Before the Devil Knows You're Dead [Kindle Edition]

Michael Ledwidge (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fast-paced but ultimately unconvincing, this third novel by the author of The Narrowback and Bad Connection begins with the dramatic (but none too credible) downfall of New York City policeman John Coglin. The straight-arrow cop-about to be promoted, about to be married, about to become a father-finds himself facing a murder rap when he shoots a bad guy in the line of duty. While the jury deliberates, he gets a call from his ex-con, ex-IRA uncle, Aidan, a father figure to John when he was a teenager, asking him to come to Pennsylvania for a few final words. Figuring he has nothing to lose-he is convinced he will be found guilty-Coglin agrees to participate in a diamond heist with Aidan and an attractive young single mom. The heist goes spectacularly wrong-the wife of the vice-president of the United States is killed in what appears to be crossfire, bringing all manner of law enforcement down on the heads of the would-be robbers. The prose is competent and the action hot, but the convoluted, conspiracy-laden plot tests the reader's ability to suspend disbelief. Ledwidge usually doesn't provide his characters' backstories until after the action cools down, in a seemingly belated attempt to justify implausible decisions. His gritty thriller moves fast, but not quite fast enough for readers to ignore the reckless plotting.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

James Patterson Powerful, fast-moving and true. LA has Michael Connelly, and now New York has Michael Ledwidge.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 483 KB
• Print Length: 320 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (January 1, 2003)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000FBJG36
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,414 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars PREPOSTEROUS--EVEN FOR A NOVEL, January 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Hardcover)

Bluntly said, this novel is preposterous. It is nothing like the other two novels Ledwidge wrote, stories that were tightly woven around a few characters whose decisions and mistakes drastically changed their lives.
"Before the Devil...." relies not on tight plotting, but on major coincidence after major coincidence, all stacked in a row from one chapter to the next. The story is so dependent on coincidences, I can't give examples without giving away the plot to those who want to discover it for themselves.
Sure, this is fiction, but Ledwidge gives us no chance to enjoy a story we can believe might have actually occurred. He can write like the "devil", though. Check out his first two novels in paperback. Think twice before shelling out twenty bucks for this one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Thriller!, January 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Hardcover)

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD is an utterly thrilling thriller that satisfies on every level -- great storytelling, fascinating and complex characters, captivating moral dilemmas. This is the new master of urban suspense at the top of his game.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dark and gritty urban noir novel, January 18, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Hardcover)

John Coglin is a dedicated New York patrol officer who transferred to Street Crimes. His girl is pregnant with his child and any day he is going to give her a ring so they can start their life together.

On his way home from work, he notices a group of teen-age thugs beating up an old man. He intervenes only to have the leader Ream almost kills Coglin. Expecting to die, Coglin shoots the black teen. A fellow officer arrives and places a throwaway gun in the vicinity of Ream. At first it's judged an acceptable homicide, but the media and political forces working behind the scene stir up the public. Coglin goes on trial for second-degree murder, but receives a tip that he's going to be found guilty. He joins his Uncle Aidan, a former IRA assassin and bank robber extraordinare, on a plan to rob a Rockerfeller Center office of millions of dollars worth of diamonds. However, a very special visitor at the office where the gems are located leads to the Feds. Only FBI Agent Collette can, if she chooses, bring salvation to Coglin.

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD is a dark and gritty urban noir novel. It is unfair that the protagonist goes to trial and what happens during it makes him realize that those who he thought were friends or allies have turned their back on him or actually betrayed him. It's difficult to judge him because few would know what they would do given his choices. Michael Ledwidge plays on the emotions of the readers like a master pianist.

Harriet Klausner