Heart of the City

Excellent book. An ex-homicide detective becomes involved in the murder of a condo developer. Well written story. The characters and the suspense weave a very interesting and hard to put down mystery.

Kindle Copy for Review

Homicide Detective Ari Greene returns home after his self exile after his last case went wrong. He returns with a daughter he never knew existed and wants to change his life into one of a less dangerous.

Taking a job as a construction worker he soon finds his rich boss murdered body. The prime suspect is a female environmentalist who apposes his condo building in the city. Once again Ari finds himself in the middle of things.

Fans of the author will enjoy experiencing Toronto with a gripping plot.

This is the 5th in this great series set in Toronto and after waiting 3 years for the author to return to this wonderful cast of characters, the results are in and the wait was worth it. Detective turned construction worker Ari Greene stumbles across the murdered body of a young, hot shot urban developer.......a man with enough enemies to start a small country. Greene's protégé, Detective Daniel Kennicott leads a tight police procedural as the authorities investigate the many suspects. Along with these 2 stalwart leads, Rotenberg pens a very strong supporting cast of compelling characters and a tightly woven plot that unfolds at a perfect pace. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is number five in the series of books, but was easily read as a stand-alone without needing too much prior knowledge of the storyline.

Detective Ari Greene has just come back to Toronto from a self-imposed exile in London after having been falsely accused and acquitted of murder with his previously unknown English daughter Alison in tow. Unwilling to return to police duty, he takes up work as a labourer for a construction company under the leadership of his good friend, who in turn, words for Livingston Fox, boy wonder developer of the construction world. That is, until Fox is found brutally murdered on the very same work site that Greene is working on. What follows is Greens reluctant return to working out the mystery of who murdered Fox on an unofficial basis as a ‘concerned citizen’ rather than on the approved police line-up.

This is not a long book and is fairly easy to fly through in a sitting or two. It’s not quite a cosy mystery, but maybe a close cousin of one. The clues are laid out clearly from the start, it’s a matter of how quickly you pick up on them and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Character development is drawn out and not very detailed, but perhaps that is because there are four previous books and more planned in which to take the series forward. The underlying progression of Alison and Ari becoming closer as a newly formed family is gently played out. There are enough characters in this book to create possible villains but not so many as impossible to keep track of.

This was entertaining enough to fill in a rainy summers day, but it does not ignite the passions to make the reader want to go back and read the series from the start.

For fans.

First, a thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Robert Rotenberg for providing me with a copy of this novel.
This is the fifth novel in the Ari Greene series. After returning from an extended, Greene is trying to reinvent himself by leaving the police department and working on a construction site and settling into the new role of father, helping his 20 year old daughter adjust to her new life in Canada. Greene find the body of the developer of the condo construction job he is working on, and his detective skills kick in and once again, he is back into the life he tried so hard to leave behind, butting heads with his former college, Daniel Kennictott.
The novel is a quick read. An interesting murder plot reflecting the contrast between lucrative real estate transactions and the strong need for housing complexes for lower income families. The supporting cast was very strong and leads the story into different and interesting plots, which kept me guessing who the actual killer might be. The story moved quickly, with the help of short chapters.
It could be read as a stand-alone if you have not read any of the other series, though the other storylines are mentioned frequently throughout this novel.
It wasn’t my favourite police procedural novel, though being Canadian, it is refreshing to read a novel set in Toronto.

An enthusiastic high 4 stars! I love this series. I don't know if Rotenberg has developed much of an audience outside of Canada, or even outside of Toronto, but he certainly deserves it. Like Rotenberg's previous mysteries, Heart of the City is set in Toronto's downtown core. Through the story, Rotenberg takes on one of Toronto's ongoing urban issues -- the impact of expanding real estate development on the urban core and access to low cost housing. While I love this series because it takes on familiar issues and takes place right in my stomping grounds, I especially like it because Rotenberg has created smart complex characters and great plots. The lead investigator is Ari Green, who is currently on the outs with the Toronto police department and has recently discovered a 20 year old daughter. He is doing construction work on a worksite in Kensington market, when the developer of the project is found dead. Green finds a way to become involved in the investigation even though he's not working as a detective. In the tradition of Bosch, Green is far from perfect but he has a strong moral compass and uncanny instincts. This wasn't my favourite in the series -- the last one was -- but it was close. I'm not sure the end quite worked for me, but I loved everything leading up to the end. I hope Rotenberg doesn't take as long to write his next book. As you can tell, I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes character and plot driven mysteries, even if you have no connection to Toronto. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

Detective Ari Greene returns home to Toronto after spending time abroad following his acquittal for the murder of his lover. Attempting to avoid the world of homicide for a while, he takes a job on a construction site only to stumble across another corpse. The victim is Livingstone Fox, a successful developer whose projects have raised protests among local community activists.

