Hell's Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen is part of Jeffery Deaver’s John Pellam series, and it is a thriller which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the book.

John Pellam is in Hell’s Kitchen in New York for once working on his own project, a documentary hoping to capture the unvarnished memories of long time Hell’s Kitchen residents. On his way to conduct an interview with, Ettie Washington in her apartment he could smell something which made him feel very uneasy. Before he knows it he sees an explosion when the door to the basement explodes and he tries to reach Ettie but is beaten back by the flames. Some how he manages to escape but does wake up in hospital.

When he visits Ettie, she too is in hospital, but the police kick him out show more and do not tell him anything that is happening. When they charge Ettie with homicide and arson, Pellan knows he will have to find all the answers himself. He already knows that both the NYPD and NYFD had their culprit and would look no further. Pellam asks questions on the streets, asking the questions that the police should have been doing. At the same time the arsonist is still setting fires in a wide array of buildings. The police hope that by detaining Ettie she will give up the name of the arsonist.

Pellam chases leads, and the truth seems a lot further away, even though he is doing the sensible thing and following the money things are not as clear as they should be. While he is doing this, he is gaining respect on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.

Every time you think you understand stand where this thriller is going there is another twist. This really is a great read. show less

The cover art doesn't do this book justice. Jeffery Deaver creates a rich archectural landscape for his mystery rather than putting it in some vague cliched archetypal buildings or rooms. The blury red building with yellow lit window does not capture this richness of set and scene!

All through the book not one character nor one scene is wasted. It's an extremely tight and satisfying mystery. The last thread that is tied up as a coda is perhaps one that doesn't need to be addressed. One loose end would have giving the piece complete plausability but to explain the protagonist's motivation for being such a good samaritan is unnecessary and overwritten.

Every New York City neighbourhood has a story, but what John Pellam uncovers in Hell’s Kitchen has a darkness all its own. The Hollywood location scout is hoping to capture the unvarnished memories of longtime Kitchen residents in a no-budget documentary film. But when a suspicious fire ravages an elderly woman’s crumbling tenement, Pellam realises that someone might want the past to stay buried. As more buildings and lives go up in flames, Pellam takes to the streets, seeking the twisted pyromaniac who sells services to the highest bidder. But Pellam is unaware that the fires are merely flickering preludes to the arsonist’s ultimate masterpiece – a conflagration of nearly unimaginable proportion…

OMG, wow, I have 2 of my favourite authors joining together to write a books. Was I excited when it landed on my kindle YES. Was I disappointed, oh hell no.

This read has it all, drama, sex, alpha males, revenge, violence all rolled into one book. Will you be taken on a rollercoaster, oh yes you will, will you be begging for more, most definitely.

I loved and adore this read, we see some familiar faces popping up throughout this book, but also we will see some swoon worthy new characters. Both these authors have produced a read that flows so perfectly, you will be pulled in by the very first page.

So much action all in one book, and when I got to the end, oh no you cannot leave me like that, seriously I need book 2 now.

If you are a lover show more of these authors, or just want a fantastic book to read then this is for you. show less

Hell’s Kitchen is the third (and so far final) Jeffrey Deaver Location Scout novel. Whilst doing research in Hell’s Kitchen, Pellam is caught in the fire that burns down a tenement building. The prime suspect is Ettie Wilkes Washington, the old black woman he has been interviewing for his oral history of Hell’s Kitchen. Convinced of her innocence, Pellam starts his own investigation. He mixes it with fire marshals, street kids, youth outreach workers, jaded lawyers, Latino and Irish gangs, land developers, high society and a pyromaniac. Who is telling the truth, and what are cleverly fabricated lies? Is anyone, including Pellam, being completely honest? Once again, plenty of twists in the tale, leading to a dramatic conflagration. show more An excellent Location Scout novel with room for sequels if Deaver decides to revisit this reluctant hero. show less

The book never grabbed me and I waded through the listen while driving on a boring interstate. It was, apparently, well researched as it wound up around one of the New York City's famous neighborhoods. The book contains punks and tycoons as well as a fair plot. But, in the end, I'll never get that time back.

Non male ma non esaltante, diciamo da 2 stelline a 3... considerando che Deaver mi piace molto, non lo reputo uno dei più riusciti per questo autore.