A Drink Before the War (Kenzie & Gennaro, #1) in The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

Sep 19, 2016 Magpie67 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: magpie-s-2016-reading-goal, murder, suspense, private-investigator, duo-partners, newspaper-reporter, ideas-for-avoca-book-club, relationships, riots, revenge

The first book featuring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. Definitely worth the read. Very political, indeed, and could very well be considered current news. The dynamics of politics, sex scandals, gangs and personal tragedies are nothing new in our current world. Nothing has changed or we are, in society, going backwards to an ugly time period of racial tension beyond comprehension. Child abuse is no different, laws have changed... some, but not enough in my beliefs. You harm a child for any p The first book featuring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. Definitely worth the read. Very political, indeed, and could very well be considered current news. The dynamics of politics, sex scandals, gangs and personal tragedies are nothing new in our current world. Nothing has changed or we are, in society, going backwards to an ugly time period of racial tension beyond comprehension. Child abuse is no different, laws have changed... some, but not enough in my beliefs. You harm a child for any purpose, you should spend the rest of your life in jail. The end.

The setting is in Boston and the time period ... Not sure, but the book was published in 1994.

“My office is the bell tower of St. Bartholomew’s Church. I’ve never found out what happened to the bell that used to be there, and the nuns who teach at the parochial school next door won’t tell me. The older ones plain don’t answer me, and the younger ones seem to find my curiosity amusing. Sister Helen told me once it had been ‘miracle away.’ Her words. Sister Joyce, who grew up with me, always says it was ‘misplaced’ and gives me the sort of wicked smile that nuns aren’t supposed to be capable of giving. I’m a detective, but nuns could stonewall Sam Spade into an asylum. The day after I got my investigator’s license, the church pastor, Father Drummond, asked me if I’d mind providing some security for the place. Some unfaithfuls were breaking in to steal chalices and candlesticks again,.... He offered me three meals a day in the rectory, my very first case, and the thanks of God, if I set up in the belfry and waited for the next break-in. I told him I didn’t come that cheap. I demanded use of the belfry, until I found office space of my own. For a priest, he gave in pretty easy. When I saw the state of the room, unused for nine years, I knew why.”

What do two gangs and some politicians have in common? Read the book, get a glimpse into the gum shoe life, modern style, of course. What is worth dying over? What did the cleaning woman take that has senators up in arms? Patrick’s friend, a black reporter, had some deep words to say about racial incidents. He being stuck in the middle as a black man with a career.

“‘Know what the American way is?’.... ‘No Rich. What’s the American way?’ ‘Finding someone to blame,’ he said and took a drink. ‘It’s true. You out working a construction job and you drop a hammer on your foot? Hell, sue the company. That’s a ten-thousand dollar foot. You’re white and you can’t get a job? Blame affirmative action. Can’t get one and you’re black? Blame the white man. Or the Koreans. Hell, blame the Japanese; everyone else does. ... Whole country’s filled with nasty, unhappy, confused, people, and not one of them with the brain power to honestly deal with their situation. They talk about simpler times... like it’s something they could possibly get back to. White man blames people like me because they say quotas got me where I am. Half of ‘em can’t so much as read, but they think they deserve my job. Black men, brothers, they say I ain’t black anymore because I live on an all-white street in a pretty much all-white neighborhood.’”

Rich goes on for another paragraph about different groups blaming others. I see the blame game on the news all the time and the violence is escalating ten fold. Sad. I also see the politicians playing the same game. Makes me angry. Let’s start over and get worthy people to run for president. Someone who can make rational changes, use common sense and stop pointing the finger, not to mention hiding behind all the lies and egos. This title just proved, it could be current news plucked right off the T.V. ...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it really liked it

Shelves: ultimate-reading-list, crime, fiction, novels, contemporary, mystery

This is the first book in a series featuring Boston Private Investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro; the film Gone Baby Gone is based on a later entry in the series. It's also the first book by Lehane I've ever read, and certainly won't be the last. First thing I noticed, then forgot to notice as I was sucked in, is that Lehane has a beautiful prose style, not what you usually see in genre fiction. Told by Kenzie in an engaging voice, the characterizations pop off the page and feel real, ...more

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Feb 12, 2010 Kelly Lamb rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

Not your typical crime novel! It gets beyond your typical gun-fighting thriller. And Kenzie is an awesome narrator. Can't wait to read more Kenzie and Gennaro.

http://thewellreadredhead.blogspot.co... ...more

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