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The Turnaround  By  cover art

The Turnaround

By: George Pelecanos
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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Publisher's summary

On a hot summer afternoon in 1972, three teenagers drove into an unfamiliar neighborhood and six lives were altered forever.

Thirty-five years later, one survivor of that night reaches out to another, opening a door that could lead to salvation. Another survivor is now out of prison, looking for reparation in any form he can find it.

The Turnaround takes us on a journey from the rock-and-soul streets of the '70s to the changing neighborhoods of D.C. today, from the diners and auto garages of the city to the inside of Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, where wounded men and women have returned to the world in a time of war.

It is a novel of fathers and sons, wives and husbands, loss, victory and violent redemption, another compelling, highly charged novel from George Pelecanos.

©2008 George Pelecanos (P)2008 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"[Pelecanos] tells a tight, suspenseful story. And he packs enough of a wallop to put The Turnaround on an express bus of its own." (The New York Times)
"Yet another gem of urban noir...A beautifully written and thought-provoking novel of crime, friendship, aging and redemption." (Publishers Weekly)
"Pelecanos does what few, if any, American writers do: He tells the truth." (Chicago Sun-Times)

What listeners say about The Turnaround

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Great Pelecanos DC Story With Unique Flash Forward

I am a big fan of George Pelecanos’ novels, set in Washington DC from the early 1970’s forward. This one is unique in that it begins with an historical event, and the flashes forward 35 years to what the characters have become. Quite thought-provoking - on a different plane those Pelecanos’ other books. Superbly read, as usual, by Dion Graham. Highly recommended.

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Good Book for a Trip

"The Turnaround" is an interesting tale about several characters whose entire lives are affected by a chance, violent and tragic incident when they were teenagers. Although I don't usually like abridged versions, I thought that this one was a perfect length for a trip, and I didn't yearn to hear more than its five hours. It was fast-paced, well-constructed, and easiily held my interest. The narration was excellent. If you're looking for something profound or literary, look elsewhere; but, if you're looking for a good story about contemporary city life, you'll enjoy "The Turnaround."

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3 people found this helpful