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A review by mdavids
Hell to Pay by George Pelecanos
3.0
Reading Hell to Pay, I realized my problem with George Pelecanos. He takes himself too damn seriously. Would a little humor lessen the impact? It's not that the characters never have fun, but even the descriptions of the good times are serious - tinged with regret, perhaps, or the memory of previous sadness. Sometimes I'm in the mood for that, but this time I wasn't. Need to let some time pass before reading number three.
That said, Pelecanos is still at the top of his game. The first Strange/Quinn book focused almost entirely on the past. This one rarely mentions their shared history, and propels them both forward in surprising ways. I admire Pelecanos for keeping things moving, character-wise. Most series authors succumb to stagnation, figuring that whatever made the first book popular will ensure continued success. Pelecanos's novels read like he's never satisfied with what he's done.
That said, Pelecanos is still at the top of his game. The first Strange/Quinn book focused almost entirely on the past. This one rarely mentions their shared history, and propels them both forward in surprising ways. I admire Pelecanos for keeping things moving, character-wise. Most series authors succumb to stagnation, figuring that whatever made the first book popular will ensure continued success. Pelecanos's novels read like he's never satisfied with what he's done.