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Lydia Chin & Bill Smith #15
The Mayors of New York
The new crime novel from the award-winning S. J. Rozan, where private investigators Lydia Chin and Bill Smith find themselves thrust into the mystery behind the disappearance of the teenage son of the mayor of New York.
In January, New York City inaugurates its first female mayor. In April, her son disappears.
Called in by the mayor's chief aide—a former girlfriend of private investigator Bill Smith’s—to find the missing fifteen-year-old, Bill and his partner, Lydia Chin, are told the boy has run away. Neither the press nor the NYPD know that he’s missing, and the mayor wants him back before a headstrong child turns into a political catastrophe. But as Bill and Lydia investigate, they turn up more questions than answers.
Why did the boy leave? Who else is searching for him, and why? What is his twin sister hiding?
Then a teen is found dead and another is hit by gunfire. Are these tragedies related to each other, and to the mayor's missing son?
In a desperate attempt to find the answer to the boy's disappearance before it's too late, Bill and Lydia turn to the only contacts they think will be able to help: the neighborhood crime bosses who are the real ‘mayors’ of New York.
In January, New York City inaugurates its first female mayor. In April, her son disappears.
Called in by the mayor's chief aide—a former girlfriend of private investigator Bill Smith’s—to find the missing fifteen-year-old, Bill and his partner, Lydia Chin, are told the boy has run away. Neither the press nor the NYPD know that he’s missing, and the mayor wants him back before a headstrong child turns into a political catastrophe. But as Bill and Lydia investigate, they turn up more questions than answers.
Why did the boy leave? Who else is searching for him, and why? What is his twin sister hiding?
Then a teen is found dead and another is hit by gunfire. Are these tragedies related to each other, and to the mayor's missing son?
In a desperate attempt to find the answer to the boy's disappearance before it's too late, Bill and Lydia turn to the only contacts they think will be able to help: the neighborhood crime bosses who are the real ‘mayors’ of New York.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2023
About the author
S.J. Rozan
129 books367 followersSJ Rozan, a native New Yorker, is the author of the Bill Smith and Lydia Chin detective series as well as several stand-alone novels. She has won the the Edgar, Nero, Macavity, Shamus and Anthony awards for Best Novel and the Edgar award for Best Short Story. She is a former Mystery Writers of America National Board member, a current Sisters in Crime National Board member, and President of the Private Eye Writers of America. In January 2003 she was an invited speaker at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In February 2005 she will be Guest of Honor at the Left Coast Crime convention in El Paso, Texas. A former architect in a practice that focussed on police stations, firehouses, and zoos, SJ Rozan was born and raised in the Bronx. She currently lives in Greenwich Village, New York. (from the author's website)"
S.J. Rozan has a B.A. from Oberlin College and M.Arch from SUNY/Buffalo
S.J. Rozan has a B.A. from Oberlin College and M.Arch from SUNY/Buffalo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 7, 2023
Non-stop action, mental and physical
Rozan is a master wordsmith. She designs a scene and, right there, before your eyes, she builds it. Ready for the next one now.
Rozan is a master wordsmith. She designs a scene and, right there, before your eyes, she builds it. Ready for the next one now.
December 28, 2023
I like the detectives - Bill Smith & Lydia Chin.
Interesting story.
I enjoyed reading this mystery!
Please read other reviews for more information.
Interesting story.
I enjoyed reading this mystery!
Please read other reviews for more information.
December 24, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. It was a fast moving story!
Bill Smith and Lydia Chin are 2 private eyes who have been hired to find the Mayor’s missing son. Lydia has als been hired to look into the death of a young Chinese girl. The author shows us other “mayors” who control different parts of the cities.
Liked the character developments in the book. Even though I predicted what the ending would be, it was a fun ride getting there
I will now look up previous books by this author because I enjoyed the detectives’ characters
Bill Smith and Lydia Chin are 2 private eyes who have been hired to find the Mayor’s missing son. Lydia has als been hired to look into the death of a young Chinese girl. The author shows us other “mayors” who control different parts of the cities.
