The Man Who Came Uptown
From Co-Creator of Hit HBO Show ‘We Own This City’
-
- 42,00 kr
-
- 42,00 kr
Publisher Description
From writer and producer on HBO's THE WIRE and THE DEUCE comes one of the most critically-acclaimed crime novels of the year:
'He is, quite simply, among America's finest crime writers. This latest story does not disappoint ... lyrical, beautifully observed and constantly surprising, it is a delight' Daily Mail
'In his first novel for five years, Pelecanos demonstrates why he deserves to be regarded as one of the best American crime novelists ... It's a moving tale, beautifully told' The Times
* * * * *
Anna Byrne is a jailhouse librarian. In a place where hope is hard to find, the power of books can be a light in the dark. For some of the prisoners, her work is life-changing.
Like Michael Hudson, her best student, who's been locked up awaiting trial before his sudden release. He's relieved to be free - to 'come uptown', as they say - but can't shake the question: why is the witness who put him behind bars is suddenly refusing to testify? There's a man who might have the answer, but he wants something first.
Phil Ornazian is a private investigator who moonlights as a petty criminal. He's not exactly proud of it, but times are hard in Washington, D.C. People have to change to survive, or die trying.
But everything comes at a price and, at some point, everyone has to pay...
* * * * *
Praise for George Pelecanos:
'Perhaps the greatest living American crime writer' Stephen King
'Outstanding' Sunday Telegraph
'Powerful' Observer
'American crime writing at its finest' Independent on Sunday
'Terrific' Elmore Leonard
'Powerful' Michael Connelly
'I love the way he writes: economical, rhythmic, elliptical and angrily political' Val McDermid
'Hard-boiled fiction with heart' Sunday Telegraph
'Pelecanos has joined James Lee Burke and Lawrence Block at the high table of contemporary crime greats' The Times
'The coolest writer in America' GQ
'Gold-standard character-driven crime writing that few will ever match' Financial Times
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Michael Hudson, the hero of this unforgettable novel of crime, redemption, and the transformative power of the written word from Edgar-finalist Pelecanos (The Double), awaits trial in a Washington, D.C., jail for armed robbery. Like many of his fellow inmates, Hudson has taken to reading as a way to pass the time. He looks forward to the books carefully chosen for him by jail librarian Anna Byrne, who leads regular book discussion groups. As Hudson devours novels, he begins to catch a glimpse of a larger world outside, one that he didn't realize was available to him. Meanwhile, Phil Orzanian, an investigator for Hudson's defense attorney, dissuades a witness from testifying, and Hudson is suddenly out free. Orzanian turns out to run a side business robbing drug dealers and other criminals of their ill-gotten gains, and he reminds Hudson of the debt the former inmate owes him. As the fates of Hudson, Orzanian, and Byrne collide, Pelecanos shows that doing the right thing isn't always the easiest option. Inspired by the author's own experience with prison literacy programs, this is the work of a master storyteller at the top of his game.