When a political aide, who is running for office is killed, it's up to Detective Keough to solve the crime. As more secrets unfold Keough must dig deeper to uncover political scandal. Filled with modern images of St. Louis, Robert J. Randisi spins another multi-layered murder mystery.
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Book Description
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Robert Randisi is the founder and executive director of the Private Eye Writers of America, the creator of the Shamus Award, and the cofounder of Mystery Scene magazine. With such an impressive résumé, one wonders why his latest mystery novel is so leaden.
Blood on the Arch is another in Randisi's series of St. Louis mysteries (see also In the Shadow of the Arch) starring Joe Keough, a New York City detective transplanted to the Midwest. Joe's the St. Louis department's "number-one homicide man," on the scene whenever a tricky murder threatens to baffle lesser minds. This time, Mark Drucker, who has shadowy but definite political connections and ambitions, has been bludgeoned to death in one of the trams that shuttle tourists to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Drucker had been up to his ears in the misappropriation of city funds, and a lot of solid citizens had been gunning for his political, if not actual, demise. As he delves into Drucker's past, present, and future, Keough must negotiate cranky public officials, suspiciously unhelpful lawyers, and a personal dilemma or two.
Unfortunately, Randisi's characters are shallowly drawn, the plot dully incoherent, the denouement astonishingly nonsensical. The reader looking for well-written Midwestern mysteries with a tinge of political graft would be far better advised to turn to Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski series (Tunnel Vision, Blood Shot). One hopes that Blood on the Arch is a momentary aberration, and that Randisi's next foray into authorship will better fulfill his dedication to the private-eye genre. --Kelly Flynn --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Set in St. Louis, this efficient, no-nonsense mystery doesn't waste a phrase or a plot turn. When someone bludgeons politician Mark Drucker to death beneath the city's famous landmark (hence the title), series sleuth (Shadow of the Arch) and New York transplant Joe Keough, now with the St. Louis cops, gets on the case. Drucker's ex-wife isn't exactly in mourning. The partners at a prominent law firm aren't grieving over their client, either, although they're intent on keeping his business dealings a secret from the police. Joe almost goes too far when he seizes the chance to interrogate an arrogant attorney in a restaurant washroom. Later, the detective succeeds in befriending the mayor, but he's offended others who see to it that he faces a charge of sexual assault not once but twice. Being diagnosed with diabetes provides another scare. Meanwhile, a killer with huge hands moves on from Drucker. Randisi's prose is supple and never flashy. Though the suspect pool is shallow, the varied motives are compelling. Drucker was making a lot of money with his lawyer pals. His wife wanted more dough than her prenuptial would allow. Several lawyers are guilty of at least infidelity, while a pretty woman at their firm becomes one of Joe's accusers. The solution arrives without unnecessary flourish. (Apr.) founder of the Private Eye Writers of America and the creator of the Shamus Award.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
good read,
This review is from: Blood on the Arch: A Joe Keough Mystery (Joe Keough Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Although Detective Joe Keough has worked in St. Louis for less than a year, he has attained the reputation as the city police force's number one homicide cop. After stopping a gruesome serial killer, Joe is a hero on a par with home run slugger Mark McGuire.Joe's latest case takes him to the Gateway Arch where he finds the bludgeoned body of the person responsible for his new home and job in St. Louis. Joe deeply believes he owes it to Mark Drucker to solve the case by bringing the murderer to justice. Joe quickly realizes he knows very little about his mentor including how Mark earned his money. As Joe digs for clues and answers, another homicide directly linked to the Drucker case occurs. Keough slowly wades through the city's movers and shakers determined to uncover the truth even as his inquiries leave some individuals very nervous about what the persistent detective will learn. Robert J. Randisi has written an electrifying police procedural novel that will makes fans of the sub-genre extremely happy with this special work. BLOOD ON THE ARCH moves at a very rapid pace, with many delightful red herrings interwoven into the plot to fool Joe and the audience. Though the subplot about his health brings readers closer to the Joe, the protagonist is clearly a maverick who follows his own moral beliefs when it conflicts with the rules. This, in turn, leaves readers wondering about the enigmatic Joe and wanting more tales to learn more about his past and present motivations. Harriet Klausne
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AWESOME!!!,
By Book Lady (Racine, WI USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Blood on the Arch (Mass Market Paperback)
This is another masterpiece of Randisi's! I really love these books and am sorry to have them end...as far as the character Joe Keough is concerned. He is a great character and I have looked forward to seeing what kind of things life is going to throw at him. He has real life problems. He worries about his health, his partners, love life, friends and the all the victims in his cases. It is great to see how it all unfolds. It is an easy read! Not saying that it is not an adult book but it is very easy to get into and keep you into. I didn't want to put it down just like all the others. I love these books and wish there were more. One this I will put out, there that I was not aware of when I purchased this book is that, Blood on the Arch and Arch Angels are the exact same book! I purchased them both thinking that I was getting two different books but I found out once I got them home that they are exactly the same Blood on the Arch is the soft back and Arch Angels is the hard back. This is so that no one else make the same mistake that I did. But don't let that stop you from enjoying even loving the book and the character!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fast moving....but,
By A Customer
This review is from: Blood on the Arch: A Joe Keough Mystery (Joe Keough Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Blood on the Arch had a very interesting, and at times, complicated mystery about it. What I particularly enjoyed about the book was Detective Joe Keough's desire to solve the murders. It was refreshing to read about a character who thought more about his job (solving the murders), than his own career (the harrasment suit). The one big downside to the book revolved around its ending. The author never goes into any detail regarding why the murders were taking place. He does talk about the land development opportunities, but it was few and far between. This is the first book that I have read in the Detective Joe Keough series, I just hope that the next one is a little more developed than this one.
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