Rizzo's War Lou Manfredo St. Martin's Minotaur Oct. 2009 $24.99

Joe Rizzo is a cop. He's been on the job almost as long as his new partner, Mike McQueen, has been alive. Joe's played all the games and knows all the angles. Still, he's a little leery of Mike. Mcqueen lucked into his detective shield by being in the right place at the right time. Over a few months of work together Joe sets his mind at ease. Mike feels uneasy skirting the rules but is coming to realize what Joe has been saying all along. "There is no right. There is no wrong. There just is." The two men are pulled off their daily routine to work a 'special' case.

The daughter of a city councilman has run away. Joe and Mike go off the record and are sent to find her. Rizzo's connections and Mike's old patrol partner play key roles in this enjoyable police procedural. Mr. Manfredo's first effort is already a winner. He knows his stuff and his style is pretty smooth. There are some twists and turns, some tension and some humor all of which keep Rizzo's War moving right along. Rizzo's War is one of the better police procedural's I've read in a while. It's a welcome addition to the fold.

Dave Biemann