Blood Mud

Mario Balzic Detective Mystery #15

by K.C. Constantine, K. C. Costantine

Once public detective, now turned private, Mario Balzic is hired to track down the missing guns from the local gun shop for the insurance company. But no one knows better than this seasoned officer that stolen guns can only point to bigger trouble. It's not long before Balzic's dogged sleuthing points to a wide variety of suspects; a corrupt married politico cheating with a stripper; a police chief hungry for the influence a little improved firepower can buy; a deli owner who mixes racketeering with the cold cuts; and the gangster's hapless nephew, framed for selling porn and drugs. As if that weren't enough to handle, Balzic is soon brought low by a sudden cardiac episode. Now an intimately personal crisis combines with an equally sudden murder to turn a solitary job into a singular mission: stay alive, at least long enough to crack one more case.

Genres: Crime, Thriller

375 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Carl Constantine Kosak is an American mystery author known for his work as K.C. Constantine. Little is known about Kosak, as he prefers anonymity and has given only a few interviews. He was born in 1934 and served in the Marines in the early 1950s. He lives in Greensburg PA with wife Linda.



http://www.badattitudes.com/KCCintvw....

Reviews

[Robert Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, this effort just doesn't come together as a coherent novel for me. A weak police-procedural plot that goes nowhere, an extended character study of a man who can't figure out how to deal with mortality (and bangs on about it to himself and everyone else), and a picture of ex-Chief Balzic that completely refutes his earlier knowledge of and acceptance of the "real world" of crime and politics that he was a part of--none of this makes for a readable novel. And all of this goes on for far too long, pages and pages of it. Sorry, this isn't one of the better Balzic novels. Balzic should be paying more attention to that elephant.

[Bill Cissna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as much a police procedural as most of the other Constantine novels, it nevertheless digs deep in to former Chief Balzic's personal life and a harrowing description of an event in his life and its post-event effects.

[Hugh Mcaloon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't get too far into it. It just didn't click with me. I don't know why. But keep writing, Constantine! Clearly professionally done work. My issue was entirely subjective.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#15 in the Mario Balzic/Rocksburg series. Mario struggles with health issues and retirement.

Mario Balzic series - Mario Balzic swaps the service rags of the public cop for the shirt and tie of the private cop. His assignment to go with the new look? Track down some stolen guns for an insurance company. Mario isn't surprised when they lead to bigger trouble: a philandering politico, an ambitious police chief, and a deli owner cum racketeer and his hapless nephew. Then a sudden murder puts a twist into his search, and a sudden cardiac episode almost stops him cold. Mario's lonely job has become a grim mission: to stay alive, at least long enough to crack another case.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constantine builds on his complex character-based series with an off-books investigation for Mario. The investigation is harder to deal with because of a significant personal event and Mario's on-going fumbling through what should be right even if it is politically impossible. Constantine has been one who allows scenes to go on for long periods. There are a few points that seem to stretch, but definitely enjoyed meeting new characters and a different approach to the start of the book where we spent time with different characters before dropping into Mario's shoes.

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simply pathetic
Awful storyline and characters. Undoubtedly the worst book I have read till now