The Criminalist

The saddest thing about Eugene Izzi's last book, completed just before his bizarre death by hanging in 1996, is that it could very well have been the start of a very successful series--just what this talented crime writer needed to get his career back on track after some false moves and setbacks.

Dominick DiGrazia, the criminalist of the title, is a fascinating, gifted Chicago homicide detective who has carefully avoided the promotions that would remove him from the actual work of investigating crimes. He has trouble keeping his explosive anger in check as less-qualified superiors try to misuse or take advantage of his expertise; his thorny personality and high standards also mark him as a loner. But when a pregnant young prostitute is murdered and savagely butchered on the 20th anniversary of another similarly horrible killing, DiGrazia asks Janice Constantine--a tough street cop in her 50s--to become his partner. It's a smart choice for him and a pleasure for readers: Constantine is a wonderfully real, totally unglamorous character with raspy edges that help keep DiGrazia honest.

Suspects in the new murder include Dr. Tom Moran, the psychiatrist whose pregnant wife was the first victim two decades before; Dr. Moran's cop brother, Terry Moran, whose career is frozen by rumors of his own involvement in that case; and Mike Schmidt, DiGrazia's former partner, obsessed to the point of alcoholism and insanity by the earlier case. And, as in Izzi's earlier books, Chicago in its many mean and meaty guises plays a major role in this final effort. --Dick Adler