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Mara's Reviews > A Drink Before the War
A Drink Before the War (Kenzie & Gennaro, #1)
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This book had both the makings of greatness and potential disaster for me. For one, high-marks in gritty detectivery (not a real word) from a trusted source or two had me going in with high expectations. Then there are the elements of the story itself. A guy/girl PI duo, Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, could make for tension-laced banter (see Archer and Lana for the spyland ideal), but I'm not a fan of romance when it encroaches on the territory of my mystery plots. Likewise, the geographical setting is one I know well, Boston (it even has a shoutout, albeit an ignominious one, to my home town of Marblehead toward the end). When done right, I love reading about places I know and Lehane has done Boston oh so well in the past (e.g. The Given Day). However, I can also be easily distracted by anything
anatopistic
(yes, I had to look that word up, anatopism is to space as anachronism is to time).
So how did it go? Well, as you might have guessed from the stars (review stars, not astromancy), pretty darn well. Dennis Lehane leverages two of Boston's notorious institutions, dirty politics and bad race relations, into a story that breathes into the world around it. It speaks to my own willful blindness to the well-being of bigotry in the world around me that I had trouble figuring out the time period during which the story takes place (musical references to Lou Reed, and U2 had me off by a few decades before Lehane dropped in mentions of Urban Outfitters, Store 24 and the now closed Filene's store landed me somewhere near the time of the book's publication in the early 90s- corrections welcome!)
Long of the short, consider me signed up for the next one.
So how did it go? Well, as you might have guessed from the stars (review stars, not astromancy), pretty darn well. Dennis Lehane leverages two of Boston's notorious institutions, dirty politics and bad race relations, into a story that breathes into the world around it. It speaks to my own willful blindness to the well-being of bigotry in the world around me that I had trouble figuring out the time period during which the story takes place (musical references to Lou Reed, and U2 had me off by a few decades before Lehane dropped in mentions of Urban Outfitters, Store 24 and the now closed Filene's store landed me somewhere near the time of the book's publication in the early 90s- corrections welcome!)
Long of the short, consider me signed up for the next one.
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Reading Progress
May 6, 2014
– Shelved
May 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 16, 2014
–
Started Reading
May 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
detectivery
May 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
2014-reads
May 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
library-books
May 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
series
May 17, 2014
–
Finished Reading
May 26, 2014
– Shelved as:
lehane-land
Comments Showing 1-17 of 17 (17 new)
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Nancy
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rated it 4 stars
May 17, 2014 06:26PM
I can't wait till you read the next one!
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Me either. I think this is a great series.
I read this a lifetime ago. Great to see people still digging into the early Lehane stuff. When I was in the book biz we just kept pressing this book into customer's hands.
Jeffrey wrote: "I read this a lifetime ago. Great to see people still digging into the early Lehane stuff. When I was in the book biz we just kept pressing this book into customer's hands."I can see why- first one has me hooked for sure!
Great series. You might want to check out Mystic River too if you haven't done so already. I think it's his best book.
Mara wrote: I had trouble figuring out the time period during which the story takes placeThere actually was one reference given, which allows you to pin the story down to the exact year. I'll dangle that little mystery out there, and see how well you guys do at your own detective work.
I'll post the answer Monday or Tuesday, once I wrap this up.
Hint: The answer to this, along with many of life's mysteries, can be found in a bar :)
Dan 2.0 wrote: "Mara wrote: I had trouble figuring out the time period during which the story takes placeThere actually was one reference given, which allows you to pin the story down to the exact year. I'll da..."
Oh chronodetectivery-- game on! Just gotta bust out the old gumshoes... Meanwhile, I'm beginning to think that the entire series, and everything pre-the pasr few weeks, will soon be lumped together as "before the greater Boston area was forever entombed in snow."
Lehane will be appearing at my local bookstore next month to promote his new book. I've been a fan for a long time and am really looking forward to seeing him.
Dan 2.0 wrote: "Hint: The answer to this, along with many of life's mysteries, can be found in a bar :) "(view spoiler)
James wrote: "Lehane will be appearing at my local bookstore next month to promote his new book. I've been a fan for a long time and am really looking forward to seeing him."James, I feel like you live in a cloud of amazing author meet and greets! And great weather... No, I'm not bitter. ;)
Excellent job! Damn fine work! Perhaps I gave away too much with that clue (especially if you had a digital copy). But I only figured on confounding the likes of 1.0 or Kemper, not a true gumshoe. Congrats, I think you've earned this: 
Btw, enjoy that blizzard as it'll give you ample time to catch up on your tbr list :)And I agree with your comments on James, and I only ask for him to send us some autographed copies. Cheers
Mara wrote: "James, I feel like you live in a cloud of amazing author meet and greets! And great weather... No, I'm not bitter. ;)..."Well, I'm glad you're not bitter! If it's any consolation, I lived in the Midwest for a number of years, freezing to death, shoveling all that damned snow and suffering from SAD in a community that never had any author signings or other such events. So it does sort of feel like I've now died and gone to heaver, weather- and reading-wise...
Uh oh, it appears I may have prematurely issued that badge. (view spoiler)Don't fret too much because later on it becomes clear that Lehane himself doesn't know in what year this story took place. I present to you the following:(view spoiler)
Dan 2.0 wrote: "Uh oh, it appears I may have prematurely issued that badge. [spoilers removed]Don't fret too much because later on it becomes clear that Lehane himself doesn't know in what year this story took ..."
2.0 you have proven yourself a true chrononaut. Just when I thought all those hours of watching “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” had paid off. As far as I'm concerned, I'll forgive Lehane any anachronisms because his books are just so damn good!
Mara wrote: 2.0 you have proven yourself a true chrononaut...If you're suggesting that I am some sort of time traveler you are correct because books are my time machine :)
& I'll forgive Lehane any anachronisms
I'll blame his editor. Reword one phrase from "last New Year's" to "a past New Year's" and it all fits snugly into '94.
The first half of the book was quite incredibly good, especially as a first-ever book. Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro series is far too short, but so amazing. "The light that burns the brightest, burns the shortest" or some such.Thank you for the fine review.
