Speak of the Devil: A Novel of Suspense

Fritz Malone is now one of my favorite private detectives! Richard Hawke's debut novel is amazing. He writes with the poise of a seasoned author. As a matter of fact, Hawke's style reminded me of Nelson DeMille - with a glib John Corey-like character. Snappy dialogue that puts you in the action. Keep Fritz Malone in business! A real find!

You expect murder, decadence, violence, mayhem, mystery and taut suspense -- it's genre fiction, right? But the voice of this author is unusually intelligent, gritty, observant, astute, sometimes hilarious and always likeable and right on target. This guy knows exactly what he's doing and he's doing it better than anyone else in the category. If you're considering buying this book for your own enjoyment or for a friend, go right ahead -- you will have a great time. We want more from Richard Hawke. And Fritz Malone is a terrific protagonist -- a lot more human, far more believable and much more multi-dimensional and compelling than Spenser or any of the other usual good guys. Malone is a great guy!

Are you tired of reading heavily hyped thrillers that promise much but in the end, fail to deliver? It seems that every year major publishers release a number of thrillers that are heavily promoted, have an eye-catching cover, are backed by a "significant" marketing budget, include blurbs from famous authors, and have tons of buzz. Unfortunately, most of them fail due to bad writing, bad plotting, bad characterization, or bad dialogue. In fact, I recently read one that failed on all four counts! Richard Hawke's "Speak of the Devil" is like a breath of fresh air. It has it all: great writing, a clever plot, interesting three-dimensional characters, and great dialogue. Best of all, it also has a wonderful sense of humor, something most thrillers today sorely lack. The writing is taught and the story races along to a surprising - and yet perfectly in keeping with the story - ending you won't see coming. The characters are all well drawn and interesting, especially Fritz Malone, the novel's protagonist. He's both a guy you'd want to hang out with and the man you'd want to hire if you were ever in need of a private investigator. If you're a fan of Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais, Dennis Lehane, or Robert B. Parker, you'll love Richard Hawke's "Speak of the Devil."

Move over guys, there's a new thriller writer on the block, and he's very, very good. "If she had known she would be dead in another five minutes maybe she wouldn't have swatted her son so hard...." How's that for an opening line grabber? That's what Hawke does, he pulls you in from the first sentence, and doesn't let go until he's good and ready. Everyone loves a parade, especially the crazy shooter at New York City's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. Why shouldn't he love it, it's just like a shooting gallery, as Hawke notes. The maniac can pop off Mother Goose on her float, shoot a young girl marching with her band, drop a kid in a Macy's T-shirt, and do in a harried mother who has just reprimanded her son. All this until there's blood and carnage all over the place. Fritz Malone, a private investigator, is the first to spot trouble. He catches sight of a shiny black Beretta across the street. He can see clearly through a gap in the crowd - the shooter wears a green windbreaker, and Fritz sees him pull the gun from his belt. Unfortunately, Fritz's gun is at home. So, he quickly grabs the service revolver of a dead policeman and takes off after the killer. Not a very good idea. Before he knows it, police who haven't been far behind are manhandling Fritz and carting him off to the Commissioner's office. Once there he learns that someone calling himself "Nightmare" has been threatening an attack on innocent people, and now it has happened - a parade of terror it's called. However, according to "Nightmare" that's only the beginning - there's much worse to come unless demands are met. Officials feel they need an outsider to track this nutcase and Fritz is nominated for the job. Now, the race is on, and it's a race to the finish. Stage, screen and television actor Paul Michael gives a high voltage reading to this tale of mayhem in Manhattan. He sustains suspense with an intense yet highly listenable narrative voice that perfectly captures the chaos and the chase. - Gail Cooke

Richard Hawke's first Fritz Malone novel is an outstanding debut. If you're looking for a detective with a heart of gold, the smart-mouthed, witty type such as Archie Goodwin or Spenser, you'll love Fritz. Fritz casually stops to watch the Thanksgiving Parade in Manhattan, but nothing else about his day is casual. When he tries to stop a sniper from shooting at a float, he witnesses a mass killing, chases and shoots the gunman, and then he's whisked away to keep his story under wraps. Because of his connections, Fritz is included in the police department and Mayoral cover-up, but he's suspicious that blackmail threats, bombs and dirty cops are somehow linked. The police department may use Fritz to run all over Manhattan, but he maintains his autonomy. No self-respecting detective would allow the police and the Mayor to run his business. This is a fast-paced, suspenseful debut. Fritz Malone and his associates (a marvelous girlfriend, Margo; her father, a former detective) are wonderful additions to the detective world. I'm already waiting for the next Fritz Malone novel.