Detective First Grade

Rating:
Summary: Good Procedural
Review: Good police procedural. Contained almost too many names and aliases - I sometimes lost track in the middle of the book, but that didn't disrupt the story flow. The last 100 pages really pick up, and kept me up late into the morning. Great ending. Can't wait to begin Dan Mahoney's second in the series Edge of the City.

Rating:
Summary: Good Procedural
Review: Good police procedural. Contained almost too many names and aliases - I sometimes lost track in the middle of the book, but that didn't disrupt the story flow. The last 100 pages really pick up, and kept me up late into the morning. Great ending. Can't wait to begin Dan Mahoney's second in the series Edge of the City.

Rating:
Summary: A fast and entertaining read, true to life
Review: I enjoyed this book, partly because of the fact that i served as a detective in the NYPD's major case squad for three and a half years. The procedurual details and even the operational details were well crafted and added to the book's authanticity. The chief of detectives was much like the man i served under and the man refered to as a dog's reproductive organ was a lot like the man who I worked for when I was in the Special Investigations Division. In all, Mahoney's tale of cop life was both authantic and very entertaing. I recomend this book to any former cop(like myself) or anyone who enjoys police fiction

Rating:
Summary: walks the line
Review: I first read this novel back in 95. I found it fast moving, enertaining, and involving. At the time I didn't give much thought to the main character and his willingness to cross the ethical line to "get the job done". What I mean by that is a willingness to lie on the witness stand amd shoot a suspect in the back and then lie to the investigators. The protaganist even goes so far as to buy clothing that makes him more credible to a jury as he lies. The overall feeling I got was it was no deal because our hero is doing this for us. He's on the side of the angels. Fast forward five years. Now I'm a police officer ( just hired ) and I have just finished this book for a second time. While it is still engrossing and exciting I am very uncomfortable with Mr. Mahoney's brezzy attitude towards professional ethics and just ethics in general.The profession of law enforcement is a difficult one and it's very easy to cross that line for the the greater good, but once you've done it there's no going back. It simply isn't worth it and I'm uncomfortable with even a novel that takes such a lighthearted approach to such a serious issue. Now I can already hear others saying, "It's just a novel" , and so it is. Just don't forget that fact as you read. It is a very exciting novel. I just wish Mr. Mahoney had opted to portray an officer who dosen't view ethical behavior as something imposed by idiot superiors.

Rating:
Summary: Good start to a good series
Review: I read Black and White and Once In, Never Out. In that order. Reading this gave me alot of the missing parts of Det McKenna's story. This one was good, alot of real cop stuff with whos got the best "hook", which bosses are on the ball, the nicknames, and mostly the treating of dinner. The storyline was interesting. If you did like me and read Mahoneys others 1st, do like me and read this one. The character does all the real things cops do, spiced up some for the storys sake, but not overboard. The way Mckenna and Brunette met was something. On the farm as its known. I believe Mahoney could have went further into the perils of those who end up on the farm, but the interest in a book on that would'nt interest many. The denial of it and the false reality that some can quit drinking and remain normal on a daily basis, isnt a topic of interest. The truth be told, in jobs where ego, power, and dealing with the less desirables of the world are concerned, the attitude displayed by active alcoholics and those who quit with out a program, are the best to have. It makes it easier to bend the truth to fit our needs and to disregard our well being for personal gain. As the interesting Mckenna does. All in all, i look very forward to reading Edge of the City and Hyde.

Rating:
Summary: Good start to a good series
Review: I read Black and White and Once In, Never Out. In that order. Reading this gave me alot of the missing parts of Det McKenna's story. This one was good, alot of real cop stuff with whos got the best "hook", which bosses are on the ball, the nicknames, and mostly the treating of dinner. The storyline was interesting. If you did like me and read Mahoneys others 1st, do like me and read this one. The character does all the real things cops do, spiced up some for the storys sake, but not overboard. The way Mckenna and Brunette met was something. On the farm as its known. I believe Mahoney could have went further into the perils of those who end up on the farm, but the interest in a book on that would'nt interest many. The denial of it and the false reality that some can quit drinking and remain normal on a daily basis, isnt a topic of interest. The truth be told, in jobs where ego, power, and dealing with the less desirables of the world are concerned, the attitude displayed by active alcoholics and those who quit with out a program, are the best to have. It makes it easier to bend the truth to fit our needs and to disregard our well being for personal gain. As the interesting Mckenna does. All in all, i look very forward to reading Edge of the City and Hyde.

Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining
Review: When I find an author new to me, I like to go back to the beginning and read all of his/her books in chronological order. So, with Dan Mahoney, I began with Detective First Grade. A former New York City police captain, Mahoney knows his territory. This is a police procedural for real, without excess flab, and a rivetting plot line. Fine characterizations, clean prose, and slow-but-steady action build to a gratifying climax. My only quibble is with the ending (literally.) Everything is resolved and then, wham! Done. That aside, though, this is a good, solid book and I'm anticipating with pleasure reading all Mr. Mahoney's other books. This book is a definite must-read for those who want an inside look at how a big-city police force sometimes operates.