Review of THE THIRD RAIL by Michael Harvey

I love reading novels that take place in Chicago. I love how certain writers write with such precision and knowledge of the city, it makes me literally feel like I am at the scene in the novel. I recently read THE THIRD RAIL by Michael Harvey. I highly recommend it! Here is my review. 

THE THIRD RAIL by Michael Harvey is a great third novel, in my opinion the best out of his three! Harvey combines his writing talent with some factual Chicago events that kept me wanting more. It starts at the Southport "L" station where a shooting occurs in the middle of the day. Private Investigator (and former cop) Michael Kelly is there to witness it all, chasing the killer, almost to his own demise. He later gets a call, which leads him to the other killings and tying it all to close to home. More shootings occur along various "L" stops, causing the city to be in a state of panic, leaving the "L" eerily empty. Kelly uncovers that the work of this serial killer is tied to a horrifying "L" disaster tracing back to Kelly's childhood.

Keeping with Chicago's trademark clout, the Mayor brings him on to solve the case, quickly, quietly, and without a trace. The case takes many whipping turns, keeping the reader's heart pounding. Bodies piling up, Kelly follows several different clues, working parallel to Chicago's finest, the FBI, and Homeland Security. The suspense and curve balls taken in the novel leave you yearning for the bureaucratic tape to be taken down and let them stop interfering with Kelly's skills and let him solve the case. He works with a technological genius, the Chicago Archdiocese, and others to follow the case, especially when it gets personal, with his significant other becoming a target. The factual pieces, combined with the realistic background of the novel makes it one that is hard to put down and makes you feel like you are there, sitting on Lake Shore Drive, watching the events unfold.

The ending makes me looking forward to more great novels, with similar themes by Harvey in the future. 


I also recommend Havey's other two novels THE CHICAGO WAY and THE FIFTH FLOOR. Also, visit Michael's website.