Scan barcode
sagauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I am very impressed. This is my first Hyzy novel. I was expecting a light read, but I was surprised. This story became gritty and somewhat hard-boiled. Our heroine is dedicated to getting her story and she also wants to do the right thing and help people. Her job and personal lives are complicated and not going well. She is tough, but not a special forces commando in disguise (like too many fictional heroines, these days). She pursues her case to the bitter end, no matter how difficult it becomes.
Check out this book if you are interested in reading a hard-boiled investigation book with a smart capable woman in charge. Be careful if you are a fan of the Catholic Church, it does not come off well in this story.
Check out this book if you are interested in reading a hard-boiled investigation book with a smart capable woman in charge. Be careful if you are a fan of the Catholic Church, it does not come off well in this story.
vesper1931's review
2.0
Alex St. James is a news researcher in Chicago, comes across a story involving murder, the Catholic Church, female Polish immigrants and prostitution.
canada_matt's review
5.0
Hyzy presents another great novel, written in the years before the White House Chef and Mansfield Manor mystery series. Definitely filled with much more excitement, raw material and language to make the reader wonder if this is the same docile writer that has us wandering around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or in the semi-urban towns of North Carolina. The book takes on a life of its own and is truly a gem, well worth the time and effort. It reads as smoothly and cleanly as the latter series, but the beginning of the Alex St. James series is vastly different from its contemporaries.
The story is fresh, even using a main character who is a journalistic investigator (by no means under-used in fiction). That said, the back story keeps it unique and somewhat fresh, as we highlight the Polish community of Chicago. Spice it up a little with the Catholic Church and some decent chase scenes and the book almost reads itself.
I know that Hyzy does eventually meld her Alex St. James with Michael A. Black and his hero (on the list to read the series and their joint work), it would be interesting to bring some of her heroines together for a case that might span a few books, or at least create cameo appearances. I would read that combo, as all three women have proven themselves to be worth my time.
Kudos Madam Hyzy! What a great find you and your books have become!
The story is fresh, even using a main character who is a journalistic investigator (by no means under-used in fiction). That said, the back story keeps it unique and somewhat fresh, as we highlight the Polish community of Chicago. Spice it up a little with the Catholic Church and some decent chase scenes and the book almost reads itself.
I know that Hyzy does eventually meld her Alex St. James with Michael A. Black and his hero (on the list to read the series and their joint work), it would be interesting to bring some of her heroines together for a case that might span a few books, or at least create cameo appearances. I would read that combo, as all three women have proven themselves to be worth my time.
Kudos Madam Hyzy! What a great find you and your books have become!
More...