The Making of a Detective [Hardcover]

Harvey Rachlin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393037975 | ISBN-13: 978-0393037975 | Publication Date: October 1995 | Edition: 1st

This analysis of homicide detectives in New York City focuses on the work of Detective David Carbone and his fellow detectives in the 75th Precinct in East New York. It covers his development from a "green" but ambitious beginner into a skilled and seasoned criminal investigator.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The career of a New York City police officer?in particular a homicide detective?has never been more graphically or expertly related than in this probing look at David Carbone by the author of The Making of a Cop. Carbone, from a large Italian-American Long Island family, joined the force in 1986 and quickly made his mark as a tough, honest and compassionate patrolman. In an unusually short time, he was promoted to detective and requested service in the 75th Precinct, in the East New York section of Brooklyn, where the body count was 100 or more every year. There Carbone distinguished himself further, although he was shocked to find how mean the mean streets were and he became so stressed his marriage almost broke up. But, like most of his colleagues, he preserved his sanity with camaraderie, gallows humor and, for a time, alcohol. Solving more than 90% of his cases, Carbone was promoted again, this time to the Brooklyn North Homicide Task Force in 1994.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Yet another New York City detective profile, this treatment of David Carbone's career is a cut above the others. It deals with Carbone's rise up the ladder from patrolman to robbery detail to homicide detective in Brooklyn's East New York. It vividly re-creates the feel of the streets, the personalities of colleagues and mentors, and the heady, sometimes frustrating nature of the job. Following Carbone everywhere his work led him, Rachlin (The Making of a Cop, LJ 2/1/91) traces the accumulation of experience and expertise, especially in the art of interrogation, that resulted in Carbone's being one of the most successful detectives in the department, with a clearance rate of 92 percent. But as the author makes abundantly clear, Carbone is more than just a case solver; he is a fully rounded personality, with compassion for victim and criminal alike, and has an intense need to see justice done. This will be a popular addition to true- crime and police collections.
-?Ben Harrison, East Orange P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc; 1st edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393037975
• ISBN-13: 978-0393037975
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #281,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reads Like a Novel, March 3, 2003

By 

Acute Observer (By the Shore NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Making of a Detective (Hardcover)

This book reveals the unvarnished truth about life on the front lines of an urban war zone. It has no index or table of contents for its 320 pages. It is a continuation of "The Making of a Cop", the career of David Carbone. Most murders rarely make the new because there's nothing sensational about them (p.12)!

The mega-metropolis of NY has 301 square miles with neighborhoods of every size and economic condition. Communities of every race, color, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and political belief. About 2000 murders occur in NY each year, one-tenth of all US homicides! NY detectives solve these and other violent crimes. The Robbery Identification Program was created after they found robbers tended to operate in the same area (p.38). Separate units would concentrate just on robberies in select areas. Robberies often occur with shootings, stabbings, or beatings. Robbers were creatures of habit and do their crimes in the same way.

Pages 95-6 tell how one shooting is solved. It happened at a dirt lot. The experienced detective noticed muddy sneakers on an associate of the victim. Brought in for questioning, and the case was solved. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Like watching a major league batter hit one into the stands. Real life detectives needn't be terribly adept in science, forensics, or ballistics to solve cases (p.121), contrary to Hollywood dramas. A large metropolitan police department has many specialists. Its the personality that makes a detective: curiosity, aggressiveness, confidence, and perseverance. Pages 152-3 tell of the politics of justice in NY. A man who proffered the murder weapon and gave the order to rob was never charged with the murder. Did Dave flout the unwritten rules of style?

Page 124 tells of the "sociological phenomenon" where longtime residents migrated to the suburbs, and the result on the vacated neighborhoods. No clue here to solving this economic crime: who profited by this? Detectives aren't magicians, they can only work with what they have. Without witnesses or evidence (fingerprints) they can't break a case. It a witness of complainant won't testify, the case is closed. Pages 271-4 tell of the importance of proper testimony in court. They don't teach that in law school. If there are no witnesses to a murder, and no evidence of fingerprints left behind, the murder weapon not found, the murderer will not be targeted unless he tells someone (p.283). If he has a good alibi he might still get away, unless a detective gets a confession. Page 288 tells how "America's Most Wanted" helped to locate an alleged murderer. And the "War on Drugs" continues.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A first rate law enforcement book, July 28, 2000

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making of a Detective, The (Mass Market Paperback)

David Simon's outstanding piece of journalism "Homicide" is the first book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in law enforcement. This would be the second. Like Simon, Harvey Rachlin makes a strong effort to get the story right as he follows a New York City police officer as he is chosen to be elevated from the uniform ranks to breathe the rarified air of the detective's squadroom. Detective Dave Carbone deserves cresit for allowing Rachlin to scrutinize him so closely. Like Simon, Rachlin is mostly interested in how law enforcement professionals do what they do. Also like Simon, after reading Rachlin's account you'll have a much greater appreciation for those who try to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe for the law abiding.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and Entertaining Book - Hard to put down, July 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making of a Detective, The (Mass Market Paperback)

This book gives an insight into the world of the Detective, particulary a N.Y. Detective. The writing style was easy to read, entertaining and kept the readers interest. Following the career aspirations of a young police officer up to the ranks of Detective, it highlights the highs and lows of police work, particularly of those involved in criminal investigation. Highly recommended light reading.