Two Trains Running

I love Vachss's Burke novels, even though I had to stop reading them for a while after my kids were born (too disturbing). This one's a little bit different than the Burke books in that there are lots of characters and it's set in the recent past (1959). But it's typical of Vachss's other books in its lean prose, violence, atypical but powerful moral code, and unusual relationships. I don't think I'd say one "enjoys" a Vachss novel, but one does come away from them with a passion to do something about violence and evil.

So, anyway, if you like Vachss, you'll probably like this book. If you can't handle dark and violent, you probably shouldn't read this one. ( )

All I know about this book is that Martha Grimes said it's "Like a stick of dynamite tossed into hell." Well, actually, reading that quote again, she's actually talking about one of the characters in the book. All I have to say is that this is a pretty placid hell - not much of interest happens in this book. There are at least a dozen recurring characters and half a dozen different gangs or organizations fighting over various interests in the book - if only there was more actual action. Instead, it's talk here, go somewhere else, talk there, etc. etc. etc. I wouldn't mind if the plots were coherent or even relevant, but they're just not, and the whole thing fizzles out like someone cut the fuse. Vachss has written far better books than this. ( )