Genre:
Mystery
Description:
The
Bull, a Chicago alderman and convicted felon, is found dead in his
home from suspicious circumstances. Detective Drexel Pierce is on the
case that leads him to mobsters, former friends and a shady past.
Pierce has to figure out who killed The Bull with a boss breathing
down his neck and a huge snowstorm barreling toward the city.
Author:
Along
with being a mystery writer, Patrick also writes poetry. His works
have appeared in a number of journals and publications. Patrick lives
with his wife near Indianapolis. Learn more about the author on his website.
Appraisal:
Police
dramas can be tricky, especially in a “who-dunnit” scenario. With
all the build up that goes into these types of books, the payoff
needs to be worth it. As I read The
Shattered Bull, I kept
thinking to myself, “Please be worth it. Please be worth it.”
Well –
it was.
Chicago
PD detective Drexel Pierce finds a number of roadblocks in his
pursuit of the truth, even himself. As he investigates the murder of
a Chicago alderman, who also is a convicted felon that is involved
with illegal activities, he realizes there are a number of leads. All
the while, Pierce has his own family drama and issues that he needs
to overcome.
The
story itself isn't groundbreaking. Here's a guy who made a lot of
enemies and any number of them could have killed him. But given his
position in the community, it's a high-profile case with the media
never too far behind. In the meantime, there is a huge storm bearing
in on the city that could make finding the murderer a bit more
difficult.
Pierce
is a complex and deep character. At work, he's professional and aims
to get the job done even when dealing with a boss who gets in the
way. But at home, he suffers from a deep heartache that won't be
going away anytime soon since the death of his wife. Based on the
interactions with his colleagues, it shows that even they probably
don't understand the depth of his pain.
But
it's true of all the main characters in the book. They are complex
and there is more to them then initially let on. There are layers to
them and a good understanding in what makes them react the way they
do.
The
city of Chicago is as much of a character as the people in the novel.
Author Patrick Kanouse describes the city with such clarity that it
almost feels as though you've been dropped into the middle of the
city. He has a way with words, describing in detail the surroundings.
At times, this can be a bit burdensome, but for the most part, it
works.
Kanouse
painted a full picture inside a compelling story with enough twists
and turns to keep you guessing in this mystery.
Format/Typo
Issues:
There
were no errors.
Approximate
word count: 75-80,000
words
Rating:
***** Five Stars
Reviewed
by: Sooz
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