What do You think about Speak Of The Devil (2007)?
At once a serial-killer and political thriller as well as a portrait of a city, Speak of the Devil excited some critics while disappointing others. Richard Hawke, the pseudonym for mystery writer Tim Cockey, has penned a smart, entertaining whodunit__but how each element fit together raised some questions. Malone, a man with a troubled past and a vanished former-police-commissioner father, offers a good character study. But reviewers disagreed about how well Hawke captured the city's pulse, from the Cloisters to Central Park to the 59th Street Bridge. Too many characters, side stories, predictable relationships, and an implausible plot also detracted from a few critics' enjoyment. Nonetheless, the suspense never wanes and will keep readers turning the pages.This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.
—Bookmarks Magazine
I enjoyed this book, but thought the ending could have been done a little differently. It felt like he was rushing to get it done and I didn't really understand what happened. I reread the last couple of pages and I still had questions. It is hard-boiled and I like that kind of book as it keeps you wondering who the good guys really are. This is #1 in the Fritz Malone series. In a way it reminded me of the Spenser novels. I love Spenser and Hawk. I will read the next one if and when I can find it. Even though it moved along very quickly, it didn't make me want to stop what I was doing and finish it. That is why I am only giving it 4 our of 5 stars.
—Connie
This first novel by Richard Hawke was entertaining and compelling enough that I finished it one setting.The story revolves around the illegitimate son of a former NYC Police Chief who stumbles upon a shooting at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The shooter is killed but the actual mastermind is determined to be someone blackmailing the Mayor and the City for mucho dinero. In order to avoid a panic, the Mayor and current Police Chief enlist our hero in secretly finding the blackmailer.It was good reading although it left a lot of references to past events that made me think a lot was edited out. Or, it's setting it up for the next book.Unfortunately, Hawke fell victim to what I call a "Stephen King ending". That's where the entire story rushed to wrap up in the last 10 pages or so.
—Kathy
