Book Description
“You know why we hate you? Not because you don’t know what we know, but because, if you did, you wouldn’t give a damn.

So I’m sitting here, waiting to commit extortion, and planning a lot worse. I’m what you’d call a criminal. That’s why I’ll never be you. And I’m proud of it.” --from Terminal

When the former shot-caller of the country’s most feared white supremacist prison gang contacts Burke, he comes with references ... and the promise of a huge score. Terminally ill, the ex-con needs major cash to gamble on the long-shot possibility of a cure that’s available only in Switzerland. The only card he has to play is a small-time degenerate who paid for protection when they were in prison together. That professional bottom-feeder claims he personally buried the body of a thirteen-year-old girl who had been raped, tortured, and finally killed by three rich men more than thirty years ago--and that he’s holding irrefutable proof. But such a complicated extortion scheme needs the hand of a specialist crew, so Burke is offered a piece of the action.

He and his outlaw family put together a lethal plan. If they can pull it off, Burke gets the two things he lives for: Money and Revenge. If not, “terminal” could prove to be more than just one man’s diagnosis.

Terminal is a blistering thriller that forces Burke back in time--to keep a blood-commitment to a brother from his prison past, and to avenge the “cold-cased” rape-murder of a teenage girl. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Better than the last, but
lots of set up for a little action. As time passes, I find the interrupted dialogue more and more annoying. Doesn't anyone get to finish a sentence? Don't expect more than just OK for this one.

Step Into Burke's World
Enter Burke's world in Terminal, the 17th entry into the excellent and long-running series by Andrew Vachss. This time Burke is contacted by a member of the country's most feared white supremacist prison gang to do a job. The man's name is Claude Davis Dremdell, and the title refers to him. He's suffering from a deadly form of cancer, and has only one hope: an expensive treatment available in Switzerland. Those familiar with Burke might be surprised that the man would even consider such an assignment, but this guy comes with "references." And he also has the goods on three rich men who got away with the brutal rape and murder of a young girl over thirty years ago. Now do you see why Burke ultimately gets involved? What follows is a tour of Burke's world as he investigates the crime and sets up the ultimate plan to accomplish his mission. To do this, he needs the help of his regular crew, Max the Silent, the Prof, Michelle, the Mole, Clarence, Mama as well as a few others. Along the way, the book gives a series of remarkable insights on a variety of subjects ranging from how life in "the inside" (prison) works, to the morality of zoos, to the reason why no Weapons of Mass Destruction were found in Iraq. But Terminal is no mere polemic. It's a work of rare art. When you step into Burke's world, you're so gripped by the power of the narrative that things suddenly seem a little bit darker, and your comfortable reality is knocked out of the way with the power of a Tsunami. The description of Burke's world is so vivid, you feel like you can reach out and touch it. Andrew Vachss lives by the warrior's code, and writes with the same passion that has made him the preeminent protector of childrens' rights in the world. Those who claim he sensationalizes child abuse by using graphic descriptions of it in his novels have never read one of his books. And if you haven't, pick up Terminal. After you finish it, you'll want to read the rest of them.

Self Indulgent Drivel
I have always been a big Burke fan. I have anxiously awaited the next book in the series, and even though there was some excess, difficult to follow material, the overall quality of the story and the characters trumped the negative. No more. I tried to get through this one and was unable to do so. In addition to finding myself lost at times and unable to figure out what was transpiring, I found it annoying to read the author's self indulgent writings about issues which were unrelated to the story. Perhaps some of the more over the top events are possible, but I was not able to buy it.It is time to end this series and for Mr. Vachss to turn his undeniable talent to something else with more story and less rant.

Weakest Burke
I've read and enjoyed all of Andrew Vachss' Burke novels, but this latest is simply not a well-told tale.The narrative flow is repeatedly interrupted by set pieces, usually lectures/harangues about the depths of corruption in the world.Even if I'm inclined to agree with that big picture, these set pieces are often so obscure that only a serious news junkie over 50 would have a fighting chance to follow along.As a serious news junkie over 50, I had a hard time staying motivated to follow.This just isn't a very good novel.

Vachss: Always a Great Read
Vachss delivers another great Burke book filled with everything you want and expect in a Burke novel: action, grit, insight, and unmatched dialogue.The ending to this one is more suspenseful than some of his other books; it leaves you craving the next book immediately.We can only hope that Mr. Vachss will deliver that book to us very soon. ... Read more

Book Description
Burke, the relentless urban mercenary, returns in this riveting new thriller by bestselling author Andrew Vachss.

Two decades ago, Burke "recovered" a teenage runaway from a pimp. Now she's on the run, again. After seeing the man who hired him to find her gunned down by a professional hunter-killer team, Burke realizes he could be next. The master urban survivalist knows he has to finish the job to learn the truth, only now he's looking for a predator, not a victim. The search will force Burke to walk down the one dark alley that has always terrified him -- his past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Burke's back
After a couple of disappointing books Andrew Vachss redeems himself. Do yourself a favor and start with this series at the beginning. Great characters, satisfying endings.

Mask Market
This is another great book for Burke fans.Just when you think that you have a grasp on the world of child-sellers, porn and black mailers, Vachss gives you a look at something even more twisted and corrupt than the tabloid headlines.Since all of Vachss's stories are based on real situations, this one really gets me wondering about a seemingly "decent society," where double cross is a certain as a new day. --Doug Setter, author of One Less Victim

Disappointment
I have read many books by Andrew Vachss.His writing is edgy, and hard.

This book was a disappointment.I read 318 pages of junk to get to six pages of classic Andrew Vachss' prose.When the ending finally came, the one big question was never thoroughly answered.

Typical, but not the best from this author.
I read all of Vachss' books and have decided that his early Burke stories are the best.I'll continue to buy them, though, because his friends are such great characters.

Pass on Mask Market
First, let me say that I Love Andrew Vachss's early books, I agree with most of his social and political viewpoints and admire him as a man, but his writing has reached the point where it just plain stinks.Every new book is just a series of boring conversations between his by now very familiar main characters, conversations which go nowhere and signify nothing.You can always count on a slew of new anecdotes about life in jail and life on the streets.You can count on a plump female character talking about how she needs to lose weight and Burke saying how she doesn't because he digs fat chicks.(okay, Andrew, after all this time we know you like a lady with a little meat on her bones.Stop rubbing that point in our faces)You can also count on a paper-thin "plot" being tossed in as an afterthought, with the plot never being fully realized or explained.I told myself 5 or 6 books ago that I would never read another Vachhs book because at this point, all they do is waste my time.However, I inevitably find myself picking up each new novel and reading it, hoping it will be as good as his earlier works, only to be disappointed every time.Mr. Vachss, here's an idea; instead of trying to crank out a book every year, why not take some time off and come up with a really good plot before you begin writing again?With apologies, from a former---and hopefully future---fan. ... Read more

Book Description
For years Burke has harbored an outlaw's hard love for Wolfe, the beautiful, driven former sex-crimes prosecutor who was fired for refusing to "go along to get along." So when Wolfe is arrested for the attempted murder of John Anson Wychek, a vicious rapist she once prosecuted, Burke deals himself in. That means putting together a distrustful alliance between his underground "family of choice," Wolfe's private network, and a rogue NYPD detective who has his own stake in the outcome.

Burke knows that Wolfe’s alleged "victim," although convicted only once, is actually a serial rapist. The deeper he presses, the more gaping holes he finds in the prosecution’s case, but shadowy law enforcement agencies seem determined to protect Wychek at all costs, no matter who it sacrifices. Burke ups the ante by re-opening all the old "cold case”rape investigations, calls in a lot of markers from both sides of the law, and finally shows all the players why "down here" is no place for tourists.Download Description

Bone-crushing impact, set in a milieu that clogs your lungs and stings your eyes, Down Here is the penetrating and remarkable new thriller from the master of American noir.

For many years, Burke has carried a torch for Wolfe, the beautiful, driven former sex crimes prosecutor who was fired for refusing to "go along to get along." They share a marrow-deep hatred of predators but walk different sides of the street when it comes to justice. So when Burke hears that Wolfe has been arrested for attempted murder, he knows something is double-wrong—and deals himself in.

