Rating: 
Summary: DETECTIVE....a different Hailey novel...but a great read!!!!
Review: Finally...another Arthur Hailey novel! It has been many years since his last novel first hit the bookshelves, but in truth, I feel it was worth the wait. Many Hailey lovers may be disappointed with this novel. It does not have the surprising and ofttimes scary informative style of say "Strong Medicine", "The Final Diagnosis",or almost any other Arthur Hailey novel, but it is as informative of the life of a police detective as I have read to date.
It is not a deeply suspenseful "whodunnit" as is the majority of the novels about other detectives, but I do not believe that was never intended. This is a novel that takes the life of a detective and exploits it in a very entertaining way. The procedures and fact-finding techniques aren't as surprising as other information found in other Hailey novels, but this is due, in part, to the prolifera of crime novels written by other equally capable hands. That, and true to life court trials (O.J.'s comes to mind) in today's society, have brought all of the techniques and procedures out to a point that even 10 year olds know about fingerprinting and DNA testing. So, although MR. Hailey has included some of this information in the novel, the story is about Malcom Ainslie, a Detective-Sergeant with the Miami P.D.
Mr. Hailey has given Ainslie the personality of a real human being with the failings, feelings and ideals that any of us might have. Making the lead character an ex-priest who doesn't really believe in the followings of any religion anymore, gives us, the reader, an insight into many things that we have never thought of before, and probably never would have with the reverence normally beholden to any religion. Mr. Hailey has come forth with insights and questions about religions that will have even the most devout follower questioning his beliefs. But this is just a minor subplot, and not a topic that runs rampant through the novel, so atheists and agnostics need not worry!
And talking about subplots, Mr. Hailey ! is still the King in this respect. Every event that happens in this novel, although seemingly disjointed at times, deftly becomes entertwined with the others as the novel progresses. Mr. Hailey has created characters that we can identify easily. We know Cynthia Ernst is a cold and calculating person. We know that Ruby is a very patient, totally professional investigator. We know that Karen is a loving wife and mother. And more! But mostly, we get to know the person known as Malcom Ainslie. He is a person we could like, a person that we can understand. He made his mistakes in his life, admits to himself they were mistakes and moves on. He is a exemplary investigator, oftentimes surprising himself with his insight. One of the best characters Mr. Hailey has ever come up with, in my opinion. Lastly, the story is one that seems familiar. The overall plot has been used before. The whodunnit part of the novel has been replaced with a "Columbo-esque" style of letting us know who did the deed and having the main character solve the crime using his smarts and good police procedures. Beyond the familiarity, this story is one that has been very well done and is a fresh approach to anything that could be deemed as "done before". This is a novel that shouldn't be read as a typical crime novel, but rather, as an Arthur Hailey novel of crime! Read in this way, any reader will be captivated instantly (as I was), and entertained beyond any expectations!
Rating:
Summary: Hailey is as readable as ever
Review: Arthur Hailey's gift for storytelling is in top form in DETECTIVE, a fast-paced, entertaining look at the life and work of a Miami police detective. All the elements of vintage Hailey are here; a fast-moving plot, interesting characters, and his forte: a carefully-researched look at the milieu in which his story takes place. Definitely among his best.
Rating:
Summary: GRIPPING AND DIFFERENT POLICE PROCEDURAL
Review: I am NOT a police dispatcher as one of my fellow reviewers,but I found Hailey's "Detective" a rather engrossing and compelling novel. Known for his grand style of writing, employing several different storylines at once, he brings this to the police procedural genre and overall, I think, brings it off well. The characterizations are well developed, and Malcolm Ainslie is a flawed hero; his bitterness over the Catholic faith, however, is never fully rationalized, and I was sad when at a point where his life was about to end, he still refused to admit God's existence. However, this is what makes Ainslie so complex. He also seems to have a hard time stifling his urge to "roam" in his marriage, and it is his affair with one Cynthia Ernst that propels him into a dark, and complicated vortex. A strong debate about capital punishment also enters the picture as Ainslie is called to a death row inmate's execution for a final confession from a despicable nasty character called "Animal" Elroy Doil. There's some other subplots including the mysterious murder of a wealthy woman's husband; a lot of background into Cynthia's youth; and many other goings on that contribute to the breadth of the novel.
