Murder at City Hall - Hardcover

Edward I. Koch

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0821750879 ISBN 13: 9780821750872

Publisher: Kensington Books, 1995

Synopsis

Ed Koch, mayor of New York City, turns sleuth when the body of a hated tycoon suddenly appears in the Wedding Chapel of City Hall, and the mayor, his associates, and his friends all become suspects in the crime.

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Reviews

He's rested, he tanned, he's back?and he's the mayor for life! So begins this unexpectedly lifeless series launch, written by and starring the former New York City mayor, in collaboration with Resnicow (The Golden Solution). The bidding is about to begin on the Muni Railroad Yard, promising a boom for real estate developers. Karl Krieg, sleaze extraordinaire who heads the list of potential buyers, is stabbed to death at City Hall Chapel, where Koch is officiating at a friend's wedding. Hizzoner lines up the suspects: the mother of the bride, who's been stiffed out of $2 million by the victim; the widow Krieg, now just a penniless ex-showgirl; a man who was taken for $600,000 by Krieg; a couple who desperately need the Muni Project to avoid bankruptcy; and a city commissioner (and ex-Israeli commando) with an ethical grudge to bear. Except for a brilliant performance by Koch's omniscient, wisecracking father, this colorless mystery has absolutely no New York flavor or energy?it could have taken place in Hartford. Koch, who likes to brag "I don't get headaches; I give headaches" lives up to his word here. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

There's not much to recommend this self-promoting, full-of-itself book--thinly disguised as a mystery--other than the fact that it was written by "Hizzoner," the flamboyant former mayor of the Big Apple. Koch teams up with mystery writer Resnicow in a story that has Koch reprising his mayoral role and investigating a grisly murder that occurs at a City Hall wedding where Koch is officiating. Balancing the murder investigation and his demanding duties at City Hall, Koch moves swiftly to find the killer, all the while delivering fervent asides about how smart he is, what a fine job he did as mayor, how talented he is . . . in short, offering up an ode to Koch. The story is only mildly entertaining, but the sheer energy of Koch's charming, outrageous, outspoken egomania--plus his name on the cover--will no doubt generate interest at least in the Northeast. Emily Melton

Koch models his fictional sleuth?older than some, younger than a few?after himself as the idealized, perpetual mayor of New York City. During a City Hall wedding at which the mayor officiates, a guest murders a much-hated real estate figure, and Koch becomes a prime suspect. The genial but hardly modest Koch retaliates by tracking down the true killer. He is helped by secretary Rosemary and good friend Lolly. Brief paragraphs, newsy style, breezy plot, and superficial characters combine for easy-to-read but mostly forgettable entertainment.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Kensington Books
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0821750879
• ISBN 13: 9780821750872
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 197