Putting together a distrustful alliance between his "family of choice," Wolfe's outlaw network, and an informant inside the police department, Burke starts with the alleged victim, a brutal serial rapist Wolfe had personally prosecuted. He's back on the street because his conviction was reversed, and any of his long list of victims has plenty of motive to kill him. The deeper Burke gets into the investigation, the more holes he finds in the case against Wolfe. Yet the DA's office continues to press forward, and Burke has to find out what their game is. No stranger to devil's bargains, Burke reopens the rape investigations—his way—and discovers an artist whose violent work in progress is a whole city's nightmare.

Customer Reviews (26)

laconic style
Vachss' fiction stalks starkely across the pages.It's a spreading shadow across the imagination of the reader.His sparse and Spartanstyle is in the best tradition of American language, terse and precise like Hemingway but tight as a drum. In a word, "laconic" like the character Burke himself.

But for his disturbing, lurid and morally horrifying content, Vachss would be recognized as one of the best stylists of our day.

down herea burke novel
I love Vachss, all of his boooks. I find them interesting and quick reading because the writing flows.His characters are sometime very different and crazy , together, in the same body.Iam verypartial to sucessful endings.

Everything Burke is...
Great. Just love the entire series. The staccato writing style just works for me. Would love to see this on film, just can't imagine who would be Burke.

A Good Read
Some years ago, I read "Flood" and "Strega" and enjoyed them.As a casual fan of Mr. Vachss, I enjoyed the quick pace and grit of"Down Here," though I wished he'd developed the two female characters - Laura and Wolfe - more.There were the makings of a really interesting anti-love triangle here.Instead,"Down Here" is essentially an investigation/mystery story, enjoyable if a bit forgettable.I won't rush out for another dose right away, but Vachss is still one of the writers I know will entertain without demanding too much from me.

Vachss at his best - if you know the backstories
Andrew Vachss's character Burke lives in a gritty underworld most of us will never encounter outside the pages of a book.A fact for which we can pretty much all be grateful.DOWN HERE brings that world into our living rooms and rubs our faces in it, if only for about 300 pages, which is long enough.

Burke's unrequited love for the beautiful crime fighter Wolfe is what brings him and his family of choice back together, working to figure out who framed Wolfe for murder, and why.Wolfe has been arrested for murdering John Anson Wychek, a rapist she put away, who is now back on the streets due to some technicality.

While the plot will satisfy all but the most demanding of puzzle seekers, it is Vachss's characters who bring Burke's world to life.Long-time readers will recognize Burke's family: Max the Silent, the Prof, Pepper, Mole, and Michelle.Pansy has been replaced (sort of) by Bruiser, although there will truly never be another dog like Pansy.

I would not recommend starting to read Andrew Vachss with DOWN HERE; there are earlier books in the series which would be less convoluted.Reading DOWN HERE can be an exercise in reading between the lines because the back stories of the characters are important but not always well-explicated.There is almost a shorthand used by Vachss which, if a reader isn't familiar with the language, makes for some difficult connections.However, if this isn't the first Vachss for you, you won't be disappointed.DOWN HERE is Vachss at his best, working the language to death and wowing the reader while he does it.
... Read more

Amazon.com
Andrew Vachss's series hero, an outlaw vigilante named Burke, is on thetrail of the man who murdered the teenage daughter of a Mafioso whose secretaffairs with a black woman and a gay crime boss make Tony Soprano's sub rosarelationship with his psychiatrist seem inconsequential. More accustomed tocommitting crimes than investigating them, Burke comes out of retirement andreunites with his New York family, a group of criminals who join him in a cleverruse to unmask the killer. The circuitous trail eventually leads to anunderground filmmaker whose disturbing brand of noir vérité was responsible forthe girl's death; as usual, Burke metes out vengeance with a steady hand. Asusual, Vachss turns in a suitably dark, violent thriller with a strong narrativedrive and an explosive conclusion. --Jane AdamsBook Description
After years on the run, Burke is desperate to return to his native New York, the only way he can reconnect with his outlaw “family.” But to survive in their part of the City, where reputation is everything, Burke must take major risks to reestablish his presence. So when a Mafia man contacts him about the murder-as-message of his sixteen-year-old daughter—the offspring of what he calls an “outside the tribe” affair that he must keep secret at all costs—Burke’s depleted bankroll persuades him to step out of the shadows and do something he hasn’t done in years . . . actually investigate a crime.

Burke needs cover to penetrate the teenage subculture of the Long Island town where the girl lived and died, so he puts together a crew of gifted role-players, including a pair of lesbian “power exchangers” who market their special brand of sex on the Internet. When Burke himself surfaces as a casting director, seeking tomorrow’s stars for a movie to be shot on location, the investigation quickly spins off into uncharted depths. What he discovers is a new kind of filmmaking, a new kind of violence, and a predator unlike any he’s ever known. When they meet head-on over a brutal work of cinéma vérité, only one of them will survive the final cut.Download Description
After years on the run, Burke is desperate to return to his native New York, the only way he can reconnect with his outlaw "family." But to survive in their part of the City, where reputation is everything, Burke must take major risks to reestablish his presence. So when a Mafia man contacts him about the murder-as-message of his sixteen-year-old daughter -- the offspring of what he calls an "outside the tribe" affair that he must keep secret at all costs -- Burke's depleted bankroll persuades him to step out of the shadows and do something he hasn't done in years... actually investigate a crime.

Burke needs cover to penetrate the teenage subculture of the Long Island town where the girl lived and died, so he puts together a crew of gifted role-players, including a pair of lesbian "power exchangers" who market their special brand of sex on the Internet. When Burke himself surfaces as a casting director, seeking tomorrow's stars for a movie to be shot on location, the investigation quickly spins off into uncharted depths. What he discovers is a new kind of filmmaking, a new kind of violence, and a predator unlike any he's ever known. When they meet head-on over a brutal work of cinéma vérité, only one of them will survive the final cut. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Back In The Big Apple!!
Oh, you have no idea how amazingly awesome it is to have Burke back in NYC. And as always, Vachss, does an amazing job of spreading out this despicable underworld and helping us navigate it.

Burke's back. He's got a new hideaway, and he's among his loved ones again. There is still the pain and betrayal that befalls everyone whose paths he crosses, just as there is also his sense of justice, and his determination to bring the worst offenders to their come-uppance.

Read this book!
This book is the greatest! The author's critique of movie worshippers is the best ever.

Better Than the Last, But still Flawed
Andrew Vachss lost the thread of his Burke books about five years ago.What he needs is a good editor again to tell him what's working and what isn't.I have to say, though, that he seemed to be getting back on track with this one, although there's about 80 pages of padding.I kept saying to myself, "Get to it, Vachhs, and stop babbling!"Finally I gave up and just couldn't finish.Still, I remain a fan of the man's work.

Try To Put It Down, I Dare You!
It is 4:30 in the morning.
Now that we have established that little fact, let me tell you a little bit about my reading habits. I have a library full of books. Heck, I work in a book store. I adore books. A nice little chunk of every day is spent reading something. Since my son was born almost a year ago, this reading mostly takes place at the foot of the stairs to my apartment while I draw on a pipe so the smoke won't offend anyone else in the house. I usually read in twenty to forty minute sessions, usually enough for a bowl or two of Vanilla Cavendish. After that I put the book down and go about my day (or night as it usually turns out). It is like my own little sanctuary, and that is where I leave it. There is a stack of books at the foot of the stairs I am currently working through. In the last year I have never brought a book back up with me to continue. There is always a good spot to put a book down, believe me. At least I thought so until I started Only Child today. I read while I smoked, then I came up to the living room and read while my wife watched TV, then I returned to the spot and smoked some more (at least with a pipe I am looking at lip and throat cancer rather than that lung stuff), followed by a stint in the rocking chair and finally finishing with a last smoke while the book raced to its conclusion. I am not a fast reader either. I tend to savor books. The closer this book got to the final pages, however, the faster I read. I read as I walked up and down the stairs. I read as I went to the kitchen for a soda. I just couldn't look away from this book. In my younger days, I might have read a book straight through, but age (and being an aging father) has caught up with me. Now it is an unknown experience. Until I started Only Child today.
I am not going to go into plot elements and how wonderful and engaging and hard Mr. Vachss writing is or even how amazing the character of Burke is at he has evolved over the years and in the pages (and you should read the Burke novels in order as there is definite evolution and continuity). You probably know all that. I am simply going to tell you that in years of reading some really wonderful books, the experience of having found one so intriguing that I couldn't put it down until it was done is an experience I haven't had in a very long while.
It is 4:30 in the morning, and I couldn't be happier. Or more blown away.

