The New York Times - Janet Maslin
The novella takes up more than a third of this brisk, hard-boiled book…[the] story couldn't have filled a whole book, but it's perfect at novella length, one of this author's freshest and most original recent works—not to mention his most self-referential. Here is proof on the page that Mr. Pelecanos needed to do something more than keep writing Washington novels.
From the Publisher
Praise for THE MARTINI SHOT:
"one of [Pelecanos'] freshest and most original recent works."
—Janet Maslin, New York Times
"Here we see what makes Pelecanos' best writing so resonant: the sense of longing, of miscommunication, the way love does not enlarge us but rather makes us small." —David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times
"His writing is properly hard-boiled, his heroes are attractively flawed and his villains leave trails of blood from here to yonder. But even at his most gripping...he sets his aims high, bringing a sociologist's concerns to the street -level dramas that play out in his hometown of Washington, D.C."
—Lloyd Sachs, Chicago Tribune
"fast, dark, and dangerous...The gritty world [Pelecanos] knows so well provides ample fodder for the vignettes in this book, the characters are strong and the dialogue is sharp. The collection is a solid read for anyone who's a fan of crime writing and especially Pelecanos' work." —Tim Alamenciak, Toronto Star
"bracing and witty...an inventive study of deception and fakery—one of Pelecanos's best works, at any length." —Mark Athitakis, The Washington Post
"serves as an introduction to his dark, unblinking vision and a reason to stay until the night's bitter end. Don't miss this collection, a must-have for newcomers and longtime fans alike." —Joe Hartlaub, Book Reporter
Praise for THE DOUBLE:
"It's astonishing all the good stuff Pelecanos can pack into one unpretentious book that make the story so rich."—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review
"Pungent, funny dialogue...believable black-and-white friendships...outstanding scene-setting...The Double is fast-paced, its villains feel fresh...Call me a hard-core Pelecanos junkie."—Jocelyn McClurg, USA TODAY
"The author laces his story with vivid descriptions of Washington's changing urban landscape. The writing is taut, the violence is graphic and the characters are so well-drawn that they step off the page and into your life. The Double is as good as it gets."—Bruce DeSilva, Associated Press
Praise for THE CUT:
"The writing is spare; the dialogue rings with authenticity; and walking D.C.'s mean streets with Lucas is the next best thing to being there. Easily the best crime novel I've read this year."—Hallie Ephron, Boston Globe
"Pelecanos at his best...The Cut crackles with energy."—Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Every time I read one of George Pelecanos's novels, I'm left a little awed...The guy's a national treasure."—Dennis Lehane
"A lean, swift, atmospheric detective novel...The characters-good-hearted, ill-intentioned or in between-are shown by Mr. Pelecanos with loving clarity, free of cliché, condescension or illusion. Spero Lucas is an engagingly layered character...The Cut is a resourceful and notably original work the delivers the thrills of an action movie and the poignancy of fine storytelling."—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal
Kirkus Reviews
2014-11-05
Seven stories and a novella from the undisputed king of D.C. noir.Pelecanos, who made his mark as a guide to the lower depths of the nation's capital and a writer/producer of the acclaimed TV series The Wire, has been as resourceful and inventive as his heroes, and this collection showcases his versatility. In the first and best of the stories, "The Confidential Informant," a street-wise kid's scheme to claim a $1,000 reward, set forth in scorching, slangy first-person, backfires fatally. "Chosen" chronicles the very mixed fortunes of an adoptive family whose youngest child is Spero Lucas (The Double, 2013, etc.). "String Music" toggles back and forth between Tonio Harris, who's struggling to survive against an enemy he impulsively insulted, and Sgt. Peters, who's struggling just as hard to protect him. "When You're Hungry" shows a kid who escaped an impoverished background to become a crack insurance investigator sent to Brazil, where an alleged murder victim has been sighted, that there's always somebody hungrier than him. A kid who's dealing acquiesces in his childhood friend's murder but still feels bad for the friend's mother in "Miss Mary's Room." The narrator of "Plastic Paddy" recalls the dangers and dead ends he encountered in smoking dope with a faux-Irish friend destined for a "long fall." In "The Dead Their Eyes Implore Us," a young man who works under Pelecanos regular Nick Stefanos avenges a friend who tried to organize his fellow hotel employees, then wonders whether another employee who saw him on the scene will turn him in. The only real disappointment is the title novella, in which a TV writer/producer who sounds a lot like the author tracks down the men who killed his gaffer, an amiable doper, and sets them up for condign justice. The other stories all strike sparks as reminiscences of troubled youth recalled from the perspective of adult experience—or from beyond the grave.
