BRONX REQUIEM serves up a heady, dark, double shot of urban noir. Those familiar with John Clarkson’s past work, particularly AMONG THIEVES, would expect no less, but his latest ratchets things up a notch or five, with its cover, which instills a feeling of danger and menace, dramatic conclusion and everything in between.

The book heralds the return of James Beck, an ex-convict who, with a cadre of very capable and dangerous associates, operates a somewhat off-the-radar organization that assists newly released prisoners in obtaining housing and employment, and in navigating perilous and often treacherous readjustment to civilian life on the street. Beck was initially introduced in AMONG THIEVES, which promised a lot and delivered so much more. As good as that novel was, BRONX REQUIEM surpasses it.

"Clarkson affirms with BRONX REQUIEM that he is the real deal. His gritty cinematic vision of the real world rings true in sentence after sentence, page after page, in a story that is very much of the street and the people who inhabit it..."

The narrative opens with a bleak vignette out of Beck’s past, dealing with his introduction to incarceration in Clinton State Prison. A prisoner named Paco “Packy” Johnson took him under his wing, protecting him and teaching him how to survive. Beck would be the first to say that he owes his life, and everything he is, to Packy. So when Packy is about to be released, Beck is more than ready to return the favor and devote every resource he has to ensuring that his transition back in the world is smooth, safe and, most importantly, not a revolving door back to prison, where Packy has spent the majority of his life.

But before Beck even has a chance to see the man to whom he owes so much, Packy is found dead on the street as the result of a close-range gunshot wound administered after an apparent beatdown. It develops that Packy’s daughter --- a woman named Amelia Johnson, who is all but a stranger to him--- is a prostitute with the street name “Princess” in the stable of a dangerous and wide-ranging street gang. Packy’s first action as a free man was to attempt to remove his daughter from the situation. When Beck learns of this, he takes immediate steps to get a severe measure of revenge for his late friend as well as to rescue Packy’s daughter. Unfortunately, things go sideways, with one result being that Amelia is in the wind and in terrible danger. Additionally, Beck and his crew learn soon enough that Packy’s death, which appears to be the tragic result of a street beef, has its roots in something far more complex.

Meanwhile, a young and very ambitious NYPD detective is quickly interjecting himself into Beck’s life. John Palmer and his partner, a jaded veteran named Ray Ippolito, have been assigned to investigate Packy’s murder. Palmer learns of Packy’s connection to Beck and of Beck’s past criminal record, and is determined at the very least to put him behind bars for good, using that as a stepping stone for further promotion. Beck must see to it that justice is done for his late friend, while sidestepping the extremely driven Palmer. And while Beck’s lethal associates are there to help and protect him, they may not be enough against the forces on both sides of the law that are conspiring against them.

Clarkson affirms with BRONX REQUIEM that he is the real deal. His gritty cinematic vision of the real world rings true in sentence after sentence, page after page, in a story that is very much of the street and the people who inhabit it, folks whose eyes you will pray never meet yours. Clarkson is on my must-read list of authors and should be on yours as well.