Liked the character developments in the book. Even though I predicted what the ending would be, it was a fun ride getting there
I will now look up previous books by this author because I enjoyed the detectives’ characters
January 11, 2024
S. J. Rozan does it again. Another excellent entry in the Bill Smith/Lydia Chin mystery series, this one from Bill's perspective. A great read, I was absorbed from start to finish. Good mystery, although the denouement was not really a surprise for me. I'd figured out the bad guys earlier on. Love Rozan's writing style and characters. Can't wait for the next book!
December 28, 2023
Fast paced. Fascinating. Great characters. Great plot. When S.J. Rozan writes a book, I know it will be one of my best reads of the year and this one was no exception.
January 17, 2024
I enjoy this series and liked this one too but I found myself far ahead of Bill and Lydia in figuring out what was going on.
January 12, 2024
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK ABOUT?
New York's first female mayor has a problem. A few months after taking office, her fifteen-year-old son has run away. It's not the first time, but it's the first time since she's been elected. She's in the middle of high-stakes negotiations with a police union, so Mayor McCann doesn't feel like she can turn to them without taking some PR hits/weakening in the negotiations.
So, she has her aide hire Bill Smith (who brings along Lydia, of course). It's not easy tracking down one of the most recognizable teens in the city without letting anyone know you're doing that—and it almost seems like the "without letting anyone know" part might overrule the "finding the teen" part of the job.
Now, Lydia's trying to decide if she takes on a case of her own at the same time. Readers know long before they do that these cases will end up intertwined—otherwise, why would Rozan bring it up? And once Bill and Lydia cotton on to that, a hunt for a runaway takes on a whole new layer. Possibly several layers.
THE CHARACTERS
Nah, I'm not going to talk about Bill and Lydia today—I honestly don't know if I have anything else to say about them outside how they're probably my favorite partnership in Crime Fiction (Robin/Cormoran—learn from these two. They trust each other and communicate frankly. Your lives will be the better for it, and the books will be shorter, too. Everyone wins.).
I want to talk about Mark McCann a little bit. At first, he's just the target. He's little more than a MacGuffin to get the plot moving. Then we start to learn a little about him and he becomes an actual character—one I want to learn more about. Then we get to meet him, and I like him a lot. And then Mark goes ahead and does some clever and stupid (read: dangerous) things and I want to see more of him.
The wanting to see more of him goes for everyone who's alive and not under indictment of some sort at the end of the book—the McCann's household staff, the people who help Mark along the way (and then help Bill and Lydia), and so on. I know it's not really Rozan's style, but if we could run across them in future books for a chapter or so just to spend more time with them, I'd really enjoy that. These all have a little more life to them than your typical witnesses, bystanders, and so on in PI Fiction. I particularly appreciated the way they all want some sort of Mayoral favor shown to their neighborhoods/communities and the way that Lydia takes notes to pass them along. A very nice—and real—note.
I feel like I should spend a few paragraphs on the most interesting character in this novel—Aubrey "Bree" Hamilton, the mayor's aide who hires Bill to look for Mark. She and Bill dated years ago, and it's clear from Bill's First-Person Narration that the chip on his shoulder regarding this particular cheating %#&@ has is still pretty deep, no matter what degree of happiness he's found elsewhere. It's not just the way she cheated on him—Bill has no sympathy for her former PR clients (lawyers, largely) or the politicians she now works for, assuming everything they do or say is calculated for their benefit. He trusts Bree less than her bosses—and we see that throughout—but something about a 15-year-old boy who keeps running away from home speaks to Bill, so he has to investigate.
I got off target there, but I thought I'd explain Bill taking the case when he can't stand anyone involved. Bree is a perfectly designed character—the reader can see how she's good at her job, calculating, smart, and generally three steps ahead of anyone (aside from our protagonists occasionally). It's impossible to tell how much she believes a lot of what she says, or if she's saying it out of duty. And then there's what she says to yank Bill's chain a little bit. Bill (and therefore his narration) is so jaded against her that it's hard for us to know how much of our negative reaction to her is justified and how much it is seeing her through Bill's eyes. A great move by Rozan.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK?
The pace is fast without being breakneck. The dialogue is sharp and witty. Bill's narration has never been more hard-boiled (his contempt for the client/client's intermediary helps). The characters jump off the page. It's what you want in a PI novel.
