The Death of the Detective

by Mark Smith

Book Overview

A madman is on the loose in the city. Alone and on the verge of psychic collapse, detective Arnold Magnuson follows clues in murder's wake--through the Chicago of society clubs and nightclubs and the city of small-time hoods and big-time Mafia, the slums smelling of machine oil and riverside tanneries and pristine lakeside villages--through subtle interrogations, split-second lies, and improvised stories, moving ever closer to a culprit who begins...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810123878
• ISBN13: 9780810123878
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Northwestern University Press
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A True Masterpiece

An incredible book never to be forgotten. Keep it, the reader will want to read it again. For those familiar with Chicago this book is especially interesting. The author has an incredible ability to describe events, ordinary or extraordinary, in such a way as to cause the reader to feel, see and hear the event with astonishing clarity. The characters come alive, the reader soon knows and clearly pictures them. And, the story is great and the plot is about perfect. I have read thousands of books I suppose but never one better.

Chicago Nightmare

This great book is the best of any type ever written about Chicago. How one man knew so much about what went on there is amazing. Many great characters that stay with you long after you've finished the book. Great writing of a tale of revenge, albiet by a madman. Many unforgettable scenes. By the end you are as exhausted as Johnny Helenowski. I read it every 2 years and it still amazes me. I would be great to see this masterpeice back in print. 2009, it is back in print!!! No reason not to read this tremendous book.

Ross MacDonald meets (the american) John Gardner

I read this work about twenty years ago (maybe more). It has never left my mind. I remember after reading this dark quest novel actually going to the University of New Hampshire to meet Mark Smith, finding my way to the room with his name on the door. Unfortunately, He was not there at the time so I never met him. But - I did talk to him on the phone not too long ago to say that there are those out there that appreciate this overlooked masterpiece. What can I say - an amazing, unforgetable read!

Perhaps the finest detective novel ever written.

This brilliant book was apparently missed by the majority of english speaking readers. It is a masterpiece of the genre and provides many firsts including the concept of "profiling". The quality of the character development and the descriptive prose are amazing and I find it hard to believe that this book did not receive several awards. I read it for the first time 15 years ago and think of passages from it to this day. Few books have had this impact on me. For those who are able to find what is now apparently a rare book, I recommend it highly.

This is a psychological masterpiece.

I am simply shocked that this novel, which is perhaps the best piece of American fiction I have ever read, is out of stock. It draws a far more realistic and detailed portrait of the "hard boiled detective" that so many other writers have simply slapped together, then lets us watch, with first fascination, then horror, as he slowly unravels. Even the minor characters are better drawn then they would be in a trilogy all their own, and the entire work shimmers with energy and power. This is a book that demands republishing.