Probable Cause [Paperback]

Theresa Schwegel (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur (2006)
• ASIN: B000JGILL0
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Probable Cause, May 6, 2007

By 

Joyce E. Holmes "Dragon Lady" (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Probable Cause (Hardcover)

All over the place, did not make sense most of the time.

Should have closed the book after the first 5 pages but

keep thinking it had to get better, it didn't.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This Chicago police novel begins with a break-in, August 27, 2007

By 

jt52 "jt52" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Probable Cause (Hardcover)

but the perps aren't criminals. From this engaging and surprising beginning, rising crime writer Theresa Schwegel constructs an exciting account of rookie cop Ray Weiss' first murder case. The first half of "Probable Cause" is very effective - in fact, admirable -- with a series of events eventually forcing Weiss to a new awareness of the situation around him.

I'm rating this three stars because I didn't think the conclusion of the novel lived up to the first half. The eventual confession by the guilty party seems unmotivated by any pressure and the rationale for the crime seems forced. Logical conclusions to thrillers always seem to be the hardest part and Schwegel has problems with it here.

That said, I'm looking forward to the next Schwegel book. The subtle and unexpected way in which the mystery is set up took talent and ability. So this is a promising if flawed effort.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb police procedural, January 14, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Probable Cause (Hardcover)

In Chicago rookie patrolman Ray Weiss joins the 20th District. He feels great as he always dreamed of becoming a cop. However, his aspiration turns bitter when Field Training Officer Jack Fiore demands he complete his OJT by fulfilling the ritual that will make him a true member of the force. He must rob Rytoi Jewelry on Argyle Avenue so Jack can give his wife a present and Ray can become one of the guys.

Reluctantly Ray breaks into the store with Jack following him inside where they find the murdered corpse of the Lithuanian owner Petras Ipolitas. Knowing they are in trouble as Homicide Detective Sloane Pearson wonders why they were there, Fiore sets in motion a plot to hide their activity. He tracks down an illegal Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Ambrozas, who is found with a trunk filled with firearms who is to take the fall. Ray worries about his future and how his dad a dedicated ethical police officer, proud of his son's joining the force, will react. Unable to stay on the sidelines Ray digs on his own and with Sloane, which upsets his district peers especially his "mentor".

Readers initially will have mixed feelings towards Ray for his part in the robbery, but his attitude especially towards females will lose him some of the audience's empathy until he redeems himself with his efforts to do the right thing. His metamorphous makes this a superb police procedural though the story line has been used before. As with OFFICER DOWN, Theresa Schwegel writes a deep character study of a beleaguered cop struggling as his world spins out of control starting with that first mistake.

Harriet Klausner