Crime author George Pelecanos discusses The Turnaround

Crime author George Pelecanos talks about the plot and inspiration behind his new novel, The Turnaround.

ABOUT THE TURNAROUND:
On a hot summer afternoon in Washington DC 1972, three white teenagers, stoned and fearless, drive a stolen car into Heathrow Heights - a rough, black neighbourhood near where they live. Taunting local black kids through the car window, they speed off to what they think is safety.

Tragically, they find themselves trapped in a dead-end street whilst an angry mob gathers. In the ensuing chaos, two of the white boys manage to escape, but Billy - the third friend - is shot dead.

The youths from both neighbourhoods eventually go their separate ways, but this event will remain the defining moment in many of their lives. Thirty-five years later, one of these men reaches out to another, opening a door that could lead to salvation. However, another survivor of that day is now out of prison, and is looking for reparation in any form he can find it...

The Turnaround takes us on a journey from the rock-and-soul streets of the 1970s to the changing neighbourhoods of DC today. It is a novel of fathers and sons, wives and husbands, loss, victory and ultimately violent redemption.

To read more about The Turnaround go to http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/HB-39287/The-Turnaround.htm

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• George
• Pelecanos
• Pelicanos
• Turnaround
• crime
• novels
• books
• thrillers

[CvilleRoses]

Pelecanos rules! One of the best American writers of any genre out there today.

Already reading this & it is great so far!

George, you should post short videos on your music and movie favorites.

[ameliajane1]

I love George Pelecanos books...He truly is the greatest crime fiction writer out there....underpinning searing social comment with strong human stories ...Have read and loved them them all.

[akselp]

I really like what you say about writing a novel that have crime elements in them, rather than straight crime novels. You write about real life in DC, and crime is part of that, but it is not the only thing DC is about. It is tempting to call it social realism, not in the european late last century way, but in an american 21. centrury way. You have an ability to portrait any person in a believable way and it hit home, every time. Thank you.

[JOSEPHLCOOKE]

I remember the incident.