The best book I've read this year: Joe, Brentford.

The best book I've read this year is the latest novel from American crime author George Pelecanos. I'm not someone who reads masses of crime fiction but there's something about Pelecanos that makes him a must-read for me. Like most of his other novels The Night Gardener is set in Washington DC, but his vision of the city is far removed from the stately capital city we are familiar with thanks to shows like The West Wing.The world Pelecanos' characters inhabit is one of back-alley drug deals and casually homicidal violence, where both money and hope are at a premium.

The story concerns a fresh murder potentially related to a cold serial killing case, but there's a number of other loosely connected subplots too. As always the writing in The Night Gardener is tight and effective and Pelecanos' characters are drawn with unstintingly vivid clarity that means you feel the humanity inside even the worst of them.  For me though the various elements of the plot never quite came together satisfactorily, making the novel feel rather like several balls of high-quality wool instead of a completed tapestry.  

Buy the book

You might well disagree though, so please go ahead and share your
thoughts by leaving a comment.  Who's your favourite crime author at
the moment?  Do you rate Pelecanos as highly as I do, and what did you
make of The Night Gardener?

Comments

[Mark (Notting Hill)]

Easily "Lost Art of Keeping Secrets" by Eva Rice which I would never have read normally on account of the really girlie, pastel shaded cover but I met her in the store when the book came out and she was adorable and I promised her I would read it.

I called her on the title straight away and asked her if she was a Queens of the Stone Age fan, expecting her not know what on earth I was talking about and she said, "Yes, How did you guess?"

"The title of the book..." I replied.

There ensued a half an hour discussion about the bands we both liked. I read the book and called her to give feedback. I fell in love with the story instantly and it is actually very much a guy book. Lots of strong male characters, great dialogue and a brilliant, page turning story line. Everyone I know who has read the book has just been blown away by it and it fully deserved the attention it then got. A matter of a few weeks later it was chosen as a Richard and Judy title and the shop was flooded with them and people who wanted to buy this cute little book we had championed from publication and I know Eva still hasn't got over the reception the book got.

We all cannot wait for the next one to come out and we implore you to try it and fall in love with it too.

"The Dragonfly Summer" will be out in June and I'm sure Eva will come and do a signing.

[Amanda Holt]

Must get around to reading some of his stuff. You're not the only person who raves about Mr Pelecanos. My other half says he's fantastic too. Must be something in it. Will pull one off the bookshelf this weekend.