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mewsie's review against another edition
2.0
John Pellam, former stuntman and location scout, is now taking some time off to work on a documentary about the New York City neighborhood called Hell's Kitchen. Located on the west side of Manhattan, it is a rather run down and rough neighborhood. The focus of his documentary is an elderly black woman, Ettie Washington, who has lived in Kitchen all of her life and has been telling Pellam numerous stories about life in that neighborhood.
When Pellam goes to visit Ettie one night, the building is set on fire where both he and Ettie barely manage to survive. After the investigation but the NYFD, the fire is ruled an arson and Ettie is immediately arrested as the one who hired the arson. Pellam is conviced of Ettie's innocence and seeks out to find the truth behind the fire. In the process, he captures the attention of the twisted arsonist who begins to focus his hate and passion on Pellam and wants to see him dead.
Honestly, I was not too thrilled with this book. It is my first book written by Deaver and he had gotten so many positive reviews that I figured I would give him a shot. The writing style wasn't too bad, but he seems to throw in twists and turns that make no sense and the progression of the story gets jagged at times. Also, I had a problem with the description of the Kitchen. He described the neighborhood to be this nasty hole in the wall that probably should be burnt to the ground. I worked near the Kitchen for four years and I will admit it isn't the nicest of neighborhoods, but it isn't nearly as bad as he described it. Especially since the city has taken a keen interest in rebuilding a lot of it.
When Pellam goes to visit Ettie one night, the building is set on fire where both he and Ettie barely manage to survive. After the investigation but the NYFD, the fire is ruled an arson and Ettie is immediately arrested as the one who hired the arson. Pellam is conviced of Ettie's innocence and seeks out to find the truth behind the fire. In the process, he captures the attention of the twisted arsonist who begins to focus his hate and passion on Pellam and wants to see him dead.
Honestly, I was not too thrilled with this book. It is my first book written by Deaver and he had gotten so many positive reviews that I figured I would give him a shot. The writing style wasn't too bad, but he seems to throw in twists and turns that make no sense and the progression of the story gets jagged at times. Also, I had a problem with the description of the Kitchen. He described the neighborhood to be this nasty hole in the wall that probably should be burnt to the ground. I worked near the Kitchen for four years and I will admit it isn't the nicest of neighborhoods, but it isn't nearly as bad as he described it. Especially since the city has taken a keen interest in rebuilding a lot of it.
mariakm's review against another edition
2.0
cant beleive this is by Deaver, whose other books I have loved. maybe this just wasnt my thing but I found it overly violent, boring and difficult to read becaseu it kept descending into 'gangspeak'. If this was the first of his I had read, I wouldnt bother with anymore!
winterflowerreads's review
4.0
8.0/10
The plot of the novel is great. However, in my opinion there is too much writing. Deaver gives unnecessary background information, that has no apparent function in the novel. This bothered me quite a bit, because it made the novel a bit boring. It was a bit tedious at some points. Apart from this fact, the novel was very realistic and it contained heartfelt emotions.
The plot of the novel is great. However, in my opinion there is too much writing. Deaver gives unnecessary background information, that has no apparent function in the novel. This bothered me quite a bit, because it made the novel a bit boring. It was a bit tedious at some points. Apart from this fact, the novel was very realistic and it contained heartfelt emotions.
“I don’t know. I can find out.” The way Bailey emphasised the last sentence explained a little bit more about how gears got gummed up. {…} “that’s how it works in Hell’s Kitchen. Everybody’s a sellout. Maybe even me.” The smile faded. “Or maybe I just have a high price. That’s ethics around here - when it takes a lot to buy you.” - Louis Bailey, p.46
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