"Classic" Burke
This is a return to the sort of Burke story that got me hooked on the series in the first place. It was great to have Burke reconnected with his New York "family".I'm always impressed with Mr. Vachss' abilities as a writer on every level, plot, dialouge, texture and (especially in this instance) a killer ending -he certainly doesn't disappoint here.If you are unfamiliar with the series, this would be a good place to jump in, if you are already a Vachss reader, you can be sure that a great series continues to thrive with this installment. ... Read more

Download Description
In this cauterizing thriller, Andrew Vachss's renegade private eye teams up with a lethally gifted vigilante to follow a child's murderer through the catacombs of New York, where every alley is a setup for a mugging and every tenement has something rotten in the basement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Different
WARNING: contains spoilers

This is the first Andrew Vachss novel I have read.Everyone seemed to rave about the Burke series novels.I did enjoy the book, however, Burke is nothing more than a sociopath.He seems a bit paranoid.I think the ending with the pimp was a little bit stupid.Once the Cobra was dead the book should have ended.Could you imagine if he was a real person, and was trying to get a job.He'd first cut the lights and the security system.Then he and his crew would come in through the window and attack the interviewer and tie him up, and then well I think he probably would not get the job.Anyway the book was ok, and I will read the next one in the series to see what that one is like.

Vachss Flood
Vachss stories always seem to have potential but in the end turn out to be cliched and corny. He puts an interesting mix of characters in his books however they come off as cardboard cutouts. He also has the habit of taking the safest politically correct route by making the villians Nazi pedophiles. Wow your really going out on a limb there eh Vachss? His writing has always seemed to be better suited for comics, but even those ventures turned out to be disappointments.

Vachss rocks!!
This is dark stuff bigtime, but so well done and entertaining. Plus, you learn a lot about some unfortunate things that happen throughout our society.

Vach's first novel
This is not Vach's first book. There is an even earlier book out there that was never published! If you go to Vach's website, he has on there his first unpublished book that tells the story of Wesley. It is equally amazing as the rest of the Burke series. I just read it and it cleared up quit a bit for me. I suggest everyone else to give it a try.

Gripping and completely absorbing
I just started reading Vachss last week. How did I never come across this author before now? His writing is extraordinary and compelling. I became aware of his writing through Amazon several months ago and as a fan of James Lee Burke, Lee Child, and others I thought I would give Vachss a try. I am so glad I did! I approached this, his first novel, with some trepidation both because the subject matter dealt with the sexual abuse of children and because the novel was over 20 years old and I feared it might be somewhat dated. I needn't have worried on either count.

As a human being, and a father of four, I thought I might not be able to emotionally handle scenes of child abuse. Vachss is careful though to keep us removed in time, space, and perspective from those events. There are no first person accounts from a child's point-of-view. We the readers, and the protagonist, learn of these events after the fact. As far as the novel being dated, it never really seemed to be. There are a few anachronisms in telephone and computer usage but the material is just as fresh, relevant and interesting today as when Vachss wrote it twenty years ago.

This novel features a quasi-private investigator/con man/ex-con, Burke. Burke has no first name; his parents never put one on the birth certificate before they absconded. One of the best things about Vachss' writing is he a master of showing, rather than telling. I feel like I know the protagonsit extremely well after four novels, but I still can't tell you what he looks like or how tall he is or whether he is attractive or not, or even how old he is. Vachss understands these details are not relevant to good story-telling. Just as we understand ourselves from the inside out, so too do you understand his characters. To say Vachss is a master of characterization is not enough praise; he paints people that are as real to you while reading as your mother or your best friend.

In this story Burke is hired by a young woman named Flood. She is a plump, five foot scrappy blond, out to find the pedophile who raped and murdered her friend's daughter so she can kill him with her bare hands. Hands hardened by years of martial arts training in Japan. What follows is a gripping, harrowing tale of love and loss, sin and redemption, good and evil found in the unlikeliest places all painted against the seamy underbelly of New York.

I loved this book so much I ordered the rest of the series through Amazon and have plowed through the next three in as many days, and I am getting ready to start the fifth one tonight. I whole-heartedly recommend this book, and thus far the entire series.
... Read more

Book Description
What--or who--could turn a gifted little boy into a murderous thing that calls itself "Satan's Child"? In search of an answer, Burke travels from a festering welfare hotel to a neat frame house where a voodoo priestess presides over a congregation of assassins.Download Description
Andrew Vachss' brilliant, steel-edged anti-hero--the P.I. called Burke--is back on familiar ground: the hellish lower depths of New York City, where child abuse is just the generic term for a hundred unfathomable brands of emotional and physical cruelty. Burke stumbles on a brand that's new even to him when he discovers a child whose monstrousness has been "created" by a true monster. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Killer child/Child killer
It seems when you watch New York City movies nowadays, it's a town of glitz and wealth, the nice land of posh Manhattan skylines.Not so in the grimmer days of the 1970s when the Big Apple was cinematically a cesspool:look at movies like The French Connection and you'll see what I mean.Though Andrew Vachss's Burke books are written in the 1990s and later, they keep alive a sleazy New York image that hearkens back to a darker but more interesting era.

Certainly, the city remains a pit in Sacrifice, the sixth Burke book.For those unfamiliar with the character, he is a hard-bitten semi-private eye who has no problem operating outside the law.Though he is always up for a good scam, he has nothing for contempt for the freaks, the child molesters and kiddie porn dealers who occupy his metropolis.In Sacrifice, Burke comes to the aid of Luke, a young child who's been so abused that he's actually developed split personalities, one of which is a baby killer.

Burke knows better than to fault Luke for the murders; the actual killers are the ones who damaged Luke, a little coven of molesters who impersonate Satanists but merely use that religion as a cover.While Burke hunts them down, he also has to keep Luke away from the aggressive DA who is even willing to prosecute an eight year old.He also has to contend with a voodoo cult and a separate case of abuser-turned-killer.

As is typical with a Burke novel, the strength is Burke himself, a tough guy who has his own demons to battle with.In addition, Vachss is good at creating a dark world where hope and redemption are rarely found and are even more rarely long-lasting.On the flip side, I continue to be troubled by the supporting cast of Burke's family who are often so off-beat as to be absurd; they are so unreal at times that it hurts the grim reality that Vachss is otherwise trying to portray.Overall, however, this is another good Vachss novel, not perfect but easily meriting four stars.

Vachss Answers the "Vigilante" Rap
This is definitely my favorite in the Burke series, for many reasons.Even aesthetically - if you were or are lucky enough to see the jacket of the original hardcover, you'll see that the artwork is beautiful and very distinct from Vachss' earlier jackets (which usually featured a photo representing the female title character).In fact, this book title is the first in the series that does not reference a female character.

Another element that distinguishes this book is how directly its drawn from real-life events.All of Vachss' novels are about the truth, but some specifics of the plot, the involvement of Wolfe, Chief of the Citywide Special Victims Bureau, and even the book's dedication page point to a very specific - and gruesome - real-life crime in New York prior to the book's publication.

But the most significant accomplishment of Sacrifice is that it's the perfect answer to all the hysterical - and inaccurate - cries of vigilantism.For years, the character, and Vachss himself, suffered through the assumptions and the labels (the "Rambo of Child Abuse" being one of them).But its all very clear with this book.Consider the carefully calculated schemes of the previous novels; the predators were dispatched bloodlessly, almost efficiently.