While not the most memorable of mystery novels, this was an enjoyable light read, well-written with interesting characters and an unpredictable ending. As always Rotenberg gets bonus points from this Torontonian for his very recognizable settings and topical themes. It's always a treat to walk well-known streets with characters who could easily have stepped forth from a CityPulse24 newscast.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Rotenberg, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After much anticipation, Robert Rotenberg is back with his fifth novel in the Ari Greene series. Jam-packed with action, this crime thriller will have the reader flying through the pages with ease as the search for another killer commences. Forced to reinvent himself, Ari Greene is back in Toronto and working on a construction site. When he discovers the body of real estate magnate, Livingston Fox, Greene’s former detective senses kick into high gear. Detective Daniel Kennicott now heads up the Homicide team investigating the case and is the first to acknowledge that his former mentor seems unable to shake the skill of discovering dead bodies. As Kennicott begins his investigation, it becomes apparent that Fox was anything but much-loved in the community. Numerous people had motives to see him taken out, including a community activist who had butted heads with the man over many of his recent projects. Lurking behind the scenes is Alison Gilroy, a anonymous blogger and British transplant who is the child that Green never knew he had until his recent trip across the Pond. Alison’s work and sleuthing has put her in a precarious position, one that she is even hiding from her father. While Kennicott peels back the onion to discover the contrasting life Fox had in comparison to the rest of his family, the detective discovers that there might have been a secret in the works for an upcoming low-income housing complex. Could Fox have been turning over a new leaf in order to give back? Might Alison know more than she is telling everyone? Will Ari Greene be able to shed the past skirmishes he had with Kennicott and the Homicide Division too bring a killer to justice? All is revealed in this stunning piece that Rotenberg crafts with precision. Perfect for those who love a good Canadian crime drama set in the heart of the country’s largest metropolis.

I have long been a fan of Rotenberg and his work, so it pained me to wait so long between novels. However, the wait was worth it, as I found myself fully committed to the book and all the developments found therein. Rotenberg was faced with some significant decisions after Ari Greene was railroaded in the last novel. Having him return with Alison allowed for significant character growth, as well as tapping into that strong parent-child bond that is sure to develop. This offshoot, as well as Greene’s new post-Homicide life, fuel the narrative throughout and allow Daniel Kennicott to assume a more independent role, where he can lead the case in his own direction. The supporting cast of characters also present strong avenues to propel the narrative in numerous directions and are varied enough to keep the story interesting. The murder plot itself is intriguing, presenting the contrast between lucrative real estate deals and the needed housing complexes that the ‘common person’ can afford. Rotenberg’s development of this premise keeps the reader hooked and forging ahead in a story that offers little time for rest. Short chapters help to keep the pace alongside a wonderfully crafted Canadian feel to the narrative, while not getting too emotional or syrupy. Rotenberg is a master at his craft and while I understand he is otherwise employed during the day, I can only hope he has more story ideas that he can quickly get to paper for his adoring fans.

Kudos, Mr. Rotenberg for another wonderful piece. I have been keeping an eye out for your work and praying that you’ll show that Canada has a place in the crime thriller genre. You have outdone yourself here!

Ari Greene was a detective in Toronto until he was charged with murder. When they eventually cleared his name, he went to England and met the daughter he never knew existed. Now he is working at a construction site in Kensington markets. His daughter, Alison, is supposed to be in journalism school, but she dropped out to start the blog, Kensington Confidential. She writes about the controversies in that neighbourhood, including the condos being built by Livingston Fox. When Livingston Fox is murdered, Greene finds his body. Greene goes back to working alongside his former coworker Kennicott so solve this murder.

This story was fast paced and thrilling. I read it in just a couple of hours.

Being from Toronto, I loved all the references to the city. I could picture where everything was happening, including most of the stores that were mentioned. I felt a close connection to this story.

I haven’t read any other books in the series, but it was easy to pick up. Things in their past were explained quickly, so the story could move forward. At the same time, I learned enough about the characters to understand them.

This was a great read, especially for Toronto residents!

Former homicide detective Ari Greene has started a new life with his adult daughter, Alison, back home in Toronto. Two days into his new job on a construction site, Ari stumbles upon a murder victim, and unwittingly begins to solve the crime. The plot moved quickly, and the characters were relatable and realistic. I enjoyed following up on clues with Greene, as well as the detectives. A great mystery, as well as a great police procedural thriller.

Heart of the City
Robert Rotenberg
Simon & Schuster Canada 2017
simonandschuster.ca
robertrotenberg.com
netgalley.com




Former Homicide Detetctive Ari Greene has returned from an extended visit to the UK, bringing with him a very unexpected surprise… the daughter he never knew he had. Instead of returning to Homicide, Ari is working in the construction field. Desirous of nothing more than to make a life that is both comfortable and happy for his daughter, Ari has gone to work for an old high school friend on a downtown development site. It is a day like any other day, until he discovers the body of the site’s developer, the man the city loves to hate, Livingston Fox. Then things start to get a little crazy.

The last time Ari had found a body, he had fled the scene and was subsequently arrested for the murder. He had cleared his name and found the real killer, then left for England. This time Ari was going to make certain there was no such mistake. Unfortunately the discovery will force him right back into a life he wanted to leave far behind, as well as a reconciliation with Daniel Kennicott, his former partner and protégé.

The world of downtown development is far more corrupt than Ari would have thought. It is a world of high stakes and huge gambles, but the pay off can be immense. The web of corruption is utterly amazing to the uninitiated, leaving Ari and Kennicott to battle the deceptive double-dealing industry powers. Fox was reviled by almost everyone in the industry, and there are even shadows of intrigue and mystery surrounding his family. The list of suspects is certainly not difficult to put together.

The plot writhes about like a living thing, taking unexpected turn after unexpected turn. Shadows and secrets abound, both expected and not. While ‘Heart of the City’ isn't what I'd call a heart stopping race for the finish, it is a solid read that must be seen through once it has begun.

Glimpses of Toronto are fruitful throughout the novel, adding a depth of wonderful realism to a fictional work. Rotenberg is one of Toronto’s top criminal lawyers, and while his experience gives him the fodder for some excellent stories, his talent allows him to create some fantastic characters, believable and appealing. The same can be said for the plot line, it is solid and very well paced, reaching a wonderful and not quite expected crescendo at the end.

This is title #5 in the Ari Greene series, however it is a great standalone novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC