Novels offer a great escape, but sometimes we want our fiction to hit closer to home. These recent books are set in Milwaukee, but do they paint a recognizable portrait of our beloved city?

MYSTERY | PENGUIN BOOKS, 2022 | $18 

Sneha, a queer South Asian college grad moves to Milwaukee in 2013 for a job. She explores identity, romance and friendship, along with our city’s socialist history and alcohol culture.  

Is Milwaukee a “character?”  

Most definitely. The people whom Sneha meets ring true to our region, including “tony Brookfield,” Bay View and beyond.

 Does it feel like Milwaukee?  

Certainly. Sprinkled throughout are local history lessons and discussions of our prodigious alcohol consumption, not to mention a little day-drinking on Brady Street.  

Name-drops:

Bay View Massacre, North Division and Rufus King high schools.

COMING OF AGE | POLIS BOOKS, 2021 | $19 

Ukraine-born Masha must return from a new life in Israel to her childhood home in Milwaukee, where her sister has mysteriously gone missing. 

Is Milwaukee a “character?” 

Mostly. Masha’s father lives in the “semi-dangerous neighborhood of Riverwest.” Despite frequent allusions to Masha’s youth in Ukraine, Milwaukee’s cafes and clubs provide the main setting for Masha’s adventures. 

Does it feel like Milwaukee?  

Indeed. Slor has clearly done her Riverwest research: Masha spends plenty of time sipping at Fuel Cafe (RIP) and checking out music at Bremen Cafe.  

Name-drops:

Foundation, Uptowner

POSTMODERN | PENGUIN PRESS, 2025 | $30 

In speakeasy Depression-era Milwaukee, a softening former cop deals with organized and not-so-organized crime as he follows the trail of a wayward cheese heiress.  

Is Milwaukee a “character?” 

Yes, early on. It’s left behind as a concrete setting for the second half of the book, but Cream City remains the spiritual home for our main character.

Does it feel like Milwaukee?  

The details are rich and almost always amusing. Characters gab around bubblers, drink old fashioneds, play sheepshead and talk more cheese than you can believe.

Name-drops:

Paramount Records (a defunct blues label in Grafton), Holton Street Bridge, Oriental Drugs

SUSPENSE | THREE TOWERS PRESS, 2019 | $27 

Mitch is a firefighter looking to escape a tragedy in rural Wisconsin. He relocates to Milwaukee to join a busy firehouse, leading to many adventures.  

Is Milwaukee a “character?” 

As a former pro, Renz knows his firefighting, and he knows Milwaukee well enough to strike a clear contrast between the quiet, manure-air of Mitch’s farm home and the frenetic energy of the North Side. 

Does it feel like Milwaukee?  

The neighborhoods are richly drawn, and Renz includes the violence, conflict and racial tensions all too familiar in our unequal city.  

Name-drops:

Teutonia Avenue, a character called the “Jawbreaker of South Milwaukee”

THRILLER | BALLANTINE BOOKS, 2021 | $19 

Following a traumatic episode in Chile, Emily tries to recover with a new job in Milwaukee. A friend from the past arrives, and their violent history comes slowly to the surface.  

Is Milwaukee a “character?” 

Not really. Local author Bartz places the main characters here, but the setting isn’t the biggest factor in their character development.

Does it feel like Milwaukee?  

The plot mostly shines on the internal life of Emily, but there’s local insight: She’s “over Milwaukee – her hometown – with its smallish size and polarized communities.” 

Name-drops:

Brady Street and the “slightly creepy Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit at the public museum” 

MILWAUKEE – Changes to the Milwaukee Police Department’s pursuit policy will take effect Feb. 6, tightening the circumstances under which officers may chase reckless drivers.

What we know:

Under the updated policy, speed alone can no longer be the sole reason for a pursuit. Officers must identify at least one additional factor, such as a collision with another vehicle, forcing other drivers to take evasive action to avoid a crash, or failing to slow or stop at a controlled intersection.

The policy change follows a deadly year for police chases in Milwaukee. Six pursuit-related crashes resulted in the deaths of nine people in 2025, according to department data. 

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However, some community members and officials question whether the changes will prevent future tragedies.

Local perspective:

It was June 8, 2024, when Tiffany Stark said her daughter’s father, Anthony Higgins, was critically injured after a vehicle fleeing police slammed into him. Higgins later died from his injuries.

