They Only Wear Black Hats by Edward Izzi

A gritty, brutal, and relentless thriller, They Only Wear Black Hats by Edward Izzi is another dark gem from this author, pulling back the sinister curtain of human nature and navigating the complex realms of justice.

Detective Palazzola prowls the haunts of Detroit, scarred by his own baggage, but tireless in his hunt for criminals. When the bad guys start ending up dead, his investigation leads him into a melodrama of vengeance, where the lines of law blur or disappear entirely. As the body count begins to climb, this grizzled cop must choose between the oaths of his profession, the lure of righteous justice, and the integrity he is so desperate to protect.

A character-driven drama that relies on environment and tone, as much as storytelling, this novel is an immersive and addictive escape. The dialogue is gruff and taut with well-penned noir tension, and Detective Palazzola is a powerfully drawn central character. However, some of the more visceral or potentially graphic events are skimmed past, which mutes the intensity of the story. Savage assaults and vindictive murders don’t need to be painted in gory detail, but at times, the narration treats them as commonplace, rather than impactful.

That said, the story is gripping, as it gradually spirals into deeper depths of intrigue, with a healthy dose of conspiracy drama, to make Izzi’s latest novel a riveting work of crime fiction with the appeal of a guilty pleasure.

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