The Turnaround

Novelist George Pelecanos engages the imagination and plucks the heartstrings with his latest novel of crime and its aftermath. Dion Graham's narration adds to the inflammatory mix of racial hatred, violence and redemption. When three white teenage boys venture into an unfamiliar Washington, DC, neighborhood on a sweltering summer afternoon in 1972, they encounter three black teens, and a violent confrontation occurs. Graham handles all the characters with aplomb, adding just the right measure of sneer or growl to his delivery when needed. This is a heartfelt story of violence, its repercussions, and the magnanimity of the human spirit. R.O. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

September 29, 2008
As the title implies, redemption lies at the center of Pelecanos's novel as adults try to disentangle themselves from their youthful indiscretions. Some 30 years later, and still bearing the physical scars of those indiscretions, Alex Pappas halfheartedly runs a diner while dealing with the cards life has dealt him when he unexpectedly reunites with his assailants. Though there is potential for forgiveness, one of the assailants is looking to stir up trouble and bring all of them down. Dion Graham delivers a solid performance, providing a smooth-flowing narration with a deep and slightly raspy voice. His inflection and emotional projection help the more sober moments within the story. The only drawback is the similarity of his male characters' voices, which can cause confusion. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, June 30).

Starred review from June 30, 2008
In yet another gem of urban noir, bestseller Pelecanos (The Night Gardener
) explores the possibility of making “the turnaround,” of starting over and building a new life, regardless of the past. One summer day in 1972, three teenage white boys—Alex Pappas and his friends Billy Cachoris and Pete Whitten—drive into a poor Washington, D.C., neighborhood, high on booze and weed, looking for trouble. They confront three young black men, Billy winds up dead and Alex badly beaten. In 2007, Alex runs the family coffee shop, as did his father, and grieves for his son, recently killed in Iraq. Then, one of the black survivors of “the incident” contacts Alex, opening a door that may finally put the trauma of the past to rest. At the same time, another survivor, the man who beat Alex, has gotten out of prison and has extortion on his mind. The result is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel of crime, friendship, aging and redemption.