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hieronymusbotched's review against another edition
5.0
Do you like The Wire? Does even reading those two words in that order make you froth at the mouth in anticipation of high-quality insights into the Jenga tower of modern law and order? Do swear words still have any kind of novelty in your mind?
Read this.
Read this.
mxdx1974's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
narzack's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those weird books where it's very, very good, but it's hard to say that I it. It's a rough read, especially when you tell yourself that it's all true, and it's not just a piece of crime fiction. And, he doesn't really sugar coat the relationships between the police and the community, and he doesn't really excuse the incidents of police brutality. He also gives a good glimpse into the political workings of law enforcement and legalities, which definitely can illuminate a lot of the current problems with our legal system.
I think the only real issue I have with it is that there are so many characters that sometimes it can be hard to keep track of them all.
I think the only real issue I have with it is that there are so many characters that sometimes it can be hard to keep track of them all.
kplat's review against another edition
4.0
Really good, glimpse into a year in the Baltimore Homicide department during the most tumultuous years. Very good journalist report on the happenings in a city with a high crime rate, being hit hard by the 1980's recession. Not for everyone, but a good read
ltobin's review against another edition
5.0
It took me a bit to get through this book but it was more than worth it. I don't think you'll find a better book written about a poh-leece department. One of the best books I've read. Amazing.
tittypete's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the abridged version of this to get ready to binge watch the series. Shit was pretty cool. the meditation on miranda rights and interrogation is pretty great. Some cop gets shot in the eyes. An old lady is knocking off her husbands for insurance money. There's a lot of use of the word 'bunk'.
postitsandpens's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been on my to-read list for years, ever since I saw my first episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, which remains my all-time favorite police procedural drama. The book is quite hefty, though, and so I decided to go the audiobook route. The audiobook is abridged, but it's narrated by Reed Diamond, who played Mike Kellerman on Homicide. I do think the abridgment was well done - you got the gist, and were able to follow the big cases to their conclusion, even if you perhaps didn't get to know the detectives as well as the unabridged version would allow you to. That being said, if you're nervous about the size of this book, do give the audio a try! It's still just as gritty and dark and gory as you'd expect something of this nature to be.