Jack Reilly is an ex-cop in Boston who is trying to make it as a P.I.

Jack's trying to live down the embarassment of his younger brother, Marty, being in jail. As the story opens, a person Marty knew in jail who is now out of jail, hires Jack. However, the man is gunned down shortly after the meeting he had with Jack.

One of Jack's former classmates at the academy, Plain View Johnson, is in charge of the investigation and doesn't mind letting Jack know he thinks Jack is involved in a crime, possibly involving the mob.

As Jack begins his investigation, we can't help but think of another Boston, P.I., Robert Parker's wonderful character, Spencer. With Jack's wise guy approach, it appears that the author is influenced by Mickey Spillane and in Reilly, we see a new, and improved Mike Hammer.

The humorous but complicated plot eventually comes together nicely and the reader is drawn into the action as the suspense mounts.

I was impressed with the realistic dialogue and setting in the South Boston area filled with politicians on the take and corrupt lawmen.

The author has given the reader a vision of the hard streets of Boston and a modern P.I. who knows how to survive in those mean streets.