Customer Reviews

A Murder of Honor

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Robert Andrews' switch from spy novels to murder mystery was a smart move. Setting it in Washington DC provides readers with the best literary inaugural in a number of presidential terms. His writing about a veteran team of DC detectives who work to solve an intriguing mystery against difficult odds is crisp, authentic and atmospheric. His lead characters are not just plausible -- as the book progresses the reader comes to know them as real and interesting people. The plot sustains and builds interest until the final pages, and the pace is exciting. Readers should look forward eagerly to Andrews' next book and the ongoing adventures of DC Detectives Frank Kearney and Jose' Phelps.

Once again Robert Andrews spins a thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of his seat. From wonderful, chilling spy novels to stories of murder and intrigue, Robert Andrews continues to hold my admiration as one of the best writers available.

In "A Murder of Honor" Robert Andrews leads us through twists and turns to solve the murder of a local, Washington, DC, priest. Not unlike the streets of the Capital, Det's Kearney and Phelps must navigate the avenues of politics, drugs, murder and city-hall. These two seasoned detectives; who have seen their share of tough cases and the "politics" played in the District; find themselves working to protect not only the honor and integrity of the murdered priest...but their own as well.

This book is well written and well researched and will hold your reading attention well into the night. So, if you're looking to go to bed early, don't start this book as you won't be able to close it!!

Andrews has written a solid, entertaining, if unoriginal, "tough cop" police procedural set in Washington, DC. He does a good job in depicting DC, and his plot is intricate and fast paced. But his characters lack color and intensity (as compared to the characters created by George Pelecanos or Michael Connelly, for example). Overall, I put this one in the middle of the pack.

I don't usually read mainstream thrillers like this, but I find it hard to resist anything set in my hometown of Washington, DC. Andrews' tale follows two grizzled DC police detectives, Frank Kearney and José Phelps (the requisite white/black cop duo), as they attempt to solve the driveby shooting of a world-renown local activist priest. Their search of the dead priest's quarters turns up half a million in cash and a bunch of classified personal ads from DC's gay newspaper, The Blade. The killing is poised to escalate into a full-blown media event, with the priest's reputation bound to be tarnished forever, and it's up to Kearney and Phelps to sort out the connections. Naturally, there's pressure from above, in the form of Mayor Malcom Burridge-who is a very thinly veiled Marion Barry.

The plot is appropriately convoluted, with bureaucratic obstacles, recalcitrant informants, and all manner of complications. The DC details are mostly authentic and believable, although the year is somewhat unclear. It appears to be set during DC's "Murder Capitol" days back in '91-'92 or so, but references to Kearney's Vietnam service and age make it seem to be set in the late '90s. One major issue I have with the book is a certain level of cliché creep that occurs throughout. For example, the Mayor has a speech where he threatens the two cops with the tired old threat, "If I go down, you're going with me!" The slimy media star character is also rather cardboardy in comparison to other characters. The other complaint I have with the book is that its fairly well-done procedural aspect is undermined by a ridiculously high body count. Indeed, every clue seems to lead to another murder or wild shoot-out. It was my impression that in the real world, when a police officer shoots and kills someone (even a criminal), they're put on administrative leave pending a hearing, in this book Kearny and Phelps run around with an Armalite and riot shotgun in their trunk, and pull them out at the drop of a hat. It's almost as if Andrews felt that every time the cops started getting too close to the whole picture, the person who could fill them in would have to die in order to keep things rolling along.

In any event, it's still a competent thriller that doesn't require too much brainpower and is enjoyable for what it is.

Bob Andrews immerses the reader into a rewarding world of two homicide detectives who must battle murderers, drug syndicates, and money launderers in the course of solving the seemingly random murder of a priest. At the same time, Frank Kearny and Jose Phelps must cope with the frustrations laid in their path by bureaucratic weasels, slippery politicians, and slimy media figures. As in his earlier novels, Andrews gets the details exactly right while moving the story along at a steady clip. The plot twists and turns interweave nicely with Andrews at the controls. When this story reached its climax and resolution, I felt both satisfied and anticipating Frank's and Jose's next case.

