Nickel Dime Town

When the widow of a police officer shows up at his office one day, wondering if her late husband had been having an affair, Chicago private detective Nick Acropolis is tempted to send her away. He's found that cops are not very fond of the private sector. But he figures infidelity is really a family matter, and he finds that he likes looking into the widow's eyes. Before long, he's knee deep in the sordid underbelly of the Chicago Police Department, wondering if he'll ever find his way out.

Kirkus Reviews called Nickel Dime Town, "A brazen, intriguing, and cleverly conceived mystery," and said Jack Clark's "rousing, dialogue-driven detective tale is engrossing mainly because Nick is an instantly likable and humorous private eye who is unafraid to sink deeper into each dangerous case."

This is the latest volume in the Nick Acropolis series. The Chicago Tribune called the first book, Westerfield's Chain, "The best mystery of the month," and said there was a memorable moment "on virtually every page." That book was also a finalist for a Shamus Award.