On Cabrini Green by Charlie Shafer

Kostovic, a former Marine, figures someone has been using the gangbangers. Too many signs in the case point to someone smarter than the gangbangers; someone who is ex-military. The more the cop investigates, the more he thinks that the signs point to someone who is an ex-Marine. Early on, the reader has already learned the bad guy's identity and knows that information. But the author lets the reader in on the cat and mouse game between the Kostovic and the bad guy by effectively switching and speaking from the respective viewpoints of each one.

On Cabrini Green definitely has an esprit de corps flavor, and the special bonds between cops and Marines are very evident. The cop humor is not as raunchy as Wambaugh, and the language is surprisingly mild. Schafer gives tidbits of police procedural stuff, how Chicago PD works, but not so much as to be heavy handed.

The author has created very likable characters in the fascinating urban setting of the Windy City. Readers who like cop procedurals will do well to sign on now and read this debut novel by Schafer. A former Chicago detective, Schafer also has written a column "So Anyhow" for Blue Murder (which is now defunct). As one fan of Shafer's style, I hope he'll find a home for his column and entertain again with his "cop talk."

Patricia Harrington is the author of Death Stalks the Khmer.
"Think 'Killing Fields' set in Seattle with a compassionate Sally Fields as the sleuth!"

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