Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Black and White
Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Dan Mahoney
Class/Genre: Mystery
St. Martin’s, Jun 1999, $24.95, 356 pp.
In Manhattan, the wife of New York City Council president Paul Barrone is found brutally murdered along side his political aide Arthur McMahon, son of a Virginia scion. The police department assigns the high visibility case to Detective Brian Mckenna. The brass designates Tommy Mckenna (no relation) to assist the low keyed Brian. Tommy is renowned for turning his investigations into a media circus.
Tommy recognizes the modus operandi as identical to a case that has haunted him for almost two decades without resolution. The officers soon learn that their peers in other states and Puerto Rico are working on similar crimes. Through illegal means, they obtain a few clues that point towards a snuff video crew selling their vintage live action work.
BLACK AND WHITE is an interesting police procedural that provides sub-genre fans with several twists. The officers are fun to watch as they struggle to find clues. Ironically, progress on the case mostly comes from a private investigator hired by Arthur’s father. The sleuth has no compunctions and no legal concerns as to how he obtains information. This twist adds to the fun as the frustrated cops work hard to make little progress while their private counterpart goes underground to make quantum leaps. Dan Mahoney provides his audience with an entertaining novel that will give much pleasure to readers.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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