The author has been called the true heir of great detective mystery authors such as Chandler, Macdonald or Parker - and with
good reason! Any reader who loves and longs forclassic detective stories of old will discover in this book a worthy successor boasting true friends and despicable criminals. A private detective is on the track of a man who has driven his own client to suicide. In the story's course however, the hunter becomes the hunted. Yet he still has friends: a female detective whose grandfather is a mafia boss, and a weapons freak, once a soldier and much admired by gangsters. Together they succeed in stopping a band of men who make their money by manipulating and blackmailing others. This book makes use of all the tricks of the trade. Only the date of publishing and a few events mentioned in the story's course remind the reader that he is not reading a classic set in the 1930's, but a contemporary tale. Although some writers try to jazz their stories with modern, technological gadgets, they are unable to match what Dennis Lehane accomplishes with his straightforward approach unencumbered by futuristic bangs and whistles. It is indeed this simplicity which brings the story closer to the reader. Tension remains unhindered by unnecessary details and progressively accumulates until it explodes at just the right instant. Until the very last moment one remains uncertain as to the identity of those pulling the strings behind the scenes or the true motives behind events. A book that could have been written by Chandler - but was not. And that's alright!