Hot Poppies (An Artie Cohen Thriller)

If Hieronymous Bosch and Matthew Scudder are your kinds of leading men, you're gonna dig Reggie Nadelson's character Artie Cohen. Unlike Bosch, who sticks to LA, and Scudder, who makes the occasional commute from Manhattan up to Sullivan County, Cohen's beat is New York City plus the rest of the world. Nadelson has plots that make you pay attention, and an international reach that brings you the dark side of London and Hong Kong. Start agitating now for a US release of her latest, "Bloody London," in which Artie Cohen tangles with the Russian mafia. Horrorshow!

Artie Cohen is much more complex and richly drawn than the ordinary hero of a mystery series. One wants to read more about his adventures, his love-life and his neuroses -- especially his neuroses. The plot moves in unexpected but always believable ways. The descriptions of the locations inspire a desire to hop on a plane and see for one's self. I hope this series goes on as long as Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin one.

After his last case, the NYPD placed Artie Cohen on some sort of semi-retired, leave without pay status. However, the treatment by the brass cannot keep the former Russian immigrant from helping a friend even though it means leaving the warmth of the bed he is sharing with Lily Hanes. Artie goes to see a frightened Hillel Abramsky, who has found the corpse of a Chinese girl in his diamond establishment.At about the same time, Ricky Tae's family calls in the favor that he owes them for saving his life. They want their daughter to break her habitual use of irradiated heroin better known on the street as HOT POPPIES. Soon, he finds himself in danger due to his digging into the hottest business of the year, the selling of illegal immigrant girls.HOT POPPIES is a very entertaining detective story that will thrill fans of Manhattan sleuthing tales. Artie is a great character, who provides readers with much insight into his personal life (through his chats with Lily). The support cast brings the city alive, especially Chinatown. Although this is only her second novel (see RED HOT BLUES) starring Artemy Maximovich Ostalsky (Artie Cohenís birth name), Reggie Nadelson writes a phenomenal novel.Harriet Klausner