Manhattan South
Author: Thomas M. Cassidy, a former senior investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Office, is the writer and creator of Manhattan South. Cassidy never strays far from the reality of the incredible, but never-before-told stories, whispered into his ears by investigators, detectives and FBI agents. Thomas Cassidy owes a special debt of gratitude for the expertise provided by his late father, NYPD Deputy Inspector Hugh “Joe” Cassidy, respectfully referred to by the cops of his generation as, “The Commander.”
Recognition of Tom’s 20 years of service.
Feature Film
Setting: 1980s New York City
Logline: When a Hollywood heartthrob is murdered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City's first Black female Chief of Detectives assigns the investigation to her most trusted detective, who also happens to be the victim's closest friend. But the assignment comes with a chilling warning: if he fails to solve the case, she will lose her job.
The investigation quickly becomes a media circus after a mysterious blonde woman is seen leaving the victim's building just an hour before his body is discovered. The tabloids launch a citywide hunt for the fleeing blonde. Unbeknownst to the cops or the public, she is a groundbreaking FBI Special Agent and the Hollywood heartthrob's secret girlfriend, grieving his death in private while desperately trying to protect both her identity and her career.
With no viable suspects and no meaningful leads after two days, the Detective Commander makes a desperate—and highly dangerous—decision: he secretly turns to the Five Families for help, jeopardizing not only his own career but also that of the Chief of Detectives.
“The Commander.”
Thomas M. Cassidy.
Manhattan South features a cast of compelling, multidimensional characters:
The Detective Commander of Manhattan South Homicide — Handpicked for promotion by the department's first Black female Chief of Detectives, he is a rising star in the NYPD.
The Mysterious Blonde — The victim's grieving girlfriend and a groundbreaking FBI Special Agent who conceals her identity to avoid dismissal under the Bureau's morality standards of the era.
The First Black Female Chief of Detectives — A pioneering, street-smart leader with a giant bullseye on her back. One mistake could cost her everything.
The Hollywood Heartthrob — A notorious playboy whose murder ignites a media frenzy and sets the investigation in motion.
The Consigliere — The trusted adviser to the Five Families eagerly agrees to help the Detective Commander find his famous actor friend's killer—but there's a price.
The NYPD's Oldest Detective — A World War II combat veteran with more than forty years on the job and just six months until mandatory retirement.
The catalyst for Manhattan South.