Michael I. Leahey's Broken Machines is a skillful and entertaining New York crime novel, that grabbed me right at its poignant tragic prologue, and held on through its righteously satisfying epilogue. Peopled by some truly scurrilous and vulgar New Yorkers, and their honorable and stalwart counterparts, this book delivers the goods.

The street savvy, literate, tough but tender hero J.J. Donovan, who knows his Veuve Cliquot, and appreciates a good vodka-soaked Spanish olive as much as the next guy, is our guide through Upper Manhattan, and the brutal streets of East New York Brooklyn. Along with Donovan for the ride is his partner, friend and next-door neighbor Dr. Boris Koulomzin, a brilliant, drolly eccentric bear of a man who rarely ventures outdoors before the sun sets. These two are consultants, who offer their services to people "who think they've run out of options". People whose "problems the legal system has either created, made worse, or is incapable of addressing". In Boris and J.J. Leahey gives us a two great characters who could in time, equal Nero Wolfe and Archie, or Travis McGee and Meyer. I look forward to following their further adventures.

In this first one, the story of Donovan's quest for a killer, and his uncovering of the scamming of the manufacturing plant where he goes to work undercover, we're treated to a tightly constructed mystery. This is Michael Leahey's first novel, and he fills the pages with dozens of truly engaging characters in one great New York scene after another. One of my favorites happens on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and it reveals where Mr. Leahey's local baseball allegiances lie. There are some truly funny scenes, and some of real tension and high human drama. A good hard-hitting, wise, funny and satisfying story this is.

I'm ready to read the next J.J Donovan tale, and hope there are many more to come.

I found this book to be really good. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. It really keeps you guessing until the end.
I really like this book because it has a good description of New York. It makes you wonder if this author is really from Brooklyn because he talks about some of the streets in Brooklyn!

As a mystery writer with my debut novel in its initial release, I was pleasantly impressed by Michael I. Leahey's BROKEN MACHINES. Mr. Leahey's first mystery deals with serious themes such as drug addiction, urban prostitution, and immigrant sweatshops. The novel also introduces a fresh team of sleuths--J.J. Donovan and Dr. Boris Koulomzin. Think of an Archie Goodwin/Nero Wolfe pairing for the contemporary world. The plot involves a social worker who brings the plight of Clifford Brice to Donovan's attention. Clifford is a boy whose mother was murdered while hooking in Brooklyn. Another murder follows, as does an attempt on the boy's life. Leahey's world is a gritty one, but he has a pair of humane and winning sleuths. Fine debut. I recommend it.

Thought I'd try a new author of medical thrillers. Was I ever disappointed. First off, this author seems to know next to
nothing about the reality of hospitals and the role of nurses.
A DOCTOR administering a Demerol shot in a hospital???? PLEASE. Where does this guy get his inaccurate information? Also, a nurse would NEVER leave pills with a patient -- it is his/her job to administer them personally so that it can be documented on the chart -- a legal record.
I hate it when authors get small facts wrong, tells me they are lazy and makes the book totally flop for me.
As for the plot.....well, there's another problem.
Don't waste your money on this one.

My, my but the Publishers Weekly reviewers are cranky lately--commenting on promotional material over which authors rarely, if ever, have any control; and entirely missing the point of this book. This is entertainment; as in Broken Machines, JJ and Boris and their various henchmen, including the ever stalwart Manny are in fine form. Boris is somewhat crankier than usual, due to some nasty injuries; the phobic, funny, ever-romantic JJ still loves the winsome Kate. Killings abound; there's a bad guy in town. The underlying motive behind those killings is well-conceived and timely. There's a breathtaking climax on the Queensborough Bridge. What's not to like? And any writer who can give a dog character has a lot going for him.

Ignore the cranky trade reviewers and get this book. It moves like lightning; it's humorous, populated with a great cast, and doesn't have a mean bone in its body--which is more than can be said for some of the people out there being paid to write reviews about books, not about the promotional packages they come in.
Highly recommended.

Welcome back to JJ and Boris! There aren't nearly enough charming "windmill tilters" in the world these days, and JJ is just what the doctor ordered. Starting in the magnificent temple of baseball, Yankee Stadium, as Boris is inadvertantly drawn into the mystery, right up to the thrilling scene atop the Queensborough Bridge, this story is a pulse-pounding ride through New York. Along with our heroes JJ and Boris, we get to reunite with Manny Santos, Kate Byrne, and the other great characters from Broken Machines. But in The Pale Green Horse, there are some great additions to the cast: NYPD's solid and dependable Lt.Gavin, genial saloon keeper Peter Walsh, the toothpick spitting Det.Sweeney, a cop you'd like to see get smacked around, and of course the horrifyingly evil and psychotically inspired villain, Johnny St. John.
When I finally got around to reading Michael I. Leahey's second JJ Donovan tale, The Pale Green Horse, I was sorry I waited so long to treat myself. Those of us who love to discover a great series of exciting mystery/detective novels with a truly engaging hero are in luck. Hopefully, Mr. Leahey will continue to delight us. The only drawback of course is that there are only two available so far. When I first stumbled onto John D.McDonald's series of Travis McGee stories, he'd already written all but the last three. So now alas, I must patiently await Boris and JJ's next adventure along with everyone else. Write 'em faster dammit!