Chief Novak Series

When Karol Novak takes over a scandal-ridden police force, he has two murders to solve and years of corruption to clean up. The last thing he needs is to reopen a closed murder case. But that's the birthday wish of a nine-year-old girl, making it difficult for him to refuse. Since the request comes through Novak's wife, it's impossible. When Novak grudgingly peeks into the case, he doesn't like what he finds. The borough council resists his spending another minute on the case, but don't try telling a veteran Pittsburgh cop he can't do his job. Whoever wants the case dropped wants Novak out and is using a secret from his past against him. When one of his officers disappears while investigating the old case, Karol Novak has only hours to bring her back, solve all three murders, and save his job and reputation. The gritty detail of police work is reminiscent of Ed McBain's police procedurals, while the relationship between Karol and Barbara Novak recalls Donna Leon's Venetian mysteries. Will Novak answer the nine-year-old's plea before the council forces him out? Find out for yourself by buying this engaging novel of small-town policing.

Former Pittsburgh police detective Karol Novak came out of retirement to lead his borough's scandal-ridden police department. Having instituted sweeping reforms, Novak is ready to walk away. He hates small-town politics and wants to resume his search for the predator priest who preyed on him and his closest friend years before. A dying man's wish derails his plan, drawing him into the unsolved murder of a young woman two decades earlier. As the investigation unfolds, Novak and his team discover a similar unsolved murder. Are the two deaths related? Are they the work of a serial killer? While they work to answer these questions, Novak must also locate a three-year-old child who has disappeared without a trace. This is the second Chief Novak novel by the author of Novak's Mission, praised by Reedsy Discovery as "an entertaining and intriguing police mystery that will draw readers along a misty trail that reveals a hidden crime."   REVIEWS: "Police Chief Karol Novak is a lead character who is well drawn, with fine detail and some depth, and this makes him easy to like and respect. The depiction of Pittsburgh with its economic, political and racial tensions has a contemporary ring of truth to it and the story of the murder investigation is compelling with a very pleasing twist in the tail. Recommended." --TM, United Kingdom "A plot involving three seemingly independent cases for a small local police unit, which in its day-to-day operations are facing the entire pallet of issues related to racial problems, budget issues, local politics, and high egos. while trying to solve several serious cases simultaneously. The plot is great with a meanngful relation to the local Pittsburgh society., definitely a learning experience for many. Also in the context of the actual situation vis a vis racial issues with police work." --KB, Jordon "The ending of this book blew me away. I liked the insights into Pittsburgh. The story was engaging and held my interest. It reminded me in parts of an American Bernie Gunther (I don't use that comparison lightly. You don't need to have read previous books to enjoy this, but you would get more out of the book." --GS, United Kingdom

Boyleston Police Chief Karol Novak and his team investigate the murder of a real estate agent and former mayor. As they delve into the case, one suspect stands out, but Novak refuses to accept his guilt. As the investigation progresses, tragedy strikes in the form of an officer's death, sending Detective Lydia Barnwell's life into a tailspin.   Novak works the case while preparing to assume leadership of a regional police force, but politics intervene. Meanwhile, Karol's wife Barbara battles the school district over the behavior of a teacher. As the explosive climax of the murder investigation is reached, Karol and Barbara must ask themselves if public service is worth fighting entrenched bureaucracies just to do their jobs.   If you enjoyed the tense police investigations of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, you'll also love the Chief Novak series.