Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Jitterbug
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Loren D. Estleman
Class/Genre: Mystery Historical Police Procedural
Series: History of Detroit # 6
Forge, Oct 1998, $22.95, 304 pp.
During World War II, Detroit becomes a Mecca for manufacturing weapons and aircraft for the war. Many southern blacks flock to the city as employment is readily available. However, the number of inductees for the war leaves the city's police force in jeopardy. Experience is lacking and the number of cops are at a critical low. Lieutenant Maximillian "Zag" Zagreb and his three experienced detectives lead a law enforcement team made up of 4-F rejects sprinkled with reemployed annuitant officers, who had previously retired.
The cops are already overworked when a patriotic serial killer emerges. The "Kilroy Killer" is slaying anyone who allegedly is hoarding ration stamps. As the police struggle to retain order and uncover the identity of a dangerous mass murderer, race riots rock the city in the summer of 43. Even as the police cope with the rioting, they continue to seek out the identity of a demented patriot before more lives are lost.
JITTERBUG is one of the best historical police procedurals this reviewer has ever read. The story line is gritty as it combines fact with fiction to paint a rarely seen picture of the home front during the big war. The characters are all brilliantly developed and their motives, even that of the deranged killer, is understandable. Loren D. Estleman demonstrates why he is an award winning author, who deserves new accolades for a fantastic novel that will leave readers dancing in the streets.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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