The Big Blowdown

George Pelecanos is one of the best of the current crop of crime fiction writers. His novels remind me a little of Balzac, with characters returning in later novels, sometimes only to make a cameo appearance, and sometimes greatly transformed by experience. The Big Blowdown, while not his first novel, is Pelecanos's first in chronological order. I would recommend starting here, but it is not absolutely essential that you do.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but after about 50 pages I was hooked. Pelecanos creates a very specific time and place (Washington DC in the 1940s) but the themes of friendship and life choices are universal. I can't wait to read the next in this series.

It's an okay novel, the plot is so-so; it seems to primarily act as a showcase for social mannerisms, issues and styles common to the era it tries to depict; in other words, it's a period piece. For me, that alone is not enough to create a strong interest.

The characters seem to be stereotypes of how most of us recall people being then. It's good but to be great it needs to do more than prove the writer has a memory; the plot and character development are pedestrian.

I haven't even finished this yet but am enjoying it so much I thought i'd recommend it to anyone thinking of picking it up! I've never read a crime novel before and am loving the slow build up of the story. Exciting stuff

awesome