A review by jamesvw
The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey

4.0

In a genre that can so easily sink to rote story lines and facile emotional manipulations using violence and sexuality, this book stands out for its compassion and its literary creativity. Though playing within a world where the past cannot be left behind, the author strings together more lofty questions about the role of class in crime and the ability - or lack of ability - for anyone to truly rise out of a life growing up amidst poverty and resentment of the established order. Smart, at times darkly funny and rarely predictable, I recommend it to those, like me, who are addicted to mystery novels. It certainly is a welcome respite from the trite that often fill paperback shelves.