Rating: 
Summary: Second book in the new series improves on the first
Review: I thought Right as Rain was Pelecanos's weakest so far. But considering how good he is, that's not much of a dis: King Suckerman is a perfect book; The Sweet Forever was almost as good, with the exception of a couple lines of dialogue I couldn't buy teenagers saying; and A Firing Offense was a great first novel. The others are all solidly entertaining. This, the second book with Strange and Quinn, really centers on Strange, and he's a good, solid character. It's also a bit refreshing to have a Pelecanos protagonist that doesn't binge drink as much as the others, although Strange has other flaws. As usual, the minor characters are great, too: they are chief among Pelecanos's strengths. And there's his usual music commentary, although he doesn't sound as jazzed about contemporary rap as his treasured '70s soul and rock. The DC street tour is interesting as ever; it's not absolutely necessary, but I think it helps to have a good map of Washington when you're reading his stuff. The style is not stale--yet--but I'm really starting to wonder what a Pelecanos book on a subject other than the working class neighborhoods of DC would read like.P.S. I hope Spike Lee makes the King Suckerman movie soon!
Rating: 
Summary: Hell to Read
Review: I'm not a big fan of crime fiction, but I had read some good reviews on this story in some Men's magazine and figured I'd pick it up. Thankfully I had the sense to borrow it form the library instead of purchasing it. "Hell to Pay" was insanely boring. This would be the perfect novel to turn into a Steven Segall movie because it is already lacking a plot. Pelecanos jumps around way too much, and at too many times when he should be fleshing out the story more or adding some more action, which "Hell" is seriously devoid of. It seems like he used this book as a chance to describe the seedier side of Washington and to mention all of the urban hip-hop artists he knows rather than trying to tell an entertaining story.
Rating:
Summary: Hell to Read
Review: I'm not a big fan of crime fiction, but I had read some good reviews on this story in some Men's magazine and figured I'd pick it up. Thankfully I had the sense to borrow it form the library instead of purchasing it. "Hell to Pay" was insanely boring. This would be the perfect novel to turn into a Steven Segall movie because it is already lacking a plot. Pelecanos jumps around way too much, and at too many times when he should be fleshing out the story more or adding some more action, which "Hell" is seriously devoid of. It seems like he used this book as a chance to describe the seedier side of Washington and to mention all of the urban hip-hop artists he knows rather than trying to tell an entertaining story.
Rating: 
Summary: Return to the Mean Streets of DC
Review: I've lived in DC for 20 years, my family is from here, and Pelecanos is only the second author I've come across who writes about the DC that I know and recognize (the other is Edward Jones, check out his story collection "Lost in the City" if you can find it). In his tenth book, middle-aged PI Derek Strange and younger white ex-cop Terry Quinn return for their second tour of DC's mean streets following Right as Rain. If the theme of that last book was racism, this one's is hopelessness. The two main stories revolve around teenagers who have lost any sense of hope and whose existence has spiraled into ugliness from which they are incapable of breaking free. One of these stories follows three boys as they peddle hydro (pot), boost cars, bet o dogfights, listen to tunes, eat fast food, and eventually commit murder. The trio are emblematic of many kids who grow up in the ghetto, with no fathers, no guidance, and ultimately no hope. All they have is their street rep and a resignation that they will die young. When they murder someone close to Strange, he races to identify and track them down before the police do. The other story revolves around a nasty pimp (as if there's any other kind) who specializes in teenage talent, and what happens when Quinn helps a prostitution support group try and extract one of the girls and take her home. The antidote to this theme of hopelessness is Strange and Quinn's coaching a neighborhood Pee-Wee football team where they try to teach the boys the right way to live and to see that life holds possibilities for them. Of course, as in all Pelecanos' books, there's a running dark tone that lets the reader know there are few happy endings in this world. Mixed in with the two "cases" are the duo's personal struggles, the main one being Strange's attempt to come to terms with his relationship with his office managed Janine and her son. Quinn, meanwhile, struggles with his own inner rage and embarks on a new relationship. As in the previous book Strange and Quinn make a nice odd couple as they verbally spar with one another about race, although Pelecanos has subtly made them more comfortable with each other. If you've enjoyed Pelecanos' previous books, you're likely to enjoy this one as well. It's a definite step up from Right as Rain, and full of all the usual Pelecanos details about music, cars, and sports.
