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Rizzo's War
by
Lou Manfredo
Rizzo’s War, Lou Manfredo’s stunningly authentic debut, partners a rookie detective with a seasoned veteran on his way to retirement in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
“There’s no wrong, there’s no right, there just is.” This is the refrain of Joe Rizzo, a decades-long veteran of the NYPD, as he passes on the knowledge of his years of experience to his ambitious new partner, Mi
Hardcover, 290 pages
Published
September 29th 2009
by Minotaur Books
(first published September 23rd 2009)
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I think it would be very difficult to create two characters who are more stereotyped than the two main characters in this story. We have Joe Rizzo, tough Italian detective who has been on the force forever and is just waiting to be able to afford to live off his pension and we have Mike McQueen, new college-educated detective who just came over from patrolling the streets of Manhattan and wants to get promoted back to a big-time job in Manhattan. And let's not forget the African-American, lesbia...more
Joe Rizzo is a veteran NYPD detective who is partnered with ‘young gun’, Mike McQueen. Rizzo is to be the teacher and McQueen the wary, but willing student. Both Rizzo and McQueen have their reservations about trusting each other. Rizzo has been around enough to know there is a lot of grey area between the black and white that McQueen sees in his idealistic view.
They work several different types of crimes together from burglary to murder. Their ‘main’ case is the missing bipolar daughter o...more
They work several different types of crimes together from burglary to murder. Their ‘main’ case is the missing bipolar daughter o...more
I picked this up in the library in the fiction section on a whim. It was a cop novel but not a mystery novel and it comes from a 1st person viewpoint of Rizzo's partner. Rizzo's is a local precinct street detective in Brooklyn, who has seen many years on the force. He is holding off retirement until he is able to get all of his daughter's thru college and medical school.
This is not about a man, who is tired or cynical about his life. He loves his wife and family but he also desires to help...more
This is not about a man, who is tired or cynical about his life. He loves his wife and family but he also desires to help...more
Susan
added it
Working 25 years in Brooklyn’s criminal court system may have given first-time novelist Lou Manfredo a rare insight into how justice really gets done, but it hasn’t gifted him with any special knack for dialogue or exposition. Large chunks of Manfredo’s police procedural Rizzo’s War are given over to characters saying “Here’s the thing,” then delivering long speeches that lay out what’s going to happen next in the plot, and how they feel about it. What most writers would do via internal monologu...more
If you are looking for something different in a mystey and something different in a detective, try "Rizzo's War". This is a refreshing and down to earth story that takes place in New York.
Joe Rizzo has been on the NYPD long enough to put in for retirement. Joe is partnered with Mike McQueen, a new detective that has been on the force for six years.
Joe has been living by the mantra, "There is no right. There is no wrong. There just is". He tries to...more
Joe Rizzo has been on the NYPD long enough to put in for retirement. Joe is partnered with Mike McQueen, a new detective that has been on the force for six years.
Joe has been living by the mantra, "There is no right. There is no wrong. There just is". He tries to...more
I enjoyed Lou Manfredo's debut novel Rizzo's War in the form of an audiobook. The audiobook was read by Bobby Cannavale. I enjoyed the subtle voice changes for each of the characters. The one complaint about the audiobook was that the cds did not state "this is the end of disc #" instead it started at the beginning, making me confused.
In Rizzo's War, we follow Michael McQueen, a younger police officer who has moved up to detective following a lucky break (apprehending a to...more
In Rizzo's War, we follow Michael McQueen, a younger police officer who has moved up to detective following a lucky break (apprehending a to...more
Ahhhh, the classic NYPD roman policier -- especially the "old cop, young cop" variant -- never entirely dies off. Even when it's out of fashion, as it is now, there's always someone ready to take up the tale again.
There are significant problems with the structure of this novel, which doesn't know if it wants to be episodic or unitary in narrative strategy. Some of the dialog is awfully expository too, although in this subgenre it can be refreshing to just hear the character...more
There are significant problems with the structure of this novel, which doesn't know if it wants to be episodic or unitary in narrative strategy. Some of the dialog is awfully expository too, although in this subgenre it can be refreshing to just hear the character...more
Amazing! When Emmy Award winning actor Bobby Cannavale slips into character as one of New York's finest you believe you're eavesdropping. His deliveries of police-speak are true, and his narration portions are presented in a low, distinct, ultra smooth voice. When 27-year NYPD veteran Joe Rizzo is speaking Cannavale easily slips into a deeper, husky tone reflecting at times weariness of what he has seen and done or simply ennui. This narrator presents a one man show from Big Apple Streets.
