The Coffin Haulers

The Coffin Haulers
by Gregg Cebrzynski

From figuring out the culprit who stole $50 from the church offering to murder, Joey "Baloney" Boloccini is the go-to guy. Set in "Little Village," a Polish neighborhood in Chicago, we are introduced to a young and beautiful female immigrant. When she is murdered, the family that had taken her in wants answers and hires a private detective from the neighborhood.

Joey, a down-at-the-heels ex-cop makes enough to keep his storefront open---barely. This is difficult when he ends up getting paid in cinnamon cakes. But he uses his police training and neighborhood contacts to navigate around the secrets that some people would kill to keep hidden. It's always great to see a character evolve and grow and that definitely happens here.

Choosing between between right and wrong seems simple enough, but what if it starts off only a little wrong, what if your family's survival is at stake? This book is great at exploring those gray areas and how our excuses can be used to rationalize even the most heinous acts.

From the foods eaten to the holiday customs, the Polish community is as much a part of the story as the characters. The time frame, 1974, also plays a part. It's fun to have characters going to the library and looking up answers in an encyclopedia. Well-written characters that come alive on the page and an intriguing mystery make this terrific book an enjoyable and fast read. I'm looking forward to more from this author.