Detroit Is Our Beat

March 2, 2015
Set in Detroit during WWII, the 10 irresistible crime stories in this collection from Shamus Award–finalist Estleman (Jitterbug) focus on a tactical squad in the Detroit PD known as the Four Horsemen. The squad tackles off-beat cases ranging from a racially motivated murder (“The Latin Beat”) to an extortion threat aimed at crooner Frank Sinatra (“Get Sinatra”). Best in the book is “Sitting Ducks,” in which the Horsemen themselves become the targets of a complicated murder scheme. An energetic researcher steeped in the history of Detroit, Estleman fills every page with authentic period details about such things as the rulings of the Office of Price Administration, counting red stamps before making a purchase at the local butcher shop, and the nearby Chrysler factory converted from building automobiles to assembling tanks. Readers will have fun ferreting out a couple of minor historical errors. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary.

May 1, 2015

The "Four Horsemen" is the ambiguous moniker of the Detroit Racket Squad during World War II. First introduced in Estleman's novel Jitterbug, the four cops represent an era in the Motor City gripped by severe police shortages, gangsters, booze, racial tensions, and the ever snappy one-liner. The author begins this collection of eight previously published short stories and one original tale, "Kill Fee," with a stirring preface that chronicles 1940s Detroit and expertly sets the mood for the stories that follow. Readers will inevitably cheer on the Four Horsemen (while not the most charming group of fellows) as they face down everything from a suicide attempt to espionage. Standout selections include "Big Band," "The Elevator Man," and "Sitting Ducks." VERDICT An engaging look at World War II Detroit and the men who were left to safeguard it while others fought overseas. Estleman's marvelous collection showcases his knowledge of this gutsy city, both past and present, that is guaranteed to please crime noir fans as well as history buffs. The "Recommended Sources" section at the end is a bonus that is worth a read and clearly demonstrates the author's dedication to his subject.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph, MI

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Detroit during WWII is a cauldron of corruption, racial tension, and, maybe, enemy agents. Keeping a lid on it as much as possible is the Racket Squad, known as the Four Horsemen. Headed by Lieutenant Max Zagreb and Sergeant Starvo Canal, the quartet would all rather be in the Big One, but they've been classified as essential on the home front. Estleman, whose Amos Walker mysteries explore modern Detroit, re-creates the city when it was at the heart of the war effort, with converted automobile factories churning out war hardware. Unfortunately, war rationing has created a black market for virtually everything from eggs to girls, drugs, and gambling. The 10 stories collected here represent all manner of mayhem. There's a renegade federal agent trying to reconnect with his ex by convincing the Horsemen that her current love is a German spy; there's a hit on a mobster recently released from prison; and there's Frank Sinatra, in town for a concert and facing a death threat. Estleman knows Detroit inside out, and he is at his best among tough guys, hard women, and snappy dialogue delivered in smoke-filled rooms.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)