“Rotten Cops and Revenge”: A Review of Deadly Enterprise, by Kevin G. Chapman

 (A Mike Stoneman Thriller, KDP, 2019). ISBN: 9781700401083

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to read and review the first book in this five-book series, Righteous Assassin. I was impressed with the author’s depth of research and craft in deftly working within the narrow tropes of the serial killer police procedural to create a high-stakes, page-turning, still-something-new narrative featuring well-rendered characters and an interesting villain.

I closed the review with my hope that future books would further illuminate the tough, veteran detective that is the hero of the novels, Mike Stoneman, and Chapman does not disappoint.

In this second novel, the serial killer is replaced by a set of shadowy rogue cops who are operating a drug and prostitution ring out of a seedy hotel. This, the author tells us at novel’s end, is based on a true story where the ringleader was generating two million dollars a year from a similar operation.

If you have seen The Batman, you know that crooked cops are another trope of which readers and viewers never get tired. Even more so than corrupt politicians, dishonest cops are a vile bunch, right up there with pedophile kindergarten teachers or child-porn-watching high school principals. We expect politicians to be loathsome; cops, not so much (although there has to be a caveat in the era of #BlackLivesMatter).

Speaking of race, Mike’s partner, who was a newly promoted detective in Righteous Assassin, is African American and there are tensions surrounding the role that race played in his swift promotion. Mike is one of the most vocal when it comes to pointed accusations throughout the first novel, although he and Jason have a bonding experience in the final act that makes him rethink his assessment. Both Mike and Jason mature in the sequel, as does their relationship, as Mike undergoes rehab for a wound to the shoulder sustained in the first novel and Jason works with a temporary partner on a case that just might be connected to the drug and sex ring.

As the narrative unfolds, we (re-)meet a supporting cast of somewhat stock characters (necessary in a police procedural), including an attractive medical examiner (whom Mike is dating), a seasoned, persistent New York Times crime reporter, the commissioner, the precinct captain (Irish, of course—and a Sullivan, also of course), the mayor, and investigators from the FBI and Internal Affairs. There are also the rogue cops, who would be perfectly portrayed in the film version by James Remar and Philip Bosco if it were the nineties.

Central to the story is Mike’s former partner, wounded in the line of duty—an incident for which Mike blames himself. His former partner’s typical Italian-American family serves to humanize Mike even further. There is also the committed sister of a drug overdose victim who journeys to New York determined to bring those responsible for her sister’s death to justice. Last, there is a Jamaican female police officer in the records department that adds a bit of levity to the narrative while also playing a crucial role in the solving of the case. She also serves to illuminate a lighter side of Jason during their interactions.

To say anything else would give the plot away. If you enjoyed Righteous Assassin, then the deeper dive into Mike’s past and what makes him tick as it were is well worth the ride. There are several references to the first book, as the sequel happens within four months of the end of the first.

Mike’s adventure in the third book takes place on a cruise ship, where he and Michelle are trying to relax. Sound familiar? This is another trope that we also love in action films, especially the beloved (and now must-watch-on-Christmas) first Die Hard film. Trouble follows the heroes of these stories wherever they go, and it will be interesting to see how Mike behaves away from his familiar stomping grounds.