Customer Reviews

Random Victim (Leisure Fiction)

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There are police procedurals, and then there are police procedurals. In this novel the procedure is more like an obstacle course. On the one hand, there is Sgt. Frank Leal of the Chicago Sheriff's Department raring to solve a cold murder case, and then there is his superior, a lieutenant resolutely placing roadblocks in his way.

The plot is straightforward: a woman judge is found murdered in a trunk sunk in a lake. After months, no progress is made in solving the crime. But the Sheriff is up for reelection, and his opponent is running ahead saying he'd solve it. So a task force is formed, with Leal, a woman, a black man and an Irishman the components. The woman and the black man have no experience--except to provide "racial balance" in the publicity photos.

Despite all the foot-dragging and misdirection by the lieutenant heading up the effort, progress is made from time to time. It is a well- plotted and -paced story, leading the reader on step-by-step to a conclusion that probably should be anticipated, but is not seen until it is presented at the conclusion. Leal is a real character, while many of the others are stereotypes (for a good reason). The plot is interesting and the book well worth reading and recommended.

It's a real treat to read a police procedural written by someone inside the profession. That's not to say there aren't fine novels of the genre written by non-cops but an insider's work has a sense of familiarity and authenticity that others do not. As a suburban Chicago copper, Mike Black knows the intricacies of the work, the jargon, the internal politics and the characters. He also knows what drives a homicide investigation and how the players, from crooks to cops, to supervisors,to states' attorneys can derail even the highest priority case. Mike's street experience shows clearly. What shines just as brightly is his ability to put it all together for the reader. The day to day work of solving a heater case can be deadly...dull. Mike keeps the pace of Random Victim snapping along with colorful personalities, realistic scenarios and action scenes that would translate easily to the big screen. With the exception of Sam Reaves and Homicide 69, I haven't liked a Chicago cop story this much since Dave Case's Out of Cabrini and the earlier work of Bill Granger. I'm eager for another chance to ride along with Frank and Olivia and their Cook County colleagues.

Michael A. Black's police profession gives his thriller RANDOM VICTIM a level of authentic detail about both police work and Cook County, Illinois while at the same time, his fictional imagination makes RANDOM VICTIM a thrilling police procedural. Michael A. Black creates a wonderful combination of characters with the impertinent, unconventional yet honorable policeman Frank and his bodybuilding tough yet feminine policewoman partner Olivia. The case itself intrigues as each clue unravels more and more interconnections between some of the most unlikely partners in crime.

Sergeant Frank Leal just doesn't have the best reputation on the police force, not after the Dark Gable Incident with a judge. He's lucky to still have a job! Healing from a past incident, Frank is a bit surprised when the Cook County Sheriff enlists him for a task force to investigate the unsolvable case of Miriam Walker's murder. With the sheriff election and a challenge to the incumbent, the pressure is on to solve this and fast. Frank knows there is going to be a problem when Lt. Brice is appointed to head up the task force. Leal and Brice have history of butting heads. Joe Smith and Tom Ryan are known as screw ups. Then there is Olivia Hart, a female bodybuilder. She may have a body like steel that will match any man, but she has no experience. Brice wants the investigation to go one way, but Leal's instincts tell him to go another way. In public, the pressure is on to solve this murder but when it comes right down to it, Frank and Olivia seem to be the only people actually determined to catch the culprit. Can Frank and Olivia fly under the radar, get the case solved and not get themselves fired or killed in the process? Can they unravel all the intricate threads surrounding this case?

RANDOM VICTIM, with its coarse dialogue and imagery, almost reads a bit like a hard-boiled crime novel. Some of the more unfavorable police characters make racially and sexually offensive comments. Although known for the equally explosive Dark Gable incident, Frank stands out as a contrast to these officers, a policeman a cut above the other officers in his treatment of others. Frank is devoted to his job and has a sense of honor. In his relationship with his partner Olivia, he treats her as an equal and a woman. Olivia is a most intriguing character -- she is a body builder with a muscular body that won't quit, and yet Michael A. Black writes her with a very nice touch of femininity, one recognized by her partner. Frank's romance with Sharon Devain adds another dimension to Frank's character, reinforcing and distinguishing the two women in his life. Together, the reader feels the sense of family between Frank, his partner and Sharon. A wonderful extra touch to this thriller!

