A Firing Offense

Given that this is the author's first book and that it might not be quite as polished as later work, should you read this book? My answer is: yes, definitely. In fact, I'd recommend that you read this as your second Pelecanos book. I'd recommend The Big Blowdown as your first because it is set in an earlier period. There are some key characters in this book who show up in later works and I would have enjoyed having read this for background about them.Generally, this book has the standard qualities I love in this author's work - gritty crime stories, interesting characters and great scene development. Besides that, this book would be worth reading for the Johnny McGinnes character alone. He's a sidekick rather than a main player, but he is one wild and crazy and hugely entertaining guy. Check him and this book out if you like crime fiction. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

"A Firing Offense" introduces us to Nick Stefanos, a man who just turned thirty and is unhappy with his life's choices. Perhaps as a way of rebelling, he stumbles on a new profession, private detective. Stefanos inhabits those potions of Washington D.C. that tourists never see. The seedy neighborhoods, the wild club scene and the party culture. Though the scene he describes has changed quite a bit since this book was first published (the clubs he mentions are for the most part long gone and WHFS radio has gone from hip to coporate bland), the prose is riveting and immediate. Nick and his friends are people with problems, and just like real life, things are not going to turn out all right. The violent climax is explosive; and then there's a slow fade, like the aftermath of a love act.Overall, this is a fine introduction to a gritty private detective series that, so far, unfortunately only includes three novels.

This is the first Nick Stefanos mystery and it is great. Pelecanos really fools arouind with the conventions of the genre, making Stefanos and ex-salesman, who turns PI. when he does the plot doesn't get too complicated, and revolves aroudn a business that Pelecanos knows well. This is a perfect example of writing about what you know. The pages turn and the story envelopes you. I suggest you try this book as your first Pelecanos and then move on. This sets them all up. A great novel.

As a big fan of crime fiction I am always on the look out for new authors, and I was very happy to come across the new printing of this book. The main character, Nick Stefanos, is relatively three dimensional for this genre and likeable and the settings are realistic and believable. I have since bought the two further novels in this trilogy and 2 chapters into the sequel its looking good! If you are a fan of Elmore Leonard or James Crumley type crime fiction then you will almost certainly enjoy this book.