A toxic spill causes a lethal chain reaction for a San Diego cop in this “very funny” New York Times bestseller by the author of The Choirboys (Kirkus Reviews). Fin Finnegan, a San Diego police detective and wannabe actor heading straight for a midlife meltdown, is assigned a routine truck theft that turns into a toxic chemical spill, setting off a bizarre chain reaction of death and murder on … chain reaction of death and murder on both sides of the Mexican border. Fin is forced to team up with Nell Salter, a sexy female investigator, as well as an equally fetching US Navy investigator who wants to learn all that Fin can teach her—and that’s saying a lot. The New York Times Book Review called it “a frolic, a joy, a hoot, a riot of a book.” And Entertainment Weekly said, “superbly crafted and paced, deliciously funny, but fundamentally, as always, deadly serious.”
more
Made me wonder why I stopped reading Wambaugh. Going to find more by him I didn’t read
The first book by this author I’ve ever started and didn’t finish. I found nothing to grab my attention and the characters were rather week.
I did not really enjoy this book. I was quite disappointed. It is hard to believe that The Onion Field and this substandard crime procedural were both written by Joseph Wambaugh. The dialogue in FW was atrocious and unrealistic. The navy heroin was unbelievable and the rest of the cast pathetic. Look elsewhere for entertainment, this is not where it’s at.
Crazy as all get out
Lighter and fluffier, hence less mature, than his usual.
Classic Wambaugh. Read this. You’re welcome!
Good wambaugh reaf
This.Book. Was. Funny!
Too formulaic
Great characterization. Witty and erudite in a wise ass kind of way.
Typical Wambaugh, continuously surprising and entertaining, with terrific dialogue
I’m reading it now & enjoying it very much
This is a standard offering by Joseph Wambaugh, by which I mean it has fascinating characters with interesting backstories, a reasonably realistic plot and very ably rendered settings. That said, it doesn’t rise to the level of inspiration of some of his other works. Still, B-level Wambaugh is better than almost every other police drama/mystery author. I enjoyed it and recommend it
Joe Wambaugh doing what he did best. Great cop story.
It was ok. Not one of the best books I’ve read, but I finished it. Didn’t really grab me…was expecting something more “meaty”. Was kinda shallow.
A duisappointing work bythe author of The Onion Field. Facile and predictable with flat, stock characters and a very self-conscious use of San Diego area locations. Mildly engaging quick read.
This was a good read, I enjoyed it. It held attention but not as good as others by the same author. I still would recommend the book. Thank, PERRY
An accurate and entertaining look into the upside down life of police work
The best cop writer EVER!
Every Wambaugh book is enjoyable, this is no exception. The story line is a little far fetched, but just go with it and enjoy the ride. If you have read and enjoyed any of the other books Wambaugh has written, you will be pleased with this offering.