CHICKENHAWK

Someone is murdering New York City’s male hustlers, and two dogged investigators are on the case.

Inspired by his days as a transit booth operator for the New York City subway system, debut author Lopez has crafted a novel about the furtive sexual dynamics between closeted gay men who are married to women and the male street prostitutes some frequent to engage their true desires. Lopez adds a twist to this unique dynamic with a coldblooded murder that opens the book with a shocking jolt. Young hustler Abe Delgado is shot in the mouth by an unknown assailant with a score to settle while they are huddled in a shadowy doorway conducting business. The killer escapes easily, but the crime, the third in a recent spate of Hispanic teenage hustler murders plaguing the city, shifts police detectives Eddie Ramos and Tommy Cucitti into high gear. The combination of their good-natured camaraderie and solid police work creates a unique and compelling pairing as they flush out suspects like a sketchy construction foreman who is bartering his site to the area’s hustlers for cash payouts. When more murder victims turn up, the pressure is on from the city government to apprehend the killer quickly, as it’s a reelection year for the mayor. A departmental shake-up complicates the “Chickenhawk” case further before bribery, interfamilial melodrama, and tense standoffs bring about a thrilling, if somewhat abrupt, conclusion. The story is distinctive for its mild dips into urban racial strife. Lopez also presents a believable portrait of a police detective’s extreme case of career burnout causing riffs with family and field partners. In addition, the author spotlights the very real circumstances of men married to women who conduct clandestine sexual relations with male prostitutes. These husbands physically and emotionally endanger their marriages in the process. Another of the novel’s highlights is its descriptive accuracy: An annoyed lieutenant looks at Ramos “as if he’d sprouted wings from his head,” and an individual’s eye wrinkles “were like the rings on a tree stump—they told on you.” While the writing is rickety in spots and a stronger edit would have tightened the suspense, the tale delivers tense scenes, raw dialogue, and the authentic, gritty urban life that thriller fans will devour.

A robust police procedural powered by a captivating detective duo.