Early on, I had inklings about what was behind everything (and I'm pretty sure Rozan intended readers to). As the plot moved forward and we received more and more confirmation about those inklings, it made me uncomfortable and a little queasy. Why couldn't I have been wrong? Why couldn't these have been red herrings? Thanks to some skillful storytelling you don't get bogged down in the wrongness of everything that's afoot—it's there and it colors everything, but your focus becomes on the characters dealing with it all, the reveals to other characters and the nail-biting way this story is resolved.
Yes, I think Rozan could've just as easily and skillfully let the characters and readers wallow in the muck of the crimes behind everything—but it would've changed the tenor of the book so much that the early chapters would feel out of place, and we probably wouldn't have found some resolution that's as satisfying.
Also, just because some things weren't red herrings, don't think that Rozan doesn't toss enough of them at the reader to keep you wondering.
Rozan has been on a hot streak since Paper Son, and The Mayors of New York shows no signs of her slowing down anytime soon. And I am more than okay with that. If you've never indulged in this series before—this would work as a jumping-on point. Almost any of them would, really. The trick is to jump on somewhere for some of the best that PI fiction has to offer. A touch of the classic American PI added to a hefty helping of the 21st century. The Mayors of New York is one I heartily recommend to all.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK ABOUT?
New York's first female mayor has a problem. A few months after taking office, her fifteen-year-old son has run away. It's not the first time, but it's the first time since she's been elected. She's in the middle of high-stakes negotiations with a police union, so Mayor McCann doesn't feel like she can turn to them without taking some PR hits/weakening in the negotiations.
So, she has her aide hire Bill Smith (who brings along Lydia, of course). It's not easy tracking down one of the most recognizable teens in the city without letting anyone know you're doing that—and it almost seems like the "without letting anyone know" part might overrule the "finding the teen" part of the job.
Now, Lydia's trying to decide if she takes on a case of her own at the same time. Readers know long before they do that these cases will end up intertwined—otherwise, why would Rozan bring it up? And once Bill and Lydia cotton on to that, a hunt for a runaway takes on a whole new layer. Possibly several layers.
THE CHARACTERS
Nah, I'm not going to talk about Bill and Lydia today—I honestly don't know if I have anything else to say about them outside how they're probably my favorite partnership in Crime Fiction (Robin/Cormoran—learn from these two. They trust each other and communicate frankly. Your lives will be the better for it, and the books will be shorter, too. Everyone wins.).
I want to talk about Mark McCann a little bit. At first, he's just the target. He's little more than a MacGuffin to get the plot moving. Then we start to learn a little about him and he becomes an actual character—one I want to learn more about. Then we get to meet him, and I like him a lot. And then Mark goes ahead and does some clever and stupid (read: dangerous) things and I want to see more of him.
The wanting to see more of him goes for everyone who's alive and not under indictment of some sort at the end of the book—the McCann's household staff, the people who help Mark along the way (and then help Bill and Lydia), and so on. I know it's not really Rozan's style, but if we could run across them in future books for a chapter or so just to spend more time with them, I'd really enjoy that. These all have a little more life to them than your typical witnesses, bystanders, and so on in PI Fiction. I particularly appreciated the way they all want some sort of Mayoral favor shown to their neighborhoods/communities and the way that Lydia takes notes to pass them along. A very nice—and real—note.
I feel like I should spend a few paragraphs on the most interesting character in this novel—Aubrey "Bree" Hamilton, the mayor's aide who hires Bill to look for Mark. She and Bill dated years ago, and it's clear from Bill's First-Person Narration that the chip on his shoulder regarding this particular cheating %#&@ has is still pretty deep, no matter what degree of happiness he's found elsewhere. It's not just the way she cheated on him—Bill has no sympathy for her former PR clients (lawyers, largely) or the politicians she now works for, assuming everything they do or say is calculated for their benefit. He trusts Bree less than her bosses—and we see that throughout—but something about a 15-year-old boy who keeps running away from home speaks to Bill, so he has to investigate.
