It's been a week since I finished this book, and it's still in my mind every day. One of the best books I have ever read, period. I was mouthing aloud the Irish street dialogue as I was reading to savor it. So authentic. No one can accuse Hamill of shallow characters either; Gina Furey is only the most unforgettable character I have ever come across in fiction.

But this novel isn't merely a character study - it's also a tragedy, a love story, and bits of lough-out-loud hilarity.

The one warning, however, is that if you're offended by foul language, it'd be a good idea to stay away. I'm not offended by it at all, and believe it necessary in fact, as these characters would surely speak like this if it were reality.

The highest praise I can give this book is that I'm now reading it again, more slowly and carefully this time. That's something I've never done with any book.

I read this book on a flight to Hawaii. Much as I wanted to sleep, i couldn't put it down. I felt like I was watching a very good mystery/love story. The suspence kept me turning the pages. This author has mastered the Irish manner and voice. I instantly got attached to all the characters. The family of travelers was as bizarre as any Felini cast. So many emotions were explored throughout the chapters. The juxtaposition of Ireland and New York was fascinating. There was never a dull moment.

I recently spent a weekend reading this book. I made time for eating and sleeping, but not much else.

I haven't read something in a while that so satisfied all of the reasons I like to read: I read to laugh and this book has some amazing one-two punches that had me laughing uproariously. I also read to find heart and this book is full of heart, these characters are complicated, made up of all the broken pieces that drain us and all the warm qualities that make us human. I read to find the truth, or someone's own version of it, and this book is very true to its characters. These characters are three dimensional and more, so complicated that you're never sure which direction they're going to take.

This story buoyed me up yet broke my heart at the same time. Denis Hamill has written a fine book, let's hope the movie people don't screw it up. It'll be damn near impossible to put Gina Furey on the screen, but I wish them a lot of luck as she is an incredible character.

New York fireman Kevin Dempsey has arranged a perfect life for himself, his former-model wife Polly and their 3 year old daughter Zoe. He loves his job, has bought a new house for Polly and Zoe, and wants to have many more children. But Polly and Zoe don't come home from a trip to DisneyWorld, and Kevin's perfectly planned life falls apart.

And there the mystery begins. As more characters are added to the mix, the story becomes more complicated. Why did his alcoholic policeman father kill himself? Why is his brother Frank (also an alcoholic policeman) being pursued by the Internal Affairs Bureau? Why is his brother Kevin so angry? And how could anyone with such a troubled family possibly be as supportive and loving as his sister Margie? How can someone as emotionally damaged as Kevin recover from all the cruel blows being delivered to him?

The pace never slackens in this tense melodrama, and you'll be turning pages until the end.

I read "Fork in the Road" also by Denis Hamill and was equally engaged with that book.

Even though I was born in 1964 this book made me feel, smell and taste the 60's. The main character's name is Danny Cassidy, which I kept reading as David Cassidy. Danny is now a journalist in his 50's haunted by the murder of a cop in 1969. Danny fears he may have committed this crime, however he was so strung out on drugs, he doesn't remember much of anything about the night of the murder. Basically he returns to his hometown of Brooklyn to find out the truth. The book is a real pageturner and an engrosing mystery, however some of the relationships between the male and female characters made no sense to me. For example even though Danny is aging, not in great shape and only semisuccesful, practically every female in the book seems to want nothing more than to hop into bed with him. No matter how young, attractive and successful the women were, Danny inexplicably seemed to be the man of their dreams. His relationship with his old girlfriend Erika is somewhat understandable as they were teenage sweethearts, however I don't think most of my fellow females would find Danny worth lusting after. (Myself not included-as I love all things from this era). Also the constant use of the word, "cherry," in reference to virginity became quite annoying.
All in all this book is a good mystery that most readers interested in the 60's and 70's will enjoy.

This is just a silly book with cartoon characters in a cartoon city. The hero is otherwordly angelic and unrealistic , refusing his ex-wife's advances while blowing away the bad guys without a secind thought. No character in the book has a personality or demeanor that rings true. I picked the hardcover up at the bargain table for [cost]. It turned out the price was too high.

Boooring;The only interesting character is Izzy the sleaze,the only feature in the book that rings true.Readers get sick and tired with Bobby goody two shoes Emmet,his little angel of a daughter,and his moral dilemas.Wake up and smell the coffee Emmet boy,this is New York,where anything goes,everybody is corrupted,as the author aptly highlights.If i wanted another savior,I WOULD LOOK FOR HIM IN MY HOMETOWN.So Mr.Hammil,stick to your guns,keep painting New York as it is,and for Chrissake,add a touch of evil to Bobby Emmet,he will be more believable.At this point he is plain boring.

Those who have grown up in Brooklyn would really appreciate this book, and the previous book, 3 Quarters. The author knows Brooklyn, politicians, and cops very, very well.

This book has a good idea at the core of it, but the characters are shallowly drawn and the writing is incredibly amateurish. In the hands of another writer and/or editor, this could have been a pretty good thriller. As it is, it is disappointing all round.

There are so many bad cops in this novel that you begin to wonder if the entire NYPD is corrupt. The book opens with a grizzly scene when Dr. Hector Perez awakens to find himself next to a dead prostitute clutching three 1991 quarters. He quickly eradicates any evidence of his presence and goes back home to his pregnant wife.

Next, we visit Bobby Emmett in the Wallkill State Correction Facility. Bobby is an ex-cop who was imprisoned for the murder of his girl friend, Dorothea; however a body was never found, and Bobby was obviously framed. Prison is not a good place for an ex-cop, and he is taunted, threatened and assaulted with constant banging on the steel bars. Bobby is visited by a sleazy lawyer, Izzy Gleason, who is just getting off a one-year bar association ethics committee suspension, and wants to restore his reputation by re-trying Bobby's case.

When Bobby starts to investigate his case, he finds that evidence was suppressed and there was a conspiracy among police and lawyers who are involved in a big-time scam to approve three-quarter pensions for corrupt cops. He is convinced that Dorothea is still alive, and his efforts to locate her and uncover the scam place him in constant peril.

The dialogue is gritty and vulgar, and the level of violence and corruption is frightening. The line between the good guys and the bad guys is blurred, and lives are cheap and quickly extinguished if they interfere with the ambitions of the corrupt cops. The plot is riveting, and the tension of not knowing who Bobby's real allies are keeps you turning pages rapidly.

From the gruesome opening to the final chapter, I was shocked at the possibility that this corrupt police force could ever actually exist... my cop friend said "reality sucks, eh?" Oh my, the things that do go on! This is not a read for the "faint-at-heart"! However, I read it in one sitting as I couldn't stand not knowing who was behind all the corruption.