Manhattan North Homocide: The True Story of New York City's Best Homicide Cop

by Thomas McKenna and Thomas McKenna

Book Overview

He's been called a "super detective", one of the best in the city, but Thomas McKenna considers himself just another dedicated cop on New York City's most renowned police squad--Manhattan North Homicide. In this account of his distinguished 25-year career, he reveals the drama of life on the job, including the Central Park Jogger Case, the Baby Maldonado Case and the Preppie Murder Case. Eight-page photo insert. Martin's Press.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031214010X
• ISBN13: 9780312140106
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

True Detective Stories

The 240 pages in this very readable book cover the highlights in the career of Detective First Grade McKenna and his thirty years in the NYPD. He shares his thoughts while discussing many of his interesting cases. The book reads like a TV series waiting to happen. The 14 chapters tell of the events behind the newspaper stories.Chapter 1 tells of the Central Park Jogger attacked in April 1989. Page 9 tells that if a suspect denies being at the scene of the crime, he has something to hide. Perhaps there's another reason for not getting involved? Detective McKenna got a confession that resulted in a conviction. But in 2003 the DNA evidence caused their release from jail, and exoneration. "There was no physical evidence". Is there a lesson to be learned? Should anyone be convicted on a disputed confession when there is no other evidence? But it happens.When crimes occur, Detectives show up after to gather the statements of eyewitnesses, and begin their investigation. Sometimes they get information from people who were not there. After spending hours and days the facts emerge to point to the suspects. They are tracked down, arrested, then convicted. Detective McKenna emphasizes that "police work is all teamwork". Many of the crimes just happen by opportunity; there are few masterminds in street crime. One exception is on page 40. After you read this book you can turn to the classic Hammett and Chandler short stories with a new viewpoint.