Rating: 
Summary: the bi-centennial, blaxploitation ... and that's about it
Review: 'King Suckerman' is by some accounts among George Pelecanos's weaker efforts, and by other accounts his most enjoyable read. Like all his works this book takes place in Washington (, D.C.) and its characters are racially diverse, and into sex, drugs and rock & roll. And unlike many of his books the story starts off with a bang, most literally (ie, a rather graphically described killing). But then the book fails to take advantage of its early promise.In 'King Suckerman' the author spends a lot of time, arguably too much time, on waltzing through 1970s memory lane. Blaxploitation flicks and the music of the times dominate the book. Yes, there are some nasty dudes in this book, lots of drug dealing, but before long we realize the author isn't going to deliver anything special. George Pelacanos has done much better ('Shame the Devil', 'Right as Rain'). Bottom line: the author seems to be into more of a nostalgia trip rather than writing a crime novel. But for those craving a taste of pre-disco 1970s ambiance this book is "really baaad".
Rating:
Summary: the bi-centennial, blaxploitation ... and that's about it
Review: 'King Suckerman' is by some accounts among George Pelecanos's weaker efforts, and by other accounts his most enjoyable read. Like all his works this book takes place in Washington (, D.C.) and its characters are racially diverse, and into sex, drugs and rock & roll. And unlike many of his books the story starts off with a bang, most literally (ie, a rather graphically described killing). But then the book fails to take advantage of its early promise. In 'King Suckerman' the author spends a lot of time, arguably too much time, on waltzing through 1970s memory lane. Blaxploitation flicks and the music of the times dominate the book. Yes, there are some nasty dudes in this book, lots of drug dealing, but before long we realize the author isn't going to deliver anything special. George Pelacanos has done much better ('Shame the Devil', 'Right as Rain'). Bottom line: the author seems to be into more of a nostalgia trip rather than writing a crime novel. But for those craving a taste of pre-disco 1970s ambiance this book is "really baaad".
Rating: 
Summary: Always A Price To Pay
Review: A crime novel with a "moral to the story"; Dmitri Karras, a pot-smoking, dope-selling, basketball-playing, fun-loving guy with no goals or direction. His friend is Marcus Clay, a Viet Nam vet trying to get started with a small record business. They cross paths with Wilton Cooper, an ex-con who picks up B.R. Claggett, an anti-social guy who kills without remorse. Wilton and Claggett go on a crime spree, killing several people, including Rasheed, a young clerk that worked for Marcus Clay. There's a final showdown and Dmitri learns that there's always a price to pay. This novel has excellent dialogue and characterizations of the 70's post Viet Nam, post hippie, marijuana days. It teaches that nothing is simple and easy. George Pelecanos' novels are instructive and entertaining and KING SUCKERMAN will not disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: The Tarantino Effect
Review: Alright I am a Pelecanos junkie; I've read most of his novels and this one is still my favorite. While D.C. residents may get more out of his books (we can easily recognize the streets he name drops, and understand a bit of the culture) anyone who is a fan of noir writing would dig Pelecanos. He really paints 1976 beautifully; from the style of clothes, the music, and of course the Blaxploitation movie that the novel revolves around. King Suckerman has that right amount of evil, violence, humor, and still uplifts you at the end. If you are a fan of Tarantino type characters/plot you should consider this book; if you are a DC resident, then this book (and the other Pelecanos novels) are mandatory.
Rating: 
Summary: NOT MY CUP OF TEA!!!
Review: I am sorry. Have read several books by Pelecanos ant this is the only one I have not liked. I quit reading after 108 pages. To much reference to songs and movies. Nearly every page talkes abou different songs and who likes what. Also, way to much sex for me. Sex with man and woman, sex with man and man. I like good crime books but not sex books. I am sure I am in the minority and the book will go great guns but it is not for me at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Below average for author, way above average for the genre
Review: I've read most of Pelecanos' work and, in my opinion, King Suckerman would rank as one of his weaker efforts. It's one of the earlier works and is worth reading for background on some characters who will show up in later books. It's also worth reading because it's a slam bam, gritty crime novel. It may not be one of the author's best books, but it's still one of the best crime novels I've read. As usual, Washington, D.C. is both the setting for the story and a living character in the book. There are plenty of tough and weak, cunning and stupid players in the twisting story. If you have a pulse and like crime fiction, I don't see how you can skip this book or anything else Pelecanos writes.