Now compare those things to the conclusion of Sacrifice.Without giving up too many details, Burke's reaction is off the cuff, completely unplanned - "Inside, they weren't the ones, but they'd do" is how he describes the targets of his fury. And he does wreak violence upon them.But someone else also pays the price for his rage, and he hadn't planned on that either.His vengeful rampage isn't satisfying and empowering; it's damaging and it changes him for good.

And that is the ultimate beauty of Sacrifice, both a depiction and an indictment of vigilantism.Its the perfect answer and its an excellent book.

Well written, as always...but a tad too grim for my taste.
Andrew Vachss, social worker, lawyer, author is a leader in the child protective movement. He calls it "a war," and considers his writing as powerful a weapon as his litigation. Vachss openly admits that he writes about the abuse of children because he wants to raise people's awareness of what's going on, and he'll reach a wider audience with fiction. His novels are powerful. He hits hard. His street tough dialogue and staccato-like prose lend authenticity to this raw, darker than noir world - a world where unspeakable horrors are perpetrated upon innocent children. "Sacrifice" and other books in the Burke series are not for the faint of heart. As heinous, almost far-fetched, as the narratives seem, (who could treat children like this?), the stories are, unfortunately, as real as case studies and the perpetrators prey on their young victims all over the world.

The author tackles a particularly difficult subject here. Luke is a wonderful little boy with a genius I.Q.. He is inquisitive, playful, friendly to the people he trusts- which are few. He has other personalities, however - and one is of a monstrous baby-killer filled with uncontrollable rage. Luke was repeatedly tortured, sexually abused and cruelly filmed in his agony by his parents and their friends, members of a Satanic cult. He is "Satan's child." One of the questions that arises from Luke's case is, after psychiatric treatment to merge his multiple identities, should he be charged with committing murder - or should those people who turned him into a fiend be held responsible - if they can be found...and if Burke doesn't get to them first?

Vigilantism and revenge are other issues that continually pop up in this series. Burke was an abused child raised in numerous foster homes and is a veteran of reform school and prison. "I live under the darkness, where it's safe. Safe from things so secret that they have no name. Under the darkness - it's not a territory you occupy - you take it with you - it goes where I go." And, "There's other's like me. Children of the Secret." Consequently, he himself is unable to control his anger when he deals with pedophiles. His violent acts of vengeance often save the courts the trouble of trying the suspects. But revenge, especially by murder, is against the law.

"Sacrifice" is far from my favorite Burke book. The subject matter really creeped-me-out...and that's hard to do. I know that crimes like these happen - I just don't know if I want to read about them in my leisure time. Also, the author really proselytizes here. And that is so unnecessary. He makes his points over and over again and each time more fervently. The reader gets it - how could one not "get it?" Here Mr. Vachss is too much the man on a mission. But his readers are with him from the get-go. Too much preaching to the choir.

The usual cast of extraordinary characters are all present, including: Max the Silent, a warrior and now a father; Pansy is a warrior of another species - she's a Neapolitan mastiff, just like the kind that came over the Alps with Hannibal; the Mole, a pasty-faced genius who lives in a bunker beneath a high-tech junkyard; the Prophet, a scam artist who speaks in rhyme; Mama Wong, group doyenne - a Chinese Jewish mother and restaurateur, "keeps her prices high and the ambiance foul to discourage yuppies." She cares for the gang, takes Burke's messages and holds his stash; Michelle, a gorgeous transvestite is absent here, busy dealing with the complications which have arisen around her life-changing operation; Terry, the "lost boy" adopted by Michelle and Mole is around to befriend Luke. Ms. Wolfe, a sex crimes prosecutor who Burke has the hots for, plays a bigger than usual role in this novel - which is a plus. And Queen Thana, voodoo royalty, is introduced here too.

This is not a bad book. I don't think Andrew Vachss has it in him to write poor fiction. But, be warned - read at your own risk of some sleepless nights.
JANA

Admire the author, but lukewarm about his novels
I've now read 3 Vachss novels, all early works, and at the end of each one I wrestled with the question of whether or not to read another one.I picked this one after reading the favorable reviews here and I did find it to be better than Blue Belle and Strega.All of these books have had some appeal to me.They present some hard boiled guys like the main character Burke who have been to prison and are still criminals, but who now mainly just take advantage of [child stalkers] and other creeps in various scams.This frees them to do what they really like to do which is bring certain of these creeps to rough justice.I find that to be an entertaining and appealing story theme.This book goes into an unusual direction in that there is an abused multiple personality child who is a killer.This leaves room for lots of interesting and edgy action.

My problem with these books is that while I admire the author as someone who works to help abused children and writes stories that can educate others about what kind of evil people operate in these areas, I just don't find his writing ability to be at the level of top crime authors.The word pictures just aren't as clear, the character development is so-so and there are usually a few over the top features that detract from the overall realism of the story.So, my 4 star rating is given mainly for the good features I listed, while my conclusion is that I'm not now leaning toward reading any more Vachss books.

Hooked me on Burke for life
This was the first Vachss book I ever read, it was given to me when at the age of thirty I finally got that horrid childhood disease, chicken pox.While laid up with 104 for a fever and wanting to die, my father gave me a copy of Sacrifice to help pass away the hours.

Within the first 20 pages the pox were forgotten and a Burke fan was born for life.

I knew a pedophile. For years we tried to convince 'the right people' that this person was indeed a pedophile.Unfortunately no one listened and his money bought his release.How I wish I knew a Burke in the real world.

What impressed me the most about this book was its truth.It is evident from the start that Mr. Vachss has spent time in the trenches, that his stories are sadly based on a grim part of life most people would rather not acknowledge.

The message in his words is conveyed through the gruff gentleness of Burke.The loyalty between Burke and his group is a loyalty very few people share.His voodoo accurate as well, this is simply a high quality novel that will disturb the reader, make the reader think and introduce the reader permanently into The Zone.

Read this book. ... Read more

Book Description
In this mercilessly compelling thriller, Burke—the private eye, sting artist, and occasional hit man who metes out a cruelly ingenious vengeance on those who victimize children—is up against a soft-spoken messiah, who may be rescuing runaways or recruiting them for his own hideous purposes. But in doing so Burke becomes a target for an entire Mafia family, a whore with a heart of cyanide, and a contract killer as implacable as a heat-seeking missile. Written with Vachss's signature narrative overdrive—and his unnerving familiarity with the sub-basement of American crime—Hard Candy is vintage Burke.Download Description
Now a paid assassin, Burke is on a collision course with a man named Train, who runs a "safehouse" for kids. But when Burke learns that his suspicions about Train are right (the safehouse keeps kids in harm's way), he becomes his own gun-for-hire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Grim and good
If you want to read a feel-good story filled with light humor and zany problems, Andrew Vachss is not the way to go.His series of novels featuring tough guy Burke are, to say the least, grimly hard-boiled, but sometimes it's good to see the dark side of things.Hard Candy, the fourth novel in the series, is as sordid as Vachss's previous books and is, for those who like this sort of stuff, it is quite entertaining.

Hard Candy is clearly a sequel to the previous novel, Blue Belle, and I would not suggest going into this book without having read its predecessor (if you haven't read Blue Belle, don't continue reading this review, as it will have spoilers).The events of Blue Belle have thrown Burke into a state of depression; all his usual pleasures - sex, gambling, ripping off "freaks" - are unappealing to him.Revenge, however, still drives him.

In Blue Belle, Burke killed the vicious Mortay, but he was unaware that Mortay was also targeted for a hit by the Mob.The local don had hired an assassin named Wesley to do the job, but since it was Burke who did the kill, the don refused to pay.This had led Wesley on a vendetta against the Mob, and Wesley is very good at what he does.Burke gets caught in the middle and is also targeted by the Mob.This leads to an alliance of sorts with Wesley, a man Burke has known since childhood and who was for a time, Burke's idol.

Meanwhile, another childhood acquaintance, a cold-as-ice hooker named Candy, has recruited Burke to retrieve her daughter Elvira from the custody of Train.Train seems to be a force of good, taking in runaways and becoming a sort of cult leader to them.Burke senses something else, however, and Train is also a target for Wesley.

Unlike earlier novels, the other members of Burke's "family" have relatively limited appearances with the exception of his "brother", Silent Max.For as much as anything, this book deals with the bond between the two, a bond that was hurt because of the events of Blue Belle.Burke's attempts to fix things with Max and fix his own soul in the process are the real focus of this book.

