The Cut

Spero Lucas, Book 1

By: George Pelecanos

Narrated by: Dion Graham

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Spero Lucas has a new line of work. Since he returned home after serving in Iraq, he has been doing special investigations for a defense attorney. He's good at it, and he has carved out a niche: recovering stolen property, no questions asked. His cut is 40 percent.

A high-profile crime boss who has heard of Lucas's specialty hires him to find out who has been stealing from his operation. It's the biggest job Lucas has ever been offered, and he quickly gets a sense of what's going on. But before he can close in on what's been taken, he tangles with a world of men whose amorality and violence leave him reeling. Is any cut worth your family, your lover, your life?

Spero Lucas is George Pelecanos's greatest creation, a young man making his place in the world one battle and one mission at a time. The first in a new series of thrillers featuring Spero Lucas, The Cut is the latest confirmation of why George Pelecanos is "perhaps America's greatest living crime writer" (Stephen King).

©2011 George Pelecanos (P)2011 Hachette

Loved it

I happened to listen to this book after just failing to finish a disappointing audible download. This was just what I was looking for: quick, smart, and entertaining. I was into the story from the get go, and REALLY enjoyed it.

I live in the DC area and loved the authentic, DC-centric setting. Pelecanos doesn't just name drop all of the local bars, streets, schools, etc; he actually gets them right. He even nails the changing atmosphere of the city today. The narrator is an excellent, giving easily recognizable and distinct voices to the characters.

As to the story, the Spero Lucas character is a good one, as is his interesting family and background. I'll be looking forward to checking out the next book.

Something different, something good

Pellecanos' entry into this growing genre - Iraq or Afghanistan vets returning to the US - is excellent. Don Winslow's "Savages" was another example of this type of novel.

The moral relativism, the tension between the brothers and the unforeseen consequences of one bad decision are themes well explored.

It is not Jack Reacher, although both protagonists were in the military. If anything it reminds me of the excellent movie "Four Brothers."

I look forward to the next in this series.

Outstanding fiction and compelling characters

George Pelecanos is a terrific writer, and this novel is an outstanding example of his work. Readers like me who live in the D.C. area may have extra reasons to enjoy his fiction, because it offers an intensely personal peek into a variety of Washington-area locales. Only a few of these are likely to be well known, even to long-time residents. Heck, I also enjoy closely observed fiction about cities I know much less well, such as L.A. and New York. My suspicion is that readers who like close-up and realistic introductions to city jails, law offices, neighborhoods on the upswing, and obscure neighborhoods on the road to abandonment will be fascinated by Pelecanos's presentation of D.C.

The story is an interesting one. Much of its interest flows out of the compelling and believable characters Pelecanos creates. Many of the characters occupy a grey area between lawlessness and loyalty to a kind of basically moral code. A principal character is drawn, through his lawful but somewhat shady profession, into D.C.'s drug trade. A fairly straightforward recovery job turns complicated when murder intrudes. If other readers are like me they will care about the sometimes unlikeable characters who get killed or threatened as a result of the main character's persistence.

The narrator, Dion Graham, does a terrific job with the range of voices in Pelecanos's Washington. As is usual in Pelecanos stories, we meet all kinds of folks, both African-American and white, who will be recognizable to long-time D.C. residents. The narrator speaks easily and without condescension all of the voices in this wonderful novel.

Story had promise but was a little clunky.

The story framework was predictable. While the writer has good descriptive skills, he over played them.

I liked the protagonist’s wrestling with his own morality and the consequences of his actions. This could be developed in future stories and make for some interesting reading.

Dion Graham strikes again

Where Graham narrators I'm there. The story intertwine a lot of elements with ease in crime saga . A good read and listen

Just okay in my book.

I don't feel that it was a waste of a credit to buy this book, but I don't see me buying book 2 either. It was okay.

Washington, D.C. the city the mind set

George Pelecanos knows Washington, D.C. Great story - exciting - a lot of my friends feel he is brutal/ethnic/whatever just writes a good engaging story. The narrator Dion Graham makes one feel out of his mouth to ..ears.

Welcome Spero

If you could sum up The Cut in three words, what would they be?

Complex young anti-hero exuding sex appeal unafraid to confront the baddest of bad

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cut?

Don't want to spoil it

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

Abilty to pull off inner DC dialects; ability to personify Spero's coolness flawlessly

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but wouldn't let myself as it so infrequent you get a book you want to savor

Any additional comments?

What a refreshing change....more please

Not a favorite..long and tedious.

Long and tedious..Not a favorite. The reader wss pretty good, but the story was not engaging.

Too much foul language

The author holds the belief that art should be "real," which means that men speak like children first learning to swear, and all they care about is hopping in bed with the next pretty girl they see while worrying that their clothes, cars, etc., are of the "right" brands. I grew up unconcerned about any of these things, so this "art" rings false to me.

The Story
After a mental review of the plot, I like the arc of the storyline. The author uses a lot of character development tools to demonstrate who each one is and their motivations. There is also much description of the environment where the story takes place. I just couldn't shake the notion, though, that the descriptiveness was covering a lack of story to tell as I read. I suspect the book was just too "writerly" for a reader like me.

The Reader
I like this reader. He reads so his voice becomes the voice you would read with in your head. His expression reflects the emotions of the characters and setting well.