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Description edit
Former D.A. William Landay explodes onto the suspense scene with an electrifying novel about the true price of crime and the hidden corners of the criminal justice system. Only an insider could so vividly capture Boston’s gritty underworld of cops and criminals. And only a natural storyteller... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Martin Gittens: A detective knowledgeable of the Mission Flats area. He is assigned to help Ben and John Kelly with the murder investigation.
- Harold Ellison Braxton: A predator who was targeted for prosecution by the murdered D.A.
- Robert M. Danziger: DA from Boston. Murderer victim.
- Edmund Kurth: Homicide detective from Boston.
- Julio Vega: A police detective.
- Caroline Kelly: John's daughter and an assistant district attorney in Boston.
- Raul: The named used by detectives as a possible confidential informant.
- John Kelly: A retired Boston homicide detective who helps Ben with the murder investigation.
- Arthur M. Trudell: Det. Julio Vega's partner, killed in the line of duty.
- Benjamin Wilmot Truman: Police Chief of Versailles, Maine. Found dead body in cabin.
- Max Beck: The attorney defending Gerald McNeese, i.e. G-Mac.
- Bobby: How Ben refers to Bob Burke, his card playing buddy.
- Andrew Lowery: The Boston District Attorney, Caroline Kelly's boss.
- Maurice Oulette: A person who attempted suicide but only caused facial disfiguration from his attempt.
- Franny Boyle: An attorney in the Boston D.A.'s office who works with Caroline Kelly.
- Frank Fasulo: An armed robber and a man who murdered a police officer.
- Diane Harned: A woman who works at the Owl and who the sheriff sees socially.
- Dick Ginoux: Ben's senior officer.
- Charlie: Caroline's son.
- Bobo: A street person who Martin Gittens uses as a source of information.
- Michael: A street kid who was caught with some drugs. Now the police are trying to get him to set up a drug dealer.
- Jimmy Lownes: A patron at the Owl and a local Versailles resident.
- Andre James: A boy who comes to the police and says he has information about a suspect.
- Frankie: Add a description of this character.
- Claude Truman: Ben's father, the former sheriff.
- Ray Ratleff: A man who was going to testify against Gerald McNeese.
- Opie: Frannie Boyle calls Ben Opie because he is from Maine and that's like the country.
- Liz Lofgren: A woman who worked at the donut store. Claude Truman had been secretly seeing her.
- Bobby Kennedy: Politician from Boston, Ben's mother's favorite politician and one day during her sickness with Alzheimer's disease, she thinks Bobby Kennedy was just at the house.
- Leo Stapleton: A cop who showed John Kelly the ropes when Kelly was a rookie cop.
- Pete Odorico: A cop hired by John Kelly to keep guard over Ben during the investigation.
- Peggy Butler
- Theresa Rose Kelly: John Kelly's deceased daughter.
- June Veris: A person under investigation by Danziger.
- Nikisha Wells: A seven-year-old girl who was raped and thrown off of a roof. Marty Gittens keeps her photo to remind him of what can happen in these mean streets.
- Reverend Walker: A man who knew Braxton from when they were children together.
- Jameel Suggs: A person who raped a seven-year-old girl and threw her body off of a roof.
- Anne Wilmot Truman: Ben's mother, Claude's wife, recently deceased from Alzheimer's disease.
- Barry Sanders: Popular National Football Star. In interviewing Julio Vega he expresses his admiration of Sanders.
- Sandra Lowenstein: A woman who Ben dated while at college.
- Phil Lamphier: Owner of The Owl, a local pub.
- Gerald McNeese: One of Braxton's main men. He is also known as G-Mac.
- Judge Hilton Bell: The judge presiding the courtroom when Gerald McNeese is brought to the court.
- Albert DeSalvo: The man said to be the Boston Strangler but police in this story think he might have been persuaded to admit to the killings.
- Whitey Bulger: A leading mob figure in the Boston area. Police use him as an example that a mob figure can be turned against their gangster associates.
- Joe Wilmot: Ben's grandfather. He wanted more for his daughter, Annie.
- Bobby Burke: Local Versailles resident, also a patron at the Owl and works for the town.
- Gary Finbow: Police Chief in the neighboring town, Mattaquisset.
- Red Caffrey: A friend and defender of Maurice Oulette.
- Jimmy Doolittle: Caroline tells Ben that this is the person to ask for in order to see the detective's notes on a certain investigation.
- Gregg Cravish: The prosecutor in charge of the state's investigation, and a politician.
- Lenny Kennett
- Davy Diaz: A person who was helping to hide, and protect, a possible witness against a drug dealer.
- Mr. Kenison: An elderly man who is now living in the apartment that was the scene of a murder where a police officer was killed.
- Darryl Sikes: An armed robber and killer of a police officer.
- Edmund Kurth: Investigating the murder from Boston Homicide.
- Vincent Morgan: One of Harold Braxton's victims.
- Boo Radley: A person's name that Caroline uses when she's being sarcastic to Kurth.
- Tamarrah: Braxton's six-year-old daughter.
Setting & Locations edit
Maine
- Maine: The state where the body of a Boston D.A. is found.
- Versailles: Where the body of a Boston D.A. is found by Ben Truman, Police Chief.
- Boston: The body that Ben found was that of Robert M. Danziger, Assistant D.A. of Sussex County, covering Boston.
- Prague: A place Ben thinks is romantic and would like to visit.
- Massachusetts: Ben's mother, Annie, retained her Massachusetts background even after living in Versailles for many years.
- Kilmarnock Pub: A pub where a police officer is killed in the course of two men robbing the business.
- Echo Park: Where Ben and John Kelly are taken by Martin Gittens, in order to see the drug activity.
- Tobin Bridge: When Frazulo committed suicide, he jumped from the Tobin Bridge.
- Portland: Where Ben attends a meeting concerning the murder and investigation.
- Dorchester: Where Julio Vega has a bungalow.
- Vienna Road
- Walpole: A town with a prison where a detective threatens a possible snitch, he might be sent to, if he doesn't cooperate.
- Grove Park
- Frarmy: The nickname some of the characters use for Framingham.
- The Owl: Where Sheriff Turner brought Maurice for food. Also where Diane Harned works. She is a woman who Sheriff Turner dates.
- Mattaquisset: The neighboring town to Versailles.
- Sebago: Where John Kelly has a cottage.
- Concord: Another town that has a prison. A police officer threatens a possible snitch that he might be sent there if he doesn't cooperate.
- Lowell: Where Ben and his team search for a witness.
- J. J. Connaughton Cafe: A bar that is a haven for cops.
- Walpole: A city in Massachusetts with a prison.
Organizations edit
- Boston Police Department: Where a number of the characters in the story are employed.
- Versailles Police Department: Where Ben is the police chief.
First Sentence edit
On screen, a woman lounges on a rubber float, her face toward the sun, fingertips trailing in the water.
Authors & Contributors edit
- William Landay (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Country: U.S.A.
Publication Date: 08-26-2003
ISBN: 9780385336147
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Country: U.S.A.
Publication Date: 08-26-2003
ISBN: 9780385336147
Page Count: 384
Awards edit
- John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award (2003: best debut crime novel)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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