Book excerpt: AN AWARD-WINNING LAW & ORDER WRITER WHO KNOWS THE CITY STREETS LIKE FEW DO . . . A COP THRILLER THAT WILL HOLD YOU IN ITS GRIP. . . . Charles Kipps introduces Conor Bard, NYPD homicide detective and wanna-be rock star, in his suspense-packed debut novel. Hell’s Kitchen: The Manhattan neighborhood with a long history of cold-blooded crimes now witnesses one more—the murder of a hugely successful criminal defense lawyer with rumored Mafia ties, whose corpse is found on the banks of the Hudson River. Conor Bard’s investigation begins with a sexy, unfaithful widow who stands to inherit millions . . . and leads him to cross paths with a sorrowful, intriguing Albanian woman he can’t resist. Young enough to chase down bad guys, smart enough to know time’s ticking on his dreams of making it in the music business and finding the right woman, Conor will discover that time is more precious than even he may realize . . . as a tightening web of secrets, lies, and seduction may cut his own life short.