Frank Kearney and Jose Phillips have worked for the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department for over a quarter of a century each. They stared out as rookies at the same time and later became partners. They shared an apartment and know each other on a deep gut level as perhaps only twins know one another.

They are at the downhill side of their careers and both want easy cases to coast into retirement. Still, their boss Randolph Emerson assigns the duo a high-profile case that seems impossible to solve. Someone gunned down the activist priest, Reverend Father O'Brien in what appears to be a random drive-by shooting. The two cops look into Father O'Brien's living quarters and discover a folder containing clippings from a gay newspaper. Even stranger is the half-a-million dollars they find in a closet. Kearney and Phillips have to wonder if a good priest was committing a transgression. However, they soon realize that the evidence plus the killing is more complex and sinister with the two officers potentially being retired in a more permanent way than they would like.

A MURDER OF HONOR depicts the day to workings of an ongoing murder investigation conducted by two experienced cops. Though weary and ready to retire (think Glover in Lethal Weapon), Kearney and Phillips remain dedicated heroes doing what they do best. The homicide almost vanishes as a bigger crime unfolds that will leave the reader shocked and amazed at the audacity and talent of Robert Andrews to successfully pull off such a stunt. Fans of police procedural will enjoy this debut tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reminds me of John Lescroart with his lawyer Dismas Hardy and homicide lieutenant Abe Glitsky series. A believable
police procedural, except for the ending.

I'm normally a big fan of mysteries, particularly the novels of Michael Connelly, Steven Cannell, Ridley Pearson, and Ian Rankin. I was eager to dive into a mystery set in the undeniably intriguing setting of the Washington DC area. Nonetheless, I have to chalk up A Murder of Honor as a disappointment.

There's some promise to the setup in the novel. Certainly the setting is a plus. The buddy dynamics between the cops are reasonably developed.

Nonetheless, I strained to find anything particularly original about the protagonists. Kearney's malaise was all too generic and Jose Phelps never rose above being the Trusty Black Sidekick. Their gutless supervisor, Emerson, seemed to be borrowed from central casting. Worse still was the mayor character, a weak cardboard cutout imitation of Marion Barry (without even a change of initials). There was nothing to compare to the strong characterization one finds in the writing of Connelly, Pearson, or Rankin.

The plotting, for that matter, left much to be desired. The joy of police procedurals is often the attention the authors give to the means by which little bits of evidence can be exploited. The cops here seemed to get a little too lucky. One strained for the Connelly or Cannell-like details that would indicate a thorough understanding of police procedures.

The novel held my interest, but only barely. There really is a lot of room for improvement.

This is the first book which I have read by this author; I came across it @ my local library. I like it for it's credibility, it's action, and it's fast pace. I plan to read all of this author's books...

Frank Kearney and Jose Phelps two veteran D.C. detectives have been buddies since their first day on the force more than twenty years ago. They're assigned a "no win" case, the murder of activist priest Fr. O'Brien, victim of and apparent drive-by shooting. When they discover a bunch of gay literature in the good father's quarters and $500,000 in cash in his closet, the case take on a different smell.

A red Beemer turns up in an auto compactor with one body in the trunk and a second on top of the car, decapitated. The headless one would be Henry, a guard for Jarvis Security, run by ex-cop Solomon Jarvis. Henry made $15 / hour, drove a 500 SL and was killed by two shots from a 22 similar to the one that killed Fr. O'Brien.

Frank and Jose tie it all to control of the drug trade in a hot corner of Washington. A Marion Berry-like Malcolm Burridge raises hell, chief of homicide Randolph Emerson slithers around trying to look good and DC City Treasurer Simmons tells a sleazy investigative reporter that Fr. O'Brien could have been an embezzler. Frank Kearney's belief in Fr. O'B is punctuated by the author's reference to Ray Donovan's lament after being falsely accused.

The plot builds to three made for TV-like action shootouts, the last of which occurs when Frank and Jose run a scam that pits the two bad guys against each other. The good guys win in the end, of course, and with a surprisingly satisfying avenging act.

I liked it a lot!