Edwin Torres (1) (1931–)

Diverting, fast-paced, short, character-based stuff (like Chester Himes, but not). A colourful glimpse into the lawless melting pot that was seventies New York, concentrating on police corruption, with an emphasis on dialogue. The white cops, specifically the Irish - are the villains (save our protagonist). Although published in 1977 it appears to be set in 1968 or thereabouts, but the book seems definitively seventies to me. Not much legal/procedural stuff, considering Torres was a judge.

This is the prequel story that tells you what happened to Carlito Brigante before the events of After Hours novel/Carlito's Way film. It's a nasty, grimy, crime soaked good time of a NYC Puerto Rican proving himself in jail and subsequently trying to be the best dope dealer he can be in the street to make as much money as he can before a bullet or jail take him out. It also gives you a pretty good window of the mentality of a younger Carlito Brigante, a brash, arrogant, ambitious go-getting show more hood that feared nothing and let his greed and vision catch him slipping and find himself on the wrong radar of a lot of people and organizations. How this book ends with Carlito losing the one thing he didn't appreciate until it was gone - his possible freedom and independence - gives you a windows as to why he was so adamant in After Hours novel/Carlito's Way film that he wasn't going after to jail no matter what.

It was a good read but After Hours to me was more spectacular taking place in Carlito's later years. show less

A gangster's tale. How does one go straight in a crooked world?