When depicting his dark version of New York and its denizens, Vachss often walks a fine line between grimness and absurdity.There is something rather surreal about Burke's world, and at times I think this is a weakness in the series.Nonetheless, overall, Hard Candy continues Vachss's string of good books and should please readers of his earlier novels.

Gritty but great
Hard Candy is gritty but great like the rest of Andrew Vachss' novels.It is sometimes grim and sad, but also sexy and funny.Like the rest of his books, it's difficult to put down once started.

the best burke yet
I started reading these books long ago, actually when Strega came out and fell instantly in love with them. While personally I feel that vacchs has lost his way and should consider developing a new character, Hard candy is one of my favorite novels ever. Hard enough to make Chandler wince, it is a fascinating study in sociopathology, from many points of view. It is a walk down the dark streets that few know exist, much less contemplate examinig, full of double crosses, dialogue to make one weep with joy, it kept me on the edge of my chair the whole night long. The story of a hard man caught in a triple cross betweem the mob, a hooker and a hit man, trying to find his path.It is a blessing to know that men can still write like vacchs could,i applaud this effort wholeheartedly

A Gritty Noir Novel With A Message
"Hard Candy" is Andrew Vachss' fourth Burke novel, a sequel of sorts to "Blue Belle," book three. Tackle "Blue Belle" first, if you're interested, for a richer, more comprehensive read.

Burke, is in a deep funk after losing his woman. Before Belle died, she asked Burke to pay her debts. He does what she would have wanted. But he is still cold, empty, locked in an inner jail he can't walk out of. "Once I could always find something on the sweet side of the edge I lived on. It was gone. Even in prison, there were some things you could laugh at. That was then." Vachss continues to reveal more of Burke's character, his grim inner world and his past in "Hard Candy." He is one of the most complex protagonists I have encountered in popular fiction - edgy, dark, an outcast, as hard-boiled as they come, a scam artist who is a standup guy, a righteous man, and above all, a survivor. Burke, the man, and the strange folks who people his world and call him" friend," are what make me a faithful fan and keep me hooked on the series.

Word is out on the street that Burke, a sting artist, is now a gun for hire. There is heavy fallout from the rumor. The police hassle him and old friends, the kind he never wanted to see again, come out of the woodwork looking for him. First, Candy, an old flame from his reform school days, gives him a call - after all these years. "Little Candy. A whore in her heart, even then. Just what I needed to cheer me up." Candy is still a working girl - we should all be so successful - with mega-upscale digs and a fortune invested in her face and body - silicon implants, face lift, collagen injections, electrolysis, colored contact lenses, a wig in every color, a department store's worth of clothes, make-up, furs - more Neiman Marcus than Macy's. Can she be funding herself? What's her scam? Her teenage daughter, Elvira, dropped out of school and is with a so-called cult in Brooklyn. Candy wants Burke to bring her girl home. He agrees to check things out. In Brooklyn he meets the charismatic, soft-spoken Train, who maintains a safe-house for kids. Elvira is a member of his tribe. But is Train the real deal? Are the teens safer with him than on the streets? Burke has his own suspicions.

His involvement with Train reunites him with another acquaintance from his adolescence - Wesley, a killing machine, a robot with a resume of death to show for his life. Burke always wanted to be just like him, totally cold, emotional as ice. Wes warns Burke off his turf - he stepped over the line once, without knowing it, when he killed Mortay in "Blue Belle." Now Burke's life is on the line if he messes with Wesley's work again. Just to make things interesting, the Mafia is also on his case. And Strega, the witch he wanted to forget, contacts him with a request.

The usual suspects are all present, including: Max the Silent, a Mongolian warrior who calls Burke brother; Pansy is a warrior of another species - she's a Neapolitan mastiff and Burke's roommate; the Mole, a pasty-faced genius who lives in a bunker beneath a high-tech junkyard; the Prophet, a scam artist who speaks in rhyme; Mama Wong, group doyenne - a Chinese Jewish mother and restaurateur. She cares for the gang, takes Burke's messages, holds his stash and feeds him hot and sour soup; Michelle, a gorgeous transvestite who is about ready to go to Denmark for a life-changing operation; and the now famous souped-up Plymouth. "The Mole makes sure to change the car's color after it is used on a job."

As always Vachss narrative hits hard. His street tough dialogue and staccato-like prose lend authenticity to this raw, darker than noir world - a world where unspeakable horrors are perpetrated upon innocent children. The author, a leader in the child protective movement, calls it "a war," and considers his writing as powerful a weapon as his litigation. He openly admits that he writes about the abuse of children because he wants to raise people's awareness of what's going on, and he'll reach a wider audience with fiction.

This is a powerful novel - part of a superb series. Kudos to Andrew Vachss!
JANA

the first one I read
In the summer of 1991 I picked up this book and before I'd read 10 pages I knew I'd really discovered something. Andrew Vachss is not only a great writer but he has probably done more than anyone in America to raise the consciousness of the public about the prevalence of child abuse and the ways in which to combat it. ... Read more

Book Description
In this savagely convincing novel, Burke finds himself in a fading Indiana mill town, trying to clear a boy charged with a series of sexually motivated shootings. He's intent on finding the real sniper--and his unlikely ally is a beautiful woman named Blossom, who has her own reasons for finding the murderer, as well as her own idea of vengeance.Download Description
In this savagely convincing novel, Burke finds himself in a fading Indiana mill town, trying to clear a boy charged with a series of sexually motivated shootings. He's intent on finding the real sniper?an his unlikely ally is a beautiful woman named Blossom, who has her own reasons for finding the murderer, as well as her own idea of vengeance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Possibly the best of the series
By his own admission, Andrew Vachss isn't a particularly good "writer": his characters are caricatures who we know only by an unusual style of speech or odd clothing; the dialogue often devolves into rambling lectures directed at the reader; the plots are formulaic; and many of his novels (particular the more recent ones) seem focused far more on social commentary than Story . . . why, then, do I feel compelled to read everything he publishes?Because Burke is COOL.I could care less about any of his "crew" of regulars (a little Black man who carries a sawed-off and speaks only in rhymes, a huge Asian man who is the best martial artist alive but speaks only in a made up sign language, a bespectacled Jewish man who provides all sorts of high-tech weaponry free of charge and continually mutters about nazis, a "beautiful" transvestite who is a skilled con artist and talks unendingly about high fashion, and a Jamaican teenager who is a crackshot with a 9mm and makes an occasional comment in his distinctive dialect . . . you get the idea).The other characters are mere background (as well as a lesson to the reader in multicultural tolerance).Burke, however, is the driving force behind this series.An unlicensed private investigator who is a wanted fugitive with nothing to lose.A man with a single mission: make the freaks PAY (if he can save a kid, that's a bonus).

I do not necessarilly think that Blossom is Vachss' best work (that'd be either Shella or Two Trains Running), but it is probably the most accessable and mainstream of all the books in his Burke series.Although it might be advisable to read the earlier volumes first, Blossom stands alone and could be read as your introduction to the series.Since Burke is out of the city and away from his crew, they are less of a distraction.

In short, this is more of a "coming of age" story than the usual Burke theme (VENGEANCE).A teenage boy is accused of being a sex sniper because he lives in the area, is a loner, owns a rifle, and was found to have a stash of pornographic magazines.Burke interrogates him, and decides that he's not the type -- so, being the righteous outlaw that he is -- instead of handing him over to the law (to get beaten and raped by fellow inmates), he conspires to hide him out while Burke tracks the real killer.In the meanwhile, he teaches the immature and inept boy what it means to be a Man (honor, duty, dignity, etc).As it oft seems as if Burke is really Vachss' alter-ego, it's like getting "fatherly advice" from one of the baddest men alive.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is unfamiliar with the series.

