afox98's review
2.0
This one started off with promise - I liked the semi-noir narration and main character. But I'm now 30% through and am just not interested. I don't care about any of the characters, nor what happens to them. Giving up and moving on.
romonko's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This book, first in the Kenzie and Gennaro series written by Dennis Lehane, is a book that will leave you frantically turning pages. Lehane is a master of suspense, and this comes out in this first book of the series. I will have to read more to see if that still holds The book is set on the rough streets of Boston. The novel was written in 2003, so was contemporary to that date. The book is fast-paced with razor-sharp dialogue, and very graphic descriptions of what could be called the worst crime scenes you'll ever come across. Terror is reigning in the streets of Boston when Patrick Kenzie is called to a Senator's house to take on a commission which he is told involves finding some stolen "documents". The retainer promised when these documents are found is substantial enough to get him to accept this offer. Little does he know that he is drawing himself and his partner into a no-holds barred turf war between two black gangs, and into the bedrooms of some powerful people who have many secrets to keep hidden. The book is violent and graphic and Patrick and Angie find themselves fighting for their lives at every corner. Lehane does not shy away from gang violence on a monumental scale, or pornography and child endangerment at its most depraved. I enjoyed the book, and really liked the characters. Angie and Patrick are bad-asses, and some of their friends are not people that anyone would want to have terrorizing them. Even the cops are likeable--rough and ready, and not afraid to go to whatever lengths required to stop the violence on their streets. I look forward to reading the second in the series, especially as I will be better prepared for the shocks, the absolutely terrifying bad guys, and look forward to seeing how the good guys win out in the end. Battered, bruised and shaken, but still willing to keep going after the seemingly endless selection of horrifying people that fill the pages of this series of books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Gun violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Graphic and violent, and very descriptive of gang wars and the consequenceswickty's review
4.0
very different from what I usually read but I very much enjoyed it. can't remember who told me to read it but finally did and happy about it!
imposterwalrus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
barmatron's review
Too many white men talking. The author did not need to use the n-word.
waxingquixotic's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book up after ripping through Mystic River so it had a tough act to follow. It’s a shorter story overall, and it’s one I didn’t really connect with as much. What I enjoyed more about A Drink Before the War was the gritty writing and the two main protagonists. Kenzie and Gennaro were both well developed with their own complexities and problems, but their first case just fell into the background for me.
Maybe it just didn’t age well. There are better ways to tell me racial tensions exist without repeatedly relying on slurs. Just stuff just felt lazy and unnecessary. And the gang war dynamic was ultimately disappointing. It felt like Lehane really relied more on shock value to tel the story this time, and I just wasn’t into it. I’m still going to continue because I’ve seen him at his best, and I want to fill in the gaps and read all of the other Lehane I’ve missed.
It’s his first book, and it’s fine, but it’s nothing close to his best.
Maybe it just didn’t age well. There are better ways to tell me racial tensions exist without repeatedly relying on slurs. Just stuff just felt lazy and unnecessary. And the gang war dynamic was ultimately disappointing. It felt like Lehane really relied more on shock value to tel the story this time, and I just wasn’t into it. I’m still going to continue because I’ve seen him at his best, and I want to fill in the gaps and read all of the other Lehane I’ve missed.
It’s his first book, and it’s fine, but it’s nothing close to his best.
allieeilla's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25