Seems like he is trying to push books out like Patterson with whom he collaborates ( )

Alert. This is a review of 4 of the so far five "Reviewers". Read them only if you wish to know in detail all that is within this excellent book. If you enjoy mysteries do not read them, they are definite spoilers. The Description category is where these reviews might be more acceptable. But even then do you not want to make discoveries on your own adventures in reading? ( )

A fun read about a war veteran turned private investigator (with perhaps overly aggressive tactics), from a writer for one of my favorite shows, The Wire. A good story, but a few too many loose ends... but I liked the message about the importance of doing more for returning Vets than simply giving them a round of applause at ballgames or parades. ( )

Detective Spero Lucas wordt gevraagd twee criminele zaken tot een oplossing te brengen. In de eerste plaats is het waardevolle schilderij ‘Dubbelportret’ gestolen, waarbij een criminele bende betrokken blijkt te zijn. Ten tweede is er de moord op Edwina Christian; haar minnaar wordt hiervan verdacht, maar hij ontkent. Beide onderzoeken gaan gepaard met moorden en spanning. Een derde verhaallijn heeft betrekking op de affaire die Lucas heeft met een getrouwde vrouw. De auteur (1957), woonachtig in Washington, publiceerde vele misdaadromans en schreef ook voor televisie en film. Hij is uitstekend in staat een onderhoudend verhaal te vertellen, met spanning, erotiek, goede karakterbeschrijvingen en informatie die to the point is. De titel van dit boek verwijst naar het gestolen schilderij, dan wel naar het begrip ‘dubbelleven’, waarvan ook sprake is.

Het boek valt tegen. Pelecanus heeft heel sterke verhalen geschreven, maar dit lijkt een beetje in elkaar geflanst. Jammer.

Spero Lucas, Pelecanos’ hero, fights bad guys, helps the deserving needy, brings flowers to his mother, honors his deceased father, wears Dickeys, likes sex with beautiful women and falls for them, and takes a 40% cut when recovering stolen goods. A Marine veteran, he learned to do what needs to be done when conducting house-to-house fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Lucas is fit and tough, kayaks, and rides bicycles wearing regular shorts and a white tee.

The problem is that Lucas is capable of great violence and exercises this capacity, when he deems appropriate. He constantly struggles with moral dilemmas, the ego and id, usually able to control his primal urge to avenge and punish evil when battling darkness through his underlying intelligence and rationality. Yet, Lucas survives, listening to music, watching obscure movies, enjoying good food, drinking a little and smoking some weed. Live goes on for Lucas and his Marine buddies.

“The Double,” like many of Pelecanos’ stories, takes place in his hometown, Washington, D.C. and environs. Pelecanos gives you three intertwined plots, compelling, powerful and tightly written in the jargon of the setting, primarily the street. Pelecanos satisfies. I couldn’t put it down and will look for more. ( )