Rating: 
Summary: He can't seem to maintain it
Review: I've read all of Pelecanos's novels. Enjoyed the early ones so much that I really looked forward to his two most recent offerings (i.e., Right as Rain and Hell to Pay). In my opinion, Pelecanos has run out of material. His earlier works used arcane musical references to add flavor to the story, creating a perception that the author knew his stuff. Hell to Pay is packed absolutely full of musical references, none of which has any pertinence to the story. George, we get it. We know you've listened to every piece of popular music ever recorded, and that, like Quentin Tarantino, you wish you were a black guy in the 1970s. The fact that you notice the horn arrangements in Ohio Players tunes doesn't make you any less a honky. Weak story here. It's thoroughly contrived and poorly developed. Pelecanos has formulated what amounts to an extended Liberal whine on the deplorable conditions of African-Americans in Washington, DC. Unlike the likeable, believeable characters in his earlier novels, it's doubtful anyone would care if the two protagonists from Hell to Pay were run through a chum grinder and fed to sharks. The white guy is ready to fight about anything, while the black guy appears to visit Asian massage parlors every few minutes. Pelecanos really disappoints here. My guess is that he discovered with Right as Rain that he could become the darling of the publishing establishment by turning seriously PC, and he's milking it. My advice: Pass on this one, and get yourself a copy of King Suckerman. It shows how well Pelecanos can craft a story.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable
Review: If you are feeling down and are looking for a book to pick you up, this is NOT the one. It is a grim and depressing story about the harsh realities of inner city life. Sex, drugs and racism are all a part of this story. Pelecanos portrays two characters, Quinn and Strange, who are trying to do the right thing in a place where right and wrong do not seem to matter much. Both characters are complex and flawed, and amongst the most interesting in all of crime fiction. The book is well written, and expertly plotted. The conclusion may not satisfy you, but it is memorable if not haunting. Hell to Pay is a top-notch crime novel and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable
Review: If you are feeling down and are looking for a book to pick you up, this is NOT the one. It is a grim and depressing story about the harsh realities of inner city life. Sex, drugs and racism are all a part of this story. Pelecanos portrays two characters, Quinn and Strange, who are trying to do the right thing in a place where right and wrong do not seem to matter much. Both characters are complex and flawed, and amongst the most interesting in all of crime fiction. The book is well written, and expertly plotted. The conclusion may not satisfy you, but it is memorable if not haunting. Hell to Pay is a top-notch crime novel and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great writing turns ordinary story into terrific book
Review: If you share my belief that a really good author puts the reader in the scene with the characters, you'll probably appreciate the writing in this book. Pelecanos knows how to paint the word picture so the reader can see it and feel it. In this book, he takes what I'd rate as a fairly ordinary story and weaves it into a terrific book with great writing. This was my first Pelecanos book, but it won't be my last. I'm eager to see what he can do with other story lines. His character development is strong and his way of working current references to sports and music appealed to me in this book and I want to see how they play in some of his older work. In summary I'd say that if you like urban crime books, you ought to do yourself a favor and read this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but quite odd at times.
Review: In general, Hell to Pay was a very good book. It kept me reading and never really bored me all too much. One thing I had a problem with, however, was the extreme amount of sexual content in the book. I can honestly say that I would have liked the book so much better if it wasn't so sexually orientated at times. If you don't mind strong language and sexual content this is a good book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Another Gritty Thriller
Review: In this realistic and thought- provoking crime story set in the poor violent section of Washington D.C., Derek Strange, who owns and operates a private investigator business, is hired by two women investigators who have been working with APIP (Aiding Prostitutes In Peril). They hire Strange to help find a john who has been acting weird and talking about rough sex. He is also hired to follow a friend's daughter and the man she is dating. His friend Quinn becomes involved with one of the women investigators and helps Strange coach a Youth football team. His interactions with the team add depth to the characters and provides the setting, situation and relationships for the main action of the story. The innocence of youth football is juxtoposed within The Culture of Violence found in inner cities. Pelecanos intentionally uses Washington D.C. which is ironically just miles from the seat of government of the most powerful nation in the world. HELL TO PAY made me angry and pulled at my heartstrings. It is written so descriptively that it feels real; it takes the reader to the projects and portrays and examines the effect of a young innocent victim's death on everyone else in the story. The story also describes racism and illustrates how kids grow up fast, are exposed to violence, drugs, and fear. Strange, who wants to find the killer before the police, struggles with his own beliefs and values. HELL TO PAY will transport most readers to where they've never been. It's worth the trip!
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