Upon Some Midnights Clear
Christmas is a crime for cop Mario Balzic, and this mystery set in a small rust-belt town is “steady entertainment for fans of down-and-dirty local color” (Kirkus Reviews).
Not everyone is in the holiday spirit in Rocksburg, PA. Especially the little old lady who just lost her life savings in a robbery—or so she says. Once the local paper begins a charity drive for the hapless victim, chief of police Mario Balzic begins to suspect the whole story is a cooked-up fraud. But figuring out how to gather enough evidence—and go against the tide of public opinion will not be easy. Especially when everyone wants to be saviors this Christmas. The only thing clear is that Balzic has his work cut out for him, as he hopes to stay on the right side of the law—and in the good graces of his family.
“Constantine is a marvelous writer. May Mario Balzic thrive.” —The New York Times
“K.C. Constantine is one of the most talked about mystery writers on the American scene. Constantine has a smooth style, and his plots are loaded with unexpected twists and turns.” ―Boston Globe
“Constantine writes a terrific mystery.” ―Providence Journal
Carl Constantine Kosak (1934–2023), better known as acclaimed mystery writer K.C. Constantine, is famed for his mysteries featuring Mario Balzic. Constantine showed much more interest in the characters in his novels than the actual mystery, and his later novels became ever more philosophical, threatening to leave the mystery genre behind completely. In 1989, Constantine was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel for Joey's Case. Despite his success, he managed to keep his literary identity completely hidden until 2011 when he appeared in person for the first time at the annual Festival of Mystery hosted by Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont.
