Synopses & Reviews
With her Edgar Award-winning novel Officer Down, Theresa Schwegel proved that she was a force to be reckoned with. Now she secures her place in the genre with another engrossing, tough-as-nails thriller about life--and death--inside the Chicago Police Department.
"Schwegel skillfully tightens the plot screws."--Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Ray Weiss is a third generation cop. All he's ever wanted is to follow in his father and grandfather's footsteps. But when he finds out what the senior officers in Chicago's District 20 have planned for his "initiation" into the brotherhood, he faces a difficult choice.
"Genuinely intriguing."--Publishers Weekly
Ray's senior partner, Jack Fiore, asks him to rob a jewelry store. It's just a little fun--especially because they're set up to "discover" the crime. Besides, Fiore gets the jewelry, Ray gets to be one of the boys, and the storeowner collects insurance. Ray doesn't want to do it, but Fiore leaves him no alternative. . . .
"Beautifully plotted ...great characters...nuance and depth."--Globe and Mail (Toronto)
When Ray breaks into the store, he finds a corpse instead of his promised reward. Is it coincidence, or payback for being a reluctant rookie? Detective Sloane Pearson is on the case, and if Ray doesn't help her find the killer, she might discover something even more dangerous: the truth.
Review
"Schwegel skillfully tightens the plot screws."--Marilyn Stasio,
The New York Times "Genuinely intriguing."--
Publishers Weekly "Beautifully plotted ...great characters...nuance and depth."--
Globe and Mail (Toronto) "Schwegel writes about police work with authority...tough and original."
--Chicago Tribune
Review
Praise for
Officer Down"Readers at last can enjoy a tough-gal yarn with heaps of moral ambiguity and good guys gone bad."
---San Francisco Chronicle
"An excellent choice for contemporary noir fans."
---Baltimore Sun on Officer Down
"A powerful and compelling first effort that promises good things to come from Schwegel."
---Chicago Sun-Times
"Schwegel, who writes about police work with authority, has also created a tough and original character."
---Chicago Tribune
"A terrific debut mystery with a hard-edged take on the police novel."
---Rocky Mountain News
"Instantly engrossing . . . Smack's voice is rough and real, conveying both her tough cookie persona and the authentic emotions behind her street face. . . . An impressive, gripping first novel."
---Publishers Weekly"Theresa Schwegel makes an impressive debut with this dark and gritty thriller." ---San Diego Union-Tribune
Synopsis
Officer Ray Weiss is a cop's son, a cop's grandson. All he's ever wanted is to follow in their footsteps. But when he finds out what the senior officers in Chicago's District 20 have in store for him and the other rookies as "initiation" into their brotherhood, he has to make a choice.
Ray's senior partner, Jack Fiore, asks him to break into a jewelry store and steal a few pieces. It's just a little fun---especially because they're set up to be the first cops on-scene to "discover" the crime. No one gets hurt, and everybody's happy: Fiore gets the jewelry, Ray gets to be one of the boys, and the store owner gets his insurance money. Ray doesn't want to do it, but Fiore leaves him no alternative. . . .
It all goes wrong when Ray breaks into the store and finds a corpse instead of his promised reward. Coincidence, or was that part of the setup, payback for being a reluctant rookie? And it doesn't end there, because Detective Sloane Pearson is on the case, and if Ray doesn't help her look for the killer, she might discover him.
Probable Cause is another gripping read from Theresa Schwegel, the Edgar Award--winning author of Officer Down, whose portrayal of cop culture is as authentic as it comes.
Synopsis
The author of the critically acclaimed Officer Down returns with a suspenseful new novel about rookie police officer Ray Weiss, following in his family's law enforcement legacy, as he confronts a brutal hazing initiation on the part of his senior officers in Chicago's District 20 and stumbles upon a corpse. 20,000 first printing.
Synopsis
Praise for
Officer Down"Readers at last can enjoy a tough-gal yarn with heaps of moral ambiguity and good guys gone bad."
---San Francisco Chronicle
"A powerful and compelling first effort that promises good things to come from Schwegel."
---Chicago Sun-Times
"Schwegel, who writes about police work with authority, has also created a tough and original character."
---Chicago Tribune
"A terrific debut mystery with a hard-edged take on the police novel."
---Rocky Mountain News
"Instantly engrossing . . . Smack's voice is rough and real, conveying both her tough cookie persona and the authentic emotions behind her street face. . . . An impressive, gripping first novel."
---Publishers Weekly"Theresa Schwegel makes an impressive debut with this dark and gritty thriller." ---San Diego Union-Tribune
Synopsis
Ray Weiss is a third generation cop. All he's ever wanted is to follow in his father and grandfather's footsteps. But when he finds out what the senior officers in Chicago's District 20 have planned for his "initiation" into the brotherhood, he faces a difficult choice.
Ray's senior partner, Jack Fiore, asks him to rob a jewelry store. It's just a little fun--especially because they're set up to "discover" the crime. Besides, Fiore gets the jewelry, Ray gets to be one of the boys, and the storeowner collects insurance. Ray doesn't want to do it, but Fiore leaves him no alternative. . . .
When Ray breaks into the store, he finds a corpse instead of his promised reward. Is it coincidence, or payback for being a reluctant rookie? Detective Sloane Pearson is on the case, and if Ray doesn't help her find the killer, she might discover something even more dangerous: the truth.
About the Author
Theresa Schwegel was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Loyola University there. She received an MFA in screenwriting at Chapman University in California and now lives in Los Angeles. Her first novel, Officer Down, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was short-listed for the Anthony Award for Best First Novel.