This author is celebrated for his masterful craft in crime fiction, delving into intricate plots with precision. His narratives frequently explore the darker aspects of human nature and the moral quandaries his characters confront. With a distinctive voice and insightful perspective, he has carved out a significant presence in the literary landscape.
In the spirit of Devil in the White City comes a true detective tale of the highest standard: the haunting story of Eliot Ness's forgotten final case-his years-long hunt for The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, a serial killer who terrorized Cleveland through the Great Depression.
"Roscoe Kane is one of the last - and, in Mallory's opinion, best - of the old-school mystery writers. Back in the day, he turned out crime thrillers filled with babes, bullets, and tough-guy banter. But today Kane is filled with bitterness over the nosedive his career took after he sued a publisher. For Mallory, who learned his craft at Kane's knee, it's tough watching his literary hero drown his sorrows in booze - but it's a million times tougher finding the old master drowned in a hotel bathtub. Some call it ironic that Kane meets his end in the middle of Bouchercon, the famed convention that's a mecca for mystery writers. The Chicago coroner calls it a drunken mishap. But Mallory spies treachery mingled with the tragedy. Just like a classic whodunit, there's a gallery full of suspects - from a scorned ex-wife and an ostracized gay son to an underhanded publisher and a roster of rival writers with axes to grind. Throw in a knockout dame who gives Mallory a private eyeful, an alluring widow who's not too sad to be seductive, and a clutch of thugs who let their knuckles do the talking, and Mallory has his hands full finding justice for his hero"--Author's website.
The ruthless professional killer known as Quarry long ago disappeared into a well-earned retirement. But now a media magnate has lured the restless hitman into tackling one last lucrative assignment. The target is an unlikely one: Why, Quarry wonders, would anyone want a beautiful young librarian dead? And why in hell does he care?