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This was both a fascinating and a humorous examination of the struggles, the challenges, the nuances and the revelations that one encounters while laboring to police a large city. Detective Sargeant Joe Rizzo is an exceedingly intriguing and an utterly loveable character. His wisdom and perspective on doing the job in a manner which minimizes a cop's level of frustration while simultaneously accumulating favors with city politicians, department brass, local clergymen and gangsters alike serves a...more
Jeffrey
rated it
Recommends it for:
Cop story readers who like that the law is grey
Shelves:
mystery,
read-in-2009
I read half of this book on a flight to Florida.
Its a good cop mystery in which an older veteran detective is paired with a younger detective to solve crimes, but what the older cop mostly shows the younger is that detectives trade favors to accomplish things. The main crime in the novel is the disappearance of a politico's teenage daughter who is bipolar. Perfunctory treatment is given the usual investigation of leads. Instead the story focuses on the fact that the girl may be tie...more
Its a good cop mystery in which an older veteran detective is paired with a younger detective to solve crimes, but what the older cop mostly shows the younger is that detectives trade favors to accomplish things. The main crime in the novel is the disappearance of a politico's teenage daughter who is bipolar. Perfunctory treatment is given the usual investigation of leads. Instead the story focuses on the fact that the girl may be tie...more
Rizzo and his new partner, Mike McQueen are adjusting to one another. Rizzo is a veteran NYPD cop. His old partner found himself needing some money and owing a bookie, lots of money, in addition to drawing red flags with Internal Affairs for some of his actions on duty. Mike is quiet and by the books; whereas Rizzo makes his own rules and doesn’t care what anyone else says.
When Rosanne, the mentally unstable daughter of a famous city councilman goes missing, it is up to Rizzo and Mik...more
When Rosanne, the mentally unstable daughter of a famous city councilman goes missing, it is up to Rizzo and Mik...more
Got this as a freebie from Amazon. No need to summarize the plot, it's fairly standard: old cop under fire, young cop trying to play it straight, old cop becomes mentor, they bond.
The first half of the book really did not grab my attention. Manfredo defines the relationship between the two cops: Rizzo is in trouble with IAD for protecting his old partner, and McQueen was rapidly promoted to detective for saving the mayor's daughter from a rape, and creating the background for the re...more
The first half of the book really did not grab my attention. Manfredo defines the relationship between the two cops: Rizzo is in trouble with IAD for protecting his old partner, and McQueen was rapidly promoted to detective for saving the mayor's daughter from a rape, and creating the background for the re...more
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There's a place for books like Rizzo's War, a debut novel. It does not belong among those stories that bowl you over with inventiveness or startling writing. It does tell a story -- or series of stories -- clearly and well, engaging the reader on how veteran Brooklyn detective, Joe Rizzo, educates his young parner, Mike McQueen, not only about police work but the corners to cut to get ahead and even achieve justice. Authentic look at how the world works, at least in New York's police departme...more
Veteran cop Joe Rizzo and his recently promoted partner Mike McQueen are fighting a war on the streets of Bensonhurst, New York. This war consists of daily skirmishes with common street thugs, burglars, as well as dealing with the victims of the street scum. In addition, Rizzo’s previous partner is currently being investigated by Internal Affairs and the IA boys are doing their best to intimidate Russo into divulging any information he may have on the guy, going so far as threatening to “bring...more
PROTAGONIST: Joe Rizzo and Mike McQueen, police
SETTING: New York City
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Experienced NYPD cop Joe Rizzo takes on a new partner, Mike McQueen, and teaches him how to handle the situations they face. Really interesting to see Joe's take on how little or much to invest in the cases they handle, felt very real. The writing was not very smooth, but that was secondary to the feeling that Manfredo presented such an authentic picture of the job.
SETTING: New York City
SERIES: Debut
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Experienced NYPD cop Joe Rizzo takes on a new partner, Mike McQueen, and teaches him how to handle the situations they face. Really interesting to see Joe's take on how little or much to invest in the cases they handle, felt very real. The writing was not very smooth, but that was secondary to the feeling that Manfredo presented such an authentic picture of the job.
