The Glass Factory

Ex-NYPD cop Filomena Buscarsela—the irrepressible urban crime fighter of 23 Shades of Black and Soft Money–is back. This time, the tough-talking, street-smart Latina heroine sets her sights on seemingly idyllic suburbia, where an endless sea of green lawns hides a toxic trail of money and murder.

But something is rotten on Long Island. When Filomena discovers that a high-tech Long Island factory is spewing poisons into the water supply, she’s sure that the contaminator is none other than her nemesis, a cutthroat industrial polluter with an airtight financial empire. Armed only with an ax to grind, the gutsy Filomena knows she’ll have to play dirty to clean up the neighborhood with the help of an “underground” network of supportive women.

Her search for justice introduces her to the unfamiliar scent of privilege—from the state-of-the-art chemistry lab of a local university to the crumbling ruins of a beachfront estate, from a glittering high-society party to an intimidating high-security chemical plant—and immerses her in the all-too-familiar stench of political corruption and personal greed. Once again, Filomena’s nose for trouble has drawn her into a case that’s more than a little hazardous to her health. As the action heats up, she must juggle the dangers of the investigation with the demands of her adorable three-year-old daughter and the delights of a surprising new romance. [With a nice Jewish doctor, I might add!]

An action-packed and furiously entertaining hard-boiled mystery, The Glass Factory showcases the sharp wit and distinctive narrative style that have made Kenneth Wishnia one of the most promising new voices in contemporary crime fiction.

“Wishnia writes with brio, energy, rage, passion, and humor. Brash, sassy, smart, and indomitable, Filomena is purely a force of nature, and The Glass Factory is another winner.”
Booklist

“Riveting circumstances, a strongly focused plot, and ably described settings make this essential reading.”
Library Journal

“Mother and daughter are so appealing, and the case against an unscrupulous businessman is put together so compellingly, the tale keeps one reading to its bittersweet end.”
Boston Globe

“Filomena Buscarsela [is] an irreverent, intrepid, Ecuadorian-born, former New York City cop with the savvy of Erin Brockovich and the stamina of Wonder Woman.”
Newsday

“Filomena is one lady clearly worth watching.”
Houston Chronicle

“Filomena Buscarsela [is] a Latina heroine with the epic appeal of Everywoman. . . The world’s a mess, but Filomena’s still fighting. It’s that perspective that sets Wishnia apart—there’s nothing else out there remotely like his books.”
Rocky Mountain News

A book cover with the title of the glass factory.