I got off target there, but I thought I'd explain Bill taking the case when he can't stand anyone involved. Bree is a perfectly designed character—the reader can see how she's good at her job, calculating, smart, and generally three steps ahead of anyone (aside from our protagonists occasionally). It's impossible to tell how much she believes a lot of what she says, or if she's saying it out of duty. And then there's what she says to yank Bill's chain a little bit. Bill (and therefore his narration) is so jaded against her that it's hard for us to know how much of our negative reaction to her is justified and how much it is seeing her through Bill's eyes. A great move by Rozan.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK?
The pace is fast without being breakneck. The dialogue is sharp and witty. Bill's narration has never been more hard-boiled (his contempt for the client/client's intermediary helps). The characters jump off the page. It's what you want in a PI novel.
Early on, I had inklings about what was behind everything (and I'm pretty sure Rozan intended readers to). As the plot moved forward and we received more and more confirmation about those inklings, it made me uncomfortable and a little queasy. Why couldn't I have been wrong? Why couldn't these have been red herrings? Thanks to some skillful storytelling you don't get bogged down in the wrongness of everything that's afoot—it's there and it colors everything, but your focus becomes on the characters dealing with it all, the reveals to other characters and the nail-biting way this story is resolved.
Yes, I think Rozan could've just as easily and skillfully let the characters and readers wallow in the muck of the crimes behind everything—but it would've changed the tenor of the book so much that the early chapters would feel out of place, and we probably wouldn't have found some resolution that's as satisfying.
Also, just because some things weren't red herrings, don't think that Rozan doesn't toss enough of them at the reader to keep you wondering.
Rozan has been on a hot streak since Paper Son, and The Mayors of New York shows no signs of her slowing down anytime soon. And I am more than okay with that. If you've never indulged in this series before—this would work as a jumping-on point. Almost any of them would, really. The trick is to jump on somewhere for some of the best that PI fiction has to offer. A touch of the classic American PI added to a hefty helping of the 21st century. The Mayors of New York is one I heartily recommend to all.
May 5, 2024
What starts out in "THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK" as a seemingly straightforward undertaking by PIs Lydia Chin and Bill Smith to find the teenage son of New York's first newly elected woman mayor (who had hired them for the job) turns out to be a convoluted, murky, and perilous trek across the city that uncovers a nest of crimes.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel with its bumper car twists and turns, along with its heavy emphasis on sparkling, pithy dialogue. It epitomizes what a good, exciting detective novel should be about. That is, engaging as well as entertaining.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel with its bumper car twists and turns, along with its heavy emphasis on sparkling, pithy dialogue. It epitomizes what a good, exciting detective novel should be about. That is, engaging as well as entertaining.
December 25, 2023
I love these Chin & Smith books. I've only read a few of the series, but the dialogue is sparkling and witty and the plots are fun in the ones I have read. Neither of the main characters are who they first appear to be, each having more depth and wisdom than you might expect. All of their expertise is necessary to find the missing son of the Mayor of New York in this book. Twists and complexity make this book an interesting read.
December 27, 2023
I’ve read all the Bill & Lydia books (disclosure: I know the author IRL) and this is easily one of the top 2 or 3 in the whole series. I usually prefer Lydia’s narration but the crimes here (an unrelated teen runaway & a teen suicide which … well just, read the book) fit Bill’s voice extremely well. The dialogue crackles and Rozan is terrific at leaving clues throughout the book and then weaving them together later in that oh-so-satisfying mystery way. Like all Rozan books, NYC figures prominently as a third main character.
If you’re new to the series, it’s OK to start with this one. Not only does it standalone fine, it’s a very good intro to Bill & Lydia’s New York.
If you’re new to the series, it’s OK to start with this one. Not only does it standalone fine, it’s a very good intro to Bill & Lydia’s New York.
December 9, 2023
I preorder S.J. Rozan's Smith/Chin mystery books as soon as they are mentioned. I have them all. I've been a fan of her's since her first book, China Trade, and even went to a reading in the city, to get a signed copy. I have a number of signed copies of her books. This one was simply great. Everything one could hope for. Great characters, settings, food descriptions, lovely dialog. Thank You.
