Hard Candy

The first reaction to the start of this novel could legitimately be: “Why is Vachss cleaning up loose ends from a previous book now?” Turns out it is completely relevant to this story. Perhaps he had learned from an oversight earlier in the series. In his second book, Strega, Burke was dealing with a loss suffered in his debut outing; and the angst did not particularly match what the readers had experienced at his side in Flood. This time we know exactly how far Burke has fallen as a result of his latest loss.

Burke’s World is populated by people like himself, living on the fringes of New York City, along its underbelly. These are almost always long-term relationships: some are personal, some are professional, a few are show more antagonistic. All are to one extent or another ambiguous. This time Burke entwines himself with an early girlfriend and a childhood friend turned hit man, the latter suspecting that Burke is encroaching on his territory thanks to previous events growing in stature as it circulates through the rumor mill. As always, Vachss drags elements from the seamy side of life into harsh daylight, and enthralls you along the way. A master craftsman with a successful effort. show less

In his fourth and hardest-hitting novel, Andrew Vachss once again plunges into the labyrinthine New York City underworld that ex-con turned troubleshooter known as Burke calls home. Burke must get a high-paid call girl's teenage daughter out of a commune that exploits rather than saves--a twisted cult that turns warm young flesh into cold hard cash. After he finds he's been set up, Burke retaliates, but he'll have justice served his way.

A prostitute named Candy, who Burke knew from his younger years, asks him to rescue her teenage daughter from a guy named Train. What she is doing there is left unclear, but when Burke finds out the truth he is horrified. Meanwhile, a psycho killer named Wesley is furious that Burke blew up a guy named Mortay (in the last book), and goes after the mob for not paying his fee, even though Mortay was killed by Burke. Wesley forces Burke to help him find the Don so that he can Wesley can get his revenge. Not as good as the last book, in part because Burke is moping for about 40% of the book, and finds no solace in exacting his own revenge on dead Belle's father.

Amazed this hasn't been reviewed in LibraryThing. I was spellbound, found it very difficult to put down. One hopes the mean streets of NY are (were) not quite so bad as painted here but the writing is superb. Read it.

Ending was horrific. I can understand Wesley, that monster wanting to go out in as public a fashion as possible, but why take all those high school students with him?

#733 in our old book database. Rated: Good.

child sex ring in NY, Burke a street criminal with a code