Officer Down by Theresa Schwegel

by Sharlan Douglas

At Christmas I asked Santa for books by Theresa Schwegel and the jolly elf obliged with her first book, Officer Down, which won the 2006 Edgar for best first novel.

The top cops think that our protagonist , Samantha Mack, shot her partner in a raid-gone-wrong. She’s crashing around trying to find the real killer, drinking too much and relying on her married lover and fellow cop to help clear her name.

‘d describe this as more police than procedural.  It captures the politics, paranoia and dark corners of a big city (Chicago) police department but short-changes protocol and rules of evidence.  Nevertheless, Schwegel paces the story well and creates rich details in an award-worthy first novel.

Tags: first edition, Mystery, officer down, Police procedural, Theresa Schwegel