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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.
moviesnob1979's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down the ABSOLUTE BEST True Crime book I’ve ever read!
bfpierce's review against another edition
4.0
Given that this book is 25 years old everything about it still felt relevant and engrossing. The detectives came across as real characters with their own flaws and foibles. Will definitely look to read his next book, The Corner.
melledotca's review against another edition
4.0
Not a quick read, by any means, and certainly bears little resemblance to your average cop show.
It's a run-down of a year-in-the-life of Baltimore PD's Homicide department in the late 80s, and is the book and police officers that the shows Homicide: Life on the Streets and The Wire are based on.
A good overview into how the strangest little details can break a case, and also how a case that, on tv or in the movies is so heinous it HAS to be dramatically solved, can remain open and cold over 20 years later.
Article I just came across: http://www.guernicamag.com/interviews/2530/simon_4_1_11/
It's a run-down of a year-in-the-life of Baltimore PD's Homicide department in the late 80s, and is the book and police officers that the shows Homicide: Life on the Streets and The Wire are based on.
A good overview into how the strangest little details can break a case, and also how a case that, on tv or in the movies is so heinous it HAS to be dramatically solved, can remain open and cold over 20 years later.
Article I just came across: http://www.guernicamag.com/interviews/2530/simon_4_1_11/
nssutton's review against another edition
5.0
so awesome - if you like the wire, you have to read it.
littlemascara's review against another edition
4.0
Complex and very satisfying; even twenty years later, it feels fresh. This was Simon's first major work, and he's a little too in love with his poetic voice at times, but it's also funny and heartbreaking by turns. A must for any fans of the TV series with this name or The Wire.
john_raine's review against another edition
4.0
I found it interesting reading a book that is more than 30 years old because it feels very very dated in some aspects (technology, primarily), but in other aspects it feels very current. Certainly that it is written about Baltimore, where I live, makes it much more enjoyable because I know all of the streets and locations that are referenced and helps frame the book. Ultimately, the book is about the detectives themselves and the cases they are involved in are supporting characters.
The tension between these detectives striving to do their best in a very demanding job that they deem important and the burnout they feel and disdain they show for many of the citizens is quite compelling. I would recommend this, particularly to people from Baltimore or fans of the Wire
The tension between these detectives striving to do their best in a very demanding job that they deem important and the burnout they feel and disdain they show for many of the citizens is quite compelling. I would recommend this, particularly to people from Baltimore or fans of the Wire
kailynrisher's review against another edition
5.0
This book was great! David Simon did an excellent job at portraying what is was like being a homicide detective and what exactly is it they do. He also did an excellent job at humanizing these individuals. This book had me laughing out loud and crying, very well written!
baconsaur's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating look into the police process. Unnerving to read the chapter about a police officer’s trial for murder while watching the news about Derek Chauvin and realize how little things have changed since 1988. There’s an uncomfortable dehumanization of the suspects, victims and community, but likely an honest perspective from the department.