Hard Knocks: A Novel

Jack Reilly is an ex-cop trying to make a living as a P.I. His brother, Marty, is in jail and as the story opens, a friend of Marty's who is a former convict, hires Jack but is gunned down shortly thereafter. One of Jack's former academy classmates, Plain View Evans, leads the police investigation and doesn't mind letting Jack know that Evans believes Jack is mixed up in a crime, possibly with the mob. As Jack begins investigating, he reminds me of another Boston, P.I. Robert Parker's wonderful Spencer. The author also seems influenced by Mickey Spillane and in Reilly, we have a new and improved Mike Hammer. The humorous but complicated plot eventually comes together nicely and the reader is drawn into the action. The author is a columnist for the "Boston Herald" and has given the readers an interesting vision of the hard streets of South Boston and politicians on the take and dirty lawmen.

Howie I couldn't put the book down, although I read it on googleplay. It was fast-paced, interesting & totally entertaining. I loved how you interwove many names and backdrops from Boston's notorious past (& present?). I hope there is another Jack Reilly book in the near future!