In The Shadow of the Arch (Joe Keough Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Robert J. Randisi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Joe Keough Mysteries | Publication Date: December 15, 1997

The blistering mystery in the Detective Joe Keough series. Joe barely has time to acclimate himself to his new home and job before two cases capture his attention, and--in the case of a little boy--his heart. Transferred from the energized streets of his hometown Brooklyn, Joe is expecting anything but the twisted trail of abductions and murders that await him in St. Louis .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It's Joe Keough's first day as a St. Louis detective. His years in Brooklyn on the NYPD ended badly when he was forced to resign; Joe just wants the chance to be a detective again. The opportunity presents itself when three-year-old Brady Sanders wanders into the precinct house, his pajama footies soaked in blood. When Joe learns where the child lives, he finds a blood-spattered crime scene but no parents. He also investigates a series of other cases involving children; he suspects a relationship between all these incidents but can't find the thread to connect them. Meanwhile, he must negotiate his way through unfamiliar department politics and overcome resentment among his new peers toward the "big time New York detective." The second Keough case is stylishly written and carefully plotted, and it builds to a dramatic, exciting conclusion. Randisi also writes successful series featuring Miles Jacoby and Nick Delvecchio, but Keough--analytical, intelligent, and emotionally vulnerable--could easily become the author's most enduring, endearing character. Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (December 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312181159
• ISBN-13: 978-0312181154
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,057,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read, August 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Shadow of the Arch (Joe Keough Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I grabbed this book from a limited selection at an airport newsstand, not being terribly familiar with the author, but needing something to help distract me from a four-hour flight. The author manages to integrate several story lines and does a nice job of mixing mystery, a little romance, as well as some humor. It was one of those "have to finish it" books as opposed to the many half-read titles on my book shelf. It was easy to picture the people and places in my mind - almost like reading the script of a screenplay.

Was it the best book I've ever read? Nope. But it was entertaining and will probably be enjoyed by others as well.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Major disappointment after Alone With the Dead, April 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: In The Shadow of the Arch (Joe Keough Mysteries) (Hardcover)

In this sequel to Alone With the Dead, Detective Keogh relocates to St. Louis. Now, I don't live in St. Louis but even as an east-coaster and a former New Yorker I found Randisi's characterization of St. Louis pretty insulting. If I lived there I would be truly offended. His portrayal of the police force paints them as being as competent as Barney in Mayberry RFD. For example, when Keough walks out of a crime scene he explains he is trying to reconstruct the crime. A fellow officer asks him how he does that. Puh-lease.... No one but Keough not only knows *any* police procedure (if you're a regular mystery reader you know more than these St. Louis cops do) but no one else possesses any common sense either. And of course Keough comes up with all of the patterns and motives of the criminal out of thin air and anticipates his moves with the accuracy of a psychic.

This was a truly ridiculous book.

2.0 out of 5 stars Its a so-so book., October 22, 2008

By 

Jimmy Damintz (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Shadow of the Arch (Joe Keough Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

The book reads OK. There is little character development and not really much interesting about the main character. Keough is pretty lonely and boring. He doesnt do any great detective work that would make the book stand out. The serial killer is an idiot who makes a lot of mistakes and really isnt very difficult to catch. The book reads like watching a OK episode of Law and Order. Also, like another reviewer wrote, the descriptions and actions of the St Louis police force seem a little unbelievable. They seem bumbling in comparison to his "normal" activity. This also takes away from the novel.