Michael Harvey’s crime novels are set in Chicago, a city with a reputation for dirty politics and strong, determined people. And, his private investigator, Michael Kelly, embodies all the strength and a determination to clean up some of the dirt. Kelly takes on an unusual case in the latest in the series, The Governor’s Wife.
It’s not every day a PI is hired via email by an anonymous client offering a retainer of $100,000 with another $100,000 forthcoming. And, all Michael Kelly has to do is find Raymond Perry, the ex-governor of Illinois. Perry disappeared two years earlier, on the day he was sentenced to 37 years for corruption, with a minimum of 30 years before parole. Courthouse cameras showed him getting on the elevator. No camera ever showed him getting off, although his wife, Marie, was waiting in the parking garage. Now, someone wants Michael Kelly to find the missing man, although he’s been #1 on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list for a year and a half.
Kelly is convinced the truth lies with Marie Perry, and he sets out to patiently follow clues and secrets, although his search quickly catches the attention of the wrong people. There are complex characters with hidden agendas, and time after time Kelly finds himself examining Marie, her actions, and her motives. But someone wants to shut him down, and menacing threats quickly turn to violence.
The Governor’s Wife is a gripping, intense story. As in previous books, Harvey’s PI exposes corruption and uncovers killers. These are gritty, spare crime novels. But, each one, including this one, ends with just a glimmer of hope.
Michael Harvey’s website is www.michaelharveybooks.com
The Governor’s Wife by Michael Harvey. Alfred A. Knopf. 2015. ISBN 9780307958648 (hardcover), 238p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
This sounds like a terrific book, Lesa. I'm getting ready for a vacation early next month and compiling a stack of books to take with me. This one is a strong possibility.
Brenda
Great, Brenda! And, if you can put your hands on the first in Michael Harvey's series, The Chicago Way, that would be terrific, too. You don't need to start with the first in the series, though, just whichever one you can get.
I will look for the first one – I like reading a series in order, if possible.
I do, too, Brenda.