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Homicide: | 
 enlarge | Author: David Simon
Creator: Richard Price
Publisher: Canongate Books
Category: Book
List Price: £12.99
Buy New: £6.49
You Save: £6.50 (50%)
New (27) Used (6) from £3.81
Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 158
Media: Paperback
Pages: 656
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.4 x 2.1
ISBN: 1847673112
EAN: 9781847673114
ASIN: 1847673112
Publication Date: September 4, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Excellent, if now dated November 26, 2008
catholic reader (Hong Kong)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this when it first came out, and thoroughly enjoyed it, someone borrowed my copy and never returned it - a crime there, surely. It was equally as impresive the second time around although it is dated, the events being almost 20 years ago, and the police procedures and politics being a bit like reading earlier books in Ed McBain's 87th Precient series (e.g., reading about the 50s in the late 70's, the same time gap involved in reading 'Homicide' now). It comes across as a gritty, realistic, not completely flattering account of the officers and their job at that time. Even the postscript updates add to the enjoyment. Although changes were obviously underway even in 1988, it still seems to involve a Force that attempts to investigate and detect crime, rather than 'spin' it. I doubt Simon could do the same again. Force politics, PR attitudes and even the effect TV images has had on the officers' presented self image would get in the way
Read this and die happy. November 19, 2008
Colin D. (Oxford United Kingdom)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is so readable. The writer is a true talent. You will learn, be entertained and informed. Buy or share it with your kids, spouse , friends and grandparents. I lost my first copy on a flight and I was upset. My wife replaced it to please me, also so that she can read it. This is better than The Wire. Enjoy.
reissued,repackaged and required Reading September 1, 2008
Ian Paterson (Newcastle Uk)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
How do you fill the void left after watching the final episode of one of the greatest tv shows of all time ? Go back to the source and that's what this is without this book there is no The Wire. It's a remarkable book and one that hasn't really dated unlike the TV series of the same name.
The premise is well described David Simon writes about a year in the life of the homicide department of Baltimore what suprised me was that it isn't written for the journalist point of view so instead we get informed what the detectives are thinking. It's hard to explain that for the veteran detectives we see that there is no personal crusade to solve the crimes it's a job and not a highly paid one so if it's not the money what compels these individuals to keep going especially when faced by some pretty daming statistics pointed out by Simon when it comes to actually securing convictions.
The less experienced detectives find it harder to be detached especially in the case of a murder of a young school girl that takes up a large amount of the book here the principal detective is haunted not so much by the crime but frustration to crack the case.
The politics, the court system , the lack of resource are all explored but without Simon preaching an opinion it shows just how much content is here when a scene from the wire season 5! Not an early season is in the book that to me showed just how much content there is that after 40 hours of tv there is still a gem to be pulled from the book
A powerful subject and probably as close as anyone is going to understand what freeman, bunk and mcnaulty would describe as true police
A must read for lovers of The Wire
Gritty and Realistic July 7, 2008
J. Bryan (uk)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
A true "no over the top" crime book told with honesty and well worth a read.
Definately worth the time February 29, 2008
Chris Wright (london, england)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I stumbled upon this book about 4 years ago whilst i was watching the tv series the wire. I didnt read it straight away but luckily i came down with flu and was bedridden for a week and thankfully because of that I read what I consider to be the best ever true crime literature ever written. This is a truly outstanding book and I couldnt recommend it highly enough, i just wish there were more books as engrossing, thought provoking and epic as this masterpeice
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