Forgotten City

October 10, 2016
Smith’s solid second Claire Codella mystery (after 2015’s Silent City) opens with the death of 56-year-old Lucy Merchant, a famous musical theater actress turned choreographer suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s. The executive director of Lucy’s ritzy residential care facility claims the Broadway legend died of natural causes, but her daughter, Julia, fears foul play and turns to Manhattan homicide detective Claire for help. Julia doesn’t have enough proof to warrant an official investigation, but Claire, who’s recovering from cancer and has spent the past few months sidelined by her lieutenant, decides to do some off-book digging in the hopes that it’ll lead to a new assignment. What follows is a thoughtfully constructed if somewhat convoluted mystery that tackles such sensitive topics as alcoholism, rape, domestic violence, and bigotry. One secondary character stands out, Lucy’s nighttime caregiver, Brandon; Smith writes with sensitivity and nuance about his experiences as a transgender man. Brandon’s story elevates the rest of the book. Agent: Kathy Green, Kathryn Green Literary Agency.

October 1, 2016
A cancer survivor fights to stay healthy while trying to keep her job as one of New Yorks best detectives. Solving the case of a murdered principal (Silent City, 2015) has made Detective Claire Codella well known at the NYPD even if shes not highly regarded by her boss, Lt. Dennis McGowan. Julia Merchant walks into the office demanding to meet with Codella because shes determined to get the best of the best to investigate a suspicious death. Julias mother, Broadway legend Lucy Merchant, has just met her untimely end at Park Manor, the convalescent home for upper crust New Yorkers. Julia, presenting video evidence that Lucys death may not have been from natural circumstances, is determined to have Codella investigate. Julia, it turns out, is the only one whos interested: Lucys husband, Thomas Merchant, appears indifferent that shes gone, but its not clear that his indifference rises to the level of suspicious. Though Codella cant get McGowans go-ahead to investigate, theres enough to justify some informal follow-up that makes her wonder whether Park Manor executive director Constance Hodges is hiding something. Codellas distracted from giving the investigation her full attention by a screening to establish whether shes still in good health or whether her cancer has returned, which may pose a bigger challenge than any case shes tackled. Readers familiar with the genre will easily be able to solve the mystery in Smiths story, but the quick-moving plot keeps it enjoyable.

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December 1, 2016

In this follow-up to Silent City, NYPD detective Claire Codella is back on the job after cancer treatment, but her supervisor at the 171st Precinct has kept her off any major cases. When Julie Merchant asks Claire to investigate her mother's death, no one at the 171st wants an inquiry. Broadway star Lucy Merchant had suffered from early-onset Alzheimer's and died at the age of 56 in a private Manhattan hospital. Claire will have to put aside her own feelings of inadequacy and dark memories of childhood abuse to ferret out the clues. By presenting a cancer survivor as a heroine, Smith offers a positive message of empowerment. Claire is not a victim of a deadly disease but a strong survivor. Smith also handles the challenges faced by a transgender character very adroitly, allowing for a sympathetic relationship to build between reader and character. VERDICT This well-crafted police procedural is recommended for admirers of Robin Burcell or Alafair Burke.

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