Cynicism and cynical characters abound.

It's the 1940's, the country's at war, most of the young healthy men of Detroit have left to fight, and there is a serial killer loose in the city. Enter four jaw busting, foul mouthed middle aged cops, teamed to find the killer. (These guys are definitely not the Untouchables)
The serial killer is not the main character and the reader knows who he is from the beginning so there is little mystery. The investigation is a vehicle for meeting the characters and Presenting 1940's Detroit, a city of corruption and bigotry. The book is populated with sarcastic and cynical characters and description is sarcastic and cynical Usually. Historical characters, color: such as Henry Ford and FDR, are portrayed unsympathetically. In contrast to the rough characterizations, though, are the compassionate portrayal of the two young black men, Dwight and Earl.
I found this book a fact held my attention all the way through. The characters Seemed real, Although, for the most part, unlikable and the story successfully casts a rather somber mood.