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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know if anyone remembers it now, but during the 1990s there was a television show that focused on the Baltimore homicide department called Homicide: Life on the Streets. If you don't remember it don't worry, it won a lot of awards during its 7 season life, but by all accounts, it was watched by 7 people and a dog.
Though the show was a work of fiction, it was based on this book. David Simon was a reporter (I'm not sure if he still is, he's gone on to produce television shows like The Wire) and got to tag along with the Baltimore homicide department for a year (1987 or 1988). This book describes the characters in that department and some of the crimes they investigated.
I don't watch much television (even if I tend to use the news networks as auditory wallpaper when I'm pottering about the house), but the first 4 or 5 series of the show were my favorite pieces of series television of all time. Don't ask me why, NYPD Blue and Law and Order are structurally similar I know, but I just "got" this show. With this in mind, I bought the book that the show was (at least notionally) based on, though in my defense I probably wouldn't have bought it had I not seen it on the shelf of my local Barnes and Noble.
As I was reading this book, I discovered I was a fairly major geek (or dork or whatever you call someone who gets excited about this sort of thing). I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was geeky enough to turn into someone who dresses up as a Klingon and go to Star Trek conventions, but I am geeky enough to be able to recognize the major characters and story-lines that they pinched from the book (and adapted so that they'd work on the small screen). The plot lines they used weren't just the big ones (though the rape and death of a little girl that was a fairly major story arc in both). I found myself thinking "Oh I recognize this" to some of the minor plot lines too.
Don't get me wrong. the book isn't just of interest to this who liked the show though. If you're interested in a variety of police related (and people based) books and television shows, you'll like this book. Be warned though, the language is "fruity."
Though the show was a work of fiction, it was based on this book. David Simon was a reporter (I'm not sure if he still is, he's gone on to produce television shows like The Wire) and got to tag along with the Baltimore homicide department for a year (1987 or 1988). This book describes the characters in that department and some of the crimes they investigated.
I don't watch much television (even if I tend to use the news networks as auditory wallpaper when I'm pottering about the house), but the first 4 or 5 series of the show were my favorite pieces of series television of all time. Don't ask me why, NYPD Blue and Law and Order are structurally similar I know, but I just "got" this show. With this in mind, I bought the book that the show was (at least notionally) based on, though in my defense I probably wouldn't have bought it had I not seen it on the shelf of my local Barnes and Noble.
As I was reading this book, I discovered I was a fairly major geek (or dork or whatever you call someone who gets excited about this sort of thing). I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was geeky enough to turn into someone who dresses up as a Klingon and go to Star Trek conventions, but I am geeky enough to be able to recognize the major characters and story-lines that they pinched from the book (and adapted so that they'd work on the small screen). The plot lines they used weren't just the big ones (though the rape and death of a little girl that was a fairly major story arc in both). I found myself thinking "Oh I recognize this" to some of the minor plot lines too.
Don't get me wrong. the book isn't just of interest to this who liked the show though. If you're interested in a variety of police related (and people based) books and television shows, you'll like this book. Be warned though, the language is "fruity."
knitnetic's review against another edition
5.0
This book provides wonderful insight into the life of a homicide detective in Baltimore, one of the least safe cities in the United States. In the late 1980's (when this book was written), Baltimore was in the middle of a rise in crime that would continue well into the 1990's. In 1988, the homicide department dealt with two murders every three days; by the time the city rang in the new decade, there would be more murders than days in the year.
Though the language and subject matter of this book are quite rough, that really contributes to the ethos of the story. You feel as though you are really getting a look into the everyday horror experienced by these officers. Nothing is sugar coated here; from rape to child murder, we get every gory detail. There is humor, but there is also incredible darkness. Fans of true crime will not go wrong here.
I'd also like to draw the reader's attention to the afterword of the book. Here, Mr. David details some of the challenges of serving with the department as an investigative journalist. In particular, I appreciated his description of how difficult he found it not to get wrapped up in the investigations, or begin to act as a detective himself. Given how well he seemed to understand their mindset, it really made me appreciate his work.
Though the language and subject matter of this book are quite rough, that really contributes to the ethos of the story. You feel as though you are really getting a look into the everyday horror experienced by these officers. Nothing is sugar coated here; from rape to child murder, we get every gory detail. There is humor, but there is also incredible darkness. Fans of true crime will not go wrong here.
I'd also like to draw the reader's attention to the afterword of the book. Here, Mr. David details some of the challenges of serving with the department as an investigative journalist. In particular, I appreciated his description of how difficult he found it not to get wrapped up in the investigations, or begin to act as a detective himself. Given how well he seemed to understand their mindset, it really made me appreciate his work.
paulh1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Had this for years, putting off reading as I loved the TV show but it is as good, probably better. I recognised traits, stories, characters. An important book but a great read too.
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Baltimore police were followed for an entire year, resulting in this nonfiction book. The writing is uneven, and not compelling. I found myself skimming. It's 600+ pages long and only about 250 of them captured my attention.
loujoseph's review against another edition
5.0
One half of his case, made most full in The Wire, that the institutions that either serve you or that you serve will betray you, and that individuals matter less and less every day..
Also like The Wire, it's incredibly well written and a compelling read, with fully fleshed out characters and scenarios that rival most fiction I've read.
Also like The Wire, it's incredibly well written and a compelling read, with fully fleshed out characters and scenarios that rival most fiction I've read.
euzie's review against another edition
4.0
While i enjoyed it, and you can't fault the level of detail and research behind this book, i just stopped caring. Somewhere around September