rousina's review
5.0
Read this whole book in a day. Accidentally read it without realizing McCauley had other related books that came before this one. I grew attached to the protagonist immediately and love following his journey through the book. Definitely want to read more from him.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
It's 1933 and Charlie Doherty has been kicked off the police force and works as a private detective supported by a very wealthy Mr Van Dorn. When he is paid to investigate the death of a Mr Fairfax, presumed a suicide, he has no idea how big the problem will become.
An entertaining and interesting mystery which moves toward becoming an espionage thriller.
A NetGalley Book
An entertaining and interesting mystery which moves toward becoming an espionage thriller.
A NetGalley Book
3no7's review against another edition
5.0
“The Fairfax Incident” by Terrence McCauley is a classic “gumshoe” mystery set in New York City in 1933. The story is a first-person narrative by Charles “Charlie” Doherty, a detective “making a damned fine living making my wealthy clients feel like I genuinely care about their ivory-tower troubles.” The plot flows effortlessly, and the details slowly come into focus in an easy natural way as part of the conversations that Charlie is having with the reader.
Charlie has a somewhat checkered past handling the occasional dirty job as “Chief Carmichael’s Black Hand.” He is called to the Fairfax mansion to meet with Mrs. Eleanor Blythe Fairfax. Her husband killed himself, and she really wants to know was why. Charlie is sure that throwing enough money at the problem could do the trick.
The story has the classic noir feel: the city, the rain, the cynical PI, the money, the big question. New York is a character just as much as are the people, and little details highlight all the trappings of society and politics. There are blown fuses, elevators, influential gossip columns, private clubs, and coat checks, all the ins and outs of the time. It was New York in 1933, and Charlie knows it well.
“But there’s really no such thing as a nice, quiet walk in Manhattan. Trucks were always backfiring. The sound of pneumatic hammers pounding away at concrete or asphalt was never too far away. Car horns honked and people cursed. Throw in the flutter of pigeon wings for good measure and that was as tranquil as New York City got. It’s a whole lot of different sounds all mixed together in one big urban symphony, but it’s usually the same sounds heard over and over. That’s why when you heard something new, you knew it.”
Charlie has a classic PI sense of humor; “I’m afraid my trench coat is at the cleaner’s.” There are figurative clichés that set the stage as well. For example, the traffic was as packed as a cross-town trolley at rush hour; the man was crooked as a dog’s hind leg, and the exasperated, “Who the hell’s going to shoot me out here? A cow?” Oh, and do not forget McCauley’s shout-out for his cigar stores.
I received a copy of “The Fairfax Incident” from Terrence McCauley and Polis Books. I do not read a lot of “noir” but I loved this one, and I highly recommend it. It is easy to read and very entertaining. It had a compelling mystery and a murder without all the blood and gore and mess. However, be careful, you might just laugh right out loud as you read.
Charlie has a somewhat checkered past handling the occasional dirty job as “Chief Carmichael’s Black Hand.” He is called to the Fairfax mansion to meet with Mrs. Eleanor Blythe Fairfax. Her husband killed himself, and she really wants to know was why. Charlie is sure that throwing enough money at the problem could do the trick.
The story has the classic noir feel: the city, the rain, the cynical PI, the money, the big question. New York is a character just as much as are the people, and little details highlight all the trappings of society and politics. There are blown fuses, elevators, influential gossip columns, private clubs, and coat checks, all the ins and outs of the time. It was New York in 1933, and Charlie knows it well.
“But there’s really no such thing as a nice, quiet walk in Manhattan. Trucks were always backfiring. The sound of pneumatic hammers pounding away at concrete or asphalt was never too far away. Car horns honked and people cursed. Throw in the flutter of pigeon wings for good measure and that was as tranquil as New York City got. It’s a whole lot of different sounds all mixed together in one big urban symphony, but it’s usually the same sounds heard over and over. That’s why when you heard something new, you knew it.”
Charlie has a classic PI sense of humor; “I’m afraid my trench coat is at the cleaner’s.” There are figurative clichés that set the stage as well. For example, the traffic was as packed as a cross-town trolley at rush hour; the man was crooked as a dog’s hind leg, and the exasperated, “Who the hell’s going to shoot me out here? A cow?” Oh, and do not forget McCauley’s shout-out for his cigar stores.
I received a copy of “The Fairfax Incident” from Terrence McCauley and Polis Books. I do not read a lot of “noir” but I loved this one, and I highly recommend it. It is easy to read and very entertaining. It had a compelling mystery and a murder without all the blood and gore and mess. However, be careful, you might just laugh right out loud as you read.
vkemp's review
4.0
Charlie Doherty is no choirboy. He was a bagman for Tammany Hall and the police commissioner in New York. But he was also one of the Devil Dogs of Belleau Wood, once a Marine, always a Marine. But after he took the fall as a scapegoat for reform in the police ranks, he is hired by Charles Van Dorn to be a private detective, taking care of Mr. Van Dorn's wealthy friends who need the services of a discrete investigator. Charlie is hired to figure out why Walter Fairfax committed suicide. His widow is convinced it was murder, but the facts do not bear this out. As the investigation proceeds, dark secrets come to light. Walter Fairfax had secrets, including his German mistress who was working to bring Fascism to this country. Turns out, Mr. Van Dorn wanted Charlie to investigate not just the death of Walter Fairfax, but also his entanglements with the rise of Nazism in Germany. Great plotting and Charlie is definitely a character to watch. I will be reading any further adventures.
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