Shame the Devil by George P. Pelecanos Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Shame the Devil
Book Review: Perhaps it's not a "mystery"...
Summary: 5 Stars
But George Pelecanos continues to write some of the best fiction that's out there. I would rate this a great mystery, even if you know "whodunnit." The characters are smartly written and the book is superbly paced. I first discovered Pelecanos with his last book "The Sweet Forever" and it was great to see how his characters from that book have evolved. If you're tired of reading the same old, same old from writers such as James Patterson and Steve Martini, definitely read this book. Pelecanos is right up there with Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly (two writers whose positive reviews of Pelecanos inspired me to try him). Also, if you're at all familiar with the DC area, Pelecanos captures the setting beautifully. I cannot more highly recommend this book.Book Review: A short read, fortunately
Summary: 3 Stars
Actually, 2.5 stars. The first put-off (not the author's fault, of course) is I got this book at a Mystery book store. It's not a mystery. You always know 'whodunit'. Neverthelesss, I'm glad it was a relatively short read (300 pages) since the action didn't really start until 2/3 through the book. Had it been longer I might have given up before finishing.Book Review: Pelecanos best book yet
Summary: 5 Stars
One thing that is sure about George Pelecanos, he gets better with each new book. Shame the Devil is the final book to use the cast of characters that center around the Washington D.C. bar, The Spot, where recurring character Nick Stephanos is the bartender (when not working as an unlicensed detective). This book offers fast paced action as well as satisfying character portrayals and, more than any other of his books, probes fundamental human issues of faith and life's meaning in the face of arbitrary violence and cruelty.One of the things that make Pelecanos so popular with the D.C. audience is also protentially a problem for readers elsewhere; his books are so detailed with references to streets and neighborhoods that would mean nothing unless one knew them personally that readers might wish for some exposition to explain where and 'what' Georgia Ave. or Anacostia are. Still, the sense of place is fundamental to his writing and his stories come alive because they are about real people in a known setting. He is almost alone in creating Washington stories that don't focus on the President or some Senator or one of the Federal law enforcement agencies. Pelecanos's books are peopled by blue collar workers, common criminals, D.C. cops, and a sprinkling of hard working attorneys and small businessmen.
This book starts with a bang - an armed robbery that goes wrong and ends up with multiple victims - and it progresses to a dynamite conclusion in which revenge is is coupled with self-discovery and redemption. A really thrilling and satisfying reading experience.
Book Review: Some parts good, some parts not so good
Summary: 3 Stars
Pelacanos does some things quite well. He knows how to write an action scene, and he knows how to keep the pace of the book moving. Unfortunately, he needs a lot of work on the stuff that comes between the action scenes. We get way too much detail about how a restaurant kitchen operates. I don't really need to read about how the meatloaf was prepared. The worst part about the book was the incessant references to songs and Pelacanos' (or his characters') opinions about the songs. This went from tedious to annoying by the time the book was half over. I had the feeling the author was trying way too hard to come across as cool. There also are a few sloppy points in the plot, most notably that the killer sends a threatening letter days before he learns where the letter receiver lives. But if you're looking for a quick, light read (albeit a bit violent in places), this one should work.Book Review: Very good read
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this in about 5 days, so it is definitely a quick read that keeps your attention. Many of the characterizations are lengthy and real, though Farrow came across as two dimensional. There is less action and there are fewer interesting characters than in Sweet Forever, but this is still a gripping read.