Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
![[5 stars]](../images/spots/1_splat_50.gif)
City for Ransom
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Robert W. Walker
Class/Genre: Mystery Historical Police Procedural Forensics
Series: Inspector Alastair Ransom and Dr. Jane Francis Tewes # 1
Avon, Jan 2006, $6.99
Though the Haymarket Riots of a few years ago still haunt him, in 1893 Chicago, Police Inspector Alastair Ransom has become renowned for his use of modern police methods including some he has invented to solve crimes. The cop is currently looking into the third garroting homicide in three weeks. However, his superior Chief Kohler dumps crime scene phrenologist Dr. James Phineas Tewes on Alastair who rejects the young man as a charlatan and besides fears the media circus of having a magnetism conman accompany their inquiries.
However, Alastair gives James his do as the lad refuses to back off though he is treated as a nuisance by the cop; Alastair’s junior partner Griffin Drimmer is nicer to the eager youngster. As the sleuth diligently works the case to stop a serial killer from murdering again, James observes his methods trying to learn the new science of criminology from the master.
CITY FOR RANSOM is a terrific late nineteenth century police procedural that uses the investigation to provide insight into life in Chicago during the Gay 90s. Key elements make the who-done-it intriguing but what comes alive from these components are insights into a bygone era such as the early days of the science of criminology, the role of women during an investigation, and looking back at an earlier relatively recent (in terms of the setting) real tragedy. With a strong cast especially Ransom and Phineas-Tewses and a neat twist involving the latter; Robert W. Walker is at his lofty best with this terrific historical mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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