Preview of The Private Practice of Michael Shayne Summary:

This novel is Halliday's second Mike Shayne tale and the first to gain major popular interest. As with most detective fiction, particularly from a beginning writer hoping to earn a living at this trade, this story is not primarily concerned with making a point; the writer is attempting to tell a good story. And Halliday does that here. A general concern is with man's greed and the depths to which men will sink in pursuit of their greed. One of the characters has fixed a horse race and in order to hide his guilt kills two men, whom he considers of little worth since he paid them to do his dirty work. A city councilman who also runs a gam bling establishment (where the games are rigged) is willing to imprison his daughter who saw the murders to keep her quiet and protect his...