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candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
"The Letter Writer" is a very readable novel, despite the fact that is is not very convincing. The reason for the satisfaction aspect is the character of the letter writer himself, a shabby fellow who calls himself Danziger. He makes a living reading and writing letters for people in the Lower East Side who can't do these things for themselves. He has a deep understanding of people and events going on in New York in those weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Every time he narrates a chapter the story flares--he's got secrets, this guy. What can they have to do with a series of murders happening now?
The main character is a North Carolina detective come to join the NYPD after a tragic scandal back home. There's not a lot to Woodrow Cain. His backstory is not very convincing; he's given a bland daughter for some reason, and a girlfriend who is uncharacteristically careless in giving away Danziger's deepest secret.
It's full of holes, but the story will keep you going to the end. How about a novel abut Danziger? That would be grand!
"The Letter Writer" is a very readable novel, despite the fact that is is not very convincing. The reason for the satisfaction aspect is the character of the letter writer himself, a shabby fellow who calls himself Danziger. He makes a living reading and writing letters for people in the Lower East Side who can't do these things for themselves. He has a deep understanding of people and events going on in New York in those weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Every time he narrates a chapter the story flares--he's got secrets, this guy. What can they have to do with a series of murders happening now?
The main character is a North Carolina detective come to join the NYPD after a tragic scandal back home. There's not a lot to Woodrow Cain. His backstory is not very convincing; he's given a bland daughter for some reason, and a girlfriend who is uncharacteristically careless in giving away Danziger's deepest secret.
It's full of holes, but the story will keep you going to the end. How about a novel abut Danziger? That would be grand!
rw3's review against another edition
5.0
I'm from New York so I just loved it. 1942 remains a legendary time in NYC to this day.
clambook's review against another edition
3.0
Neat idea, but not as well-crafted as I hoped for. Treatment of WWII NY. feels superficial, and the NYPD cops are painted as cartoonish oafs. But the research into the Luciano quid pro quo seems solid.
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