Speak of the Devil

October 3, 2005
Corrupt cops, venal politicians and a madman killer propel shamus Fitz Malone to the top of the wisecracking romantic-heroic PI heap in Hawke's hugely enjoyable debut thriller. It's Thanksgiving morning in New York and Fitz has stepped out for bagels and a peek at the annual parade when he spots a gunman taking aim at Mother Goose, waving from atop a winged float. Moments later seven are dead, including a cop, and a handcuffed Fitz is on the floor of a police cruiser with a bag over his head. The cops and the mayor try to keep the lid on the escalating disaster; once freed, Fitz—a failed cop and son of a former police commissioner—is hired to catch the killer who orchestrated what the press are calling the "Parade of Terror" as pieces of the deputy mayor (who's been taken hostage) begin arriving at police headquarters. A loaded backstory, compelling minor characters and clever, literate writing promise great things ahead for Hawke, who crams too much into the finale. In fact, it's hard to believe this is a first novel; it reads like number five in a series. Note to Spenser: best stay in Boston—Fitz has got the Big Apple covered.

December 1, 2005
On Thanksgiving Day, New York City private investigator Fritz Malone goes out for bagels, saves a woman's life, and ends up in police custody. But the havoc doesn't stop there. Malone, the bastard son of the former police commissioner, learns that someone has been sending threatening letters to the mayor warning of imminent disaster, and city officials believe the mayor's girlfriend is the target. After a bomb explodes, a demand is issued for $1 million to be delivered to the Cloisters in Upper Manhattan. Malone follows one piece of evidence, which leads to another and eventually takes him to a drug dealer in Brooklyn. First-time novelist Hawke has created a suspenseful tale involving police corruption, domestic terrorism, and political machinations of epic proportions, though it's a stretch to expect readers to believe that the New York Police Department, while under investigation for criminal activity, would allow a P.I. to muck about in one of its highest-priority cases. Read this for compelling characters and an intriguing, fast-paced plot and pick up the next book, too. Hawke has what it takes to write great thrillers. For most fiction collections." - Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Hts. -Univ. Hts. P.L."

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2005
Thanksgiving Day in New York turns deadly when a gunman takes aim during the celebrated Macy's parade. Grabbing a downed policeman's pistol, private investigator Fritz Malone fires off a trio of bullets, wounding the assailant. Moments after the bloody exchange, the detective is dragged from the scene with a bag over his head and delivered to the office of Police Commissioner Tommy Carroll (is this any way to treat a hero?). Beleaguered by a "Bad Apple" police scandal, the commissioner wants Malone on the case, but demands he keep it hush-hush. The detective, whose own police--commissioner father disappeared a few years before, has seen his share of crooked politicians and corrupt cops. But nothing can prepare him for the events that ensue._Further violence--and threatening letters to the city's mayor--leads Malone to a sinewy killer whose rampages are rife with religious overtones. Hawke explores the moral high and low ground (nuns and prostitutes and pimps, oh my!) in a deftly paced debut that crackles and pops from page 1. In a genre populated with predictable PIs, Fritz Malone is a fresh, engaging blend of laconic detective and likable guy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

March 6, 2006
Thanksgiving Day turns bloody when a gunman opens fire on the Macy's parade in Manhattan. PI Fritz Malone happens to witness the shooting and eventually catches the killer, but the trouble doesn't end there. A terrorist calling himself Nightmare is holding the mayor (and the city) hostage, and the parade shooter was only a hired gun. Neither the public nor the NYPD knows about Nightmare, so to keep a lid on the situation, the police commissioner discreetly hires Malone to find the villain responsible for the attacks. Michael strikes exactly the right balance between a noirish gumshoe and modern-day cop for his narrative voice. His character voices are equally impressive: he covers a wide range of accents with remarkable authenticity, whether it be Irish, Latino or African-American. Despite the abridgment, the novel's complex mystery is easy enough for listeners to follow, but the truncation of the narrative may have robbed it of some of its power and verisimilitude. Michael's first-rate performance more than makes up for that, however; he makes the role of Fritz Malone wholly his own. Simultaneous release with the Random House hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 3).