Customer Reviews

Family Matters (Jackson Steeg Mysteries)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On the surface, Det. Jackson Steeg is like most crime novel protagonists-- rebellious, world-weary and unrelenting. But soon after "Family Matters" takes off, we see there's a history to Steeg's life that resonates as true-- that he is such a richly detailed character, you cannot ignore his dillemna. Steeg must solve the murder of a young rich woman in a seedy part of Manhattan (Steeg's own apartment building!). And true-to-life, Steeg begins to discover that a city of several million is actually not that big at all, and seldom are there coincidences linking people together, including himself. I enjoyed the speed and depth to this story. Ira Berkowitz wisely weaves a twisted plot through a twisted city and exposes the darkness and corruption that simmers below the surface of post-Giuliani NYC. As a mystery, the plot is surprising and fast-paced (never feeling absurd or forced as is common in the genre). I've read a great deal of mystery/pulp crime novels, and this one is among the very best. I highly recommend this novel.

Ira Berkowitz has brought New York noir to life.
Family Matters captures the essence of old New York at its grittiest and finest. Wonderfully written New York noir that combines a riveting narrative with full character development that includes all walks of life in the Big City. A must read!!! - Beth Kaplan, M.D.(New York City)

Berkowitz has really nailed Hell's Kitchen. You can smell the smells, hear the noise, even feel the damp coldness. I couldn't put this book down. Although short in length, it is long on story line, and generously sprikled with humor and wisecracks. You will laugh out loud, and also be very engrossed in the story. I highly recommend this book. It is not your run of the mill murder mystery

the book was very good but the price was too high. $15.00 for 250 pages is ridiculous.

Family Matters is a fun dive into the underbelly modern day Hell's Kitchen, where crime problems are plentiful but their solutions are much harder to find. The tension and suspense builds up throughout the page-turner of a book that ends with an interesting twist that I didn't see coming.

Read the book in 3 days. Once I started, I could not stop. Kept my interest the entire time.