Rating:
Summary: Guns, Friends, and One Smokin' Soundtrack!
Review: King Suckerman is one funny book! The prose is so high energy it shines, but a quick glance of the first page of customer reviews makes me nervous about writing a positive review of this book (most of you guys are dissing Pelecanos's effort, it looks like). I think King Suckerman was intended as an action-comedy, sort of a Sergio Leone-meets-Shaft novel where the message is that friendship and loyalty rises above. Pelecanos riffs freely on subjects from reefer, to DC basketball, to violence, to the real question at each of our hearts: was Jimi Hendrix a rock musician, or a soul musician? All of this lightly covers some heavier issues underneath the surface of King Suckerman; chiefly race, drugs, and violence in our nation's capitol. Marcus Clay is a black DC record store owner (Real Right Records) and Demitri Karras is a young white man with no clear direction in his life. The two play ball together on DC's famed city courts, and when a simple drug deal draws Clay into pulling a gun on a local dealer, Karras and Clay become the subject of the dealer's (and some out of town boys') revenge. The novel follows a pretty tight storyline from there with the redneck goons tracking down Karras and Clay, ultimately leading to the novel's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly style climax on a DC bicentenial July 4th with fireworks exploding in the background! As with other Pelecanos novels (Right as Rain, Shame the Devil, Soul Circus, The Sweet Forever), King Suckerman is a deeply moral novel where redemption and loyalty rises above ignorance and hatred. There is an interesting passage in Suckerman where Karras finds out that a young kid he's sold some dope to has died in an automobile accident, and for a time he seems torn, trying to choose between right and wrong, friendship and honor. At the end of the novel, Karras does have a focus and a responsibility, and through friendship, he comes to be a more mature character. It's the kind of ending that leaves you wanting to see what'll happen next in Karras's life, now that he has matured. Fortunately, that novel has been written (Shame the Devil) and is every bit as intense and powerful as King Suckerman. If you're new to Pelecanos, my best recommendation would be to read his more recents books (or to check out HBO's The Wire, for which he writing this season) and see if his style appeals to you. If it does, you'll eventually want to read King Suckerman because it is one of the brightest, funniest novels in Pelecanos's ouvre. I highly recommend this novel! Stacey
Rating:
Summary: This book sings!
Review: One of the best hardboiled novels I've read in many a moon. Not only does it have flash (the slang, and the references to music, cars, fashion, and other pop culture), it's got soul: you really care about Karras, the main character, and his friend Marcus. It's the character development that sets this one apart from all of the Tarantino imitations out there. It's not only a terrific crime novel, it's a moving story about the changes the characters go through. King Suckerman is one of the most original pop novels to come along in years.
Rating:
Summary: A major neo-noir novelist
Review: There are three unique values to this writer's noir novels. All shone very brightly in _King Suckerman_. First, Pelecanos recreates a Washington DC which makes the working class and minority (as opposed to administrative) city come alive. You know you are not reading about Baltimore, New York, or Philly, but Chocolate City in the 70s. This takes an extensive understanding of Washington's locales, people, traditions, and institutions. He's got the "spirit of place" down accurately. Second, he presents moral cruxes in a complex manner--you see the convictions unravelling, the loose ends in any well-thought out decision. However honorable a plan is, and however hard nosed and gutty a character's behavior is, it can be seen as flawed and fallible. This often makes the characters more rather than less interesting and commendable. Third, he recreates various shades of evil, from Wilton Cooper and B.J. to the layabouts and street louts, of whom one of his major characters, Dimitri, is not too far removed during the first part of the novel. Pelecanos is a major neo-noir artist.
Rating: 
Summary: Weak
Review: This book did little for me. At times, it read like nothing more than a recount of 1970's brand names and music trivia. Since this was the first Pelecanos book I read, I missed out on any references to his other works. Accordingly, I found the characters very flat and cliched. I would not recommend this work to the casual reader.
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