Sep 23 : "Canary" - Duane Swierczynski (Philly)

Philly Book!

I'm eager to find those long commutes ... ... partly because I'm a member of a book club! Just finished reading "Canary", by Philly author Duane Swierczynski.

"Canary" is a fast-paced crime novel with an interesting ensemble of characters but telling its story focussing on two people: "Sarie Holland", a 19-year-old college student, who, while driving a new boyfriend to allegedly pick up a laptop he left at a friends house, is apprehended by "Ben Wildey", a police officer who is trying to make a name for himself on the Philly police force, and who has been watching that very house because it is really the house of a drug kingpin.

While I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime novels, I would give it a special recommendation to anyone who lives in Philly. BECAUSE THIS STORY TAKES PLACE IN PHILLY! It takes place in Philly at many familiar places and areas we Philadelphians see each day. It's got Khyber, the El, Roosevelt Blvd., movie theaters under I-95, Melrose Diner,, as well as the crooked Dr. near Drexel. ... ... ... and many more. And it's got detailed real descriptions all the way down to the color of the formica tables in the diners! Yikes!

Here's the blurb from the book's cover. It's dangerous enough when an ordinary college girl turns confidential informant. Even more dangerous when she's smarter than the killer, kingpins, and cops who control her.

Honors student Sarie Holland is busted by the local police while doing a favor for her boyfriend. Unwilling to betray him but desperate to avoid destroying her future, Sarie has no choice but to become a "CI"--a confidential informant.

Philly narcotics cop Ben Wildey is hungry for a career-making bust. The detective thinks he's found the key in Sarie: her boyfriend scores from a mid-level dealer with alleged ties to the major drug gangs.

Sarie turns out to be the perfect CI: a quick study with a shockingly keen understanding of the criminal mind. But Wildey, desperate for results, pushes too hard and inadvertently sends the nineteen-year-old into a death trap, leaving Sarie hunted by crooked cops and killers alike with nothing to save her--except what she's learned during her harrowing weeks as an informant.

Which is bad news for the police and the underworld. Because when it comes to payback, CI #1373 turns out to be a very quick study

This story has an interesting ensemble of characters who tell the story from different perspectives, but a main focus is the relationship between Sarie and Ben.

If you would like to get a copy of "Canary", here is the click to the FLP site where you can find available copies or "place a hold". Get "Canary" at FLP (CLICK HERE).