Series
Publication
Dell (2001), Edition: Reissue, 384 pages
Original publication date
2000
Collections
Genres
Awards
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Mystery/Thriller — 2000)
Description
Washington, D.C., 1995. What should have been a straightforward restaurant robbery goes horribly wrong. Several workers are shot in cold blood; the gunman's brother is killed by police; a young boy is run over by a careering getaway car. Three years pass. Victims and their relatives gather in the aftermath, still trying to come to terms with their grief. But gunman Frank Farrow has other ideas. Now the heat has died down, he is on his way back to Washington, determined to avenge his lost brother ... by killing everyone involved in his death.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sanddancer
The fourth in the Washington DC series, this one is set in the 1990s. This one lacks the interesting period detail of the previous three books, simply because the 90s weren't so interesting for music and fashion as the 50s, 70s and 80s. Also the big showdown is pretty similar to the big showdown in
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the previous books so what is meant to be the griping climax isnt as interesting as much of the rest of the book. However, what this book does have is great characters, even the good characters are flawed. The ending (the bit after the showdown) was brilliant and moving. Show Less
LibraryThing member Daftboy1
Good book this. Set in Washington DC in the late 1990s.Main character is Nick Stefanos a part time investigator.
4 people are murdered in an armed robbery one is a 5 year old boy.
3 years pass case isnt solved. The victims family run a support group every month. To summarise the father of the boy
4 people are murdered in an armed robbery one is a 5 year old boy.
3 years pass case isnt solved. The victims family run a support group every month. To summarise the father of the boy
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killed finds out who the fugitives are and goes after them, Nick tries to stop him. Justice is served. I really like George Pelecanos books just not the references to music. Show Less
LibraryThing member RichardEvans
Pelecanos' greatest appeal for me may be the D.C. setting. Having lived there for several years it was fun being able visualize the sites. Beyond that, while I enjoyed it I can't say he is my favorite author in this genre.
LibraryThing member rchrdevans
Pelecanos' greatest appeal for me may be the D.C. setting. Having lived there for several years it was fun being able visualize the sites. Beyond that, while I enjoyed it I can't say he is my favorite author in this genre.
LibraryThing member gmmartz
This is one of my favorite Pelecanos novels. I've learned to appreciate writers in this genre that can draw you into a world by painting a picture with their words, by creating characters you care about, and by using realistic dialogue. He does all that in spades in this book. As with all his work,
I think what I like best about Shame the Devil is the way the author puts his characters in morally ambiguous situations and allows the story to follow a realistic path to its conclusion. You get a sense for what's going through Dimitri's mind as he faces his demons throughout the book, you sort of think you know what might happen, and then the author brings it home in a satisfying conclusion. You know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are, but the good guys aren't Boy Scouts.
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you get a slice of DC, you learn about the characters of Stefanos, Dimitri, the gals, and the bad guys, and the dialogue is superb as always. And as I've neglected to do in other reviews, I want to recognize the way Pelecanos uses musical references throughout the work to put a soundtrack to what's happening in your mind. Nobody does that better.I think what I like best about Shame the Devil is the way the author puts his characters in morally ambiguous situations and allows the story to follow a realistic path to its conclusion. You get a sense for what's going through Dimitri's mind as he faces his demons throughout the book, you sort of think you know what might happen, and then the author brings it home in a satisfying conclusion. You know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are, but the good guys aren't Boy Scouts.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0440236355 / 9780440236351
Physical description
384 p.; 4.13 inches
Pages
384