Book Review: Hard Revolution

Reviewed By: Ali Karim - RAM

Hard Revolution     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
George Pelecanos
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Derek Strange & Terry Quinn # 4
Orion Publishing (UK)

What can I say about this book that has not already been said? Hard Revolution is one of the most heavily reviewed books of recent years and has catapulted Pelecanos well and truly into the forefront of crime-writers of today. I recall Deadly Pleasures featuring him on the cover a few issues back with the tag-line ‘Out of the cult and into the mainstream’ and Hard Revolution shows you why.

Split into two time frames it features a young Derek Strange (from ‘Right as Rain’, ‘Hell to Pay’ and ‘Soul Circus’) and his family and the context that made Strange the man he is in that trilogy. We arrive in 1959 and see Strange as a young boy and his family. We see the dignity in his parents Darius and Alethea, as well as the danger signals in his older brother Dennis. Then we fast forward to 1968 when Strange is a young cop policing the streets and learning the harsh realities of life. We get introduced to Frank Vaughn a world-weary cop who the rookie Strange observes, and we get the riots and whole political backdrop caused by the slaying of Dr Martin Luther King and the aftermath. We see much, but we feel even more such is the power in this book. Washington never felt so real.

This is a book that transcends genre. The writing is crisp and provocative, making you see the world from the eyes of others, but never condescending or forceful in its message about the fragility of social cohesion. Hard Revoltion is as relevant to European race relations as it is to US race relations and as the fourth book to feature Derek Strange, we get that sought after poker hand – the fourth ace.

Bravo Orion for supporting Pelecanos and Bravo Serpent’s Tale for bringing him to our shores.

Ali Karim - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM

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