Murder in Canaryville: The True Story Behind a Cold Case and a Chicago Cover-Up

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The cold-case murder of John Hughes,the son of a Chicago Outfit member suspected of pulling the trigger,and the efforts of a determined detective to unravel a cover-up

The grandson and great-grandson of Chicago police officers, Chicago police detective James Sherlock was CPD through and through.

His career had seen its share of twists and turns, but on this day, he was at the records centre to see the case file for the murder of John Hughes, who was seventeen years old when he was gunned down in a park on Chicago's Southwest Side on May 15, 1976.
The case had haunted many in the department for years, and its threads led everywhere. More than forty years after the Hughes killing, Sherlock was hopeful he could finally put the case to rest. Then the records clerk handed him a thin manila folder. A brazen murder in a public park, which had supposedly been investigated by teams of detectives for years, had been reduced to a few meager reports and photographs. What should have been a massive file with notes and transcripts from dozens of interviews was nowhere to be found. Sherlock could have left the records center without the folder and cruised into retirement, and no one would have noticed. Instead, he tucked the envelope under his arm and carried it outside.

'I have known the investigator at the heart of this story, Jim Sherlock, for years, trusting him to help run security on my show. Jim is an exceptional person and I am proud to call him a friend. The book told me what I already know: he's a dedicated cop who works hard and tolerates no injustice. That he would dedicate such time and effort to help a family who lost a brother and son so long ago is no surprise. This tale sheds light on the worlds of Chicago crime and politics and shows the collateral damage both can leave in their wake.' Jerry Springer, host ofThe Jerry Springer ShowandJudge Jerry

Reviews

"This tale sheds light on the worlds of Chicago crime and politics and shows the collateral damage both can leave in their wake." -- Jerry Springer, host of The Jerry Springer Show & Judge Jerry
"Coen pulls back the curtain on a cold case, revealing the city's underside and offering compelling evidence that a police cover-up, mob influence, and political corruption conspired to hide the truth behind John Hughes's murder. An engaging true-crime story that reads like a mystery, alive with vivid characters and unexpected twists and turns." -- Kevin Davis, author of The Brain Defense and Defending the Damned
"Jeff Coen's heartbreaking account of the unsolved 1976 murder of a high school senior in a South Side park is like the story of Chicago in miniature. It's a sad and infuriating story, meticulously reported and so vividly written that it feels like a film." -- Mary Wisniewski, author of Algren: A Life
"an exciting book which takes us compellingly back in time and into some of darkest corners of Chicago." Chicago Tribune
"With this fascinating survey, Coen burnishes his reputation as a top-notch crime writer." Publishers Weekly Online
"Fans of true crime and of police procedurals will find much to relish here." Booklist
"In-depth and compelling investigative journalism that will resonate with those interested in organized crime and Chicago history and politics." Library Journal

Author Bio

Jeff Coen is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering federal trials and investigations from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in downtown Chicago. He was present in the courtroom throughout the Family Secrets trial, and his pieces on the case were featured in a popular series in the Chicago Tribune. He lives in Oak Park, Illinois.