Lou Manfredo, Rizzo's War

Rizzo's War

Lou Manfredo

Minotaur, Oct 20 2009, $24.99

ISBN 9780312538057

Twenty-seven years with NYPD has Detective Sergeant Joe Rizzo considering retirement as police work is the game of a younger man or woman. He is asked to mentor his young new partner, Mike McQueen, who has risen in only six years on the force rather quickly because he has proven he has the ability but also more important he has connections ever since he rescued the roommate of the mayor's daughter.

Joe likes the energy of his partner and puts off retirement though the spring in his step (and the car seat) is not what it once was. They work several cases with the most visible being a missing teen whose dad is a Brooklyn councilman making a lot of white noise in the background. Other cases are much simpler and less politically connected.

The story line is fast-paced even on a tedious stake-out as the audience obtains a tour of Brooklyn through the eyes of the two detectives. Joe is terrific as the highly regarded 'elder statesman" working with a rookie (in terms of detective level that is) while Mike is too hero-worshiping as any moment readers will expect him to shine the shoes of his teacher-hero. Still fans will enjoy this super Bensonhurst police procedural.

Harriet Klausner