Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The Third Rail - Michael Harvey

A woman is shot as she waits for her train to work. An hour later, a second woman is gunned down as she rides an elevated train through the Loop. Two hours after that, a church becomes the target of a chemical weapons attack. The city of Chicago is under siege, and Michael Kelly, cynical cop turned private investigator, just happens to be on the scene when all hell breaks loose.
Kelly is initially drawn into the case by the killers themselves, then tasked by Chicago's mayor and the FBI to hunt down the bad guys and, all things being equal, put a bullet in them. Kelly, of course, has other ideas. As he gets closer to the truth, his instincts lead him to a retired cop, a shady train company, and an unnerving link to his own past. Meanwhile, Kelly's girlfriend Rachel Swenson, becomes a pawn in a much larger game, while a weapon that could kill millions ticks away quietly in the very belly of the city.
The Third Rail is stylish, sophisticated, edge-of-your-seat suspense from a new modern master.

Title: The Third Rail
Genre: Adult Fiction, Suspense, Crime Thriller
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
My Rating: 5/5

Before I write my review, I'd like to draw everyone's attention to an article that the author, Michael Harvey, has written. It brings to life the city of Chicago. You can find the article on Knopf's website, but I'll also link it here.

This is an excellent book, and it is exceedingly well crafted. I found it quite gritty, edgy and true to Chicago's way of life. The book opens up with a brutal killing of a woman while she is waiting for a train. Incidentally, private investigator Michael Kelly is a witness to this despicable act and he is drawn into the case.
The tone is very dry, very straightforward, and very engaging. The characters are likeable, and certainly complex. The plot is also complex, and full of surprises. Several situations leave you wondering what will happen next. I found that this book is realistic and has connotations for today's world. It definitely gets you wondering if the scenario given in this book is plausible in today's society. Harvey pulls no punches with this book. I couldn't put it down!
I didn't realize that this was the third book in a series. I will definitely be reading the first two installments. I hope Harvey continues with Kelly's story as I want to find out what happens next.
All in all, an excellent book from an up-and-coming author. It is definitely a book to read, and Harvey is an author to watch.

DISCLAIMER: This book was received free of charge in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to Julie from FSB Media for sending me the book to review.

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