A Firing Offense (A Five Star Title)

Too much like a soft porn.

Solid hardboiled, but nothing special. Very low-key until the over-the-top ending where our stereo salesman hero suddenly decides to go gangsta. Pelecanos has a tremendous reputation, but this was the first of his novels that I have read. Maybe they get better. I recently read Charlie Huston's CAUGHT STEALING, which I think must have been very inspired by this one. I liked CAUGHT much better...more

Solid hardboiled, but nothing special. Very low-key until the over-the-top ending where our stereo salesman hero suddenly decides to go gangsta. Pelecanos has a tremendous reputation, but this was the first of his novels that I have read. Maybe they get better. I recently read Charlie Huston's CAUGHT STEALING, which I think must have been very inspired by this one. I liked CAUGHT much better though.   hide

This is Pelecanos' first novel. I've been reading his work for the last year or so on and off and have loved everything so much I just decided to start from the beginning and read his work chronologically. Even though Pelecanos had not yet really found his voice, the book is still a rewarding read. Nick Stephanos is introduced and it's fun to find out how he became a P.I. We meet him as he's...more

This is Pelecanos' first novel. I've been reading his work for the last year or so on and off and have loved everything so much I just decided to start from the beginning and read his work chronologically. Even though Pelecanos had not yet really found his voice, the book is still a rewarding read. Nick Stephanos is introduced and it's fun to find out how he became a P.I. We meet him as he's floundering his way about as a marketing middle manager at a large electronics chain. He loathes his job, which is a good thing due to the way "Nutty Nathan's" falls apart spectacularly by the end of the book. The tone is similar to that of "Nick's Trip." I'm getting ready to read the rest of Pelecanos' earlier work this month ("Shoedog", "Down by the River Where the Dead Men Go", and "The Big Blowdown") and I'm very curious to see where George Pelecanos hits his stride.   hide

Anything by this guy is fantastic. Pelecanos really knows how to write good dialogue.

I just started the Nick Stefanos series, by Pelecanos, the D.C. area writer. This one is almost 20 years old, so a bit dated, but not bad. It is a short contemporary easy-to-read novel. I liked it. It is interesting to read a story set in D.C. His writing is almost too simple though. It is good enough to continue in the series.

Awesome book, the introduction to Nick Stefanos, and what leads him to become a private investigator. Fun stuff to read.