This is a good crime story. There are police officers (both good and bad), mobsters and drug lords. Most of the people in this book would rather shoot first and ask questions later. When Tank, a retired police officer, is asked to look into a cold case where two prostitutes were brutally attacked. It quickly becomes apparent that there is a lot more to this case. Things escalate quickly until Tank is involved in a war with a drug lord named Gonzo.

The story moves along quickly and was very interesting. There is a lot of action. There is a bit of a family element, with Tank suddenly becoming the guardian of his nephew. The ending contains a set up for a future book. I would recommend this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The previous reviews seem to have nailed this book. It is definitely a fun story with the bad guys getting what they deserve. The logic of some of the situations leaves much to be desired. Readers will be very satisfied with this book as long as they do not expect high level literature.

Thanks Net Galley for the advance copy. I found this book to be a page turner. It has a very good plot. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys police genre.

I am really struggling with articulating how I felt about this book. It wasn’t great, it got repetitive and the pace was a mess, and despite all that I really liked it! The main character is a retired police officer with a heart of gold and an amazing ability to lead a team even though I couldn’t really figure what he did that was special on that team. But it was the relationships between him and his (sort of) father-in-law, his long time girlfriend, his nephew, and his old partner who is wheel chair bound that really drove the story. Of course it would have helped to have a more interesting mystery or more clever bad-guy to hunt down and conquer. The antagonist here was pretty lame. All that said, I would definitely recommend it as a light and fun read. If I could give 3.5 stars I would, but I’ll be generous and leave it as 4.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Great read!!! Very suspenseful and high energy! I felt like I was in NYC while reading this book! Highly recommend!t

Very fast-paced procedural crime drama that has quite a few twists and turns. I very much enjoyed the novel, but I have some more constructive feedback as well. This was a very fast read for me, which wasn’t a bad thing because by halfway through the novel, I found myself quite bored and annoyed with the main character - a man I was supposed to take seriously despite his name being Tank. He kept alluding to the reason he and his brother went separate ways years ago, but never once revealed the reason why in the novel. This was extremely frustrating for the reader. In addition, I was a bit skeptical of the ethics of including a 15-year-old in a drug and potential murder investigation.

Lorenzo Carcaterra proves that he is still at the top of his game with “Tin Badges”. His unique writing style keeps you interested throughout and keeps the pages turning. He writes with a lifelong knowledge of the rough and seedy underbelly of the boroughs of New York. Plenty of character development and backstory is also provided for the key characters. I have long been a fan of “Sleepers”, and I was very excited to read this new novel from him.

Former NYPD detective Tank Rizzo is called out of retirement to assist in a dangerous case. He is aided by his former partner, Pearl, and a select group of individuals that Tank trusts with his life.

Tank’s world suddenly changes when his brother and sister-in-law are killed and Tank gets custody of his teenage nephew. Tank and his brother, Jack, have been estranged for decades. There is an ongoing reference to something that happened to cause a riff between them, but Tank is adamant about taking that secret to his grave.

As the investigation unfolds, Tank and his crew uncover a link to a notorious gangster in the cold case they are working. Tank’s nephew, Chris, is still uncertain about his new life arrangement, but he soon finds his way as he is invited to aid in the investigation. Chris is a crime and history buff, and he belongs to an online group that studies cold cases. Tank is reluctant at first to let Chris in on the case, but his skills prove to be too valuable to ignore.

As the story progresses, Tank and his crew begin receiving targeted threats from the ring leader, Gonzo, to back off. The threats turn personal, but this just infuriates Tank even more and makes him more determined to connect the dots and bring those responsible to justice. This leads up to an exciting conclusion that leaves the door open for another possible installment in a new series.

I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tin Badges are those imaginary ones carried by ex-cops and ex-military looking to clear up unsolved crimes after authorities have given up on finding a solution. Tank Rizzo is retired from the NYPD and his old commander brings him the occasional dead file to keep him and his team of misfits busy. Working one case until it is solved is a luxury available only to those no longer working the street, and Tank and crew have an excellent success rate going for them.

