Reggie Nadelson Fresh Kills

Fresh Kills

Reggie Nadelson

Walker, Oct 2007, $24.95

ISBN 9780802715999

NYPD detective Russian immigrant Artie Cohen is enjoying his recent marriage to Maxine although she is currently out of town when he is informed that his troubled teenage nephew Billy Farone has been released from juvenile detention. Reluctantly, Artie takes Billy into his Brooklyn home as the lad has no other place to go since his mom refuses to have anything to do with him since he stabbed to death Heshey Shank and besides his parents are in London. Meanwhile the Shank family is outraged that this cold blooded killer is free and making public their disgust with a system that allows a killer to go on with his life while their offspring is dead.

Artie's superior Sonny Lippert comes to Brighton Beach to assign him to follow up on a new lead involving a cold case child homicide. The detective tries to balance adjusting to marriage although his wife seems very tolerant, keeping Billy out of trouble although there is evidence that he is failing at this task, and working the murder investigation that begins to look as if a killer may be caught, but not before others will die.

The latest Cohen New York City "archipelago" police procedural (see RED HOOK) is a terrific tale that focuses on the difficult balancing of family needs vs. professional requirements. Artie is fabulous as he wants to do what is best for Billy, but is not sure what that is as he knows the kid needs help and support, but he also has a difficult case to work. Readers will enjoy his investigation that leads from Brooklyn to Manhattan and Staten Island, but it is the ending that will stun the audience as Reggie Nadelson provides a deep thriller.

Harriet Klausner