Detroit Is Our Beat: Tales of the Four Horsemen

Set in Detroit during WWII, the 10 irresistible crime stories in this collection from Shamus Award–finalist Estleman (Jitterbug) focus on a tactical squad in the Detroit PD known as the Four Horsemen. The squad tackles off-beat cases ranging from a racially motivated murder (“The Latin Beat”) to an extortion threat aimed at crooner Frank Sinatra (“Get Sinatra”). Best in the book is “Sitting Ducks,” in which the Horsemen themselves become the targets of a complicated murder scheme. An energetic researcher steeped in the history of Detroit, Estleman fills every page with authentic period details about such things as the rulings of the Office of Price Administration, counting red stamps before making a purchase at the local butcher shop, and the nearby Chrysler factory converted from building automobiles to assembling tanks. Readers will have fun ferreting out a couple of minor historical errors. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary. (May)