Note to S. J. Rozen: Please write faster, or much thicker Chin/Smith books. Can't wait for your next one.
Note to S. J. Rozen: Please write faster, or much thicker Chin/Smith books. Can't wait for your next one.
December 11, 2023
This is Bill Smith’s book!
This book is in Bill’s voice.It is his case in his voice. Lydia is background in this book in a way that we can see her from Bill’s point of view; how much Bill loves her, respects her and how competent she is. It is a good story well laid out and nicely tied together at the end.
This book is in Bill’s voice.It is his case in his voice. Lydia is background in this book in a way that we can see her from Bill’s point of view; how much Bill loves her, respects her and how competent she is. It is a good story well laid out and nicely tied together at the end.
December 26, 2023
It is always a pleasure to rejoin Lydia and Bill in their lively investigations, but this one hit a sweet spot for me. The plotting is intricate. The mayor’s son is an appealing character. And I was intrigued by the glimpses of and emphasis on diverse communities that contribute to the City of New York.
July 17, 2024
Fast-paced & fun with a satisfying ending. Love this series!
January 15, 2024
It was fine. The NYC mayor’s son is missing and she hires Bill Smith, PI, to find him. Can’t get the police involved for various reasons. There are so many bad guys that it is hard to keep them straight. The story is a bit convoluted, taking the reader down dead end rabbit holes. But, Like I said, it was fine.
December 20, 2023
I just love this series.
December 18, 2023
Love this series!! Another great one!
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December 5, 2023
Just finished reading SJ Rozan's latest entry to her award-winning Bill Smith/Lydia Chin Mystery series, The Mayors of New York. A disclaimer: I'm a big fan of SJ's writing and thoroughly enjoy reading her work. The Mayors of New York is no exception. Well-paced and tightly written, her prose hooks you from the first line.
Bill Smith is hired by the newly elected mayor of New York City to find her runaway 15-year-old son and to do it quietly so her family problem is not turned into political fireworks by her adversaries. Bill and his partner in crime solving, Lydia Chin, quickly realize there's more to the investigation than troubled family dynamics as they uncover evidence for conspiracy, murder, and government corruption.
I won't give away more. Pick up a copy of The Mayors of New York and enjoy the ride.
Bill Smith is hired by the newly elected mayor of New York City to find her runaway 15-year-old son and to do it quietly so her family problem is not turned into political fireworks by her adversaries. Bill and his partner in crime solving, Lydia Chin, quickly realize there's more to the investigation than troubled family dynamics as they uncover evidence for conspiracy, murder, and government corruption.
I won't give away more. Pick up a copy of The Mayors of New York and enjoy the ride.
September 28, 2023
Bill is hired by the mayor of New York to find her missing son. Lydia is hired by a family whose daughter committed suicide-or did she? After she decides to not take the case, she and Bill realize they are connected. As always, SJ Rozan writes a great mystery with characters we love and lots of humor.
February 1, 2024
It was okay a little slow. I hoped it would pick up pace. The end came together nicely.
December 5, 2023
“The Mayors of New York,” by S.J. Rozan, Pegasus Crime, 288 pages, Dec. 5, 2023.
In January, New York City inaugurates its first female mayor, Carole McCann. In April, her son, Mark McCann, 15, disappears.
Private investigators Bill Smith and Lydia Chin are called by Aubrey Hamilton, the mayor's chief aide, to find Mark. They are told he’s run away. Mark has a twin sister, Madison Guilder. She uses their father’s last name; he doesn’t. Jeffrey Guilder is the twin’s father. The parents are divorced.
Aubrey says McCann didn’t go to the police to report Mark’s disappearance because of the contract talks with the Detectives Endowment Association. Mark withdrew almost all the money from his bank account. He also took some clothes and his cellphone.
They accept that case on the same day as Lydia turns down an investigation into teenager Amber Shun’s suicide. Bing Lee, head of Chinatown Improvement Association, called police detective Chris Chiang, who called Lydia to ask her to investigate the suicide.
Then Jacob Dolo, another teenager, is shot. Are these deaths related to each other, and to the mayor's missing son?
