Description

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In post–WWII Chicago, a crime reporter sets out to prove his cousin innocent of murder in this historical noir by the author of the Nero Wolfe mysteries.

Chicago, 1946. World War II may be over, but murder continues apace in the Windy City. This time, it hits close to home for Chicago Tribune police reporter Snap Malek. Someone has killed his cousin’s British war bride in the Bohemian neighborhood of Pilsen. As the prime suspect, the meek young man is jailed. And Malek, convinced of his innocence, begins a dogged hunt for the murderer.

Entering the shadowy world of Pilsen’s blue-collar saloons, Snap encounters hard-bitten factory workers, a tragic war widow, and a former professional prizefighter—all “bar friends” of the murdered woman. The twisting case leads him to the city’s best defense attorney, legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and a bare-knuckle slugfest. And while a horrifying train wreck in Naperville draws his attention, Snap is determined to pursue his cousin’s case no matter where it takes him.

About the Author

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Robert Goldsborough (b. 1937) is an American author best known for continuing Rex Stout’s famous Nero Wolfe series. Born in Chicago, he attended Northwestern University and upon graduation went to work for the Associated Press, beginning a lifelong career in journalism that would include long periods at the Chicago Tribune and Advertising Age.

While at the Tribune, Goldsborough began writing mysteries in the voice of Rex Stout, the creator of iconic sleuths Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Goldsborough’s first novel starring Wolfe, Murder in E Minor (1986), was met with acclaim from both critics and devoted fans, winning a Nero Award from the Wolfe Pack. Nine more Wolfe mysteries followed, including Death on Deadline (1987) and Fade to Black (1990). The Battered Badge (2018) is his most recent novel.