conventional ( )

George Pecanos set this story about some young men struggling with life and adulthood after spending time in a juvenile detention facility. Set in the District of Colombia it is clear that the author knows his turf and describes it well. I like a novel that gives me a view into a place I don't know. ( )

Taking the synopsis at face value one would assume this was a fast moving tale of robbery and revenge, but as it turns out a fair chunk of it takes place inside a youth offenders' institution, and the main action described on the back cover is confined to the later stages. Not a criticism, but I found it difficult to concentrate in the early stages because of too many characters with names beginning with L or B that I struggled to keep track of. In terms of the incarcerated characters I assumed there were some we were meant to sympathise with and others who were frankly bang to rights, and though there was some handy signalling in this regard, I still had to go back and re-read some sections just to get all the characters straight in my head.

What I admired most about this book was the portrayal of Chris's parents and their dismay at his wayward behaviour. As the parent of a troubled teen (though nowhere near this scale!) I appreciated it and felt it was done well. On the other hand I found the story less dramatic and more plodding than I had hoped at the start. ( )

Redemption...A story of love between a father and son, but a sort of a clunker.

Pelecanos’s fiction has for a while now been decidedly more upbeat, less bleak and, I dare say, a little too predictable.

What's also getting on my nerves is his skewed syntax and more than a few strangely constructed sentences that stand out a mile away. And it's getting more pronounced with each book. Rush jobs for a paycheque?

It was also very preachy (like some of his late books).

While reading the book, I was expecting something to throw me off. Didn't happen. It also did not succeed in creating a memorable world full of interesting characters and a credible story-line.

It was a bit of a bore for me.
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Totally dig this guy ( )