A Drink Before the War (Kenzie & Gennaro) [IMPORT] (Hardcover)

by Dennis Lehane (Author) "THE BAR AT THE RITZ-CARLTON LOOKS OUT ON THE PUBLIC Garden and requires a tie..." (more)
Key Phrases: drink before the war, terrorism bill, Jenna Angeline, State House, Sterling Mulkern (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd; New Ed edition (June 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0727855379
• ISBN-13: 978-0727855374
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (151 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,995,232 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where has Lehane been hiding?, March 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Drink Before the War (Patrick Kenzie/Angela Gennaro Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Started on this series based on a recommendation I read from Michael Connelly (author of a bunch of books, most recently Void Moon). Had never heard of him before --- but man, oh man! This book is incredible, a true page turner --- in a time when page turners really are kind of rare. Mystery-thrillers seem to follow a set formula that a seasoned fan/reader can spot from the beginning. I fell in love with Patrick and Angie and even Bubba. Lehane's characters are so REAL, you feel like you really do know them. They're screwy, quirky, flawed, funny as hell,one or two are downright psychopaths, but you're bound to love them. Tight, well-written -- masterfully written to be honest. Buy this today, and while you're at it, go ahead and order the next four (Darkness, Take My Hand, Sacred, Gone, Baby Gone, and Prayers for Rain). You'll need them fast. This book will leave you literally thirsting for more Lehane.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Drink Before the War gets 5 stars from a choosy reader., November 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Drink Before the War (Patrick Kenzie/Angela Gennaro Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't give five stars easily -- to anything. If the rating system had 1/2 stars, I might have chosen 4 1/2, but that still would have made A Drink Before the War a great read. The first 100 pages had me scratching my head, wondering what all the fuss has been about Dennis Lehane. I read the book on a recommendation from a pal whose tastes I trust, and I wasn't getting this one. Then...everything changed. Lead character Patrick Kenzie's PI wise-cracking was getting on my nerves. Angie Gennaro's role as his PI partner and domestic punching bag was getting on my nerves. Lehane's tendency to put Kenzie on a soapbox doing riffs on race and politics was getting on my nerves. Then, the "schtick" gave way to a compelling and fast-moving story, with action and intelligence and a plot that I wouldn't have figured out for the world, and I'm good at it. The full body of the story made up for what I felt was a weak start off and came to a shuddering end that left me reeling. All was forgiven. There's no way that I could give this book less than a top rating. Dennis Lehane is on his way to being one of the masters, if only he would tone down the "schtick".

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Man, Oh Man, I loved this!, May 26, 2000

By	K. Barrett "katibar" (Valley Mills, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Drink Before the War (Patrick Kenzie/Angela Gennaro Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Based upon customer reviews of Dennis LeHane's series of novels featuring detectives Kenzie and Gennaro, I bought all of them at one time and have just finished this series debut. I had not quite finished it last night when I went to bed. After about 30 minutes of wondering what was going to happen, I got up and finished the book in the middle of the night. That's gotta tell you something! I am mesmerized by the characters: the detectives are sharp, quirky, risk-taking folks most of the time; and they surround themselves with a wonderful assortment of cohorts from Bubba the bodyguard to Devin and Oscar the cops. Throw in a sympathetic priest and you have an excellent mix of lovable, if not quite understandable, characters. The story was gripping, terrifying and believable. I couldn't wait to start "Darkness, Take my Hand, " the second in the series, but I did wait until the coffee perked this a.m. A must read, but read the series in order so you don't miss the personal and touching references to the childhoods and personal lives of the heroes!