In a desperate attempt to find the answer to Mark’s disappearance before it's too late, Bill and Lydia turn to the only contacts they think will be able to help: the neighborhood leaders who are the real “mayors” of New York. Of course, each wants McCann to do something for their neighborhoods.
This is a fast-paced, intricately plotted novel. The characters are excellent and they evolve over the 15-book series, which sometimes have Bill Smith as narrator and sometimes have Lydia Chin. S.J. Rozan expertly weaves the story threads together. This is another hit for the talented author.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
In January, New York City inaugurates its first female mayor, Carole McCann. In April, her son, Mark McCann, 15, disappears.
Private investigators Bill Smith and Lydia Chin are called by Aubrey Hamilton, the mayor's chief aide, to find Mark. They are told he’s run away. Mark has a twin sister, Madison Guilder. She uses their father’s last name; he doesn’t. Jeffrey Guilder is the twin’s father. The parents are divorced.
Aubrey says McCann didn’t go to the police to report Mark’s disappearance because of the contract talks with the Detectives Endowment Association. Mark withdrew almost all the money from his bank account. He also took some clothes and his cellphone.
They accept that case on the same day as Lydia turns down an investigation into teenager Amber Shun’s suicide. Bing Lee, head of Chinatown Improvement Association, called police detective Chris Chiang, who called Lydia to ask her to investigate the suicide.
Then Jacob Dolo, another teenager, is shot. Are these deaths related to each other, and to the mayor's missing son?
In a desperate attempt to find the answer to Mark’s disappearance before it's too late, Bill and Lydia turn to the only contacts they think will be able to help: the neighborhood leaders who are the real “mayors” of New York. Of course, each wants McCann to do something for their neighborhoods.
This is a fast-paced, intricately plotted novel. The characters are excellent and they evolve over the 15-book series, which sometimes have Bill Smith as narrator and sometimes have Lydia Chin. S.J. Rozan expertly weaves the story threads together. This is another hit for the talented author.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
December 3, 2023
Don't worry If you haven't read the earlier books in this terrific series- this latest will be fine as a standalone and, to be honest, it should send you back to read the earlier ones for the sheer enjoyment of it. Bill Smith has been hired by the Mayor of New York to find her 15 year old son who somehow slipped out of the house and disappeared without a trace. The Mayor knows virtually nothing about her son but the house manager and the cook do and so Bill sets off on a surprising quest through, among other places, the cartoon characters of Times Square. At the same time, Lydia Chinn has agreed to look into the alleged suicide of a teen girl from Chinatown. Mark and Amber didn't go to the same school but, as it turns out, they knew one another from joint programs. What does Mark's twin Madison know? You might get a shimmer of a hint of something unsavory early on but this has a lot (a lot) of twists. No spoilers from me. My only quibble is the title, which still doesn't make sense to me (I must be missing something). Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC. Excellent read.
February 14, 2024
The Lydia Chin, Bill Smith mysteries are one of my favorite long-time series. I like the way she alternates the protagonists, and I especially like the first person voice used when Smith is the protagonist.
This story is told with Bill's dry, self-deprecating humor. He seems like such an unlikely partner for Lydia, who is Chinese and younger, but they play off each other well in their roles as private investigators.
Chinatown never plays much of a part in the stories when Bill is the protagonist. Lydia' s cousin Linus is, as usual, their go to IT guy, and her Chinese cop friend Chris is their inside police contact. It's nice to have these recurring characters.
The story involves dirty cops, troubled teens, and teens procured for sex by wealthy, influential New York men. The author has the ability to create characters with depth, and to portray vivid cross sections of her hometown--New York City.
The plot is a bit complex, but not problematic. The pace is steady and the ending wraps up nicely. I though it was a very good book and certainly one of her best in this series.
This story is told with Bill's dry, self-deprecating humor. He seems like such an unlikely partner for Lydia, who is Chinese and younger, but they play off each other well in their roles as private investigators.
Chinatown never plays much of a part in the stories when Bill is the protagonist. Lydia' s cousin Linus is, as usual, their go to IT guy, and her Chinese cop friend Chris is their inside police contact. It's nice to have these recurring characters.
