THE DEAD DON’T LIE: An Abe Lieberman Mystery
Stuart M. Kaminsky
Forge Books
Mystery
ISBN: 9780765316028

The late detective novelist Ed McBain was known for his police procedurals set in the 87th precinct of Isola, a fictional city based on the borough of Manhattan. McBain, whose real name was Evan Hunter, wrote more than 50 books in the 87th Precinct series along with countless other mysteries. The personal lives of Detective Steve Carella and his fellow officers were intertwined with their professional crime-solving duties. With McBain’s death in 2005, the 87th precinct closed up shop.
 
Those who miss the men and women of the 87th precinct and their travails through life can find a compelling substitute in the work of Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Stuart M. Kaminsky, who has written his 10th novel featuring police detective Abe Lieberman. Lieberman differs from Carella in many ways. While Carella is middle-aged and ruggedly handsome, Lieberman is near retirement, dog-faced and suffers from insomnia. Unable to sleep, the Chicago detective spends substantial time reading, viewing the History Channel and watching old movies. Those pastimes contribute to a wizened and cynical outlook on life. When a witness recognizes Lieberman as Jewish and remarks that he is one of the chosen people, Lieberman responds, “And an odd choice it is.”
 
THE DEAD DON’T LIE follows a pattern that Kaminsky has established in all of the Lieberman novels. Lieberman and his longtime partner Bill Hanrahan are involved in multiple investigations. Although they generally work together, this particular book finds them working independently on two cases. Hanrahan’s concerns a chef who is mugged for his wallet and then shot by an unrelated assailant. Lieberman is called upon to investigate multiple murders of members of Chicago’s Turkish community. One of the deaths could have been prevented by Lieberman, a fact that pushes the detective to even greater efforts to find the killer.
 
While working the cases, the personal lives of the protagonists cannot be forgotten. For Hanrahan, a 54-year-old recovering alcoholic, it is impending fatherhood. His Chinese-American wife Iris is in labor and will soon give birth to a daughter. His two grown sons have not prepared him for what will occur. Lieberman must contend with his brother’s threat to leave their synagogue as well as the burden caused by raising two grandchildren who have come to live with he and his wife when his daughter re-married and moved to California.
 
Even with multiple storylines and complex characters, Kaminsky keeps the plot moving toward well-crafted denouements. Lieberman, through his wisdom and philosophy, dispenses more justice on the streets of Chicago than ever could be handed out in any courtroom in America. For those who loved the 87th Precinct novels, all you need to do is journey 1,100 miles west. You will find yourself in an equally compelling and endearing crime-fighting world that is not to be missed.

   --- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

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