Mystery/Thriller -- 2 stars
Sister Mary Philomena turns to detective Hank Purcell when she sees something she wish she hadn't after mass one Sunday. Just days later, Sister Philomena is found murdered in the convent basement. Oh, and Detective Purcell's teen-aged daughter is also missing. With very few leads and lots of people who don't want to talk to the police, Hank and his longtime partner, Marvin Bondarowicz, work both cases as a blizzard centers itself over 1950 Chicago. ----- The story is interesting if a tad pedestrian. What may have helped is if the two detectives had anything to recommend them, but unfortunately, these are two of the most unlikable "heroes" to ever appear on the written page. On-duty drinking, barely contained rage, and a history that seems to have involved the death of one suspect without benefit of trial or jury are part and parcel to two men who are as unpleasant with each other as they are with the people unfortunate enough to become the focus of their interest. The story moves forward logically if slowly, arriving finally at a surprise ending that cannot make up for 322 pages of ick.
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