Nick Acropolis

Created by Jack Clark

In Westerfield’s Chain (2002), an impressive (and Shamus-nominated debut), NICK ACROPOLIS is an former Chicago Homicide cop now working as private eye, taking on low-level insurance cases. Nothing special, nothing too dangerous. But looking into a routine traffic incident involving an off-duty cop, Nick stumbles upon more than he bargained for, including a giant insurance scam that involves a drug store chain (hence the title), medical malpractice, welfare fraud, corruption in high places, crooked cops, several missing persons and that old stand-by: murder.

Nick’s an appealling character, a jaded, disenchanted cop who left the force under a cloud, and doesn’t particularly enjoy his new career, looking into a seemingly endless string of boring fender benders. But happy camper or not, he is shrewd investigator, stubborn enough to follow a lead, no matter how minor it seems, and tough enough not to back down.

Even better is Clark’s clean, straight-on prose style, his strong evocation of some of Chicago’s less-than-tony neighbourhoods, and his deft hand at characterization — even minor characters come vividly to life. A series to watch.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chicago furniture mover, cabbie and writer Jack Clark began writing in  1975, and once won the Chicago Newspaper Guild’s Page One Award. He was a finalist for the Shamus Award for his first novel, Westerfield’s Chain (2002), and he sold his follow-up, self-published novel, Nobody’s Angel (2010), about hard-luck cabbie Eddie Miles, to passengers in his cab, until Hard Case Crime published it in 2010.

UNDER OATH

• “A brisk style and fine descriptions help offset a less-than-scintillating plot in Clark’s debut mystery…. Still, whatever the book’s flaws, it’s a great read, one that ought to appeal in particular to Robert B. Parker fans.”
  — Publishers Weekly

NOVELS

• Westerfield’s Chain (2002) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
• Dancing on Graves (2011) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
• Highway Side (2012) | Buy this book | Kindle it!
• Nickel Dime Town (2024)  | Buy this book | Kindle it!

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• Their Kind of Town
  Chicago Eyes

Report respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.