Rough Justice

Edgar winner Peterson ( Trapdoor ) keeps up a sizzling pace in this hard-hitting thriller. There's not a wasted word or a single misstep in his story of a middle-aged muckraking journalist determined to expose New York City corruption. John Wells is a credibly complex character, a true believer in justice who nonetheless isn't naive enough to expect justice to be done without a struggle. Wells teeters uneasily between the roles of crusader and cynic as he tries to clear himself of a murder charge pinned on him by a crooked cop who bears a grudge. Peterson's punchy style and deft manipulation of telling detail give the story an almost cinematic vividness; a spare account of Wells being chased through a speeding subway train is particularly exciting. The mystery remains a genuine cliffhanger virtually until the novel's last paragraph. This is top-notch crime fiction: gutsy, gritty and gripping. (Nov.)