This complex and compelling novel, written by retired Chicago Police Lieutenant Dennis M. Banahan, reveals the many faces of crime in the city. Taut action, political intrigue and an earthy pathos illuminate the range of man's Threshold of Pain and create a sexy, fast-paced thriller.The story unfolds at the end of 1968, a volatile year in Chicago's history. Undercover (Chicago) police officer Johnnie Parello, who is assigned to the elite Red Squad Unit, stumbles upon an incredulous lead that may link a University of Chicago law student with the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. When Parello attempts to launch an investigation into the matter, however, it appears that the FBI is stonewalling his efforts. Despite a federal injunction and pressure from the department to end the investigation, Parello and his partner, Big Mike Corrigan, are compelled to put the puzzle pieces together at all costs, and, it costs them plenty. The investigation that begins as a casual curiosity turns into a twenty-two year odyssey laden with death and political scandal.As we follow the well-structured plot, many characters captivate us, from Big Mike Corrigan's six-foot-seven thrust of spring-loaded energy to the dark, silky-skinned beauty of Detective Rennata McCray. Crisp writing and good pacing make Threshold of Pain a thoroughly engrossing crime novel.