Customer Reviews

Cold Day in Hell: A Novel of Suspense

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The second in a series is often disappointing failing to live up to the promise a first book, such is the case with Richard Hawke's COLD DAY IN HELL. Mr. Hawke, who also writes the wonderful Hearse mysteries under the name Tim Cockey, established a strong character in Fritz Malone in SPEAK OF THE DEVIL but does nothing with him this time around. This isn't a bad book but it drags almost from the beginning only to pick up in a series of two page chapters towards the end but never really kicks into gear and the final action sequences are disjointed, contradictory and, in the end, unsatifing. Mr. Hawke/Cockey has done much better in the past and, based on his terrific track record, should do better in the future. As for this one, wait for the paperback.

Hawke's Fritz Malone was a great character in the debut novel by Hawke, Speak of the Devil. He was funny and likeable. He a had a great girlfriend and great relationship with her that added to the book. He also had a relationship with the girlfriend's father (his former partner) who added spice, wit, wisdom and and color to the book. Unfortunately, these aspects were missing in Cold Day in Hell resulting in a middle of the road mystery. Fritz' humor was in check. He and the girlfriend were shallowly on the outs because of Fritz' case and the father never appeared.

Fritz is a unique PI. He has an excellent rapport with the NYPD - how many fictional PI's can say they have good relations with their local police force? He shows humor without being cynicism - although less humor in this novel than in the first. He is generally a good guy for whom it is easy to root.

Cold Day in Hell opens with a murder that looks like it was committed by the same perpetrator that committed two prior murders. That suspect is a late night TV star currently being tried for the first two murders. Is it a copycat? Is the star innocent? The victim was a lover of the star and had testified in the nationally telecast trial. Soon a second murder occurs that also points to the TV star and Fritz is on the case.

The mystery is fairly good. There are plenty of suspects and motives to keep the reader hopping. However, I found the presentation a bit disorganized. I also found that Fritz' involvement was a bit far-fetched. He had no client nor interest, except that he had met the first victim - who lived across the street from his girlfiriend - to look into hate mail she had received after testifying against the TV star.

As good a character as Fritz is, the other characters in this book, especially the show biz ones seemed boilerplate. There is an excellent police woman who does have depth and is interesting. She and Fritz carry the book.

All in all, this was a decent murder mystery. I don't know that if this were the first book I read by Hawke that I would read any others by him. However, his Speak of te Devil was so excellent, I look at this as a temporary misstep - that was still okay - and I look forward to his next one.

The second novel in Richard Hawke's Fritz Malone series is a tense, well-written thriller. A late-night TV host named named Marshall Fox is arrested for the grisly murders of two women he was involved with, but is he the culprit? Once Fox is behind bars, the murders continue, and New York PI Malone has to put the pieces together and find out the answers. Along the way, he may discover some dark truths about himself. Hawke's excellent characters, twisty story and lean writing style make this a good bet for thriller fans. If you like Michael Connelly or Robert Parker, give Mr. Hawke a try. Also, seek out the first in the series, Speak of the Devil.

Worse than his last book. Too many questions being asked all the time. Rambles on and on.

Having written only two books, Richard Hawke already has earned himself a place on the "must read" list of detective fiction fans. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL introduced Fritz Malone, a very different (and memorable) private investigator whose territory is New York City. It must be noted that Hawke doesn't write straightforward crime novels; to say that he deconstructs the genre would be inaccurate, but he certainly stretches and tests its boundaries. The result is an implicitly edgy narrative that creates an atmosphere in which anything might happen.

COLD DAY IN HELL centers on Marshall Fox, a wildly popular late-night television personality whose professional and personal life is fodder for daily morning water cooler discussion. The fact that Fox is a bit of a rake only fuels his reputation. But when two women who are linked to him are found brutally slain in a unique, sinister fashion, he is charged with their murder. The trial is, as one might expect, a circus --- it is even referred to as "O.J. East" --- and the testimony of Robin Burrell, one of Fox's many ex-lovers, regarding his points of arousal only serves to further inflame the rabble. Burrell, who happens to live across the street from Malone's significant other, retains Malone to deal with the avalanche of harassing mail and phone calls she receives.

