Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The police precinct of Midtown North is a microcosm of the public picture of New York. It stretches from the Hudson River piers and the decrepit West Side Highway east to the soaring towers and exclusive shops that line Fifth Avenue. #2 There is a barely concealed stench of desperation and fear beneath the wealth, glitter, and success of New York City. For some, their fears drive them away from the quiet hopelessness to desperate acts. #3 The argument about who should lead the investigation into the murders was desultory and academic. It was Stanley Shapiro’s turn, as he had not had a murder in six weeks. #4 Donald Nash was a burly, bullet-headed man in his late 40s with a drooping, blind right eye. He had been hired to drive a van into the parking lot of the S. S. Rotterdam, where he would wait for two hours before driving away.