Dead and Gone: A Burke Novel

Rating:
Summary: Return to Darkness
Review: As a big fan of Andrew Vachss, both as a writer and as a human being, I was very pleased with the latest Burke novel, "Dead and Gone." In fact, this is easily his best novel since "Footsteps of the Hawk". While the intermediate books were very good, they were a little more light in literary content than his previous works. That is not to say they weren't good. Vachss is usually several times better than the average crime/mystery writer. But they were fairly flawed. "False Allegations" became essentially a treatise on abuse and false memories/allegations (which is Vachss' primary concern when writing his Burke novels, abuse of children) and came off a little flat. Likewise, his next novels "Safe House" and "Choice of Evil", while developing chillingly evil antagonists for Burke (particularly in "Choice of Evil"), were fairly by the numbers in terms of plot. The death of Burke's girlfriend in "Choice of Evil" didn't have the impact it probably should have.

"Dead and Gone" however, takes Burke back into his darkest roots. Burke is ambushed, blinded by gunfire, and a primary character who has been present throughout the series is murdered. Burke seeths for revenge, but must vanish in order to achieve it. And the answer to that revenge may lay in Burke's violent past.

The characterization of Burke here is utterly frightening. This is the Burke of "Flood" and "Down in the Zero", the Burke who likes to share his pain with whatever monster he can get his hands on. The streetwise, amoral predator at work. Through his eyes, the reader is shown a world we are loathe to even acknowledge, much less see. A world the average person cannot even begin to imagine. Naturally Vachss, through Burke, wants us to see this world, forces us to see. It is there, and only when we all see it, Vachss tells us, can this world be destroyed.

Be warned, this is not the book to begin with if you are a new Vachss reader. There is a definite connection to events of previous novels of the series, and unless a person has read the whole serious, the relevance of who the antagonist is will mean nothing.

Also be warned: Vachss has an agenda. He wants to show people a part of the world that most refuse to admit even exists. Some people may not appreciate this full throttle initiation. Vachss must be read. But he should not be read without mental preparation first.

Rating:
Summary: Another intense, hard edged romp. Vachss never disappoints!
Review: Burke gets in quickly over his head, and after he loses a team member- he is burning mad. Vachss's whole Burke series never lets down butthis is one of the best.

Having moved to the Pacific NorthWest,originally from Boston, I was overjoyed that Burke's search forNeo-Nazis would take him to my new environs. As usual Vachss is up todate on everything from aryan psychos to high techno wizardry. My only criticism thus far of Vachss are that sometimes his endings can bepredictable. This book however is a roller coaster ride with a unpredictabletwisted turn at the end. A delight the whole ride!

Rating:
Summary: Multi-layered writing, worthwhile reading
Review: Dead and Gone continues the evolution of the character of Burke, an abused-child now-adult for whom the word 'dysfunctional' is almost comically euphemistic. In this installment, Vachss has chosen to disrupt the chain-link of safety constructed by Burke throughout his life. Previous novels have shown Burke's displacement from his home, and the near-loss of his partner, Pansy. Dead and Gone provides further upheaval, and ultimately forces Burke to examine the one weak link he has created - his pattern of behavior, a pattern which may have resulted in the violence and death that has left him permanently altered. Vachss, seemingly alone among his peers, refuses to lock his characters into cartoonish rigidity: they age, make mistakes, suffer human frailties. Readers will see Burke struggle with impotence and the dissociative episodes that have marked all the books, most noticeably in Choice of Evil. He also begins a romantic relationship that is notable for the ease with which Burke, who seems to have always dreaded relationships, is now able to give and receive compassion. Burke is a character whose religion is revenge. The fact that he acknowledges this final pattern - by breaking it - distinguishes the novel as thoughtful and courageous. Vachss' on-going examination of the long-term damage resulting from child abuse and his front-line reportage of the issues involved are themselves compelling to read. That he dispenses the information through such well-drawn, multi-layered novels is just our luck.

Rating:
Summary: Multi-layered writing, worthwhile reading
Review: Dead and Gone continues the evolution of the character of Burke, an abused-child now-adult for whom the word 'dysfunctional' is almost comically euphemistic. In this installment, Vachss has chosen to disrupt the chain-link of safety constructed by Burke throughout his life. Previous novels have shown Burke's displacement from his home, and the near-loss of his partner, Pansy. Dead and Gone provides further upheaval, and ultimately forces Burke to examine the one weak link he has created - his pattern of behavior, a pattern which may have resulted in the violence and death that has left him permanently altered. Vachss, seemingly alone among his peers, refuses to lock his characters into cartoonish rigidity: they age, make mistakes, suffer human frailties. Readers will see Burke struggle with impotence and the dissociative episodes that have marked all the books, most noticeably in Choice of Evil. He also begins a romantic relationship that is notable for the ease with which Burke, who seems to have always dreaded relationships, is now able to give and receive compassion. Burke is a character whose religion is revenge. The fact that he acknowledges this final pattern - by breaking it - distinguishes the novel as thoughtful and courageous. Vachss' on-going examination of the long-term damage resulting from child abuse and his front-line reportage of the issues involved are themselves compelling to read. That he dispenses the information through such well-drawn, multi-layered novels is just our luck.

