THE CUT

The Cut introduces his loyal legion of fans to a new character by the name of Spero Lucas.  Lucas has been doing special investigations on behalf of a criminal attorney since his return from Iraq. He is good at what he does and he knows it. That is why his cut is always 40%.

When he is asked by a drug dealer to retrieve some stolen items he accepts the job and goes about it with his usual focus. It will however be a decision that he will rue.  The group that have stolen the items include an ex-Washington D.C. cop and they soon set their sights not only on Spero but also his family.As the body count mounts, the reader is shown glimpses of Spero’s multiracial family, which includes not only his adoptive parents but also his three siblings, two of whom are African-American. 

For me Spero is an anti-hero. Whilst he is indifferent he is certainly not amoral as he has his own code to follow. He is also not committed to either side of the law and therefore walks on both and deals equally with the good and the bad consequences. There's violence, sex, drugs and alcohol and of course good music and food in The Cut, but it is what one has come to expect from the author. It is an exceedingly well-timed novel.  It unites Washington DC past and present together and the author’s love of Washington DC shows in this novel.

Pelecanos’ writing is so distinctive that it is not surprising that he is rated as one of the best contemporary writers of his time and once again we have another amazing character to indulge ourselves with from this brilliant author.  I am sure that I will not be the only one who will want to see more of Lucas Spero.