Lords of Sixty-Third Street by Edward Izzi

An urban crime thriller that pulls back the curtain on a perennial battlefield in Chicago, Lords of Sixty-Third Street by Edward Izzi is a riveting hunt for justice in a city where organized crime reaches every level of power.

Veteran reporter Larry McKay is ready for retirement, but the murder of his long-time friend and colleague at the Tribune drags him into a grisly world of the mob and blatant political corruption. As his investigation descends into the dark heart of the Windy City, he finds himself caught between the titular mobsters of the Chicago Outfit and a merciless street gang that refuses to play by the nebulous rules of the underworld. All signs point to a new casino development as the source of the rampant strife and violence, and McKay is soon reminded that money truly is the root of all evil.

Turning a brutal light on Chicago’s violent past and present, Izzi’s novel is a gritty portrait of the corruption, collusion, and crime that have haunted the city’s reputation. The novel doesn’t sugarcoat the harrowing conditions of poverty-stricken South Side areas, or the realities that lead to a criminal life, but some of the language and analysis are delivered with a broad brush that doesn’t always consider the nuance of these historically marginalized neighborhoods. On a more technical level, the dialogue varies from captivating to forced, while the narration sometimes slips into procedural detail that unnecessarily slows the pace.

Despite a few stumbles in execution, the swirling plot and dauntless protagonist make this another gripping thriller from a prolific author. Put together, Izzi’s collection of thrillers is creating a fully realized vision of the Chicago underworld.