But the case handed down to them this time is slightly different. In the first place it is only a few months old, a home invasion where a couple of working girls were beaten and raped. The ladies spent 10 plus days in ICU, bringing attempted murder into the charges. And one of the girls was an underaged runaway from a well-to-do out-of-state family. Looking closer, there aren't many signs of real police work done on the case, and closer still there may be a link to a really nasty drug connection named Gonzo. Throw in a newly orphaned teen nephew and Tank certainly has his hands full. But you know from the get-go that he can handle it. The only question is 'how'?

This novel is filled with interesting characters who make you smile and mysteries that keep your mind hopping. I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family. Lorenzo Carcaterra is an author to follow.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Lorenzo Carcaterra, and Mulholland Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this tale of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

An interesting twist on the usual protagonist, plus several three-dimensional supporting characters, gave this mystery a fresh and compelling plot. I liked it so much that it turned into a binge-read, and I'm a new fan of this author. Great read!

First time reading this author, won't be the last!

Great read, and character development.

The story twists and turns and never lets you down. One of those books you can't put down and when you do, you can't wait to get back to it.

Well done, there will be more of Mr Carcarerra's books on my list.

Tank Rizzo is a retired cop who occasionally takes on cold or unsolved cases for his former chief in this new thriller by Lorenzo Carcatera, who knows the mean streets of the city as well as any hard-boiled writer in the genre. Tank turned in his papers after a shooting that left his partner and best friend crippled and his zest for the job diminished but not entirely gone. With a motley crew of like-minded pals, including his girlfriend's father who happens to be a Greenwich Village restaurateur as well as a retired Mafia Don, and Chris, his 15 year old suddenly orphaned nephew, Tank takes on what at first looks like a small-time crime but turns out to be much more than that. What's intriguing about this otherwise standard drugs, thugs and guns story are the still waters that run deep in the protagonist. The secret about what estranged Tank from his brother and why he won't reveal it to anyone, including Chris, creates enough tension to keep the reader wondering while the good guys are bringing down the biggest drug dealer in the city. But by the time the action is over, it turns out to be less than the build up warrants. Perhaps we'll have to wait for the next Tank Rizzo to find out; the author sets up the sequel in the penultimate paragraph in the book.

I really wanted to read Tin Badges by Lorenzo because the cover and description grabbed my attention. I have not read any of author Lorenzo Carcaterra's books before, but I am glad that I have now! Tin Badges is a rough group of colorful characters gathering together to solve cold cases. Retired Detectives Tank and his former partner in solving crime, Pearl are the leaders of the Tin Badges group. Tank suddenly becomes the guardian to his nephew, Chris who is 15 and angry at the world. The two had never met before Chris was orphaned and they both have some grieving to do.

Chris becomes interested in helping solve the case that the crew are working on and his computer skills come in handy. This has him bonding some, little by little with his Uncle Tank while the case becomes more complicated...and of course, more dangerous.

The writing was good, with developed characters and a decent flow on pace. There were times when it slowed some, but I think that was intentional to allow the reader to get a little comfortable and at times, to get a little intense.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lorenzo Carcaterra and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. As always, my opinions are my own. My review will publish August 2019.

This is a great crime novel that reminds me of hard-boiled detective fiction. Tank is a former police detective who works cold cases for the police department. His ragtag team, some of dubious background, support his and his partner's efforts to bring down the bad guys. His personal life gets thrown for a loop when his estranged brother dies and he gets sole custody of his 15 year old computer geek nephew. The start of a great series!.

ARC from NET GALLEY

Shorter than most but no more was needed with Tank and pearl the kind of throw-back, bring-back hard cases that were needed to find out the truth. I enjoyed over a weekend.

While not quite as gritty as I expected, Tin Badges is a solid crime novel. It’s very smart and both the plot and characters keep you intrigued.

I loved Tank Rizzo, and especially loved how family, friendship, and the streets all intertwined here.

Carcarterra’s writing style is tight and stylish, making this a compelling read.

I enjoyed this and would like more Tank Rizzo books in the future!


*ARC Provided via Net Galley

It's been a number of years since I last read one of Lorenzo Carcaterra's novels and to be honest, I haven't kept up with his career. But I would know the name anywhere and was really excited to see he has a new novel coming out.

I thought the premise of this novel was great and the first few chapters had me hooked. Unfortunately, after those chapters, the pace slowed down quite a bit and didn't pick up again until about the halfway mark. I stuck with it and went on quite the thrill ride until the end.

