Edward Izzi

Edward Izzi, a full-time CPA, is a native of Detroit, with a successful accounting firm in the north suburban Chicago area. A talented writer in high school, he was told by one of his English teachers that any career in anything other than writing would be a "waste of time". Edward didn't start taking his writing talents seriously until much later in life. He has now written a countless number of short stories, poetry, and has completed several fiction thriller novels, including: Of Bread and Wine – A Rose from The Executioner – Demons of Divine Wrath – Quando Dormo – El Camino Drive, the political thriller When A Rook Takes the Queen – The Buzz Boys and the recent Detroit based Detective novel: They Only Wear Black Hats.

Book Reviews

Edward Izzi returns with "They Only Wear Black Hats", another of his stunning thrillers, sure to captivate the reader's attention from the opening pages. Taking this crime story down a dark rabbit hole, Izzi mixes history, murder, and a secret society to formulate a novel that will leave readers talking well into the future. Detroit PD Detective Mike Palazzola has enjoyed his work within the Third Precinct, but knows that crime will always be a part of his day to day work. When a string of odd murders are accompanied by the placement of black bowler hats, he's sure a serial killer is on the loose. Little does he know the complexities tied to these killings, as a friend and journalist tries to uncover a group whispered to be called the Archangels. Directives will be made, people will die, and Palazzola will have to decide how to act before it's too late! Izzi impresses once again with this scintillating story of secrecy and retribution.

Detroit has long been a place where crime runs rampant, something that DPD Detective Mike Palazzola knows all too well. Working out of the Third Precinct, he has been in the middle of a number of high-profile and gruesome murder investigations, some with children as victims. While the cases seem strong, when those accused make their way to court, they are released on a technicality, proving major flaws with the system. All Palazzola can do is grit his teeth and keep protecting his city. Soon thereafter, all those who were released turn up strangled to death, slices on their body, and a black bowler hat next to them.

While out with Justine Cahill, a gritty journalist, one evening, Palazzola notices a group of men wearing the same bowler hats entering the private back room of an Italian restaurant. Their mysterious nature raises some concerns with both Palazzola and Cahill, but the restaurant staff remain tight-lipped about who these men could be.

Unbeknownst to anyone else in the restaurant, these men are part of the Malizia Society of Detroit, an organisation dating back to 1927. While they use the cover of anonymous Archangels, doing charitable work around Detroit, they are actually a secret group doling out their own form of justice for those who slips through the cracks. Their meetings discussions are highly secretive and the use of three assassins to offer needed punishments keeps them from being identified.

Palazzola and Cahill begin their own sleuthing into who these Archangels might be and their history, the FBI leans on them to steer clear, as they, too, have been looking into them. While Palazzola knows when to take his foot off the gas, Cahill sees a story that could catapult her into national stardom, as well as revealing a group of murderous thugs no better than the mafia. These men are everywhere in Detroit society and it is not entirely clear who can be trusted.

As more bodies emerge, the story takes a darker turn, alternating between modern Detroit and the history of the Malizia Society, which has ties to a group from Italy back in the time of the Borgias. While Palazzola knows something must be done, he worries that one wrong move could mean a heap of trouble. He will have to act swiftly, but with extreme caution, not wanting to be the next person with a black bowler hat next to his murdered corpse. Izzi has done it again! A brilliant thriller that kept me intrigued until the final page turn, with something for patient readers in the last chapters.

It was a fluke that I discovered Edward Izzi's writing a few years ago. While each of his novels is a standalone of sorts, this was completely independent from his loosely connected Chicago Vatican books. The writing is strong, with great plots that pull not only on duplicity, but also history to bolster their foundation. Izzi keeps coming up with strong ideas and I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Mike Palazzola plays a significant role throughout the novel, though he shares the limelight with Justine Cahill and one prominent original member of the Malizia Society. These three forge ahead, with their own backstories and development, working their way through the struggles they encounter. Therefore some wonderful revelations throughout the piece, as well as dicey moments when confronted by the truth of what these Archangels have been doing.

Edward Izzi seems never to run out of great plot ideas for his novels, which develop in numerous ways. The stories are usually dark and intense, with a graphic nature to them, but are not gruesome to the point of being stomach churning. The narrative flows extremely well and keeps the reader engaged, as much is revealed in due time. Chapters that propel the plot along are the centrepiece of the novel, with strong doses of history and flashbacks. While this will likely remain a standalone thriller, there is a chance that Izzi will utilise a technique he has for creating cameos of certain characters in other books of his. I would encourage anyone with an interest in a more complex crime thriller to check into some of his books, as you won't be disappointed.

Kudos, Mr. Izzi, for another stunning novel. I may not be your loudest fan, but I can assure you I am in the top five!

