This was a fast-paced reading about a private detective in Chicago. When he is hired from an old girlfriend he is stumbling across scheming in politic but also within the police. He has not only to solve the puzzle but also to keep himself out of all those feuds. His work is like a balancing act on a high wire with one foot always in the abyss.
It was a gripping reading. ( )

The backstory: After devouring Michael Harvey's first mystery featuring ex-cop turned private investigator Michael Kelly in a day, The Chicago Way, I immediately picked up The Fifth Floor, the second in the series.

The basics: The titular fifth floor refers to the location of the Chicago mayor's office, a sure sign Harvey is once again tackling a story of political intrigue. When an old girlfriend asks Michael Kelly to track her husband, who works for the mayor, Kelly doesn't anticipate discovering a dead body while he does so. Soon he finds himself solving multiple mysteries, including this murder, stretching from the Chicago fire of 1871 to the present.

My thoughts: Rarely do I like to read two of an author's books back to back, let alone two in a series without a break, but before I had even finished The Chicago Way, I'd requested the other three titles in the series from the library. One of the things I love most about Michael Harvey's writing is the way he makes things that should be preposterous seem normal. He captures the essence of Chicago beautifully, both its treasures and its embarrassments. This novel beautifully explores the history of Chicago's fire, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This review is intentionally short on details because Harvey's books are best enjoyed knowing little when you begin. Know this: if you like mysteries, drop what you're doing and go get your hands on copies of The Chicago Way and The Fifth Floor--you'll want to start this one as soon as you finish the first one too.

The verdict: Harvey seamlessly combines a rich portrait of Chicago's history with contemporary drama. The result is a densely and richly plotted contemporary mystery that is even better than The Chicago Way. ( )

My second read by Michael Harvey, and his second book. I liked his early 1940-50's style of mystery and spare use of language so gave him another try and he is consistent. Again he deals with corruption in politics and the police in Chicago, this time with the origin of the Chicago Fire as the triggering point. ( )

Private investigator Michael Kelly is following an abusive husband of an ex-girlfriend, who works for the mayor, and discovers a dead body. A little humor, some Chicago politics, unexpected behavior from Kelly and a diverse cast of characters combine to make this an entertaining book. The ending was a bit unbelievable but I’d still like to read more by this author. ( )

Old-fashioned PI mystery set in modern day Chicago. This is a well-written and ultimately satisfying read with well rounded characters and a plot that, whilst initially inconsequential sucks you into the depths into which it plummets. I couldn't help feeling like this was actually set in the forties or fifties and it was the occasional node to modern society that brought me back to the present. As such it is an affectionate nod to Chandler, MacDonald and probably more closely "Chinatown" - notably with its political subtext and multi-layered plot. ( )