As a policeman in Chicago for 29 years, Michael A. Black's past adds detailed nuances to this police procedural. His narrative style has a wonderful mixture of streetwise coarseness mixed with moments of emotion, honor and even tenderness. As a police thriller, Michael A. Black's RANDOM VICTIM has all the loved twists and turns as Frank and Olivia get closer to the truth despite all attempts to derail their hunt. Coarse at times, with moments of irreverence, Michael A. Black also shines in his portrayal of the relationships between his characters from moments of tenderness to moments of chilling suspense. Michael A. Black maximizes the reading thrills with intriguing threads, rippling out from this one murder into the lives of others and their relationships right to the shocking end. Police procedural thriller lovers will be happy to know that RANDOM VICTIM is the first of a series starring Frank Leal and Olivia Hart!

After insulting a judge who deserved it, Cook County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Francisco "Frank" Leal, still healing from a gunshot wound and the death of his partner, is assigned to a special task force investigating the cold case murder of Miriam Walker. The victim was a judge and prevention of family violence advocate when she vanished; her corpse was found months later inside a trunk. Lieutenant Brice and Sergeant Murphy led the inquiry, but made no headway as they focused on her missing car.

Also on the task force formed by Sheriff O'Hara to silence his election rival Shay are Sergeant Tom Ryan and rookies Joe Smith and Olivia Hart, a perfectly diverse group in time for an election. Brice once again oversees the investigation, but insists on looking at chop shops like he did months ago. Ryan is in charge of the daily operation while he teams with African-American Smith and bodybuilder Olivia joins with Frank. Evidence points to the victim's spouse financial business guru Martin in spite of his airtight alibi; so ignoring Brice and Ryan Frank and Ollie put pressure on him. Fearing he will crack, his chess strategist secret partner arranges for Martin's silence.

This is an exhilarating police procedural in which the sheriff needs a task force to shut up his opponent while the brass puts roadblocks to the inquiry. The cast is strong as each of the five prime cops has differing personalities. With several fascinating twists and a romance (not between the police partners) that enhances the tale without slowing it down, sub-genre fans will enjoy Michael A. Black's superb Chicago investigative thriller and seek his kickboxing sleuth Ron Shade's entertaining Windy City private investigations.

Harriet Klausner

Enjoyable characters and authentic details make Random Victim stand out against a lot of police procedurals out there. Frank and Ollie make a good team and are both written as real people as opposed to generic cops. I'd like to read another book featuring this crew. They've been fun.

Rather than summarize the plot here -- because this book is so good you should just read it -- let me just take a moment to say that Michael A. Black has created a winning detective combination in Frank Leal and Olivia Hart. A full-time police officer in Chicagoland for the past 30 years, Author Black has created this highly original series to give readers a glimpse into the world of Chicago-area detectives. It's great. Very real.

Like all Michael A. Black books, RANDOM VICTIM features strong characters, fast-pacing, and a clever plot. Can't wait to see what's next.

I've been reading mysteries my whole life.

In most cases the books I'm seeing now are the same old thing with barely any changes...until Random Victim by Michael A. Black.

Everything in this book is fresh, from the characters to the plot, and I enjoyed reading it from page one through to the unpredictable end.

I hope there are more books in the series so I can see more of what have become my favorite characters in the classic crime-mystery genre. Well written, good flow, and I have to say I loved having it set in Cook County!

Michael A. Black's new book, the first of a series, is a top notch police procedural. And it's no wonder--Black is a Chicago police sergeant as well as a fine writer. RANDOM VICTIM oozes authenticity, one of the most important elements of the police procedural genre. It's also a cracking good story with characters worth following. Recommended!