George Pelecanos

Author Information for George Pelecanos

Photo courtesy of Jon Jordan

George Pelecanos is a wonderful author of books that transcend the mystery genre. They could be described as crime novels, or even life drama. They are gritty, and urban and wonderful. His books take place in Washington DC. And it’s not the DC you see on West Wing or other Hollywood treatments of the city. It’s real. It’s about people who work hard for a living and quite often play hard. It’s a city he George knows, having been raised there. His work was and continues to be influenced by this city. While reading these books you can also pick up other influences, like the movies of the sixties and seventies, such as The Wild Bunch and the Way The West Was Won, as well as kung fu movies and blaxploitation films.

While in college at the University of Maryland George was exposed to Crime Fiction, the works of Chandler, Ross MacDonald, Hammett, and others. And while these were all mysteries, or crime novels, what Pelecanos picked up from them was their take on society. The good guys aren’t always the ones to win.

George’s books kind of snuck up on people. The first books, now in great demand, didn’t have more than a loyal cult like following. But once a person reads a book by Pelecanos, they are almost surely hooked. While you read this now, he has become a more well known writer, and not just here, but overseas as well. He has appeared on any number of radio and television programs, including CBS Sunday Morning. And it seems that now every body talks about his books. And they should. George Pelecanos is writing books that are important for today and will be important for years to come.

And on top of that, they are a damn good read. --- jon jordan April 2002

Homepage : http://www.georgepelecanos.com
Birthdate: 1957
Residence: Maryland, USA

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Database Info:
    Books In Classes: [Mystery]
    Books In Genres: [Private Investigator] [Noir]
    Books In Database: 14
    Note: The database is maintained by one person on a part time basis so we don't always have every book by an author listed.