Another important Baltimore book. Some would probably argue THE Baltimore book given its extended influence. Whether they know it or not it is the Rosetta stone for fans of Homicide: Life on the Streets and The Wire
Homicide is arguably the best police procedural book ever written. It was an instant classic in every sense of the word and it remains so today. It unflinchingly portrays policing in a big city and strips away every single last notion that we hold about that profession. Never before has such a brutally honest book been written. Even now, 15 years later, it never fails to amaze. Not only did it forever change the landscape but it possesses the singular ability to change your own personal landscape by forever changing your perception of the world. It will ruin just about every other type of story, regardless of medium, that has police in it. It’s important to note that this isn’t a dry recitation of facts, the writing is excellent, the characters are flawed and fleshed out and if anything the story reads like a complex novel.
In 1988, Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon embedded himself for one full year in the Baltimore Homicide Department. He saw it all and reported it without editorializing; he just relayed what he saw. By the end you will understand that the Homicide detective is that rare breed of police.
Here are two examples of the books stone cold sobriety. The first is from David Simon's epilogue from the original edition and displays Simons understated way of telling you something.
"A final postscript: In 1988, 234 men and women died violent deaths in the city of Baltimore. In 1989, 262 people were murdered. Last year, the murder rate jumped again, leaving 305 dead-the cities worst toll in almost 20 years.
In the first month of 1991, the city is averaging one murder a day."
So in other words from the moment that he first started the assignment to the moment the book was published 801 people were murdered with the number quickly climbing.
The second is from a brief afterward that one of the original Detectives wrote for the 2006 trade paperback re-release.
"In the decade and a half since David Simon finished writing this book he has transformed himself from a T-shirt wearing, wet-behind-his-diamond-studded-ear, notebook toting journalist of questionable prowess into an award-winning author, acclaimed screenwriter and accomplished television producer. During that same 15 years, I have advanced exactly one rank."
In 1988, Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon embedded himself for one full year in the Baltimore Homicide Department. He saw it all and reported it without editorializing; he just relayed what he saw. By the end you will understand that the Homicide detective is that rare breed of police.
Here are two examples of the books stone cold sobriety. The first is from David Simon's epilogue from the original edition and displays Simons understated way of telling you something.
"A final postscript: In 1988, 234 men and women died violent deaths in the city of Baltimore. In 1989, 262 people were murdered. Last year, the murder rate jumped again, leaving 305 dead-the cities worst toll in almost 20 years.
In the first month of 1991, the city is averaging one murder a day."
So in other words from the moment that he first started the assignment to the moment the book was published 801 people were murdered with the number quickly climbing.
The second is from a brief afterward that one of the original Detectives wrote for the 2006 trade paperback re-release.
"In the decade and a half since David Simon finished writing this book he has transformed himself from a T-shirt wearing, wet-behind-his-diamond-studded-ear, notebook toting journalist of questionable prowess into an award-winning author, acclaimed screenwriter and accomplished television producer. During that same 15 years, I have advanced exactly one rank."
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