Stranglehold

Rotenberg's last two mysteries were excellent but somehow this one ended up collecting dust, which was a pity because it was even more gripping than the others. Right from the beginning we know who will be charged with murder and the ensuing courtroom drama was intense. The back story involves the election for Toronto's mayor. That the frontrunner is a (former Ontario premier) Rob Ford lookalike is barely concealed. Who said Canadian elections are boring?

I had a lively discussion with a patron at the library a while ago. He was looking for a good mystery or legal thriller to read. But he had a qualifier - nothing Canadian, he just finds American books 'better'. Oh boy, do I love a challenge...we compromised and I'm just waiting for him to come back and let me know what he thought of the Canadian titles/authors I sent him home with.

Robert Rotenberg was one of those authors. This gentleman likes series, so I sent him home with the first in Rotenberg's excellent series - Old City Hall. The fourth book, Stranglehold, is newly released and I have to say - Rotenberg gets better and better with every book.

Recurring character Detective Ari Green returns, but in a different role. Rather that show more being the one in charge of the investigation; this time he's the one being investigated.....for murder. Green finds Jennifer, the married Crown Attorney he has been having an affair with, dead in the motel room they were meeting at - and the police arrive before he has time to call 911......

I just love the Canadian setting - the descriptions of streets, stores and neighbourhoods that I recognize. It really brings the novel to life. Rotenberg himself is a criminal lawyer in Toronto. His courtroom descriptions and intimacy with the Canadian legal system again brings that 'extra' sense of authenticity to his work. There are some sly nods to present day Toronto that Canadian will 'get'. Notably, the overweight Mayor who coaches a boy's rugby team.

I enjoy Rotenberg's recurring characters. Green is less than perfect and this makes him all the more human. I really enjoy his father's scenes in this book. Kennicott is also a character I really enjoy as he feels his way through his new position. I hope we see more of Awotwe Amankwah, a reporter for the Toronto Star. Rotenberg gives each of his characters an excellent second story line with their personal lives. It lets us get to know them a bit better and carries their story forward into the next book.

The plotting in Stranglehold is excellent, believable and well played. But the exploration of relationships - familial and work are just as much a part of the story. I think this is probably my favourite of the series (so far) An excellent series and definitely recommended eh? show less

Ari Greene is on his way to meet Crown Attorney Jennifer Raglan at the Maple Leaf Motel for their weekly morning of love making. She has told him this will be the last time for she is leaving her husband for Ari. When he gets there, he finds her strangled. Thinking the killer has just fled, he sets out in pursuit rather than calling 911. This mistake leads his friend, Detective Kennicott, the officer to whom the case is assigned to track him down and arrest him for murder.

Rotenberg has me off guard immediately as Raglan has been a regular in the previous three books he has written about murders and the following trials in Toronto. Greene is one of his main characters too. The story is full of twists and turns and kept me reading late show more into the night.

Nice touch having the mayor in the novel a mirror of Mayor Rob Ford who has put Toronto on the map with his illegal antics. show less

The best law and order writer around today - beats Grisham hands down. The plot is realistic, the pace is just right, the characters have depth and even Toronto where it is set is like another character. Entertaining and intriguing. Loved it.

I enjoyed the earlier books in this series but this one, not so much.

The latest in Robert Rotenberg's excellent police procedural series set in Toronto. Highly recommended.

Crime