Windy City Knights

Ron Shade #2

by Michael A. Black

How much do you owe a former love? Against his better judgment, private detective Ron Shade lets Paula back into hs life, but then she left again, without so much as a good-bye kiss. Now she's turned up dead.

Paula's cousin doesn't think her death was an accident, and she wants Shade to find out the truth. But the truth is hard to find, especially in the seedy parts of town where Shade's search is leading him. And every time he gets close to it, someone gets killed.

Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Teresa LaBella · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sure, Christmas comes but once a year, but really, who would want to go through it any more often?" Michael A. Black, author, "Windy City Knights"

How could anyone resist buying a book with an opening sentence like that? Especially when said book takes place in a city nearby, on streets I've walked and in neighborhoods I know well enough to stay the hell out of?

Ron Shade, private investigator and pro kick boxer in training for the fight of his life, struggles to put the jigsaw pieces of a complicated case together to find out who killed his former lover and why. Shade's chance reunion with Paula Kittermann devolves from a one-more-night stand to a morning after stand-up and late night call to identify her body at the morgue. Dual burglaries at Paula's apartment and Shade's place after her suspicious hit-and-run death cannot be coincidence. Laurie Kittermann hires Shade to find out the truth behind what really happened to her cousin. Against policy and his better judgement, Shade falls in lust with the beautiful client he once knew as a pig-tailed teen. Their professional and romantic partnership puts them in the cross hairs of a dangerous international drug trafficking ring, angered by extortion, and primed to kill to reclaim their lost cash and illegal goods.

Black threaded references to the classic film "Casablanca" throughout, giving this book an intriguing touch of modern day noir I really enjoyed, right to the last page and line of dialogue.

"Here's looking at you, kid."

Damn, I wish I'd written that!

[M.E. Roche · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced mystery about Ron Shade, a private investigator who is also a kickboxing champion with an upcoming big match. His past work with the Chicago PD gives him contacts through his old partner and best friend George, who also runs part-time security, where Ron does fill-in for him at a hotel bar. There Ron meets an old flame who is later murdered. When the woman's cousin--a woman Ron also knows from his past-- seeks answers, Ron agrees to pursue the case. It's easy to visualize the fight training and matches, so well described. Some of Ron's decisions along the way are a bit less easy to believe, but all in all, this is a good read!

[Ronald A. Bonina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I expected 😞

Well, the book started out very good with, but then it went too sideways regarding Ron Shade's boxing career. I could hardly wait to finish his book and move on to another. Very disappointing.

[Kathy Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, so easy to relate to.
A good read, could not put it down

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black’s second book in the Shade series equals its predecessor in action and mystery. We visit the lovely city of Chicago once again and see our PI/martial artist come out of the woodwork and make a name for himself. Yet another former love interest waltzes into the spotlight and becomes the centre of the case at hand. Black keeps a strong plot, decent dialogue, and a well-balance storyline (complete with subplot) to keep the reader interested from start to finish. While perhaps a slight cookie-cutter approach to the main female character and her interaction with Shade, the book is worth its invested time, though perhaps best packed amongst beach blankets or a carry-on for an overseas flight.

I picked up reading Black’s series as it will soon connect to another series that I recently completed, that of Julie Hyzy’s Alex St. James. I await the interconnectedness that is sure to come and how they will work together. With one more book before that apparent conjoined detective work, I am interested to see how Shade will grow as a character before encountering the sly St. James. Perhaps Black will superimpose their meeting as Hyzy did at the end of the second St. James book, but I will have to devour ‘A Final Judgment’ to see for myself.

Kudos Mr. Black on a job well done!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thiw is a very enjoyable book. The Characters are interesting, the plot has a lot of twists and turns, and the author has enough background activities/interests for his characters to make them interesting. It probably helps that he has lived what he describes as a police officer in Chicago before writing this book.

You can tell that Michael Black is a fairly inexperienced author. The plotting and characterization is strong, and there is an truthful feeling to the situations. The author is not quite as polished as Robert B. Parker,James Lee Burke, Robert Crais or Harlan Coben, but if he continues he will one day be in their league.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Didn't finish.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book easy read .