“I think about all the people that died, but we also needed to think about the people that have survived,” said Tiffany Stark.

Stark said Higgins lived for 16 months with severe injuries before his death.

“His last 16 months of life was no life. It was no quality of life so I think,” said Stark.  “A spinal cord injury paralyzed him from the neck out.”

Higgins’ death was one of several fatalities linked to police chases in 2025, a key reason MPD said it is revising its pursuit policy.

“My captains have talked to the community, I’ve talked to the community,” said MPD Chief Norman.

Big picture view:

MPD presented the policy change last week during a Fire and Police Commission meeting. Norman said officers must weigh the risk a pursuit poses to the public.

“I do understand the responsibility of what a 4,000 pound vehicle is to our community,” said Norman.

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The proposal drew pushback from some commissioners, who questioned whether the policy would have altered outcomes in past cases.

“When I was reading the policy I was saying to myself – would any of the fatalities of this year not happened under this policy? And I don’t think the answer is yes,” said Commissioner Bree Spencer.

MPD data shows that in addition to the fatal crashes, 233 of 970 police pursuits in 2025 ended in crashes.

As for the new policy, Stark said she remains unconvinced it will save lives.

“I don’t feel the changes are gonna save any lives,” said Stark.

Rockford, IL- The Rockford IceHogs (16-22-2-2) begin a three-game road trip tonight against the Milwaukee Admirals (18-17-2-1) at 7 p.m. The two teams will meet for the eighth time this season and the fourth at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. 

The Matchup:

All Time Series: 85-81-15-12

Season Series: 3-2-2-0

Tale of the Tape: The IceHogs and Admirals continue their season series tonight as Rockford looks to get back into the win column after back-to-back losses at home last weekend. The Admirals sit three points ahead of the IceHogs in the standings after sweeping the Iowa Wild last week. The Milwaukee power play still leads the AHL with a 29.5% conversion rate through 38 games. Daniel Carr, Jake Lucchini and Ryan Ufko all lead Milwaukee with five points against Rockford so far this season. Defenseman Ethan Del Mastro leads Rockford in scoring against Milwaukee with a goal and five assists.

Team Leaders: 

Milwaukee:

 Points- Ryan Ufko – 38 points 

 Goals- Daniel Carr- 16G 

 Assists- Ryan Ufko- 28A

Rockford:

 Points- Brett Seney- 33 points 

 Goals- Rem Pitlick- 13G

 Assists- Brett Seney- 23A

Three Things to Know:

Hit the Road: The Hogs take to the road for three straight and open up the week against the Admirals before heading to Winnipeg to battle the Manitoba Moose for a two-game series. The IceHogs have faired well away from the BMO Center this season, posting a 10-10-1 record, collecting points in 52% of road contests. Rockford will take on a Milwaukee team that is 12-5-1 at home this season and who shutout the IceHogs 3-0 the last time the two teams met in Milwaukee. Rockford is 1-1-1 in the first three games in UW-M Panther arena this season. The IceHogs will then take on the Manitoba Moose where they split their first series up north with a 7-3 win on Dec. 20 and took a 4-1 loss Dec. 21 at the Canada Life Centre. 

Sinking the Ads: Despite dropping their last contest with Milwaukee, the IceHogs have held the Admirals to three goals or less in each of the first seven meetings this season. The Central division foes have battled in multiple one-goal contests and have had three games head to overtime with the IceHogs going 1-2 in the overtime battles.  Rockford has gone 19/22 on the penalty kill through their first seven games against Milwaukee this season. 

Lardis Returns: The Chicago Blackhawks assigned forward Nick Lardis to the IceHogs yesterday afternoon. The rookie has skated in 21 games with the Blackhawks during the 2025-26 campaign, logging seven points (5G, 2A). Lardis was named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic roster along with defenseman Kevin Korchinski to represent the IceHogs. His six power play goals still lead the club despite his call-up to the NHL in December. Lardis has also tallied 26 points (13G, 13A) in 24 games with Rockford this season. The Ontario native has three goals and two assists in six games against Milwaukee this season. 

2025-26 Matchups: 

The IceHogs will take on the Milwaukee Admirals Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. at UW-M Panther Arena. The IceHogs will return to the BMO Center Saturday, February 6 against the Iowa Wild as the IceHogs induct Michael Leighton into the Rockford Ring of Honor. Tickets are available at icehogs.com.