The story involves dirty cops, troubled teens, and teens procured for sex by wealthy, influential New York men. The author has the ability to create characters with depth, and to portray vivid cross sections of her hometown--New York City.
The plot is a bit complex, but not problematic. The pace is steady and the ending wraps up nicely. I though it was a very good book and certainly one of her best in this series.
December 28, 2023
Bill Smith has a new case - the teenaged son of the mayor of New York City has disappeared. His mother hopes to keep her son's situation out of the press, and sensitive negotiations with the NYPD retirement plan make her wary of contacting the police.
Bill has very little to go on, but little by little he picks up shreds of information. Interviews with the boy's friends provide some help.
As in all of Rozan's series featuring Smith and Lydia Chin, the city itself is a character in the action. The impersonators in Times Square angling for tourist dollars, the enticing smells from ethnic restaurants, an iconic trip on the Staten Island ferry and a climactic scene in a luxurious Riverdale mansion all contribute to the story.
The eventual reveal has echoes of the Jeffrey Epstein case of a few years ago.
Bill has very little to go on, but little by little he picks up shreds of information. Interviews with the boy's friends provide some help.
As in all of Rozan's series featuring Smith and Lydia Chin, the city itself is a character in the action. The impersonators in Times Square angling for tourist dollars, the enticing smells from ethnic restaurants, an iconic trip on the Staten Island ferry and a climactic scene in a luxurious Riverdale mansion all contribute to the story.
The eventual reveal has echoes of the Jeffrey Epstein case of a few years ago.
January 12, 2024
One of the best in this series - at least those from Smith's perspective. This is a straight-on murder mystery with very little cultural angst, just the normal NYC corruption. Lots of parallel threads, and while it appears that there are red herrings, everything is tied together in the end. Smith is at his most snarky, which complicates the investigation, but also keeps the dark topics from becoming morose. There are many more characters than usual, but that is part of the story. They're not just extras. Plus we explore more parts of the Big Apple. Lydia's mom was effectively absent, referred to in passing twice - which left a small hole.
The author has made clear that this is not a romance, and Smith is clearly smitten, but I wish they'd wake up in the same bed once in a while...
The author has made clear that this is not a romance, and Smith is clearly smitten, but I wish they'd wake up in the same bed once in a while...
March 4, 2024
If you are a New Yorker, I think you will love this book. This is a captivating murder mystery that circles you through the streets of Manhattan, Times Square, Staten Island, Chinatown, Flushing and the Bronx. It gives you insight into the workings (honest and dishonest) of the Mayor's office, the NYPD, private detectives, and the rich and famous. Some people on the internet reviewing the book stated that they figured out "who did it" shortly into the book, but I find that hard to believe. There are so many characters in the book that are suspicious from the start, but the reveal at the end was not easy to have totally guessed.
March 26, 2024
The 15th installment of PIs Lydia Chin and Bill Smith...and still a delight to read. The main case is finding the mayor's runaway teenage son and the minor one is investigating a presumed teenage girl's suicide. Of course the two cases collide (along with crooked politicians, cops and elites). But the draw of the read are Lydia and Bill's interactions, Bill's wit and a tour of NYC neighborhoods and its ethnic restaurants (yum!).
March 28, 2024
I'm so glad I discovered this author and am thrilled to discover that she has written fifteen books in this series. I love the dialogue she creates for her characters, especially the back-and-forth put-downs of detectives Lydia Chin and Bill Smith. The descriptions of New York City are detailed and spotlight both its diversity and political complexities. The pace is brisk with a good amount of suspense and some particularly disturbing predators.
June 1, 2024
I have not read this series front to back and I really should--I enjoyed this one, where Chin and Smith are hired by the mayor to find her son who has more taken off than gone missing--she thinks--and she does not want to involve the police because she is worried about the political implications. It has some twists and turns, but many of them you can see coming (which I find less annoying), and the writing is solid.
July 11, 2024
Forgot I had this book. The Lydia and Bill series is one of my all time favorites. What do you do when the mayor wants you to find her missing son, without anyone knowing he’s missing? You take the job and turn down another. I found it interesting that besides the official mayor of New York City, there are also self appointed mayors in the different communities that fight for their communities to get what they need from the government.
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