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BIG SILENCE, THE
by Stuart M. Kaminsky
Forge, November 2001
271 pages
$6.99
ISBN: 0812575199


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

It's not fair; some folks are simply too talented. Like the amazing Stephen Fry (actor, writer of brilliant non-fiction and award-winning fiction) and Lawrence Block (who created Bernie Rhodenbarr, Matt Scudder and writes knock-out short stories), the highly-underrated Alan Russell, and Margaret Maron, Stuart Kaminsky simply has too much talent for one person and I do wish he'd share. This writer, who created the Toby Peters series - the one featuring legendary actors ranging from the Marx Brothers to Humphrey Bogart - along with his newest character, Lew Fonseca, has also written the brilliant Rostnikov mysteries, set in Russia and this, the Abe Lieberman series, featuring an aging, tired, wise Jewish detective from Chicago.

The Rabbi, as he is known, along with his Irish partner Hanrahan, (of course called the Priest - no one ever said cop nicknames were original) have respect on the street, even when dealing with gangs and killers. They do cut corners when they can't use the law, but you never stop rooting for them. 

Lieberman and Hanrahan, in this book, try to resolve the kidnapping of the son of an informant, try to stop a con artist who is preying on older citizens, deal with a Korean who swears he will kill Abe, and face their ongoing personal dilemmas. Abe's wife Bess, a powerhouse at their temple, and an understanding and savvy woman, tries to support her husband at every turn, in dealing with the grandchildren they are raising, while their rude, self-absorbed and "it's all your fault" daughter finds herself, oy vey. Why the wonderful man she married puts up with her, I'm not sure, and apparently, neither is he. Hanrahan, meanwhile, is trying to decide when to marry Iris Chen, and whether he should quit the police force. He's depressed by past events, and Iris' father, as well as Liao Woo, a leader in the Chinese community who, at one time, wished to marry Iris himself, is pressuring the couple to postpone marriage for a year. 

Kaminsky is, without question, a truly wonderful writer. I never stopped wanting to know how every single case was resolved. Lieberman' rapport and Spanish speaking with gang leader El Perro - who respects the man he calls "El Viejo", is believable; everything here is believable, from the alter cockers at the deli (including honorary alter cocker Howie Chen) and the savvy and world-weary understanding of behavior that long-time cop Abe Lieberman shows. Kaminsky does not write a false note or word; he understands cops and robbers no matter where they are - Russia, Los Angeles, Florida or Chicago and portrays them with authentic voices and feelings. --

http://www.drizzle.com/~roscoe - Stu & Andi's "The Roscoe Page" http://www.drizzle.com/~roscoe/tshirts.html - Original cartoon silk-screened t-shirts - some Sherlockian, Wodehousian & others still available. Check out the new 'Roscoe Store' pages at CafePress! We now have an assortment of imprinted items with original Stu Shiffman art: http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=roscoestore - "The Game's Afoot!" Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=roscoestore2 - "Nero Woof," a Funny Animal version of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe. "Rex Trout takes notes on Nero Woof". http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=Roscoestore3 - "I Love a History Mystery!" Ancient Roman detective. http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=Roscoestore4 - "I Love a History Mystery!" Medieval mysteries.

Reviewed by Andi Shechter, December 2000

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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