EMBRACE THE WOLF - This was the first in Benjamin Schutz's
Leo Hagerty series. In contrast to George Pelecanos Mr
Schutz's Hagerty is based in the suburbs. Here is the view
from otside the city:
"Like a snake Washington sheds itself every four years.
Everybody in government, which is the biggest game in town,
is just passing through. They can run the country, but not
the city they're staying in. To them D.C. is a giant roach
motel, not a home."
Mix in the standard detective tracing a missing person, a
serial killer, a southern town with crooked cops and even a
little bit from Jaws. This is a pretty remarkable first
novel. As Mark S wrote earlier, Hagerty doesn't lfeel he
should let a sidekick do the messy things, he feels morally
responsible to handle those situations himself.
SHAME THE DEVIL - Having read only King Suckerman, I'm almost
reading Geore Pelecanos' novels in reverse order. The title
comes from the proverb 'tell the truth and shame the devil'.
Truth is the book's theme throughout. Once he learns it,
Dmitri Karras must act. Thomas Wilson has had to live with
the it and must finally act upon the knowledge, which has
festered within him, to truly be a man. In a subplot Nick
Stefanos must find out the truth behind a murder to save
someoneone accused of the crime.
THE SWEET FOREVER - Again this is by George Pelecanos. It is
the view of those who must live within the city permanently
as opposed to Hagerty's from the distance of its suburbs. As
in 'Devil' there are constant references to music. The two
previous Pelecanos novels were set in the
'90's. As I stopped paying attention to popular music in the
'80's the music references annoyed me. This book is set in
1986 so I caught a few. When I read George's books set in
earlier times I should know virtually all of them.
Late in the book the quote, "when the legend becomes fact,
print the legend" is mentioned but never attributed to its
source. I had just given that quote to my son when were
discussing the movie from which it came. Most novels would
have done so. The novel is set at the time of the NCAA final
four. Len Bias is mentioned throughout yet his fate is only
hinted at. .I think George feels he is not responsible to
explain anything. He puts in what he feels is relevant. It's
up to the reader to investigate something he does not
know.
I did not like Suckerman, but these two novels caused me to
want to read the rest. I will have to treat them as I do the
books of British fantasy novelist, Tom Holt or Canadian
author, Mordecai Richler. I know I miss a few references that
would cause me to enjoy their work even further, but I what I
do understand is easily enough to cause me seek out and read
their books. Mark
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 06 Dec 2001 EST