| Lorenzo Brown
has served several years in prison on drug charges. When
we meet him, he’s back living in his old D.C. neighborhood,
but with a whole new outlook. He has a job with the Humane
Society, protecting the local animals. One of his
neighbors, a friend since childhood, is the drug dealer Lorenzo
was working for when he was arrested. Lorenzo wouldn’t
rat out his friend, and did the time; this has earned him the
respect of the dealer and his employees. Despite this, and
the attraction of money and excitement, Lorenzo is determined to
stay straight.
Rachel
Lopez is Lorenzo’s parole officer. She has a heavy
caseload, but makes it a point to get to know both the convicts
and their family members. She works out her demons off the
clock, using alcohol and anonymous sex. She doesn’t
believe that she can change the world, but she does truly care
about her parolees. The lives of these two, and many
others, are about to be changed forever. What starts out
as a minor beef between a couple of drug dealers eventually
explodes into violence and murders on both sides, with no
concern for collateral damage.
Both of
these characters are expertly drawn in the author’s signature
spare prose. Lorenzo is completely believable as a man
determined to go straight while remaining with the neighborhood
and people he’s known all his life. He seeks inspiration
in the small victories of those around him, looking at the world
with new eyes since he’s now free. Rachel’s character
rings true as a woman who has seen too much damage done to too
many people, yet retains the hope of saving at least a few.
By the time the violence erupts, readers will truly care about
what happens to these people and those around them.
Pellecanos paints a gritty, vivid picture of urban life and the
people who, for better or worse, live in it. |
