Hyde [Mass Market Paperback]

Dan Mahoney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1997

NYPD Detective Brian McKenna is back where he belongs--hunting down a mysterious killer who preys upon the city's most forgotten members. At first blush, it seems as if these homeless men have frozen to death on the city streets. But thsi succession of deaths seems too suspicious for McKenna to ignore.

McKenna makes some curious findings: all the victims were HIV-positive, and all were seen taking their last drink from a bottle of wine given them by a gaunt, black-glad man who goes by the name "Hyde." Who is this sinister figure--and why is he killing harmless men who are already at death's door? A hell-bent McKenna must chace the murderer from the streets of Manhattan through Europe and finally to Costa Rica to uncover the astounding answer.

With first-hand experience and masterful storytelling skills, former NYPD Capitan Dan Mahoney presents his most thrilling work to date.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

That clubroom where writers who used to be cops gather is getting crowded, but Dan Mahoney stands a full head taller than most of the other inhabitants. His books about Brian McKenna, Detective First Grade and Edge of the City, show him to be a writer of unusual energy and imagination who uses his police experience as a springboard rather an excuse. Bored by administration and missing the street action, McKenna has quit his job as a New York Police Department assistant commissioner and is back being a detective. Somebody who calls himself "Hyde" is knocking off homeless people who are HIV-positive--but his motive is as original as just about everything else in this excellent thriller. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

The overall mood of this police procedural about a serial killer of homeless AIDS sufferers in New York is, astonishingly, upbeat and energetic, even chipper-as befits Mahoney's vision of New York as the kind of city where assistant commissioner of the NYPD Brian McKenna (last seen in Edge of the City) can quit his job, take a salary cut and rejoin the ranks as a detective in the 17th Precinct, all because he loves the work. Here, McKenna is assigned to investigate the demise of a homeless man who apparently froze to death. Prodded by the suspicions of his partner, Maureen Kaplowitz, who is famed for the accuracy of her hunches, McKenna uncovers a pattern of murder. His first surmise is that the killer, who calls himself Hyde in a note sent to the cops, is avenging himself on those who gave him AIDS. But the real motive is as surprising as everything else in this well-written tale-countless times, McKenna's initial judgments are proven wrong, usually because he has underestimated everyone from Maureen to Heidi Lane, a sexy young TV reporter who has more on her mind than the news. Even the killer turns out to be more than a maniac out for vengeance. This frequent exceeding of expectations gives Mahoney's tale the high energy of comedy, boosted by sharp, fast-moving dialogue that advances the plot. The result is smart, brisk entertainment.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (December 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312963920
• ISBN-13: 978-0312963927
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Is For True Police Procedural Fans, May 27, 1999

By 

Robert Derenthal "bucherwurm" (California United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hyde (Mass Market Paperback)

If you love PPs then relax with this novel. I love them and often try new writers in this genre. More often than not I find that after a few pages I am reading a faux police procedural by an author (JA Jance comes to mind) who knows less about the inner operations of an American police department than did Mother Theresa. The book moves and has a wealth of interesting dialogue (If this book had any more dialogue it would outdo George Higgins, and we surely don't want that).

Who is killing all the homeless people, and why? That's the assignment given detective Brian McKenna. It's a good story where clues lead to more clues, and finally we discover through some interesting toxicology work just how the homeless are being killed.

Mr. Mahoney is a retired NYC police captain, and thus knows how it all works. My criticism? The last 100 or so pages are stretched out too long; condensed to about 25 pages would have been just about right.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars police work at its best, December 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hyde (Mass Market Paperback)

HYDE really hits the spot as police procedures are represented in its rarest form. Believable plot and characters is what makes this book work. Having spent time in the same neighborhood that the story takes plaace only added to my appreciation of this book. Mahoney in New York is what Connelly is in Los Angeles. These guys should team up one day.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing Like A Good Mahoney, March 10, 2001

By 

William H. Gallagher (Brooksville FL.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hyde (Mass Market Paperback)

Books by the author have never let me down. Mr. Mahoneys insight on the NYPD is second to none. He combines made-up characters with real people to form a great plot. This story piting McKenna Verses a Doctor/Killer is truly engaging. Not as much behind the scene stuff with McKenna and family. I kind of liked it that way. More of this good murder/mystery came about. Interesting characters, whose careers you can follow by reading the whole series. All in all a great act. I look forward to Edge of the City(the only one of the series I haven't read) and all new works by the author. Thanks to my friend that lent me my 1st Mahoney.