Manhattan North Homocide: The True Story of New York City's Best Homicide Cop

An NYPD detective for almost 30 years, McKenna spent most of that time on the force as a specialist in homicide. Here, he emphasizes that teamwork is the most vital element in successful police work. Writing with freelancer Harrington, he compellingly details his efforts in high-profile cases like those of the Central Park jogger who was raped, beaten and left for dead, and the preppie murder case, in which both the victim and her killer were from the posh Upper East Side. Although he is an officer in the Joe Friday, just-the-facts-ma'am mode, McKenna also tells of cases that involved him emotionally; for example, that of a baby whose mother had been murdered, reunited with the father, who thought his child had been killed. Many less publicized cases are presented in this fast-moving and gripping read, all of them pointing up the patient, dogged persistence required by the job and the dangers encountered in trying to do it well. Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)