Dooley's Back: A Novel of Crime (Otto Penzler Books) Hardcover - 2002

From the publisher

Dooley is not back even a day, and already hes helped a gangland punk with a switchblade in his hand and rape on his mind to a deadly fall. And throughout this gritty, hard-boiled crime novel by a master of the new noir, fists work fast, the talk comes tough, and pages turn as swiftly as the rip of a hitmans bullet. Frank Dooley used to be a Chicago cop, but eight years ago a case of homicide prompted him to take the law into his own handsthe victim was his wifeand then head south, to Mexico. Dooleys return is met by everyone with surprise, and by a few with pleasure. Like his old partner Roy Ferguson. Roy has had some weighty problems of his own. His seven-year-old son has drowned, hes gone through a nasty divorce, and a serious gambling habit has buried him deep in debt. Dangerously deep; for an over-ambitious loan shark with the mob, John Spanos, is taking the juice on Roys $15,000 score in favors. Dooley convinces Roy he should own up to what hes done, set up a sting on Spanos, and maybe get back his integrity as a cop. Its a good plan, but it goes very bad, and Dooley soon finds himself caught perilously between the police force he deserted on one side and the Outfit Roy betrayed on the other. This is a tough-edged urban novel of crime and suspense. The hard-boiled fraternity has a new member, and hes a good one.Booklist Gritty, fast-paced, satisfying.Publishers Weekly