Homicide

a year on the killing streets

599 pages

English language

Published Nov. 14, 1991 by Houghton Mifflin.

ISBN:
978-0-395-48829-4
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
23356235

View on OpenLibrary

The scene is Baltimore. Twice every three days another citizen is shot, stabbed or bludgeoned to death. At the centre of this hurricane of crime is the city's homicide unit, a small brotherhood of hard men who fight for whatever justice is possible in a deadly world. David Simon was the first reporter ever to gain unlimited access to a homicide unit, and his remarkable book is both a compelling account of casework and an investigation into out culture of violence.

7 editions

None

This is one of those weird books where it's very, very good, but it's hard to say that I it. It's a rough read, especially when you tell yourself that it's all true, and it's not just a piece of crime fiction. And, he doesn't really sugar coat the relationships between the police and the community, and he doesn't really excuse the incidents of police brutality. He also gives a good glimpse into the political workings of law enforcement and legalities, which definitely can illuminate a lot of the current problems with our legal system.

I think the only real issue I have with it is that there are so many characters that sometimes it can be hard to keep track of them all.

avatar for Bomboloni

rated it

Subjects

  • Baltimore (Md.). Police Dept. Homicide Unit.
  • Homicide investigation -- Maryland -- Baltimore.