When Burrell herself is murdered in a fashion similar to those for whom Fox is on trial, it raises the issue of whether Burrell has been executed by a copycat killer or if the D.A.'s office is trying the wrong man for murder. Malone is working with Megan Lamb, an emotionally troubled New York police detective assigned to the investigation. They begin digging into Fox's life and discover no lack of suspects or motives for any of the killings. When yet another brutal murder occurs --- similar but not identical to the first three --- Malone comes to the realization that knowing Fox is dangerous, and investigating the murders of his associates might be even more so.

Hawke is not afraid to take chances with his plot or characters. I about dropped the book at the end of Part 1 and then again near the violent climax of this exciting work. Hawke's ability to tinker with the form of his narrative while keeping the story true to the genre results in a unique, and ultimately addictive, reading experience. Pick up COLD DAY IN HELL and prepare to lose your preconceived ideas of what a detective novel can be.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

While I enjoyed this book and it was a reasonably good mystery, I didn't think it held a candle to the books the author writes under the name Tim Cockey which feature protagonist Hitchcock Sewell. The characters in that series of books, which all feature the word "Hearse" somewhere in the title, are so much more quirky, personable and endearing. Had I read Richard Hawke first and then found out he also wrote as Tim Cockey, I don't know that I would have searched out the Tim Cockey books, but on the strength of the Tim Cockey books alone, I searched out the Richard Hawkes books. Again, they weren't BAD books, they just weren't the caliber that I expected, so I encourage other readers to also investigate the Hearse series - I think you'll find them an enjoyable read if you like your mysteries a little on the offbeat side.

With this second entry, Hawke further establishes Fritz Malone as a character who can carry a series without growing stale. With just the right combination of toughness and old-school charm, Malone makes a pretty endearing hero.

This one revolves around a late-night personality named Marshall Fox and his trial for the murders of two young women. When new, similar murders occur while Fox is on trial, Hawke is asked to come on board in an effort to either clear Fox, or put the nail in his coffin.

The writing is clever without being overdone, secondary characters are fleshed out nicely, and Hawke's relations with both his friends and girlfriend are well-drawn. Hawke also proves to be a very vulnerable hero, a nice change from too many similar novels.

While it's still too early to predict with any certainty, Hawke should be around for a while. This is a series that deserves some attention, and I'd recommend this book for any fan of crime fiction.

In New York, while popular talk show host Marshall Fox stands trial for the murder of two female employees, whom he was having affairs with; someone else kills two more people connected to him using the same MO. The latest homicides raise major questions re the guilt of Fox involving the first victims as he has the perfect alibi being a guest of the state to prove he did not commit the latter murders.

Feeling guilty as one of the dead women asked him for help before her demise; private investigator Fritz Malone makes inquiries upsetting his beloved Margo, who wants paying customers not deadbeat clients. Still he feels the debt is his so Fritz begins to unravel the complex and convoluted relationships of the rich and famous while one person in the shadows continues to purge anyone who can identify him or her.

Fritz is a terrific sleuth as his amusing asides, droll retorts, and bumbling balancing act (between Margo and the case) make a COLD DAY IN HELL a superb urban whodunit. The story line is fast-paced with the cops, Fox, and those tied to him reacting the same way whenever Fritz accosts them as they all think SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. Richard Hawke provides readers with an entertaining New York City mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Fritz is still a character I like and want to read about. However, COLD DAY IN HELL didn't match the page-turning quality SPEAK OF THE DEVIL had.

I want Hitchcock Sewell back........sigh.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first installation of the adventures of NYC gumshoe, Fritz Malone and am sooooo happy to see that Richard Hawke is continuing the series. Yeah!