"The Buzz Boys" by Edward Izzi is a story about five childhood friends who grow up together in a neighborhood in Chicago and have one major thing in common: they experience abuse and trauma in their different homes. The five friends--Robert Mazzara, Marco Pezza, Billy Kozar, Petey Rodriguez, and Johnny Orozco--are forced to rebel against their families, especially their sadistic fathers. They create a new sort of family called "The Buzz Boys" as they support one another through school fights, growing up, making a living, and dealing with the challenges in their new families--especially challenges associated with the abuse they suffered growing up. This riveting, heart-wrenching story shows the long-term effects of verbal and physical abuse in the lives of five friends, who as much as they try to escape remain trapped with their painful memories and their consequences in different aspects of their lives. The story is mainly told through the viewpoint of narrator Robert Mazzara, but the other parts of the story have a third-person viewpoint and are focused on Robert's other friends. I was kept engaged with the adroit blend of themes: friendship, family, prostitution, child sexual abuse, loss, murder, court cases, bullying, finding love, and depression.

The book's characters are quite unique and easy to like. It would be hard to forget how Petey wants Robby's baseball cards in case he doesn't survive his school fight and Johnny's interest in boxing, even though he is the class nerd. I couldn't wait to find out if the characters would actually get over their pasts, and I was actually rooting for them like I had known them since childhood. The fact that the horrific things experienced by the characters of the book actually happen in real life is quite concerning. "The Buzz Boys" depicts the theme of physical abuse and how it can continue from one generation to the next if left to fester. Due to how the story shifts from one event and one character's viewpoint to another in some chapters, it felt like a collection of different stories--especially at the beginning; it is not well-connected at the start, but this changes and gets better as the story progresses. "The Buzz Boys" will captivate readers and enlighten them about an evil that can be avoided with better social planning and more empathy by and for all. The world needs more books like this to understand how troubling some societal issues are in order to provide solutions.

With his new thriller: When A Rook Takes the Queen, Edward Izzi delves into organized crime and dirty politics of bureaucracy and Catholic church in this brilliantly executed thriller, an engaging tale of murder, mayhem, and conspiracies. To Larry McKay, the gusty Chicago Tribune Reporter, the brutal shoot-in death of Chicago's American-African, openly gay Mayor, Janice Kollar, is just the beginning of a dangerous investigation. The city is already in chaos with communal riots, looting, and violence when the Mayor is assassinated. With a long list of Janice's political enemies, McKay is finding it hard to pinpoint the murder on a single person. But his discovery of a weekly gambit at St. Simeon's Church Rectory on West 79th Street between two of Chicago's most notable individuals, former grand chess master and now Catholic priest, political activist Fr. Colin J. Fitzgerald and organized crime boss Anthony 'Little Tony' DiMatteo unravels new clues. As Larry digs deeper, he discovers a direct link between Fr. Fitz and Tony's weekly gambit sessions and escalating violence in the city. But are they the only players in the bigger scheme of things? Sporadic, ingenious, and entertaining, Fr. Fitz's cunning plan of manipulating Tony unravels gradually against an adeptly sketched background of upheaval, chaos, and bloodshed. Strong narrative, crisp prose, and tight plotting are added bonuses. Izzi's splendidly developed characters are vivid and convincing. Larry, with his persistence and courage makes for a likeable hero. Readers will admire his commitment to the case that never wavers despite the personal troubles and powerful enemies at his trail.

Tony DiMatteo, Michael Prescott, Chaz Rizzo, Detective Dorian impress, but it's Fr. Fitz who takes the limelight away from others. His intelligence, cunningness, and moral ambiguity makes him an apt antagonist. The undercurrent of unease that accompanies him while on his mission of manipulating Tony is conveyed with skill.

Izzi's depiction of the way Fr. Fitz uses his intellect and ingenuity to manipulate things in his own favor gives his character depth and complexity. An unusually large cast of characters and several mini storylines complicate the storyline. But Izzi handles the multifaceted plot with perfect ease while navigating the nearly endless surprises. The alternative third-person omniscient narrative and Larry's first-person voice add to the intrigue.

Edward Izzi effortlessly conveys the dirty politics, police brutality and violence against people of color, racial and class disparity, Journalism details, policing practices, and working of organized crime and gang violence.

Readers will eagerly anticipate Larry's further adventures.

Edward Izzi's timing for the release of "A Rose from The Executioner" is uncanny, as the Archdiocese of Chicago is actually selling off land next to Holy Name Cathedral to help defray the costs for sexual child abuse. He questions and balances the moral dilemma of vigilantism vs. a detective trying to allow the law to deal with injustice. And yes, we still get some of the mysticism of Da Vinci Code. It is entertaining, yet it certainly reminds us of our need for diligence in reporting and working to stop all forms of human abuse, especially child abuse.

Great story line. I finished this author's first book "Of Bread & Wine" in 2 sittings and "A Rose from The Executioner" this one in 4. Too hard to put them down. Every time I wanted to put it down for the evening, I would say just one more chapter, four chapters later, I was still reading. It was great to see the names of many familiar streets and the schools I went to in the book. Made for a very fun read. The ending was a total surprise. I look forward to book 3 form this new and exciting author. Looking forward to the movie!