Forget about Uber and Lyft for a minute.
Say, it’s four, five, or six A.M and you’ve been left in the gutter after a night out with your “friends.” You need to get home in order to sleep it off. Who are you going to call?
A cab driver, of course. Remember those?
Let’s just say, hypothetically speaking, you’re looking for some “unlawful” carnal action, but you haven’t a clue as to where to find such a delight. Guess who’s got your back? That’s right; a cab driver, a cabbie, a hack. You ask him, he’ll know. Hell, for an extra buck he’ll drive you there, introduce you as his cousin from the old country, and leave you in the loving arms of an over-paid toothless hooker by the name of Sinderella, who will rock your world, swipe your wallet and leave you with a crippling case of the crabs… Point is; cabbies don’t get much appreciation for what they do.
Enter the Hard Case Crime novel: Nobody’s Angel by Jack Clark
Set in the Windy City of Chicago where a killer is offing off cab drivers and hookers. This book feels like a love letter to cab drivers and to the city itself as middle-aged, ex-alcoholic, divorcee Eddie Miles (he’s a cab driver with the last name of Miles) navigates the gritty streets of Chicago presenting us with a city of the 90’s (no cellphones, GPS, etc.) and a triptych of characters from all walks of life.
The writing is smooth, the chapter intros are preface by the rules and regulations imposed on cab drivers by the city, which makes for an interesting touch, but at the heart of the novel is the camaraderie between the cab drivers, the passengers, the city of Chicago and a murder mystery.
If you’re like me, and are curious about professions and jobs you know nothing about, you can’t go wrong with this one. An enjoyable read with authenticity to boot.
Happy morally ambiguous holyday!