Best Detective in New York City
“I really hate that man.” Claire sat up in bed and shut off the alarm. Her fist was vibrating, and it was only six thirty a.m. “You don’t want to know what I’d like to do to him.”
“Oh, I think I can guess,” I told her.
“I was the detective on call last night, Haggerty.” She stabbed her index finger at the phone. “I should have caught that case.”
“I know.”
“McGowan hasn’t let me catch a case in three months—not since Hector Sanchez. He’s got me chained to a desk doing paperwork. How can he get away with that? He would never do that to another detective.”
“I know, but you threaten him, Claire. And let’s face it. He’s got a big problem with women.”
“Yeah, unless he’s checking them out across a conference room.” Claire whipped back the comforter. “I bet he wishes the cancer killed me.”
“Look, he’s not all that smart. He only got where he is because his uncle’s a captain. He’s bound to screw up soon. Wait him out. They’ll end up shipping him off to some precinct way out in Queens, and you won’t have to see him anymore. Just be patient.”
“Easy for you to say.” She climbed out of bed and I watched her leave the room. Oh my God, it’s hard to be in love with the best detective in New York City. But I’ve been in love with her since the day nine years ago when she walked into the detective’s squad room at the 171st, looked at me with her ice blue eyes, and asked me, “Which of these desks is mine?”
I remember how I patted the metal desk right next to me. “This one’s free—if you want to sit by your new partner.”
She shut me down with a cool, “Thanks,” and I got the message. She wasn’t about to put up with any sexual innuendo. “Where you from, Codella?” I asked in a neutral voice.
“Cranston, Rhode Island.”
“Cranston, huh? Aren’t you supposed to pronounce that Craaaaanston?”
“Not bad.” She smiled. “But it needs to be a little more nasal.” She booted up her computer.
“Brian Haggerty,” I volunteered. “From Staten Island.”
“The borough nobody wants?”
“Hey, we don’t get to choose where we’re born, now do we?”
“No,” she said, “I don’t suppose we do.”
Now I got out of bed and followed Claire into the kitchen. I made us some tea. I put two English muffins in the toaster, went to the front door, and got the paper. When I came back she said, “If he’s not going to let me catch a case, I’ll go out and find my own.”
Forgotten City is the second book in the Claire Codella mystery series, published by Crooked Lane Books, December 2016.
NYPD Detective Claire Codella is hungry for a new case. Lieutenant McGowan is determined to keep her out of the news, but she is about to be back in the public eye in a big way.
At fifty-six, Broadway legend Lucy Merchant has early onset Alzheimer’s and is tucked away in the ultra-exclusive Manhattan care facility Park Manor. When she falls asleep and doesn’t wake up, her billionaire husband is ready for the funeral, but her daughter demands an investigation.
Codella finds herself at the center of a high-profile case nearly everyone wants to shut down. But the forensic evidence raises alarming questions, and Codella needs answers. To find them, she will have to crack the defenses of slippery administrators, frightened caregivers, and unobliging family members, all while unlocking some of her own dark memories.
Forgotten City, Carrie Smith’s gripping procedural, pits the unrelenting detective against a cast of diverse New Yorkers driven by their desires and ambitions and haunted by their pasts. Can she piece together the truth before the murderer kills again?
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About the author
Carrie Smith is the author of Silent City, the first Detective Claire Codella mystery, and the sequel, Forgotten City (Crooked Lane Books, December 2016). Carrie is also the author of a literary novel, Forget Harry. She is the recipient of three Hopwood Awards from the University of Michigan and a fellowship to the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. Carrie is also senior vice president and publisher of Benchmark Education Company, a literacy publisher. She lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Visit Carrie at online at www.carriesmith.nyc, on Facebook at authorCarrieSmith, and on Twitter at @carriesmithnyc.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Forgotten City. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 22, 2016. Good luck everyone!
This is a new series to me Dru Ann. Thanks for today’s choice-it sounds like it will be exciting, and I am anxious to give it a try. Thanks to Carrie for the chance to win a copy of Forgotten City! 🙂
Claire Cordella sounds like a great city detective. I’m anxious to read how Carrie Smith treats New York City and the people living there. I plan on going to my library to see if they have “Silent City”.
Its been a while since I’ve read a good detective or police procedural mystery. This book sounds like an interesting read.
Claire sounds like an interesting character and I love a good police procedural. As a cancer survivor myself, I know how it changes your outlook. I wonder how that affects a detective. I need to get the first of this series ASAP. Thanks for the chance to win this one.
Claire sounds like my kind of detective and I’d love to read the book. Thanks!
Wow…this one slaps one “upside” of the head! Looking for the first one at the library. – found it!!!
Looks like a most intriguing read. A new series/new author is always so exciting. So appreciate the heads up to these new intriguing reads you give us Dru. My TBR is growing big time.
Just finished reading The Silent City. Terrific new crime writer. Love the characters, tightly written plot and non-stop action. Claire is an awesome heroine who stirs the readers’ emotions while never losing her personal strength and determination. Great beginning to a winning series!
Thank you so much for including Carrie Smith and her book on your blog. Normally I wouldn’t probably pick it up but your blog has perked my interest. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to enter your giveaway also.
I WANT THIS ONE!!!!!
Who ever wins the giveaway will get a copy of SILENT CITY too!!! Thanks for all the comments:)))
Forgotten City sounds compelling and enthralling. Thanks for this great giveaway.
I haven’t read a procedural in a long time. This sounds like a good series to get me interested again. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This novel sounds fascinating and would be riveting. many thanks.
This sounds like a good one!
An intriguing book with a most interesting protagonist whom I would like to read about. Thanks.
A new-to-me author to try. Thanks for a chance to win a copy. Sounds great.
Sounds like a great read.
I missed the first book–I’d love the chance to read both of these. Claire sounds like a great character stuck with an impossible case–a high profile case that no one really wants investigated. Can’t wait to see how she handles it.
a new-to-me author and series that sounds right up my alley!
This is a new series and author to me. I enjoyed the synopsis of the book and would really enjoy reading. Thanks for the chance. Merry Christmas!
Fascinating. Thanks for the chance!
So seemingly easy to do away with someone in a care facility.
Another new author, book and series for me. Thanks for the introduction and chance to win.
Thanks for the intro to this author an her series!
I think I’d like Claire! Sounds like a great series.
New to me author and series, looks good.
These are new to me and they sound really good. Thanks for sharing with us and for the chance to win.
Nice post & thanks for the giveaway. Sounds like a series I need to try.
Sounds like a great series. Thanks for the chance to win this one.
It sounds like something I would like. Thanks for offering this!! lindaherold999@gmail.com