The Interrogation (Hardcover)

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Review
A Second World War prologue reveals the satisfaction of a duo of policemen as their deft bluff helps to solve a particularly nasty crime and put away the perpetrator. It's hard to imagine that these are innocent times but they certainly seem so when we are reunited with Detective Norman Cohen and Detective Jack Pierce some 11 years later in a still unidentified but expertly created city. And, just as they did when trapping that strangler all those years ago, they find themselves once again up against the clock with only 11 hours to go until 6 am, when they know they will have to release an even more odious individual, one who has just murdered a young girl. They are nearly certain of his guilt, but have neither witness nor evidence to connect Albert Jay Smalls to the crime. Using those tensely ticking minutes, Cook cranks up the pressure, revealing the writing talents that have helped him to win the Edgar Award as well as being nominated for it several times. The author's astute style gets right into the heads of his characters, and only a very occasional snippet of clunky dialogue between a couple of the more senior characters lets him down. Otherwise it's full steam ahead as we get to know these real people with real lives, real suffering and real memories of when times were good. The grim realities of many of the characters' personal lives and recent pasts add to the edginess created by that relentlessly ticking clock as we get to bear witness to their hopes and aspirations and their very real struggles with the issues of everyday life. This is a novel that Cook can proudly add to an already notable body of work, both fiction and non-fiction. (Kirkus UK)

Product Description
Albert Jay Smalls is the prime suspect in the investigation into Cathy Lake's murder. The cops have no evidence or witnesses, but they're convinced he's hiding the truth and they've got just twelve hours to find out. Each cop has his own motive for wanting to nail Albert Jay Smalls. Jack Pierce is consumed by the murder of his daughter and his own promise to Cathy's mother. Norman Cohen is haunted by the terrible things he saw at the liberation of a concentration camp, Thomas Burke, Chief of police, has a dying son who he lost a long time ago. Cook deftly weaves the tragedies of all their lives into the last twelve hours of their interrogation of the suspect, after which, unless they have a confession, they must let him go. Cook's skill at delving into the psychological depths of his characters turns an otherwise ordinary police procedural into a tense, haunting, and resonant novel.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars High tension, 6 Mar 2003 By  Anna Klein - See all my reviews September 12, 1952. Albert Jay Smalls, an unassuming homeless man, has been arrested for strangling 8-year-old Cathy Lake to death in a park near the tunnel where he lives. But the police don't have enough evidence to hold him. If he won't confess in the next eleven hours, they'll have to let him go. All through the night detectives Norm Cohen and Jack Pierce interrogate him, seeking to crack his denials or at least come up with enough evidence to keep him locked up where he can't do any more harm. While they are at this -- and returning to his home town in search of clues and digging up the park for the girl's missing necklace -- people are busy elsewhere around the city. Eddie Lambrusco is collecting the night's garbage, worrying over his sick daughter and wishing his old pal Charlie was still with him. Police Chief Thomas Burke is by his son's hospital bed, waiting for him to die. A small-time thief is having his own personal money crisis. As the night wears on and the pressure increases, all of these threads are woven together into a resolution as horrific as it is unavoidable. THE INTERROGATION is truly hard to put down. At the beginning of each chapter is an old fashioned clock face reminding the reader of how many hours are left in the interrogation and stepping up the pressure as the characters (and reader) are driven ever closer to desperation. Cook has done a tremendous job of portraying his characters' motivations and playing on their strengths and weaknesses. I especially grew to identify with Jack Pierce, whose own young daughter was murdered and who thus has an even greater reason for promising Cathy's heartbroken mother he will bring her killer to justice. In this expertly plotted novel, which remains fast paced while laced with flashbacks, both the perpetrator and the ending are unguessable but expertly foreshadowed. If you enjoy high tension, well developed mysteries that read almost like a movie, THE INTERROGATION is an excellent choice. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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