Hard-boiled in Indiana
In the world of hard-boiled crime fiction, few are as hard-boiled as Andrew Vachss.In his Burke series of novels, the reader is plunged into a hellish world where even the good guys are crooked.In this world, Darwin means everything:only the fittest (which is to say, the slyest, most violent or most evil) survive and the weakest soon perish.Parallel to this dark land is the world of "citizens": the more-or-less law-abiding people who pay taxes and go to school and church.When a citizen is forced to go into this hell - like when a child is kidnapped by a pedophile - it is Burke who tries to set things right, as long as his price is met.

Although Burke is basically a loner who exists outside the system, he does have a family of sorts, people who he's bonded with over the years.In Blossom, we are introduced to another such family member, Burke's "brother" and former prison-mate, Virgil.Virgil is a rare success story, an ex-con who has become a citizen.Unfortunately, his nephew, a troubled teenager named Lloyd, is accused of killing some people; when it looks like he will be put in jail pending trial, Virgil helps Lloyd flee.

Through Virgil's wife, Burke is recruited to determine if Lloyd is actually guilty.And although Burke does determine that Lloyd is innocent, he decides to also find the killer.The disadvantage for Burke is that he's out of his element:instead of being in the comfortable - if dangerous - confines of New York, he is in a small town in Indiana. Adding to the complications is the title character, Blossom, who is also after the killer.It is no surprise that eventually she and Burke will get together, but readers of previous novels know this is not necessarily a good thing for him.

Although superficially, Burke may resemble other tough-guy heroes such as Richard Stark's Parker, he is actually a much deeper character.Burke has undergone a number of traumas in his life, to the point where he doesn't so much try to be happy as he tries to avoid being unhappy.As always, I find the supporting characters in these stories to be a little too offbeat at times to be taken seriously in these rather grim novels, but in Blossom, they are pushed off to the side for the most part.Vachss once again has succeeded in presenting a tale that is well-written and suspenseful.If you have enjoyed the other Burke novels, this one will also be a pleasure.

Burke hits the Hoosier State hunting a "piquerist." Unputdownable!!
"Blossom" is Andrew Vachss'fifth Burke novel, and while it is an excellent book, I would not suggest that those folks new to Burke's world make his acquaintance here. "Blossom" definitely stands on its own, but for a richer more comprehensive read you should have more background information. I do not have an addictive personality, but the Burke series is one of the most powerful in the crime suspense/thriller genre. I am totally caught-up in Vachss' complex characters and their mind-boggling escapades. Actually, forget the genre "bit," these novels belong in a class of their own. I began with book one - "Flood" - and never looked back. However, "Strega and/or "Blue Belle" are also good places to meet Burke and crew. And meet them you should if you are looking for well crafted fiction and you don't flinch at the gritty, seamy, darker side of life.

Burke, is still in a funk after losing his woman, Belle. Then Virgil, and old cellmate, asks for his help. Rebecca, Virgil's wife, travels to New York hoping to bring her husband's "brother" back to the Indiana mill town where they live - and where the trouble is. Burke and Virgil are tighter than blood makes most brothers. There's no way our man can refuse - nor would he want to.

Rebecca's teenage cousin Lloyd has been accused of a heinous crime he didn't commit...so he says. When the police don't have enough evidence to hold the boy, they remand him into Virgil's and Rebecca's custody on bail. Then the heat gets turned up. The press, out in full force, are looking for blood. A reporter hears some of Lloyd's classmates comment about his "peeping" habits and all hell breaks loose. Bail is revoked and Lloyd runs. Virgil goes after him and both are now in hiding. Virgil wants Burke to find out the truth about his cousin and about the "Son of Sam" type murders that have been going down in Merrillville, Indiana.

The perp is a sex sniper...sometimes call a "piquerist." "It wasn't in the DSM-III, not even in the latest revised edition. It is a pathological condition: it means the realization of sexual satisfaction from penetrating a victim by sniper activity. Or stab wounds, or even bites." Is Lloyd the one killing the young couples who park in Lover's Lane? And if not, who is?

Enter Blossom. A waitress and much more. She has her own reasons for wanting to catch the killer.

Vachss continues to reveal more of Burke's character, his grim inner world and his past in "Blossom." He is one of the most complex protagonists I have encountered in popular fiction - edgy, dark, an outcast, as hard-boiled as they come, a scam artist who is a standup guy, a righteous man, and above all, a survivor. Burke, the man, and the strange folks who people his world and call him" friend," are what make me a faithful fan and keep me hooked on the series.

The usual suspects are all present, including: Max the Silent, a Mongolian warrior who also calls Burke brother; Pansy is a warrior of another species - she's a Neapolitan mastiff and Burke's roommate; the Mole, a pasty-faced genius who lives in a bunker beneath a high-tech junkyard; the Prophet, a scam artist who speaks in rhyme; Mama Wong, group doyenne - a Chinese Jewish mother and restaurateur. She cares for the gang, takes Burke's messages, holds his stash and feeds him hot and sour soup; Michelle, the gorgeous transvestite who is absent here - dealing with her "change." She is present in spirit." And Terry, the lost boy who was adopted by Michelle and Mole is around also. I think this novel is all the more interesting for getting Burke out of the Big Apple and having him hang-out with the Hoosiers. The new cast of characters that comes with the new surroundings only adds richness to the narrative.

As always Vachss narrative hits hard. His street tough dialogue and staccato-like prose lend authenticity to this raw, darker than noir world - a world where unspeakable horrors are perpetrated upon innocent children. The author, a leader in the child protective movement, calls it "a war," and considers his writing as powerful a weapon as his litigation. He openly admits that he writes about the abuse of children because he wants to raise people's awareness of what's going on, and he'll reach a wider audience with fiction.

This is a powerful novel - part of a superb series. Kudos to Andrew Vachss!
JANA

Another tour of the dark side.
Burkes travels to Indiana to help out the nephew of a prison buddy.While uncovering the truth about whether or not the boyis actually the serial killer prosecutors say he is Burke also meets and romances the beautiful Blossom and tracks down a white supremacist sniper (quite obviously modeled after an actual criminal).I found the change of scene and characters refreshing.Recommended.

Burke hits the road
Vachss takes Burke away from his crew and into the Midwest in "Bloosom," and in the process comes up with one of the best Burke novels.Some readers may miss his crew, but instead we get a lot ofinsight into Burke's history recounted as he strives to help out an oldprison buddy.The title character is Burke's most interesting leading ladysince Flood walked out of his life after the first novel.Overall, anexciting read pumped full of the philosophy of life by Burke. ... Read more

Book Description
From a writer whose novels have been acclaimed for their unflinching exploration of evil comes a brilliant collection of short stories—some never before published—that distill dread back down to its essence—and inject it straight into the reader's back brain. Andrew Vachss might have scissored his characters from today's headlines: a stalker prowling around an anonymous high-rise; a serial killer whose transgressions reflect a childhood of hideous abuse; an inner-city gunman who is willing to take out a blockful of victims in order to win a moment of acceptance.

Tautly written and endowed with murderous ironic spin, Born Bad plunges us into the hell that lies just outside our bedroom windows. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Vachss, Andrew Vachss
Oooh, I freakin' love this guy.I've read most of Vachss' books, but Born Bad was my introduction to him back in high school(thank you Mr. Piddington) and still remains one of my favorites.Like the title says, it's short stories here.Some are extremely short and play out like single scenes that could come from a kickazz action film.Vachss is not a razzle dazzle wordsmith like Clive Barker, but there's no need to be poetic here.He's more interested in getting down to the nitty gritty, and that's the way he writes.Vachss has knowledge of the things he writes about, he knows the criminal language and throws in enough classic one-liners for twenty Tarantino flicks.The first batch of stories are varying topics, the next batch follow a mercenary called Cross and his crew.Then we get some cool stories about a post-apocalyptic underground society, followed by more mixed topics.This book is a good introduction to Vachss.Most of his books are Burke novels, and you can start with that series if you want, but Born Bad is a great place to start to really get a good taste of Vachss' style.If you dig it, go ahead and try Burke, but if you can't get enough of Cross and the Underground, pick up Everybody Pays which is basically like Born Bad 2.

