Harvey, Michael. THE THIRD RAIL. (2010). ****. This is a top-notch thriller featuring Michael Kelly, a former policeman turned PI. He is waiting at an El stop in Chicago and witnesses a man who shoots a woman in the head. Kelly takes off after him, but is ultimately waylaid in an alley; knocked cold. It seemed as if the perp – I should say perps since we soon learn that there is a team of two – wanted Kelly to follow and to get involved. After leaving Kelly on the ground, the duo then move to an apartment in the Loop, and systematically shoot and kill two passengers on a downtown train using a rifle. Kelly learns of this later incident and races off to the scene. There he meets an old comrade, Detective Vince Rodrigues. Between them they decide that these are not isolated incidents, but have to be related. Of course they are, and the killings mount until not just the city police are involved, but the FBI and Homeland Security take a role. You find that the killers have an agenda that involves, among other things, vengence for a subway accident years ago, and payback for, potentially, sexual abuse by members of the church. Yes, even the hierarch of the Catholic Church get involved in this one. This is fast-paced and perfectly timed, and will have you turning pages through the nightime hours. It will also lead you on a merry chase around the city of Chicago where you will recognize local landmarks and discover places that you never knew existed. The author has written two previous novels featuring Kelly that are now on my “must read” list. Recommended.