Rating:
Summary: Burke Scores Again
Review: Dead and Gone is Andrew Vachss at his best. I have read all of his previous books, and thoroughly enjoyed the combination of his stark style and important message. This is the best Burke book since Down in the Zero. It hits like a pile driver. I started it after work and by the time I finished, it was time to go back to work again. This book rocks.

Rating:
Summary: The Burke saga continues¿
Review: From Merriam-Webster OnLine (http://www.m-w.com) Main Entry: burke Etymology: from burke to suffocate, from William Burke died 1829 Irish criminal executed for smothering victims to sell their bodies for dissection Date: 1840

It is no accident that Burke (Vachss character) was named after a silent killer.

"Dead and Gone" is beyond a doubt the darkest Vachss novel yet.

As with all of Vachss's books, they are too fast-paced to skim; I need to read each one twice before I get the full tale -- and even then I'll need to reread it. I don't know if that's because I'm simply not smart enough, or if the fault lies in the writer. (it's probably me.) While Andrew Vachss remains one of my absolute favorite authors, I become increasingly annoyed that I can't "get" his books first time round. It is only for that reason that I am giving this book four stars instead of five. Someone brighter than I may be able to glean from its pages a better description than I'm giving you now.

"Dead and Gone" removes a key player from Burke's family. When loyal readers think that Burke's soul can't get any darker than, say, "Sacrifice" and the following "Down In the Zero," we have NO idea what Vachss is about to spring on us in "Dead and Gone." I have no shame in telling you that my heart broke.

This book also introduces a new location and new players, including Gem. Gem is worth noting because she is Burke's first slender woman, and I am interested in seeing how that will play in future books. I also wonder whether the new location is a one-shot deal, as in "Blossom," or if Burke is moving across the country as the writer has.

The new characters are three-dimensional and very complex, but it will take some time and some more writing for them to become as lovable to me as Michelle and Terry and the Prof and, well, you know them all.

In a nutshell: Great subject matter, exceptional writing, VERY complex. Highly recommended.

p.s. while I have your attention: all those out-of-print Burke books that I spent forever searching for, crawling on my hands and knees in dusty used-book stores, have come back into print and are available on amazon.com. I strongly urge new fans to go back to the roots.

Rating:
Summary: Vachss on Top of His Game
Review: Having been a little let down in the last few Burke books, I'm happy to say that this latest by Vachss is a return to form. A tough, bleak story that I feel ranks up with the best in the series. Burke is one scary guy, he'd make Spenser cry for mommy. If you don't mind your fiction dark (I'm talking total-eclipse-of the -sun dark here) give this book a try, If you've never read a Burke novel though, start with the first one,Flood, and read in order. One of the most rewarding detective/crime series out there.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet and Sour
Review: I bought this book because of its reported resemblance to the Parker novels of Richard Stark. In reality Vachss' hero, Burke [those acquainted with Cockney rhyming slang will prefer the spelling Berk] is a million miles from the formidable, self-sufficient Parker. He is entirely dependent on an unbelievably politically correct group of people who display a dog-like devotion to the egregious hero. Members of the ethnic minorities thus patronised will be irritated by this device. As far as I know there is not yet a collective noun for such a group so let me suggest the coinage "luvvies" which is current in London for disgusting media folk.

The author misses his target which is the excellent hardboiled American detective style by such a wide margin as to have his book sink in a morass of glutinous sentimentality.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet and Sour
Review: I bought this book because of its reported resemblance to the Parker novels of Richard Stark. In reality Vachss' hero, Burke [those acquainted with Cockney rhyming slang will prefer the spelling Berk] is a million miles from the formidable, self-sufficient Parker. He is entirely dependent on an unbelievably politically correct group of people who display a dog-like devotion to the egregious hero. Members of the ethnic minorities thus patronised will be irritated by this device. As far as I know there is not yet a collective noun for such a group so let me suggest the coinage "luvvies" which is current in London for disgusting media folk.

The author misses his target which is the excellent hardboiled American detective style by such a wide margin as to have his book sink in a morass of glutinous sentimentality.

Rating:
Summary: Can't beat the best!
Review: I have never once picked up a book by Vachss that didn't grab me from chapter one and throttle me until the last page. If anything, DEAD AND GONE only ups the ante. The lead character, Burke, only gets tougher and deeper as he continues his quest. And Burke's woman, Gem, is aptly named. This is one ride you shouldn't deny yourself, whether you've followed Burke since the start, or looked him up for the first time.