The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey is a noirish mystery set in modern day Chicago. It attempts to integrate Chicago into the novel and making sure that real life locations are brought into the story. And, as for the title, yes Harvey does reference the Sean Connery quote from The Untouchables in the acknowledgments. So, how well does Harvey do in updating the noir novel?

Michael Kelly is a private detective who is an ex-cop (apparently all private investigators are ex-police) who’s remained chummy with his ex-partner. When the ex-partner comes in asking for help on a decade old rape case that we covered up by the department, Kelly has interest. When the ex-partner is killed, Kelly finds himself more interested than he originally envisioned. And when the victim comes to visit, pointing a gun at him, Kelly finds himself over his head in the case with no easy way out.

Helping Kelly in the case is a on-the-air news reporter/love interest Diane Lindsay and Kelly’s best friend from childhood, a police forensics expert Nicole Andrews whose boyfriend has an interest in rape cases. As would be expected, there are deaths, visits to (and from) the mob and police coverups that might have led to death and twists that no one has expected.

Harvey tries to make Chicago another character in the story, but tends to overdo it. The main characters are decently fleshed out, but a lot of them are straight out of central casting. I did like that Kelly’s best friend was not only a female, but a female scientist. I also liked Kelly’s interactions with the mob. The mob is just another institution that you have to deal with in the city. Kelly himself and his relationship with Diane was good, and I liked Diane’s motivations. Overall it was a decent story that was handled well, but had some limitations. Recommended.