Hyde (Det. Brian McKenna Novels) (ISBN 0312963920)

Amazon.com Review:
That clubroom where writers who used to be cops gather is getting crowded, but Dan Mahoney stands a full head taller than most of the other inhabitants. His books about Brian McKenna, Detective First Grade and Edge of the City, show him to be a writer of unusual energy and imagination who uses his police experience as a springboard rather an excuse. Bored by administration and missing the street action, McKenna has quit his job as a New York Police Department assistant commissioner and is back being a detective. Somebody who calls himself "Hyde" is knocking off homeless people who are HIV-positive--but his motive is as original as just about everything else in this excellent thriller.

This Is For True Police Procedural Fans:
If you love PPs then relax with this novel. I love them and often try new writers in this genre. More often than not I find that after a few pages I am reading a faux police procedural by an author (JA Jance comes to mind) who knows less about the inner operations of an American police department than did Mother Theresa. The book moves and has a wealth of interesting dialogue (If this book had any more dialogue it would outdo George Higgins, and we surely don't want that). Who is killing all the homeless people, and why? That's the assignment given detective Brian McKenna. It's a good story where clues lead to more clues, and finally we discover through some interesting toxicology work just how the homeless are being killed. Mr. Mahoney is a retired NYC police captain, and thus knows how it all works. My criticism? The last 100 or so pages are stretched out too long; condensed to about 25 pages would have been just about right.

police work at its best:
HYDE really hits the spot as police procedures are represented in its rarest form. Believable plot and characters is what makes this book work. Having spent time in the same neighborhood that the story takes plaace only added to my appreciation of this book. Mahoney in New York is what Connelly is in Los Angeles. These guys should team up one day.

Best in Police Procedural:
The beginning was sluggish, the characters needed development, and the action was okay. Needs more dialog. I'd recommend this book for anyone.

Nothing Like A Good Mahoney:
Books by the author have never let me down. Mr. Mahoneys insight on the NYPD is second to none. He combines made-up characters with real people to form a great plot. This story piting McKenna Verses a Doctor/Killer is truly engaging. Not as much behind the scene stuff with McKenna and family. I kind of liked it that way. More of this good murder/mystery came about. Interesting characters, whose careers you can follow by reading the whole series. All in all a great act. I look forward to Edge of the City(the only one of the series I haven't read) and all new works by the author. Thanks to my friend that lent me my 1st Mahoney.

Fine "police procedural" novels, but....:
As a former NYPD cop, Dan Mahoney brings a lot of expertise to the table. He knows his stuff, and his characters are well developed. The ins & outs of police work are described beautifully. I've read all his stuff and enjoyed it all, to a degree. But, I give this (and all of Mahoney's "Brian McKenna" novels only four stars because: 1. Both McKenna and his boss/mentor/friend Ray Brunette are purportedly former U. S. Marines. However, neither these guys nor any of the other cops in Mahoney's stories TALK like either cops or former Marines! As a former Marine myself and retired Federal employee who spent a lot of time around real cops, I know that both Marines and real cops have a pronounced propensity for lots of profanity in their daily conversations! Mahoney's cops (and former Marines) are very clean language type individuals. Mahoney explains this from time to time in his novels by saying that "Detectives First Grade and bosses refrain from profanity to seperate themselves from the masses of cops who don't know better or are unable to express themselves withouth using profanity". I say BS to that!! In my opinion, Mahoney's development of "clean talking" cops detracts from the realism that's otherwise very good in his novels. 2. McKenna's cops are "under gunned"; still using 9mm handguns. This is unrealistic and detracts from the technical accuracy of modern-day police work. The fact is that today's cops have ditched the underpowered 9mm across the board and are using more powerful handguns. Again, while seeming a small thing, in my opinion this detracts from the realism of the gritty police procedurals that Mahoney has written. I emailed Mahoney about these issues but he's never bothered to respond. Probably has a lot of email to answer and considers my comments "small potatoes", I don't know. But a response would have gained him some points in my estimation. Dan Mahoney writes good stuff. But he ain't Caunitz (whose passing was a tremendous loss to me, he was the BEST) or Wambaugh because he doesn't capture the true essence of REAL police officers & detectives. Jerry, a diehard fan of good police procedural novels!