Cops can make mistakes, even when they’re not rookies. If anyone knows that it’s Cass Raines. Cass took a bullet two years ago after an incompetent colleague screwed up a tense confrontation with an armed suspect. Deeply traumatized, Cass resigned from the Chicago PD, leaving one less female African-American on the force. Now she’s the head of a one-woman private investigation agency, taking on … agency, taking on just enough work to pay the bills. But when the only father figure she’s ever known, Father Ray Heaton, asks her to look into a recent spate of vandalism at his church, she readily agrees to handle it.
Only hours later Cass is horrified to discover Father Ray’s murdered body in the church confessional, a dead gangbanger sprawled out nearby. She knew Pop, as she called him, had ticked off plenty of people, from slumlords to politicians, with his uncompromising defense of the downtrodden. But a late-night random theft doesn’t seem like much of a motive at a cash-strapped parish. The lead detective assigned to the case is all too eager to dismiss it as a burglary gone awry, just another statistic in a violent city. But Cass’s instincts tell her otherwise, and badge or no badge, she intends to see justice done . . .
“An exciting new character-driven series.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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A fast-moving PI procedural, set in my original home town of Chicago!
The first in Clark’s well-received series about Cassie Raines, a former Chicago cop turned private investigator. A must if you enjoy Sara Paretsky’s own Chicago P.I. series featuring V.I. Warshawski.
Action right out of the starting gate! Perfect timing on character reveal and detailing! Complex plot with the main character sticking to it despite all the roadblocks in her way! If you like fast action and tough characters, you’ll likely enjoy this story!
My first time reading from this author. It kept me guessing and intrigued.
Tracy Clark is a superb writer and Broken Places is an exceptional debut. The voice of Cass Raines is so strong and distinctive, I half expect to see her at my door demanding an explanation or hitting me with that snarky former cop wit. This is everything I want from a P.I. mystery — fast-paced action, dogged determination, and deep well of emotion. Sign me up for more Cass Raines!
Broken Places by author Tracy Clark is a well written and wonderful mystery I could not stop reading! I hope to read more stories with the character of Ex-Cop now Private Investigator Cass Raines. Cass is a woman who knows her strengths and has a lot of determination to uphold the law and has compassion for others. I won’t post spoilers but will give you a short overview.
Father Ray Heaton is the main father figure in Cass’s life and she lovingly calls him Pop. He confides in her about some vandalism at the church and Cass is determined to find out what is happening. When she finds his body in the church, along with the body of a young gangbanger, Cass knows the assumption of a murder-suicide by Farraday is horribly wrong. She is stunned and broken-hearted about Pop. She will find the truth about what happened in that church. I felt very emotional that Cass wanted Pop’s stolen Bible, his diary, and some of his pictures.
Cass Raines is a tough African-American woman who lives by a code of honor and truth. I enjoyed the non-stop action from the beginning of the book through the last chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
If you miss Sue Grafton, you are going to love Tracy Clark. The protagonist of this new series, Cass Raines, is a former-cop-turned-P.I., reminiscent in both backstory and demeanor of the iconic Kinsey Millhone — and yet a unique and wonderful character all her own. Tracy paints a compelling picture of the true Chicago landscape, including both its charisma and its grit. Her characters, both main and secondary, are fully formed and relatable. The dialogue is witty, but not cartoonishly so (as sometimes happens when an author is trying too hard). The wry, sometimes sarcastic, internal monologue makes me want to head for one of those great little Chicago blues bars with Cass to drink and talk the night away; she’s my kind of gal.
I heard Tracy read during a virtual Noir at the Bar event. Simply put, Cass Raines spoke to me, and I knew I had to order these books right away. I finished Broken Places within 24 hours of receiving it and immediately went on to Books 2 and 3. It’s the same feeling I used to have knowing there’s a brand new alphabet series book to be opened, and that’s saying something.
In this intricate, page-turning mystery, Tracy Clark introduces PI Cass Raines, a smart, dedicated investigator with a big heart and a broken past. I loved Cass from the first page and enjoyed the surrounding cast of characters as well–both the victims and perpetrators. Clark shines a sympathetic but unsentimental light at people from all walks of life. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!
Tracy Clark’s Broken Places, A Chicago Mystery, is aptly named. Former Chi-town Detective Cass Raines survives a shootout with a suspect thanks to some incompetence from a colleague. She decides enough is enough and resigns from the force. She elects to take on private investigation work instead. Her first case involves a beloved priest, Father Ray Heaton and a young man named Cesar Luna murdered in the priest’s church. Heaton, as P.I. Raines finds out, has a list of enemies who despise him for one reason or another. Who wants a beloved priest and a young man he tries to help dead and why?
Clark takes her readers on a journey to the truth and multiple encounters with interesting people in the Windy City. While the storyline thankfully didn’t progress the way I thought it would, simultaneously, it wasn’t complex or thought-provoking either. Not that it wasn’t compelling which makes for tough reading and reviewing. The people of Raines’ neighborhood, her analyses of them and vice versa, rings true. That made the book for me even though some of Raines’ decisions skirt on the not-so-smart. I realize she’s a private investigator now and not a detective with all the bells and whistles. Some choices in the heat of conflict were head-scratchers though they put me in the midst of that conflict with her. Good writing.
Be warned, readers. There is R-rated language in Broken Places. Spirits, souls, and bodies break in spades, especially for Cass Raines. This suspenseful mystery paints the portrait of a strong, insightful heroine, friends, and foes alike amidst an ordinary plot. Still, not a bad start, Ms. Clark. Three stars.
The Chicago Mystery Book 1 introducing private investigator, and former cop, Cass Raines has everything a good American mystery could want: a strong female protagonist who holds her own in a man’s world, witty repertoire, engaging action scenes, quirky characters, a mystifying puzzle, and a satisfying ending. If Raymond Chandler came back as a feminist, he’d have written this book. But her didn’t. Lucky for us we have Tracy Clark.
Excellent addition to the PI mystery genre. Looking forward to the next in the series!