Streetwise horror stories
Andrew Vachss is a mystery writer whose work often times reads more like horror.Therefore, it is not surprising that his collection of short stories has the punch of classic short horror fiction.These are darkstroies dredged up from the depths of Vachss's fertile imagination. Usually, they deal with the worst impulses of man, especially the sexualpredator.They are not for the faint of heart, but are powerful in theirown way.

what's with the "ball peen hammer" references???
Is there something particularly painful about a ball peen hammer versus, say, a claw hammer? I don't work at Home Depot, but I'd guess that they'd probably do about the same amount of damage to one's head... although theclaw portion appears more menacing than the "peen" (or is it the"ball"???).

multiple punches to the gut and heart at once
If you have read any of Vachss' novels with criminal-cum-savior Burke as protagonist, you should allow yourself the honor of feasting on his short stories.The title is a play on the world's take of how children are bad seeds, i.e., born with a bad streak, prone to be losers, and addled with overripe genes for destruction; this book is a one-man treatise on why that is, summarily, not true and it's done with the usual minimalist and spare style prose Vachss is by now famous for.My preference is for his short stories, and the why of that is simple: it's a shorter, more rapid, and much more heart-wrenching path to the much-welcomed truth that only Vachss seems willing to tell.For me, he is the male counterpart of the Greek mythological character Cassandra--he comes bearing the truth that no one really wants to hear, but the fact is, once heard, you can't take your eyes or ears off of him. For a nonstop, nonpareil ride into the gloom and doom of what child abuse is, where it emanates from, and possibly the solutions to fix its ugly cast upon the world, read these stories; you will weep and you will cry with joy at the sheer simplicity of it, right along with the cutting-edge prose that digs in and plants its tentacles into your heart.

A powerfully written collection of noir!!!
In his Born Bad collection of short stories, and three plays, Andrew Vachss takes the reader through an underworld which can be found in every major city, around the world. Yet is all too often, ignored by most of society. In this collection of ultra violent descriptive noir, some no more than three pages, Vachss's stories are some of the most powerful you will ever read. His prose hits you like a burst of gun fire, and it will leave many of its readers uncomfortable. Which is exactly what Vachss wants. As in all of his books, Vachss wants the reader to not only learn of, but to feel what a horrible subculture has developed in our nations cities. To feel the pain that many of our children feel, and to experience the horrors, and nightmare world in in which they live. Born Bad will do this and then some. For those who are already familiar with Vachss' books, it is a must read. And for others who are new to noir, or want to take a tour of the underbelly of the urban jungle, or "junkyard" as Vachss calls it. I recommend that you get a copy of Born Bad. This collection will not only make you stop and think, but you will never look at life and people the same way again. This year Vachss has published his latest novel Safe House. An excellent read, and I look forward to more books in the Burke series, and perhaps a Born Bad Collection 2. Vachss ranks with Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy, David Goodis, and Thomas Harris as a master of the noir genre. ... Read more

Book Description
"Vachss is a contemporary master."--The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Vachss' writing is like a dark roller coaster ride of fear, love and hate."  --The Times- Picayune

A hit man defies the confines of a life sentence to avenge his sister's batterer.  An immaculately dressed man hires a street gang to extract his daughter from a Central American prison, for reasons as mysterious as they are deadly.  A two-bit graffiti artist with a taste for Nazi-ganda finds himself face-to-face with three punks out to make a mark of their own--literally--with a tattoo needle.

From neo-noir master Andrew Vachss comes Everybody Pays, 38 white-knuckle rides into a netherworld of pederasts and prostitutes, stick-up kids and fall guys--where private codes of crime and punishment pulsate beneath a surface system of law and order, and our moral  compass spins frighteningly out of control. Here is the street-grit prose that has earned Vachss comparisons to Chandler, Cain, and Hammett--and the ingenious plot twists that transform the double-cross into an expression of retribution, the dark deed into a thing of beauty. Electrifying and enigmatic, Everybody Pays  is a sojourn into the nature of evil itself--a trip made all the more frightening by its proximity to our front doorstep.

"Vachss [is] in the first rank of contemporary American crime writers."--The Kansas City Star

"Andrew Vachss has become a cult favorite, and for good reason."  --CosmopolitanDownload Description
A hit man defies the confines of a life sentence to avenge his sisters' batterer. An immaculately dressed man hires a street gang to extract his daughter from a Central American prison, for reasons as mysterious as they are deadly. A two-bit graffiti artist with a taste for Nazi-ganda finds himself face-to-face with three punks out to make a mark of their own -- literally -- with a tattoo needle.From neo-noir master Andrew Vachss comes Everybody Pays, 38 white-knuckle rides into a suburban netherworld of pederasts and prostitutes, stick-up kids and fall guys -- where private codes of crime and punishment pulsate beneath a surface system of law and order, and our moral compass spins frighteningly out of control. Here is the street-grit prose that has earned Vachss comparisons to Chandler, Cain and Hammett -- and the ingenious plot twists that transform the double-cross into an expression of retribution, the dark deed into a thing of beauty. Electrifying, enigmatic, Everybody Pays is a sojourn into the nature of evil itself -- a trip made all the more frightening by its proximity to our front doorstep. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Everybody Paid In Full
In this collection of short fiction, Vachss' prose reminds us that evil is real, as tangible as a lethal insect crawling in our direction.The situations are as close to home as fiction can get -- protecting one's self from a vicious rumor and accidentally killing the teller in the frenzy; murdering pedophiles in exchange for getting one last shot at the thug who ravaged a family member -- and show that every single person alive is in some way, shape, or form touched and tormented by crime.

The book is divided into three sections: basic stories, tales of symbolism mixed with substance from the Underground Series, and stories and one novella featuring Vachss' soldier of fortune, Cross.The first section arguable carries the greatest weight of the collection as the author weaves passioniately dramatic tales of revenge with as few words as is humanly possible with dazzling effectiveness.While the Underground stories do leave some readers with little more than a sense of bewilderment, Vachss manages to leave even the casual reader wanting more.The Cross series presents a troupe of right-minded 'mercs' doing more for the cause of justice than perhaps most uniformed men and women do every day.Also, the Cross characters are so vividly drawn it would be terrific to see this team of avengers brought to the cinema screen.

While the characters and situations presented here may not be to everyone's taste, Vachss deftly shows us how widespread evil is in the modern world.He reminds us that, just as vile desires have created a sex slave state that exists around the globe, it's also touched casual souls on quite possibly every street in the United States.He drives his point home -- everybody pays -- with amazing weight in these brief tales that it'd be hard for any reader to resist the temptation for soul-searching his own past for the price already paid.

Everybody Pays
If you're a friend of mine, and you're not familiar with Andrew Vachss' writing, I usually suggest one of his collections of short stories to start with -- either *Born Bad* or *Everybody Pays*.That's because I consistently hear only one of two reactions to his work.Either it's something along the lines of "too dark," "too intense," "too scary," "too brutal," or "too *real*" . . . or it's "Has he written any more books?"Clearly, I fall into the latter category.For those that fall into the former, with short stories, you can take it five to ten pages at a time.

Because Vachss' writing *is* "too real."And that makes it all the more important for us to read.His research is his life, and all of the brutal, ugly corners of this earth he has been -- from the midnight human meat markets of New York City to the genocidal killing fields of Biafra -- confronting evils few people dare to even acknowledge voluntarily.But for all of the darkness, in his short stories, Vachss always seems to find some beauty -- an orchid amongst the spent shell casings.

Vachss is a warrior poet, on a mission to save children from abuse.His sword is his writing, and his haiku is the short story.If the purpose of writing is to communicate one's experience of reality so accurately that the reader feels like he or she has actually experienced it, then Vachss is one of the most skilled writers of all time.And if you liked *Born Bad*, you will believe he has perfected the art of the short story after reading *Everybody Pays*.

So, read Vachss to be entertained, scared, intellectually stimulated, angered, inspired to take action, enlightened, strengthened, nourished, or healed.Read it simply because it is great writing.Read it to be *educated* -- you will learn more from one of his books than from a whole semester of criminology courses.Read his work for all of the reasons there are to read.But *do* read it.And then *try* to turn away from the reality it reveals.

