced, and their constant banter is distracting. With the surplus of detective mysteries available, pass on this purchase. [Library marketing.]-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted
July 3, 2012
It's always tough to follow up a strong first book--and Manfredo isn't the first author to come up a little shorter the second time around.
Still, it's a solid read. Each page, each moment screams "authentic." Not just because of what Manfredo used to do, though that certainly helps. The way that Rizzo and Cil have to juggle cases, call in and ask for favors, cut deals with all sorts of unsavory types, play politics, so on and so forth--if that's not as close as you can get to reality, I don't know what is.
The central case is less-than-gripping, but it's still good to see solid procedure in a police procedural (even if our heroes cut a few corners). And I could sit and listen to Sergeant Rizzo tell war stories and share his philosophy of crime solving for hours.
Not a great book, but a really good one.
Still, it's a solid read. Each page, each moment screams "authentic." Not just because of what Manfredo used to do, though that certainly helps. The way that Rizzo and Cil have to juggle cases, call in and ask for favors, cut deals with all sorts of unsavory types, play politics, so on and so forth--if that's not as close as you can get to reality, I don't know what is.
The central case is less-than-gripping, but it's still good to see solid procedure in a police procedural (even if our heroes cut a few corners). And I could sit and listen to Sergeant Rizzo tell war stories and share his philosophy of crime solving for hours.
Not a great book, but a really good one.
June 3, 2011
Author Lou Manfredo worked for years in Brooklyn law enforcement, so he has a feel for the rhythms of street talk and the machinations of cops manipulating the legal process to get convictions. Here we meet Joe Rizzo, 51, who's working with a new partner, Cil. As he shows her the ropes, we learn how things get done on the tough streets of Brooklyn. Rizzo is meant to be a good guy, but he breaks the law or does dodgy deals if he thinks it will lead to criminals ending up behind bars. The novel gets off to a clunky start with some unconvincing dialogue when we encounter the characters, but it settles down and is a good insight policing without the frills of heroes and lofty principles.
November 7, 2011
I loved the first book in this series, Rizzo's War, so I was eager to read this one. I was a bit disappointed by how slow the story moved, but about 3/4 of the way through he shifted into high gear and drove it successfully over the finish line. At times I felt like putting the book down and moving on, but I did like his characters and really wanted to see where it was all going. I am no slouch when it comes to swearing, but I think the author could have limited the amount of times his characters said "fuck" by abut half. I was thinking of my older customers at the library and I would never suggest that they read this author.....ever.
August 6, 2012
#2 in the Joe Rizzo series, has Brooklyn cop Rizzo and his new partner tackle an intriguing murder mystery. Intrigue also stalks the political hallways of the NYPD.
Joe Rizzo and his new partner, Priscilla Jackson, have their first assignment together. When a local recluse is found murdered in his kitchen, the case appears to be an ordinary robbery gone wrong. As the investigation unfolds, both detectives begin to realize that their homicide could be tied to the recent killing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In addition to the murder investigation, Rizzo must deal with the realities of his daughter joining the police force and his own realization of what it means to be a cop.
Joe Rizzo and his new partner, Priscilla Jackson, have their first assignment together. When a local recluse is found murdered in his kitchen, the case appears to be an ordinary robbery gone wrong. As the investigation unfolds, both detectives begin to realize that their homicide could be tied to the recent killing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In addition to the murder investigation, Rizzo must deal with the realities of his daughter joining the police force and his own realization of what it means to be a cop.
April 2, 2012
If you read RIZZO’S FIRE, I recommend you read Mandfredo's first book, RIZZO’S WAR, first because there are so many references to incidences in the first novel that you won’t understand if you haven’t read it. This is labeled as a police procedural novel, but there is far too much dedicated to personal lives of the detectives, which I found distracted from the primary story. Or maybe the police portion was the secondary story. Overall, this is a slow moving rather boring work.
September 29, 2014
"I normally use book lover, Nancy Pearl’s rule of thumb: if you don’t like a book in the first 50 pages, ... but thought there might be a good reason to continue (with Rizzo's Fire)."
Check out Becky's review on the library's blog: http://carnegiestout.blogspot.com/201...
Check out Becky's review on the library's blog: http://carnegiestout.blogspot.com/201...
January 26, 2016
This is a great follow up to Lou Manfredo's first book "Rizzo's War". The veteran cop Joe Rizzo is nearing retirement and is calling in favors and using every bit of his savy street smarts to solve the last big case that will ease him into a comfortable retirement. I highly recommend this page turner and will definitely read the next book in this series "Rizzo's Daughter".
March 13, 2011
This is the sequel to Rizzo's War. This series is similar in many ways to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum character. Interesting at first and then amazingly annoying. It took me a little longer to say goodbye to Stephanie, but she was charming. One more ought to be more than enough for Joe.
August 7, 2012
Rizzo has a new partner & use lots of stuff from the first book (Rizzo's War) - advise to read them in order. Lots of stuff going on - he connects the dots so well - wonderful detective police novel.
March 18, 2011
One of the few books I didn't finish reading.
March 23, 2011
New York City police procedural. A few too many cliches. But it was readable.
August 18, 2011
A little too hard boiled of a detective for my taste, and a little too underpowered in plot, but an acceptable murder mystery
January 9, 2012
enjoyable basic cop drama, easy to read, nitty gritty leg work pays off. pleasant characters, would read more manfredi
May 21, 2012
The best!!!!
March 30, 2012
Same comments as for the earlier book, Rizzo's War. This one was just as good.
September 3, 2014
I like the way Lou tells a story--this book spent a bit more time than I thought necessary leading up to his NEXT book but it held my interest.
July 16, 2012
Manfredo really understands the "moral and legal ambiguity" of police work, which makes the two Rizzo books I've read so far so great.
Read
October 14, 2012Clumsy plotting and predictable events mar this effort. Nonetheless the author carries the action and the result is readable. Worth the read.
November 3, 2014
A good enough police procedural by an author I had never read. It was the perfect book for me to read in my currently distracted frame of mind -- easy to pick up and catch up. A quick read.
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