A NEW YORK TIMES "NOTABLE" MYSTERY NOVEL OF THE YEAR!

Here is the book that launched journalist turned crime novelist, Jerry Oster's, meteoric literary career and introduced his most unforgettable character, the sad-sack detective, Jake Neuman.

When Neuman and his partner, Bobby Redfield, are assigned the murder of a small-time crook to take media pressure off the mayor, it looks a piece of cake for the precinct's two top homicide men. But soon their path through the underworld leads to the upper crusts of the arts and Big Apple society. As bodies pile up around them and clues lead no where, the pair realize that they are being opposed from inside their department and that the only two people they can trust are themselves. If they are right, the killer may be one of their own colleagues!

The New York Times calls Jerry Oster's detective novels, "Superb work ... realistic ... the characters fleshed out with conviction ... brilliant."

Women's Wear Daily hails them as "Urbane, witty updates on the 'hard-boiled' detective novel."