Tag Archives: police-detective stories

The Other Side of the Bay

Posted on March 8, 2023 by smellincoffee

The Other Side of the Bay© 2014 Sean Dietrich177 pages There’s a broken down  truck in the woods holding three men,  two drunk brothers and a passed-out football has-been.   By morning, the truck will be discovered in perfect working … Continue reading →

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Two for forensics

Posted on June 30, 2022 by smellincoffee

Readers of Sherlock Holmes may remember that fictional character had such a command of diverse sciences and skills that his assistant Watson was impelled to innumerate them. American Sherlock introduces readers to the life of Edward Oscar Heinrich, a real-life … Continue reading →

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Men in Blue

Posted on January 22, 2020 by smellincoffee

Men in Blue (Badge of Honor #1) © 1988 W.E.B. Griffin 356 pages A buxom young reporter meets a fetching police captain at an out of the way diner, hoping for an illicit rendezvous. A half hour into their liaison,  … Continue reading →

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American Detective

Posted on June 22, 2019 by smellincoffee

American Detective: Behind the Scenes of Famous Criminal Investigations© 2018  Thomas Reppetto312 pages I’ve been playing through L.A. Noire lately, and its use of real-life crime (the Black Dahlia case)  prompted me to look for anything written about it. American … Continue reading →

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Metropolis

Posted on June 12, 2019 by smellincoffee

Metropolis© 2019 Phillp Kerr384 pages At the height of Weimar decadence, young Bernie Gunther is invited to join the Murder Commission. It’s a step up from Vice, and the department needs every watchful eye and quick wit it can get:  … Continue reading →

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Head On

Posted on March 28, 2019 by smellincoffee

Head On: A Novel of the Near Future© 2018 John Scalzi 328 pages Agent Chris Shane of the FBI saw the man decapitated on the playing field. before his very eyes.  But so did thousands of other people; decapitations  were, in … Continue reading →

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9 Dragons

Posted on June 2, 2018 by smellincoffee

9 Dragons© 2009 Michael Connelly544 pages Harry Bosch doesn’t know who they are.  He doesn’t know what they want.  If they’re looking for ransom,  he doesn’t have money, but he does have is a very particular set of skills, acquired … Continue reading →

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The Black Ice

Posted on September 12, 2017 by smellincoffee

The Black Ice© 1993 Michael Connelly336 pages A body discovered in a sleazy motel on Christmas Eve connects a handful of otherwise dead cases, and sets Detective Harry Bosch against his own department, culminating in the pursuit of a half-chance … Continue reading →

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The Pawnbroker

Posted on September 29, 2016 by smellincoffee

The Pawnbroker© 2014 David Thurlo, Aimée Thurlo304 pages Charlie and Gordo are two Afghan War vets returning to civilian life, but as it turns out, parts of Albuquerque aren’t that much safer than Kabul. When their friend and attorney is gravely … Continue reading →

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Rising Sun

Posted on August 9, 2016 by smellincoffee

Rising Sun385 pages© 1992 Michael Crichton In downtown Los Angeles, in a gleaming tower of Japanese commercial success, a woman lies dead on a boardroom table.  The  grand opening of the Nakamoto Corporation’s downtown skyscraper attracted celebrities and politicians alike, … Continue reading →

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