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Martelli NYPD #5
Eighth Circle: A Special Place in Hell
When the mayor of New York City’s grandson and the grandson’s wife are murdered execution-style in their Tribeca apartment, NYPD Detective Louis Martelli and his partner, Detective Sean O’Keeffe, are left completely in the dark. Months go by without any actionable leads until a meeting with the wife’s doctor and the bizarre torching of Stephanie Martelli’s car turn the investigation upside down and land Martelli and O’Keeffe in the hotseat. When an old friend of Pietro Martelli’s, Louis’s deceased father and a former street cop who had been gunned down in the line of duty, sends Martelli a note asking for a meeting, things take an even stranger turn. The evidence in this mob-driven case of political corruption, bribery, and murder pits the two detectives against their boss, Captain Hanlon, Police Commissioner Eugene Fields, and His Honor the Mayor. Can Martelli and O’Keeffe survive this kind of pressure and keep their jobs, much less solve the case? You’ll have to read Eighth Circle to learn the answers.
266 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 2014
6 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Theodore Jerome Cohen
70 books39 followers
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 9, 2015
Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite.
“Eighth Circle” by Theodore Jerome Cohen is the fifth novel by this author featuring the inimitable Detective-Inspector Lou Martelli, and it is every bit as captivating as its predecessors in the series.
Sprinkled with numerous documented factoids, “Eighth Circle” will take you on a fascinating journey of intrigue and organized crime, in which Martelli and his partner, Sean O’Keeffe, once again face unyielding pressure from above, while confronting danger most foul, this time in NYC’s “Little Italy” enclave.
Tapping into a wealth of NYPD expertise, Martelli gathers information about various parties of interest as he and O’Keeffe struggle to make sense of a seemingly random execution-style double homicide. The big question, though, is will Martelli survive this case, or has his good fortune finally abandoned him?
“Eighth Circle” is another brilliantly conceived and achieved fiction story based on actual events, as only Cohen can accomplish. Not unlike the late, great Louis L’Amour, when Cohen describes a building, a street, or a historical event, it actually exists as described. People familiar with New York City will no doubt be surprised to recognize some of the names and faces mentioned in “Eighth Circle”.
With the frequent use of footnotes, Cohen provides not only documentation of his facts, but internet links to provide further information for anyone wishing to delve deeper into the history behind various aspects of the story. As always, this masterful blend of fact with fiction makes for a very entertaining story, with just enough truth to it to make the reader feel as if he is witnessing history in the making.
I strongly recommend the entire series of Detective-Inspector Lou Martelli stores, but there is no need to read them in the order written; each is a stand-alone tale in its own right. Check out “Eighth Circle” for yourself, and see if you don’t agree.
“Eighth Circle” by Theodore Jerome Cohen is the fifth novel by this author featuring the inimitable Detective-Inspector Lou Martelli, and it is every bit as captivating as its predecessors in the series.
Sprinkled with numerous documented factoids, “Eighth Circle” will take you on a fascinating journey of intrigue and organized crime, in which Martelli and his partner, Sean O’Keeffe, once again face unyielding pressure from above, while confronting danger most foul, this time in NYC’s “Little Italy” enclave.
Tapping into a wealth of NYPD expertise, Martelli gathers information about various parties of interest as he and O’Keeffe struggle to make sense of a seemingly random execution-style double homicide. The big question, though, is will Martelli survive this case, or has his good fortune finally abandoned him?
“Eighth Circle” is another brilliantly conceived and achieved fiction story based on actual events, as only Cohen can accomplish. Not unlike the late, great Louis L’Amour, when Cohen describes a building, a street, or a historical event, it actually exists as described. People familiar with New York City will no doubt be surprised to recognize some of the names and faces mentioned in “Eighth Circle”.
With the frequent use of footnotes, Cohen provides not only documentation of his facts, but internet links to provide further information for anyone wishing to delve deeper into the history behind various aspects of the story. As always, this masterful blend of fact with fiction makes for a very entertaining story, with just enough truth to it to make the reader feel as if he is witnessing history in the making.
I strongly recommend the entire series of Detective-Inspector Lou Martelli stores, but there is no need to read them in the order written; each is a stand-alone tale in its own right. Check out “Eighth Circle” for yourself, and see if you don’t agree.
January 9, 2015
When the Mayor of New York City’s grandson and the grandson’s wife are found shot, execution style, NYPD homicide Detective-Investigator Louis Martelli with his partner Sean O’Keeffe are put on the case. It is clearly a message to the Mayor from someone destined to eternity in Dante’s eighth of Nine Circles of Hell, which in the epic fable is resided by the winged Geryon monster with fraudulent ways of disingenuous nature. Hence, Theodore Jerome Cohen uses this metaphor to title the latest of Det. Louis Martelli’s case-adventures, Eighth Circle.
In typical “Cohen style,” the reader starts along with Det. Martelli at the same level – without a clue. The execution was a professional hit; the guns cleansed of their serial numbers and left behind with absolutely no evidence nor witnesses. Working on innate police instincts, Martelli enlists the help of Missy Dugan, a police department computer IT expert to seek out any impropriate item or graft by the Mayor which can somehow reveal who might have had a reason for murdering his family. Stumbling upon a property tax reassessment begins the thread of investigation. It seems as if someone made about $600,000 worth of improvements to the Mayor’s house for free.
In a fast moving, intelligent fashion, Det. Martelli “peels the onion” to the core of the relationships hidden deeply within the carefully covered-up tracks of fraud, pay-offs, and “favors” at the highest political levels in New York City on both sides of the moral fence – politicians and mobsters. Learning of their way of doing business, Cohen actually sets the morality of each of these dichotomized social leaders as being very similar regarding integrity; both corrupt, only one side is elected to office and the other is nepotic “family.”
