"Tough and tender, Mallory and Gunner: City of Woe is a riveting combination of a straight-up police procedural matched with a psychological thriller -think Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series meets Seven- that also dips into the world of spiritual bordering on the preternatural. Christopher Ryan writes with authority, verve, and humor; his prose is sharp, quick-witted, and as multifaceted as the streets of New York. His characters are smart, hard-fisted, and full fleshed. Mallory and Gunner should prove ripe for many more adventures. I'm already looking forward to the next one. An impressive debut that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good solid read."-Michael Rogers, former senior editor, Library Journal"In his debut novel, Mallory and Gunner: City of Woe, Christopher Ryan does a smart turn on the classic police procedural in this murder mystery in which the hero, Detective Mallory, begins to wonder if the perp is as other worldly as his dying father's visions. Ryan's characters are fresh and convincing, his dialogue sharp and funny, and his plot twists will keep readers guessing right up through the suspenseful climax. You don't need to know Dante's Inferno or Joyce's Dubliner's or Ulysses to enjoy this book, but the subtle references add to the many pleasures to be found in these pages. This is a great read."-Alice Elliot Dark, Award-winning author of In the Gloaming, Think of England, and Naked to the Waist"Reading Christopher Ryan's debut novel Mallory and Gunner: City of Woe transports me back to my days in the NYPD's Detective Bureau. The dogged pursuit of a killer, the attention to procedural detail, and the witty banter between the hero Mallory and his partner Gunner are dead-on accurate. Ryan has an uncanny ability to bring the reader into many diverse worlds. Far from being a mere detective story, Ryan's tour de force gives the reader an education into homicide investigation. Ryan accomplishes it all with ease. Mallory and Gunner: City of Woe is terrific that I was reluctant to have end I eagerly await the next one."-Jean-Michael Akey, NYPD Detective Sergeant, Ret.