Date read: February 2024
Date published: October 2021
Summary
This extraordinary novel is so much more than just a gripping crime story—it’s a story of survival against all odds, of love and loss and the human cost of war. Spanning the entirety of World War II, Five Decembers is a beautiful, masterful, powerful novel that will live in your memory forever. (via Goodreads)
The Good
When I started this project, I wanted to start with the books I read in 2023 in order. In a great coincidence, this week I had dinner with my friend Andrew who mentioned this great book he, read, Five Decembers. It just so happened that this was the next book for me to review. So here we are.
I was surprised by so many things about this book. First, that a cop crime novel that styles itself as a 50s detective noir could feel so fresh. Also, that this whole faux-50s “Hard Case Crime” novels even existed. From the cover art to the font to the storytelling, it has a classic feel.
Then there’s the story itself. You’d expect a cop, hardboiled and rough, working his way through a case, maybe with a damsel in distress along the way. It does have that, but a lot more. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, this has a weaving in of events like Pearl Harbor, WWII in Japan, and post-war America, all through the eyes of someone who was on a vast and epic journey, and comes back a changed person.
The character development is surprising as well, especially for a book like this. You find yourself rooting for the main character, Joe McGrady, as he’s on his brutal, fatalistic, but ultimately redemptive journey. The historical backdrops aren’t forced or heavy-handed, they are weaved in perfectly with a lot of delicate and deep interpersonal interactions and moments of humor. It’s a fine balance that’s well done.
But you also get the classic noir takes, like this description of the bartender early on in the book.
“Before he had a taste of it, the barman was back. Shaved head, swollen eyes. Straight razor scars on both cheeks. A face that made you want to hurry up and drink.”
Overall, this is a quick read, a fun story, and a really well-written crime novel.
The Bad
Nada.
My Rating
8/10—can’t wait to read more from this author, can’t believe this is a debut novel
Definitely adding to the list. I was raised on Elmore Leonard and have read a few “classics” of the genre. I often choose prose over plot but I love a story that moves at a steady clip.