FLESH AND BLOOD

by Thomas H. Cook ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 10, 1988

Atlanta cop Frank Clemons (Sacrificial Ground), now a truly noir New York p.i., has many burdens: the suicide of his teen-age daughter; his unsuccessful marriage; his unsuccessful living arrangement with luxe-loving Karen Devereaux. Unable to sleep, he frequents a seedy after-hours bar filled with the lost--including Farouk, a Spanish-speaking philosopher of sorts, who befriends him and helps him solve his biggest case: finding a relative to claim the body of Hannah Karlsberg, a 70-ish fashion assistant to splashy couture-designer Imalia Cavallo (who hires Frank). Tracking Hannah's past is a journey to Orchard and Hester Streets, early sweatshop days, the organizing of labor unions, and a study in turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrant mores. Frank uncovers two sisters; an ex-husband; a fiery, impassioned career as a labor activist; a funny deal with a Seventh Avenue power-broker; a stint for Hannah in Colombia; and, throughout, hints of a great betrayal--but whose? When all is said and done, Hannah's death will have nothing to do with her heritage, her passions, but much to do with another group of immigrants who process a virulently lethal Colombian seed. Three stories in one, really, with the first, the noir saga of a broken ex-cop, the best written; the second, the Jewish sewing industry and early union days, the most interesting (though somewhat predictable); and the third, a poisoned-fabric fabrication, the most ill-conceived, plunging the book into instant tripe. Still, Cook has more writing energy than most, and Farouk is riveting. A long, uneven, ultimately worthwhile read.

Pub Date: Jan. 10, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1988

Categories: FICTION