As an iconic writing technique used by Dr. Cohen in many of his novels, he inserts a variety of footnotes explaining everything from the basis of jesting remarks to factual research throughout the book, resulting in a hybrid mix of educating readers along with a clearly fictional storyline. I find this makes for a unique type of reading genre, adding a strong foundation of credibility to the characters and situations. Coupled with a terse and poignant use of dialogue and cleverly human perceptions, the fast-paced book becomes a classic page-turner of enjoyment. Throughout the book Det. Louis Martelli interacts with colleagues and criminals alike, all with the utmost respect, politeness and restraint of his anger – even when the battle is brought personally to his home and family.
Although Eighth Circle can stand on its own merits for a complete novel, it is best to read this in the proper succession of the prior Det. Louis Martelli series of adventures. With remarkable events in his books paralleling the reality of real life situations in the news and current events, Theodore Cohen brings his stories to life under the belief that true events make for the best fiction.
In typical “Cohen style,” the reader starts along with Det. Martelli at the same level – without a clue. The execution was a professional hit; the guns cleansed of their serial numbers and left behind with absolutely no evidence nor witnesses. Working on innate police instincts, Martelli enlists the help of Missy Dugan, a police department computer IT expert to seek out any impropriate item or graft by the Mayor which can somehow reveal who might have had a reason for murdering his family. Stumbling upon a property tax reassessment begins the thread of investigation. It seems as if someone made about $600,000 worth of improvements to the Mayor’s house for free.
In a fast moving, intelligent fashion, Det. Martelli “peels the onion” to the core of the relationships hidden deeply within the carefully covered-up tracks of fraud, pay-offs, and “favors” at the highest political levels in New York City on both sides of the moral fence – politicians and mobsters. Learning of their way of doing business, Cohen actually sets the morality of each of these dichotomized social leaders as being very similar regarding integrity; both corrupt, only one side is elected to office and the other is nepotic “family.”
As an iconic writing technique used by Dr. Cohen in many of his novels, he inserts a variety of footnotes explaining everything from the basis of jesting remarks to factual research throughout the book, resulting in a hybrid mix of educating readers along with a clearly fictional storyline. I find this makes for a unique type of reading genre, adding a strong foundation of credibility to the characters and situations. Coupled with a terse and poignant use of dialogue and cleverly human perceptions, the fast-paced book becomes a classic page-turner of enjoyment. Throughout the book Det. Louis Martelli interacts with colleagues and criminals alike, all with the utmost respect, politeness and restraint of his anger – even when the battle is brought personally to his home and family.
Although Eighth Circle can stand on its own merits for a complete novel, it is best to read this in the proper succession of the prior Det. Louis Martelli series of adventures. With remarkable events in his books paralleling the reality of real life situations in the news and current events, Theodore Cohen brings his stories to life under the belief that true events make for the best fiction.
August 11, 2017
Excellent read and information
Engaging read! Excellent, clear writing. Believable. I learned many new things and police vocabulary while being entertained by this story. The plot, settings, and characters are all vivid and memorable. I know very little about NYC but feel I know more now. This is not my usual kind of read but I really enjoyed it and want to read more by this author.
Engaging read! Excellent, clear writing. Believable. I learned many new things and police vocabulary while being entertained by this story. The plot, settings, and characters are all vivid and memorable. I know very little about NYC but feel I know more now. This is not my usual kind of read but I really enjoyed it and want to read more by this author.
November 12, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"Every ethnic group had it's mob."
The murders of the mayor's grandson and his wife were obviously professional hits with no clues to follow even months later other than the assumption that the killings were a message to tell mayor. Detective Louis Martelli and his partner, Sean O'Keeffe, were getting desperate as even more months passed.
Cohen's style of writing is that of gritty reality, with careful description and believable characters and action. It was difficult to believe that this was a fictional story, even including an afterward to inform the reader of the future fates of characters included. And the partnership of the detectives was well presented as well as believable.
Narration is by Gregg Rizzo who has a most pleasant voice, reads well with good pacing and is a perfect fitting for Detective Martelli. Sadly, not so much for other characters. Whilst each is individually voiced, several are unpleasant, nasal or even almost inappropriately comedic and marred the ongoing listening, making it difficult for this reader to listen in the continuity preferred.
My first encounter with this author and his detective series of which this is book five, but it stood perfectly well alone without my having read the earlier books. I hope soon to remedy this, starting with book one (which has an alternative narrator). My thanks to the right's holder of Eighth Circle who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It was a good and enjoyable read.
"Every ethnic group had it's mob."
The murders of the mayor's grandson and his wife were obviously professional hits with no clues to follow even months later other than the assumption that the killings were a message to tell mayor. Detective Louis Martelli and his partner, Sean O'Keeffe, were getting desperate as even more months passed.
Cohen's style of writing is that of gritty reality, with careful description and believable characters and action. It was difficult to believe that this was a fictional story, even including an afterward to inform the reader of the future fates of characters included. And the partnership of the detectives was well presented as well as believable.
Narration is by Gregg Rizzo who has a most pleasant voice, reads well with good pacing and is a perfect fitting for Detective Martelli. Sadly, not so much for other characters. Whilst each is individually voiced, several are unpleasant, nasal or even almost inappropriately comedic and marred the ongoing listening, making it difficult for this reader to listen in the continuity preferred.
My first encounter with this author and his detective series of which this is book five, but it stood perfectly well alone without my having read the earlier books. I hope soon to remedy this, starting with book one (which has an alternative narrator). My thanks to the right's holder of Eighth Circle who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It was a good and enjoyable read.
April 18, 2015
our hero takes on the mob and political corruption..the mob strikes at the hero's family. now, it's personal..very personal.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews