Chicago Blues [Hardcover]

Hugh Holton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

When Chicago Police Commander Larry Cole probes the murders of two hit men employed by a Chicago crime boss, his investigation leads to a former colleague, FBI Special Ageng Reggie Stanton, accused once before of vigilante killings. By the author of Windy City.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lurid, pulpy violence drives the third outing of Chicago police commander Larry Cole (Windy City), a twisty tale of mob power and politics. When two hit men are murdered before they can carry out their contract on a U. S. senator, Cole suspects a connection to four unsolved 15-year-old murders. Cole believes that a young police officer, Reggie Stanton, did the earlier killings, but the case was quashed by top brass. Now Stanton is back, claiming to be an FBI agent detailed to protect the senator. Sadistic crime boss "Tuxedo" Tony DeLisa, still determined to thwart the senator's organized crime investigation, calls on an aging German assassin to do the job right. This puts two killers, local police and the FBI on a collision course. A Chicago PD commander himself, Holton knows his cop shops and politics, but here he lets the blood flow like ketchup (or, in one case, "strawberry pie"). Cole, the putative hero, plays an oddly secondary role, with Stanton and DeLisa given the best lines. With multiple action scenes involving such cartoony gimmicks as expert dagger-throwers and bazookas, this one is less puzzler or gritty urban crime story than action-adventure fantasy.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

While investigating the murders of two mob hit men, Police Commander Larry Cole finds connections to a 15-year-old murder allegedly committed by a cop. More nitty-gritty plot complexity from the talented author of Windy City (LJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge; 1st edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312859848
• ISBN-13: 978-0312859848
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,103,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced, great character development and a good story., June 15, 2000

By 

Minnesota Raven "Viking Vixen" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicago Blues (Mysteries & Horror) (Mass Market Paperback)

Hugh Holton has created an excellent Chicago based story that weaves in at least 3 main story lines with at least 3 more sub stories. I currently live in the windy city and it was fun to read the street locations, etc. and know that they did in fact exist and were accurate in their descriptions. I am usually not a fan of the author that tells the story by jumping from one character's view to another character's view but in this case it really works. You understand the psyche of the story teller of the moment and Hugh does an excellent job of tying one lead in to another. In other words you are never left hanging as to why he went from one point of view to another. That's usually where the some author's go wrong when trying to tell a story from multiple viewpoints.

If I had a complaint, mind you this is real small, it's that I would have liked a few more pages devoted to the cop Larry Cole. I suspect Hugh didn't give him more pages because he himself is a cop.

You'll find yourself sympathizing with Reggie,one of the main characters, his upbringing with his grandmother and uncle Ernst and then what the FBI does to him when all he wanted to be was a law abiding cop. Even though Hugh is busy telling you the story straight out you keep second guessing him and you end up surprised in the end. Although Hugh can be forgiven his slight digression of giving away who Reggie's father was so early in the book.

Speaking as one who is easily bored I have to say at every opportunity I had I would pick up this book to read it and managed to finish it in a couple of days. I can't wait to get to his other books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one author you are going to want to follow forever!, October 14, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Powder Springs, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicago Blues (Hardcover)

In Chicago Blues, Hugh Holton weaves an intricate tale of murder and mayheml in the Windy City, and abroad. With as many as 5 plots being simultaneously told, he keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Characters are so real you can actually hear, see, and smell them, you will be through with this book before you know it. If words were music, his book would be a melody to your eyes!!! Finally someone has been able to harness my attention. Thank you Mr. Holton

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!, April 25, 2005

By 

Michael L. Slavin "HardBopper" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chicago Blues (Mysteries & Horror) (Mass Market Paperback)

The authors police background certainly lends considerable authenticity to this interesting novel. There are many unusual twists in the story that keep the reader absorbed in the various plots. The book really picks up steam as you progress. Reggie develops into a fascinating character.