Character of a veteran Italian NY street cop is quite good. Dialect is racy and sarcastic and what you would expect for that character. Main plot is supported by minor plots and interesting sub plots along with good supporting characters. I had read this before I started logging on to Goodreads so I thought since a new Rizzo book just was released, I would review this one. Definitely worth reading
This is a terrific police procedural and look into a police detective's life on and off the job. It is well written with snappy dialogue and lots of insights into what a detective faces on the street. The political environment that police have to put up with makes one wonder why anyone wants to serve and protect. Rizzo's war is a compelling read. I couldn't put it down.
This is Lou Manfredo’s first novel, and hopefully he is already at work on the next. He writes about a seasoned detective and his new partner, who has been a police officer for six years, but is a rookie detective. This is a character driven novel, and the author brings his people to life. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good police story.
This book reads like the Law and Order episodes with the Lenny Brisco character. If you're into that sort of thing, this is an excellent read. I always enjoyed this character, and it was hard for me to read Rizzo's sayings without hearing Brisco's voice. Well written, very gritty. Lots of NSFW language. If you can get past that, I recommend reading this.
I picked up this book because it promised to 'tell it like it is' in a NYC police department in Brooklyn, NY. How could I resist? What was I thinking? Most police work is stake-outs, tracking down leads, etc. Not exactly earth shattering. The book delivered what it promised. A nice story about a NYC police crime unit but nothing earth shattering.
If you like Ed McBain with a touch of Joseph Wambaugh, then you will enjoy this book. The eternal struggle for a policeman between personal discretion versus the legal duty is played out in Manfredo's plot, with a little bit of humor and sarcasm. The author also uses cynisim as the basic protective tool used by most law enforcement personnel to cover pain. The story deals with corrupt politicians, burglars, sex offenders and the everyday life of detectives.
The story pairs an old...more
The story pairs an old...more
Lots of potential, but it went unrealized. Rizzo's character was well developed, but not his partner's. The plot needed to be tightened, and the overuse of first names became a major annoyance. But I liked the fact that the two cops were not homicide detectives. The book had a different feel because of that.
This could have been an ordinary but good cop book but for me it was a walk down memory lane.It takes place in the neighborhood that I grew up in. Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge Brooklyn. And I remeber all of the places that are in the book;Romano's Restaurant, Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Regina Pacis Church and on and on.
Good detective story with the experienced NYPD detective Joe Rizzo and his young partner. As in much of life, experience counts in detective work. Rizzo's wisdom: "The littlest crimes have the greatest effect on people." "Character doesn't change, just circumstances." "It is what it is."
Really enjoyed this as an audio book performed by Bobby Cannavale -- an actor with the perfect Eye-talian NewYawker accent. (I remember him from the TV series Third Watch.)
A gentle and very authentic-seeming portrayal of the relationship between two cops -- one ready to retire, the other younger, but not a rookie. A nice listen!
A gentle and very authentic-seeming portrayal of the relationship between two cops -- one ready to retire, the other younger, but not a rookie. A nice listen!
I was surprised to read about a bad cop with good intentions. We always expect police officers as the good guys but sometimes good guys have to do everything to see justice done. Like Det. Joe Rizzo said, "There is no right, there is no wrong, there's just is"
This debut novel from Lou Manfredo is a good police procedural, but what I liked best about it was the moral dilemma it presented. Will the cops do the right thing or the wrong thing? And what is the right thing? It's a complex situation with multi-dimensional characters. I liked it.
Rizzo is the veteran cop who is mentor to Mike McQueen as they pursue crime in Brooklyn. The current case is the disappearance of the adult daughter who a local bigwig. Rizzo's favorite saying is, "There is no wrong. There is no right. There just is."
I read 3/4 of this book before tiring of it's lack of purpose. There just wasn't enough at stake. That being said, Rizzo is a likable character and though this very much feels like a first novel, it was enjoyable in an easy-going way until it wasn't.
If this were a third or fourth novel I'd have given it three stars.
Manfredo must have heard the advice I give to a lot of first novel authors (okay only in my head, but still): Write three novels, burn them, write another one, and sell that one. So he gets four stars for writing well the first go round.
Manfredo must have heard the advice I give to a lot of first novel authors (okay only in my head, but still): Write three novels, burn them, write another one, and sell that one. So he gets four stars for writing well the first go round.
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