The Way Home: Book summary and reviews of The Way Home by George Pelecanos

The Way Home Summary

Christopher Flynn is trying to get it right. After years of trouble and rebellion that enraged his father and nearly cost him his life, he has a steady job in his father's company, he's seriously dating a woman he respects, and, aside from the distrust that lingers in his father's eyes, his mistakes are firmly in the past.

One day on the job, Chris and his partner come across a temptation almost too big to resist. Chris does the right thing, but old habits and instincts rise to the surface, threatening this new-found stability with sudden treachery and violence. With his father and his most trusted friends, he takes one last chance to blast past the demons trying to pull him back.

Like Richard Price or William Kennedy, Pelecanos pushes his characters to the extremes, their redemption that much sweeter because it is so hard fought. Pelecanos has long been celebrated for his unerring ability to portray the conflicts men feel as they search and struggle for power and love in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving but can ultimately be filled with beauty.

The Way Home Reviews

"... this novel, with its dispassionate style, never manages to generate high suspense or evoke much sympathy for its characters." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. A crime novel, yes, but the talented Pelecanos shoves it out of its comfort zone. ... Redemption the hard way, well-crafted and deeply felt." - Kirkus Reviews

"... the similarities to his work on HBO's The Wire and his recent The Turnaround make this novel somewhat of a disappointment to regular fans." - Library Journal

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George Pelecanos Author Biography

George Pelecanos was born in Washington, D.C. in 1957. He worked as a line cook, dishwasher, bartender, and woman's shoe salesman before publishing his first novel in 1992.

Pelecanos is the author of fifteen crime novels set in and around Washington, D.C., including A Firing Offense, Nick's Trip, Shoedog, The Big Blowdown, King Suckerman, The Sweet Forever, Shame the Devil, The Night Gardener, and The Turnaround. He has been the recipient of the Raymond Chandler award in Italy, the Falcon award in Japan, and the Grand Prix Du Roman Noir in France. His short fiction has appeared in Esquire and several collections. He is an award-winning essayist who has written for The New York Times, Washington Post, GQ, and numerous other publications....

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