I loved the strength of the characters in this book. Each one was well developed. The short, snappy chapters and appropriate headings made it easy to keep track of the timeline and settings. The initial crime that spiraled into something much greater was interesting to figure out.

I didn't care for some of the lengthy descriptions of characters that weren't crucial to the storyline. Also, I felt like Chris's acceptance into the group and his living situation with his uncle was too easy. For a kid who just lost both of his parents, I expected more conflict between him and his uncle. There were some tense moments, but not enough. We're told that Chris is angry, but I wasn't really seeing it. The ending of this book set up a nice opportunity for a sequel and if that happens, I'm hoping this is something that's explored a bit more.

Overall, this was a quick read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent. The story moves smoothly from beginning to end. There is humor, action, loss. I was touched at the beginning, loss that was poignantly done. The bad guys are well and truly written. This does end with a set up for the next book. Well done with a bite.

There's a lot of sweating going. I think the novel may have set a record for the number of characters who were sweating, usually from the back of the neck. One guy's sweat was pooling at his feet! Top that, will you? As it is, the novel did not make me sweat. It was a bit of a comic book. The plot is very straightforward, and we are given numerous scenarios where the protagonist could die. Of course, we knew he wouldn't. As for a police novel, well, it wasn't entirely unrealistic. The bad cops got their due, and it turned out that the chief wasn't crooked too. All in all, a pleasant read at the beach or on a short flight.
Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Tin Badges represents one of my favorite types of thrillers - it's part police procedural, part gritty street fight, and part character study. Tank and his partner, Pearl, are former NYPD detectives who were forced to retire because of severe job-related injuries. Both are rough and tough yet there is a moral compass that guides them to fight the bad guys and not ever give up. They are well-rounded characters who find joy in music and good food rather than dank bars and shoddy behavior. Their retirement, with Pearl now severely disabled, has not put them out of the crime fighting scene; they and a small team of specialists now quietly work specially chosen cases under the auspices of the chief of detectives. Some of the "specialists" may have been on opposites sides of the law but all have a sense of honor and responsibility to community.

Tank has never married and when his estranged brother and sister-in-law are killed in a car accident, Tank finds himself as the guardian of their fifteen-year-old son, Chris. Chris may be young but he is mighty with a computer so his unique skill set makes him a viable team member. Their relationship is awkward and tentative but Tank's basic humane core has another opportunity to be expressed.

The current case involves a cold case of two women brutally assaulted during a home invasion. It isn't long before drugs, crooked cops, and money laundering come into the story. Again that moral compass keeps Tank et al focused on what's right. It's a long, complicated, bloody war with no one left unscathed.

Carcaterra leaves an open question at the end of this satisfying read that perhaps could be the foundation for a sequel.
#NetGalley #TinBadges

Sometimes I find myself drawn into a book because of a certain combination of characters, and Tin Badges has this in spades. "As one of the NYPD’s most trusted “tin badges”—retired detectives brought in to solve cases that are beyond the reach of the everyday force—" Tommy (Tank) Rizzo, retired from the police force because of an injury, is given cold cases in a sort of freelance manner.

He and his former partner Pearl, who is now confined to a wheelchair, have assembled a team of various misfit experts whose operations have not always been legal. Their most recent case is a vicious attack on two women and a connection to a brutal drug lord

Then Tank gets a call that his brother and sister-in-law have been killed in a car accident. The brothers have had no contact for years, and Tank finds himself guardian of an almost fifteen-year-old nephew that he doesn't even know.

Devastated by the death of both parents, angry that an uncle who has had no contact with his family is now his only choice for a home, young Chris is bitter, but curious about the case Tank and his unorthodox team are involved in. With outstanding computer skills and an interest in crime solving, Chris wants to work his way into the investigation. Chris also believes his parents were murdered and needs Tank to believe him.

Fast-paced and full of action and suspense, Tin Badges may not pass the reality test, but it will suck you in as you fear for the (relatively) good guys and despise the evil-doers.

The next one in this new series is definitely on my list as I want to find out more about the situation that occurred when Tank and his brother were young and about how he and Chris are going to solve the murders that are intimately connected to them both.

Read in May; blog review scheduled for Aug. 15, 2019.

NetGalley/Random House/Ballantine
Crime/Suspense. Aug. 27, 2019. Print length: 304 pages.