Hard Case Crime discussion

I couldn't find the right thread here but, I have been searching for the title and author of a hard-boiled detective novel. Perhaps some of you could help me?(Since you seem to know your authors/novels pretty well!)

I read this novel some years ago (approximately 2yrs) and I just cannot remember the title, it is literally driving me crazy!

It is about a male detective who was at one point a Marine but turned PI, he is also a boxer and has a "Girl Friday" whom he ends up falling in love with at the end of book two; he actually has a fight (boxing match) with one of the cops from the precinct at a gym (maybe "Joe's" or something like that) in book two as well. Also, in one of the books (can't remember which exactly) he is looking for a young boy who was a jazz musician but disappeared after he tried to run away with the police chief's daughter who ended up pregnant by the same boy, I think she actually turns up at a mental place or something and their baby is actually alive (not dead like they believed).

I also remember him having a case involving a promiscuous woman, perhaps in book one? The novel is set in the city (though I cannot recall which one) perhaps Chicago (I'm not entirely sure). The detective also states at some point that he was in the war, or something like that. I do recall that the detective's secretary helped him at the end of book two and became his apprentice (kind of) she also states something about wanting to pursue the whole detective thing; the second book ends on that note and I think that the third book was to follow up on that with the two of them working together on that case.

That's all I can really remember right now...and its all a little fuzzy. I do know, however, that there are three books in the series, the last of which was to be published sometime this year. I also recall that the author was male and had two last names (maybe hyphenated). So again, ANY help at all would be truly appreciated since this has kind of been gnawing at me for a couple months now. Thanks!

rat city by curt culbert?

Anthony wrote: "rat city by curt culbert?"

Yes! I checked the title and it definitely is Rat City! Thank you so much, I've been looking for the title for months now; I even went as far as contacting a past librarian so that she could aid me in the search but no luck. So again, thanks!

I thought someone around here might know. Glad you got a quick answer, Aimee.

Aimee wrote: "Anthony wrote: "rat city by curt culbert?"

Yes! I checked the title and it definitely is Rat City! Thank you so much, I've been looking for the title for months now; I even went as far as contacti..."

Glad I could help.