Sons of the City: A Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Scott Flander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2003

The streets of Philadelphia are meaner than most ...

A city on the edge is about to explode. The killing of a cop in a rundown Philly crack house has stoked racial tensions to the boiling point -- as angry police strike out in force, rounding up every young black man in sight.

Sergeant Eddie North suspects that the Mob was behind the slaying, though it may already be too late to douse the inevitable fire. A man obsessed with justice -- and vengeance -- North is ready to launch his own private war on Organized Crime, with unexpected help from Michelle Ryder, the policewoman sister of the slain officer, who's willing to risk her own life and career undercover. But the poison polluting the City of Brotherly Love is more toxic than either of them suspects. The Mafia life is dragging Michelle in deeper than she can handle. And Eddie North is about to discover the devastating consequences awaiting those who press the limits of the law.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Philadelphia police sergeant Eddie North goes to war against a swarm of public evilsAdirty cops, Mafia hit squads, vigilantismAin this action-packed yet unengaging debut novel that falls into too many well-plowed ruts. Bitter over his recent transfer from an undercover unit to street patrol, North is swept into battle when one of his officers is shot to death outside a crack house in a black neighborhood. The killing is front-page news because the cop is the son of Police Commissioner Ben Ryder. Investigators begin questioning all black men in the area, a tactic that does not sit well with the African-American community. While racial tensions flare, North and other cops begin checking out rumors that Ryder's son was a dirty cop working for local mobster Mickey Bravelli. The dead cop's sister, Sgt. Michelle Ryder, decides to go undercover in an attempt to woo Bravelli into a romantic relationship in which he might tell what happened to her brother. North, meanwhile, digs deeper into Bravelli's operation, discovering that the mob's reach extends much further into the city fabric than he originally believedAall the way to the top of the police department. Aided by police officials, Bravelli's goal is to foment a race riot he hopes will ultimately lead to the destruction of his chief nemesis, the local Black Mafia. North spends the last part of the book dodging stock assassins in what becomes a predictable dance to the finale. Flander tries to pump emotion into the story with several subplotsANorth's romantic interest in Michelle Ryder and his relationship with another cop who's cracking under the strain of family strife. But it's all pretty stale by thenApolice officers whining about how no one understands them, stereotypical villains and a main character whose portrayal rarely goes deeper than his role as a cop. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This excellent crime novel introduces a new author who is a definite keeper. Philadelphia police sergeant Eddie North has been unfairly transferred from the Organized Crime Unit to a regular beat, just as he was getting close to making a case against Mob boss Mickey Bravelli. Nursing his grudge, North looks for ways to make Bravelli's life difficult, although the sergeant has become the laughingstock of the "made men." The murder of one of his officers, the police commissioner's son, reorders North's priorities. He finds himself enmeshed in a labyrinthine situation involving dirty cops and the rivalries between the traditional Mafia and the increasingly organized crime structure within the African American community. All of these factors are about to explode in riots as Bravelli ignites a fiendishly clever plot to set the community against the police. Flander has crafted a terrific first novel, alternately funny and serious, which is well plotted and sparkles with crisp, believable dialogue. A reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, Flander is much more sympathetic toward the police than his fellow journalists. Don't miss this one! George Needham --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Avon (May 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060542780
• ISBN-13: 978-0060542788
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,425,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definite Must Read!, November 26, 1999

By 

Swede "Swede" (The Main Line) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sons of the City: A Novel (Hardcover)

Scott Flander's "Sons of the City" is one of the most compelling books I've read in a long time. He certainly did his homework. The book was a real "page turner"; with the only down side being that I was finished much too quickly. Scott -- how 'bout a follow up to the story? I feel like I know the characters personally. If this becomes a movie -- you will definitely be on the edge of your seat! This book would make a great Christmas gift -- even for yourself!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping page-turner that's also literate and insightful, May 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sons of the City: A Novel (Hardcover)

Flander's novel is much more than a typical genre novel about cops and criminals. Picking it up casually in the book store, I was struck immediately by the strength of the voice and the exceptionally high quality of the writing. The scenes, the images from the streets, the variety of the characters, the funny and/or horrific set-pieces, the blistering action - very quickly, I found that I'd read a third of the book and become completely absorbed. Not that Flander cheats you out of the pleasures of the genre - it's all there, the chases, the bad guys, the boys in blue - but it's rendered with a level of authenticity, a sophistication about the way cops think and behave, a deep understanding of the ways in which the police and different communities within a boiling metropolis relate to, and negotiate with, one another that's, in my experience, really rare. At the center of it all is Eddie North, a deeply conflicted, angry, affectionate, smart, stupid, blind, observant, and finally extremely sympathetic and winning cop who is as human and intriguing as any character you're likely to find in a book like this. What can I say? I loved it, I loved everything about it - and I'd like to see these guys again. Any chance of a sequel (or two)?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Respect and Admiration for Cops!, February 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sons of the City: A Novel (Hardcover)

Scott Flander's book so immersed me in the world of Philly cops that I no longer look at cops the same way. A few weeks after reading Sons of the City, I was sitting in a diner and noticed a large group of cops having lunch together at the next table. I found myself smiling at them and felt like I actually knew them. I realized that I recognized them - their smiles and mannerisms - as the characters from Flander's book. And I felt such a strong respect for what they do on a daily basis. Aside from enhancing the way I perceive cops in real life, Flander's book is superb! Very gritty, a lot of humor, and fantastic dialogue. The plot lines have been seamlessly woven together and the characters are so solid, you never question their actions or motivations. A definite pager-turner recommended for anyone who likes cop novels, mysteries, mafia story lines, the city of Philadelphia and/or just great writing!