Rips the nerves wide open
Nobody frees the truth from the mud the way Andrew Vachss can. I've had enough of pain and abuse as plot-points, and I can tell you that *this* writer's never goes near that kind of exploitation.Instead, he shows the reader the anatomy of evil -- so we can *recognize* it when we see it in the real world.His fictional work ends up giving the reader a crystal clear set of textbooks on the evil that preys on our society.Why?Because after the diagnosis, the cure becomes obvious.Buy the book!

Uneven and not as good as "Born Bad"
I'm a huge Andrew Vachss fan and I loved his first collection of short stories entitled "Born Bad."Unfortunately, "Everybody Pays" just isn't as consistent or as good.By now, Vachss has come to wear his anti-abuse feelings on sleeve so obviously that many of these stories take far too predictable turns.Many of them are also far too short (some only a couple of pages) to have any real impact.The "Underground" series is sci-fi that makes little sense.The "Cross" stories aren't as realistic or satisfying as Vachss' Burke novels.That said, the book is at least an entertaining read for Vachss fans.Even when he's not at his best, he is at least interesting.

storytelling beyond compare
These stories are so simply told and so deeply empathetic that Mr. Vachssseems to speak straight into your heart.Gorgeous short tales aresprinkled all through the collection, and the very first story,"Proving It", is a perfect gem of romance.Every friend I havegiven this book has thanked me -- read it soon! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Grim and gritty
In the world of hardboiled mysteries, there is hard-boiled and there is HARD-boiled.Andrew Vachss's Burke stories definitely fit into this latter category; they teem with a tough grittiness that is rarely exceeded in the genre.

In this tale, Burke is asked by a pimp named Marques to take on a bounty for the operators of the Ghost Van, a vehicle that is patrolling the streets and killing prostitutes.His contact with Marques is initiated through Belle, a stripper with a past filled with abuse and incest.She is definitely damaged and she appoints Burke to fix her, becoming his lover with a dedication that borders on obsession.

The search for the van brings an even more vicious evil in the form of Mortay, a psychotic killer who is an expert martial artist and is virtually unbeatable in hand-to-hand combat.Mortay wants to face Burke's friend Max in single combat; while Burke knows that Max might win such a fight, even a victory could have bad repercussions.For Burke, therefore, the task is to avoid such a duel to begin with.

There are some nice things about this third novel in the Burke series.In particular, we get a better look at his inner demons and see that is toughness is partially a façade to keep those demons at bay.The principal flaw is the same as with the other books:the world portrayed in the story is so dark it is not as much real as surreal; I think that this diminishes some of the impact of the grimness.Another problem, the plethora of eccentric characters who also reduce the stories plausibility, is toned down in this book.

Despite the imperfections, I do enjoy reading these stories but they are definitely not for everyone: they are loaded with explicit sex and violence that could turn off some readers.If you have not read any in the series, I recommend starting with Flood, the first in the series, as there is continuity between the books.But even as a standalone, this is a good tough guy mystery.

best burke novel/ 2nd best book by vacchs
The best book by Vacchs that I have read is "Stella," which is very similar to his Burke books but is about a true loner, so we don't get the constant, overly sentimental scenes of Burke's "family" of fellow misfits.But this one is almost as good, mostly because it keeps a leash on the cuteness.Highly recommended.

Burke Is Back! And Blue Belle Is OUTSTANDING!
Andre Vachss' "Blue Belle" is my third Burke novel. All three book are excellent, but Burke, the man, and the strange folks who people his world and call him" friend" are what keeps me a faithful fan. They are my focus, whatever the plot. And the plots are good, fast-paced and riveting. However, this far-out group of characters has me hooked on the series. Burke is as complex a figure as they come, and he grows, evolves and changes with each book. I have never encountered anyone quite like him before in fiction. He is a hard-boiled, in-your-face, ex-con detective, who still isn't sure on which side of the law he prefers to operate. A survivor, at all cost, he is also a stand-up guy. Vachss delves more into Burke's past here, reveals more about his various prison stints and what he learned there. Fascinating stuff. If you are a Vachss/Burke fan, or become one, I would suggest that you try to read the books in order - at least the first 3 or 4. Of course, every novel stands on its own, independent of the others, but the character's development is continual. There are also references to past events, and for a richer reading experience it is helpful to know the history. If you're just looking for a good read, and not interested in becoming a Burke maven, then by all means, read at random.

"Blue Belle" is one hard-hitting novel, reminiscent of crime fiction in the 1940s and 50s, though much more disturbing. Burke, as always, is our narrator. Everything and everyone comes under his cynical, seen-it-all scrutiny. I have never learned more about the underworld and the seamier side of life, the one most people rarely observe, than through the author's narrative. Burke's expert eyes take in details of life on the street that mine never would. His gritty urban world is one where "citizens" dwell side-by-side with "maggots."

A "ghost van" is terrorizing New York City's prostitutes. A gang of fiends, traveling in a big, smoke-colored van, are brutally murdering teen streetwalkers, young girls, only thirteen and fourteen years-old. A group of pimps put together a war chest and hire Burke to take the van off the streets. Pimps are, after all, businessmen, and lost merchandise and declining profits are bad for business. When the Prophet, a friend, mentor and "colleague" of Burke's, "scopes the scene" for information concerning these killers, he encounters a psychopathic martial arts freak by the name of Mortay, ("muerte"). As a result, the Prof winds up in St. Vincent's Hospital with two broken legs, in a world of hurt. Mortay has been hitting the city's dojo's and challenging each sensei to a death match. He will not allow anyone to walk away, and has killed everyone he has forced to fight him. He gave the Prof a message. He wants to fight Max The Silent, a mute, 20th century Mongolian warrior who calls Burke "brother." Max and his woman have just had a baby daughter, whose life Mortay threatens if Max refuses to accept the challenge. Burke senses a connection between the van and Mortay. He just has to find out what it is and how to eliminate both problems....while protecting his brother's family. Grim.

New developments occur in this novel which will have a long term effect on our protagonist. Burke has a lifetime history of living a loner's existence. Belle, "a big sweet-smelling girl with a snake tattoo on her thigh" meets our man to set up an initial appointment with Marques, the pimp. Burke and Belle act on a mutual attraction, which then begins to grow into a relationship. She is a voluptuous exotic dancer, a superb getaway-car driver, and she loves our man. Her past is dark. So what else is new?

The usual suspects are all present, including: Max the Silent, now a father, who "makes his living as a courier, moving things around the city for a price. His collateral is his life;" Pansy is a warrior of another species - she's a Neapolitan mastiff, just like the kind that came over the Alps with Hannibal; the Mole, a pasty-faced genius who lives in a bunker beneath a high-tech junkyard; the Prophet, a scam artist who speaks in rhyme; Mama Wong, group doyenne - a Chinese Jewish mother and restaurateur, "keeps her prices high and the ambiance foul to discourage yuppies." She cares for the gang, takes Burke's messages and holds his stash; Michelle, a gorgeous transvestite who is about ready to go to Denmark for a life-changing operation; I should add here that our hero drives a souped-up Plymouth, another important character. It usually looks like it's been painted with rust. That's the fresh coat of primer it almost always sports - "the Mole makes sure to change the car's color after it is used on a job."

Mr. Vachss' writing is bleak, gritty, disquieting. His chapters have gotten shorter, his prose choppier - it adds to the ambiance. The author is a lawyer, who specialized in prosecuting child abuse cases. He has worked as a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a caseworker in New York, and managed a maximum-security prison for violent juvenile offenders. Vachss calls the child protective movement "a war," and considers his writing as powerful a weapon as his litigation. He openly admits that he writes about the abuse of children because he wants to raise people's awareness of what's going on, and he'll reach a wider audience with fiction.

"Blue Bell's" grittiness may not be for everyone, but it is one fantastic novel. Highly recommended!
JANA

The best book in the Burke series
If you like Vachss' Burke series, don't miss this one. This book contains Burke's greatest love interest (besides his dog Pansey). It also has a lot of information and action involving his "family". The way that Burke's family of misfits understand and stand by him is one of the reasons why I have read and reread each book in the Burke series and look forward to each and every one as they are released. This one is my favorite of the series. If you didn't think that Burke would ever find his ideal woman or at least one who wasn't using him for something, you were wrong. Do things w