The Fairfax incident

Format:

Book

Title:

The Fairfax incident

Author:

McCauley, Terrence author

ISBN:

9781947993051

Edition:

First trade paperback edition.

Publication:

Hoboken, NJ : Polis Books, LLC, 2018.

Physical Description:

279 pages ; 22 cm

Series title(s):

Slow burn ;

Number in series:

General Note:

Sequel to: Slow burn.

Summary:

"Manhattan, 1933. Charlie Doherty may have been kicked off the force after The Grand Central Massacre, but thanks to a wealthy benefactor, his private detective business is booming. Catering to the city's wealthy elite, Doherty is making a good living chasing down wayward spouses and runaway socialites when the case of a lifetime lands in his lap. Mrs. Fairfax, a wealthy widow, hires Doherty to prove her husband's suicide wasn't actually a suicide. It was murder. At his benefactor's urging, Doherty takes the case. He quickly finds out there is more to the Fairfax incident than a simple suicide. In an investigation that quickly involves global implications, Doherty finds himself against not only some of the most powerful people in New York City, but against the most evil men in the world"-- Provided by publisher

Subject(s):

Private investigators -- Fiction.

Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction.

Suicide -- Fiction.

Conspiracies -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Fiction.

Nineteen thirties -- Fiction.

Manhattan (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Manhattan (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction.

New York (State) -- New York -- Manhattan.

United States.

Genre:

Detective and mystery stories.

Detective and mystery fiction.

Fiction.

History.

Historical fiction.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Silver Falls Library	FIC MCCAULEY	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Manhattan, 1933. Charlie Doherty may have been kicked off the force after The Grand Central Massacre, but thanks to a wealthy benefactor, his private detective business is booming. Catering to the city's wealthy elite, Doherty is making a good living chasing down wayward spouses and runaway socialites when the case of a lifetime lands in his lap. Mrs. Fairfax, a wealthy widow, hires Doherty to prove her husband's suicide wasn't actually a suicide. It was murder. At his benefactor's urging, Doherty takes the case. He expects to pocket a nice chunk of change to prove what everyone already knows: Walter Fairfax walked into his office in the Empire State Building one morning, took a phone call, and shot himself. But Charlie took the widow's money, so he begins to dig.He quickly finds out there is more to the Fairfax incident than a simple suicide. Before long, he discovers that Mr. Fairfax was leading a double life; running with a dangerous crowd that has a sinister agenda that threatens to plunge Charlie's city - and his country - into another war.In an investigation that quickly involves global implications, Doherty finds himself against not only some of the most powerful people in New York City, but against the most evil men in the world.

Author Notes

Terrence McCauley is the award-winning author of three James Hicks thrillers: SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL, A MURDER OF CROWS, and A CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS, as well as the historical crime thrillers PROHIBITION and SLOW BURN (all available from Polis Books. He is also the author of the World War I novella THE DEVIL DOGS OF BELLEAU WOOD, the proceeds of which go directly to benefit the Semper Fi Fund. His story "El Cambalache" was nominated for the Thriller Award by International Thriller Writers. Terrence has had short stories featured in Thuglit, Spintetingler Magazine, Shotgun Honey, Big Pulp and other publications. He is a member of the New York City chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers and the International Crime Writers Association. A proud native of The Bronx, NY, he is currently writing his next work of fiction. Please visit his website at terrencemccauley.com or follow him at @terrencepmccauley.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Set in 1933, this intriguing standalone from McCauley (A Conspiracy of Ravens and two other James Hicks thrillers) features former NYPD detective Charlie Doherty, who's now a PI with a patron, Harriman Van Dorn, who steers wealthy clients his way. One such client, Eleanor Blythe Fairfax, hires Charlie to prove that her husband, Walter, was a murder victim, not a suicide. After reading the file, Charlie thinks it will be an open-and-shut case, his only duty to convince the widow that Walter's death was indeed a suicide. But he reconsiders after finding that the initial police report omitted several important details, including two phone calls: one Walter received, and one he made shortly before his death. That someone later takes a shot at Charlie when he tries to open the safe in Walter's office confirms it's a case of homicide. The tension mounts as he gets on the trail of a plot to undermine the U.S. government. The closing patriotic note may be too saccharine for some, but readers will hope to see more of the likable, capable Charlie. Agent: Doug Grad, Doug Grad Literary. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

It begins as a locked-room mystery. Sort of. A rich old guy locks himself in his office and is later found with his brains blown out. Suicide, everyone agrees, including private eye Charlie Doherty. But the old guy's widow won't have it. Suicide is something people like us just don't do, she says, and she hires Charlie to prove murder. Charlie sees his job as convincing her the official version is right. But, as he goes through the motions, odd things emerge. Why was a phone call not in the police report? An interview with a staffer left out? The key is the year. It's 1933, the Depression is crushing the country, and no-one was making dreams like they used to any more. A different dream is being dreamed in Germany, by committed lunatics who think they have God on their side. Charlie doesn't close the case until he's gone up against a group of heavily armed German Americans and found the link to the old man's death. The author has merged a classic detective story with a full-on actioner, and it works beautifully.--Crinklaw, Don Copyright 2018 Booklist

Library Journal Review

McCauley's (A Murder of Crows; A Conspiracy of Ravens) tenth book brings us to pre-World War II Manhattan, a city still influenced by the political machinations of Tammany Hall. Charlie Doherty has been kicked off the police force by the unscrupulous Chief Carmichael but has landed on his feet as a private investigator subsidized by the wealthy Mr. Van Dorn. In exchange for a place to live and connections to wealthy clients, Charlie shares information about those clients with Van Dorn. Charlie was never an angel and has no compunctions about his new setup. Charlie's newest client is sure that her husband did not commit suicide, despite all indications to the contrary, and wants to find his murderer. Charlie decides to humor her and discover why the man killed himself. Before he knows it, he is dodging bullets, unearthing murdered witnesses, and facing a mysterious countess. The corruption of the Manhattan police force and the growing concerns in Washington about the rise of Adolph Hitler combine for an explosive conclusion. VERDICT Charlie is a likable antihero and the historical notes ring true. Well-developed characters, snappy dialog, and plenty of action make this hard-boiled thriller a perfect book for those who enjoy Raymond Chandler.-Terry Lucas, Shelter Island P.L., NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.