Criminal Conversation

An assistant district attorney launches a one-man crusade against the Mafia in this legal thriller from the bestselling author of the 87th Precinct series. The call comes from Narcotics, Manhattan South. A low-level drug dealer just got caught in a buy-bust, and hes ready to spill his guts. It wouldnt be a priorityespecially not four days before Christmasbut the thug just mentioned the Mafia, and that means all hands on deck. Its just what Michael Welles has been waiting for. An assistant district attorney with a burning hatred of organized crime, hell do anything for a crack at the mob. Hes about to get a chance to bring down the whole clanbut his loved ones lives are at stake. The dealer they arrested is an unlucky gambler whose debts put him smack in the middle of two of New Yorks most powerful crime families. Following the mans lead, Michael sets up a massive eavesdropping operation intended to trap the ruthless new leader of the local mobbut what he hears on the other end of the wiretap will make him doubt everything he knows about his family, his wife, and himself. From the legendary Ed McBain, who virtually invented the American police procedural with his gritty 87th Precinct series, Criminal Conversation is as realistic as it gets (The New York Times).