This was Hailey's first attempt at this type of novel, and although as a mystery/thriller, it sets no new territories, it does come off as well-developed and interesting character study about the life of a detective; the wealthy; and the religious.
RECOMMENDED.
Rating:
Summary: Supurb
Review: I read with awe the interweaving of Arthur Hailey's plot(s). He has done a splendid job of tying all of the characters together. His knowledge of Miami was noted also. I especially enjoyed the way he blended police work with morality. This was an excellent read and I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: I was really drawn into this book. I like the dynamics of the characters. I really liked how the main character went on a spritiual as well as a personal journey to discover his convictions. However, I really felt bad for the Commander having to endure her Fathers foul behavior and not even her Mother stand up for her. I agree with reviewer who stated that this book is not an attack on christianity or catholicism. This character simply lost his faith and had a find it again.
Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: I was really drawn into this book. I like the dynamics of the characters. I really liked how the main character went on a spritiual as well as a personal journey to discover his convictions. However, I really felt bad for the Commander having to endure her Fathers foul behavior and not even her Mother stand up for her. I agree with reviewer who stated that this book is not an attack on christianity or catholicism. This character simply lost his faith and had a find it again.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Best from Arthur Hailey
Review: I'm neither a big fan of Arthur Hailey nor that I'm interested in FBI and Police work. But since I liked Hailey's Money Changers and Airport, I took this book and read it. Believe me, I couldn't put this book down till I finished reading it. I really like Hailey because he doesn't involve fantasies and too much of unreal life stories. Once you start reading, you would feel that you are part of the story. Hailey definitely deserves a great credit for his excellent writing skills. Trust me, when you read this book you wouldn't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Detective procedural
Review: Much as in James Michener's more sweeping novels, Arthur Hailey always lards his text with systematic insider research, here seldom seen details about police crime solving. That is good or bad depending on how much uplifting instruction and provocative thought, or immersion in suspense, you seek in a mystery. Actually, we learn all about the crimes long before the ending, so one has to focus on the working out of the many personal relationships and betrayals in this long story. The crimes are old-fashioned but the detection methods are up to date. The story is engrossing, the crimes shocking and convoluted, the killers are fully developed, and the details informative of police lives and outlooks. We shall never see the complex and sympathetic Detective Ainslie again--because Hailey doesn't write series--but, as always in his books, you come away knowing more of how things are run "behind the scenes" and of the attitudes of the team specialists involved. The plot is a little too pat and the prose flat and distant, but is cumulatively moving. Hailey indulges in flashback tricks, and one can almost see the author's notecards on police procedures, execution, Church history(!), and the failings of the juvenile justice and grand jury systems.
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping Read.
Review: Not having read any of Hailey's work before, it was upon the reccomendation of my father that I tried this novel. I was very, very peleased that I did. 'Detective' is a captivating and fascinating book, filled with detail and depth. The prose flows well, the plot and characters are believable and the dialogue well-researched. Hailey's encompassing descriptions and rich scenery afford the reader insight into an exciting and gripping tale, and sympathy with the characters. The book's one shortfall is that the plot does not maintain it's pace towards the end, partly because a little too much, I feel, is revealed too soon. Added to this, the speed at which the main character's future is concluded appears a shade clumsy. These small points should not detract, however, from the enjoyment of an mainly excellent and well-planned story; instigating thought amidst fascination.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst books ever!
Review: This is one of the worst books I've ever read, and I've read some bad ones! I knew who the killers were even before the serial killer was executed; and for that I'm thankful because the writing style of Hailey is clunky, and his sentences are (for the most part) poorly constructed or plain dull. I found the whole idea of the protagonist being an ex-priest to be a gratuitous vessal for Hailey's anti-Christian/liberal beliefs. Maybe his police research was commendable, but his theological research was seemingly nonexistent. The questions that caused the priest to "lose his faith" are so transparent that a first year theology student would blow them out of the water, much less a PHD.
I'm all for differing points of view, but only as long as they are cogent and sensical. Neither is found here.
The only good thing about this book is that I got it at the library and get to give it back!
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