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Aftershock #1
Aftershock
After a life in various war zones, Dell and Dolly have settled in this town, fulfilling Dolly's lifelong dream. Though she has given up her nursing career and moved smoothly into civilian life, Dell had been a mercenary, so they both have to sacrifice their prior identities. When the star of the girls' softball team shoots and kills the most popular boy in school, Dolly asks Dell to uncover the motive behind this inexplicable crime. It doesn't take him long to uncover a horrifying rite of passage. The pitcher's guilt is not in doubt, yet she deserves a trial, so Dell and Dolly must put together a defense. What they discover culminates in a decision to put the town itself on trial.
Audio CD
First published June 11, 2013
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About the author
Andrew Vachss
138 books891 followersAndrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for “aggressive-violent” youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youths exclusively. He is the author of numerous novels, including the Burke series, two collections of short stories, and a wide variety of other material including song lyrics, graphic novels, essays, and a “children’s book for adults.” His books have been translated into twenty languages, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, the New York Times, and many other forums. A native New Yorker, he now divides his time between the city of his birth and the Pacific Northwest.
The dedicated Web site for Vachss and his work is
www.vachss.com. That site and this page are managed by volunteers. To contact Mr. Vachss directly, use the "email us" function of vachss.com.
The dedicated Web site for Vachss and his work is
www.vachss.com. That site and this page are managed by volunteers. To contact Mr. Vachss directly, use the "email us" function of vachss.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
August 3, 2013
Book Review
Andrew Vachss's books have been primarily labelled as Noir, Pulp, and Detective/Mystery. American authors of these genres do not often write with, nor expect readers to glean social and political insights from these genres (unlike their Scandinavian counterparts who use the crime-fiction genre to do precisely that), and in this sense and with several authors joining his ranks (James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series, for example) Vachss is one of the few notable exceptions. Vachss novels represent a crusade against sexual and child abuse driven by years of experience in the real world. To this, Vachss writes:
"I learned, a long time ago, that people can read for entertainment and come away with enlightenment, so long as the vein of truth runs throughout and doesn't detract from the narrative force. I understand there are those who believe "noir"—or "hardboiled," or whatever term they prefer to lavish upon themselves—writing shouldn't be cluttered up with "that other stuff." As if littérature engageé is only acceptable in "magical realism" novels translated from original Incan scrolls. All these "outlaws" who want me to live by their rigid little rules . . . good luck to them. I understand I am too "pulp" for the literati, and too "literate" for the pulpsters. Lost a lot of sleep over that. I'd rather burn a bridge than crawl over it, and genre- worship isn't one of my disabilities. Apparently, as with all religions, some people believe they can dictate definitions. I don't ask these self-appointed high priests for the "Noir Seal of Approval" that only they (think they) can grant."
Stealing a little from the author's bio here on GR: "Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for “aggressive-violent” youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youths exclusively."
His crusade arrives with the public in the form of crime-fiction (primarily). For readers worried that the crusade will detract from the reading of one of his novels, let me assure you: At no time does Vachss lose sight of what he is doing, which is to say, he is writing a fictional novel where the author never loses sight of the story he is telling. In fact, his novels are intense reads, dark, enfused with raw material and heart-pounding suspense and dead-pan heroes.
Most readers who have read him will be familiar with his Burke Series. Aftershock, a stand-alone novel, is a further edition to his crusade. It deals with rape, abuse, sociopaths, and school shootings, albeit with an ususual twist. This book too features a dead-pan, historically violent but likeable hero, named Dell (we sense similarities to Burke). Dell's allies are women - intelligent, loyal and sexy (Dolly, Dell's reason for living), teenagers hardened by a war against abuse and in this case driven to the ultimate act of a killing, a wicked sociopath in the form of a lovely teenager, all set in a small town setting (unlike the Burke series which are very urban). The crusade doesn't stop there, however. Aftershock is a condemnation of legal practices, court room settlements and the overall tendency to not prosecute rape cases. All of his novels explore areas such as: What is the difference between being "sick" vs. "evil; sociopaths; the acceptance in society of cases involving children; behavior vs. truth...and more.
There is some suspension of disbelief necessary especially with court room scenes, and a heavily weighted and unrealistic defense procedurals, but anyone reading pulp and loving it is quite used to doing so. Some might say the jury verdict is a given. There are instances of french paragraphs for which no translation is given for which we might lower the rating a bit. Some might say there's too much historical background on Dell (his experiences in the French Foreigh Legion). The beginning outlines some killings that are left alone and given no further explanation later in the book.
But make no mistake, Vachss is a great story teller. His prose is like a bullet: hard and fast. It's simply the case that you want to continue turning pages, you eagerly grab the book whenever you can to see what happens next. Vachss gives us the "why" of a crime, not just the "who" of it. Perhaps questions if it is a crime at all.
I've given it a 4 star rating. It's a good read, but not as good as a 5 star Burke novel.
------------------------------------------------
Series Review
Currently, not part of a series
Andrew Vachss's books have been primarily labelled as Noir, Pulp, and Detective/Mystery. American authors of these genres do not often write with, nor expect readers to glean social and political insights from these genres (unlike their Scandinavian counterparts who use the crime-fiction genre to do precisely that), and in this sense and with several authors joining his ranks (James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series, for example) Vachss is one of the few notable exceptions. Vachss novels represent a crusade against sexual and child abuse driven by years of experience in the real world. To this, Vachss writes:
"I learned, a long time ago, that people can read for entertainment and come away with enlightenment, so long as the vein of truth runs throughout and doesn't detract from the narrative force. I understand there are those who believe "noir"—or "hardboiled," or whatever term they prefer to lavish upon themselves—writing shouldn't be cluttered up with "that other stuff." As if littérature engageé is only acceptable in "magical realism" novels translated from original Incan scrolls. All these "outlaws" who want me to live by their rigid little rules . . . good luck to them. I understand I am too "pulp" for the literati, and too "literate" for the pulpsters. Lost a lot of sleep over that. I'd rather burn a bridge than crawl over it, and genre- worship isn't one of my disabilities. Apparently, as with all religions, some people believe they can dictate definitions. I don't ask these self-appointed high priests for the "Noir Seal of Approval" that only they (think they) can grant."
Stealing a little from the author's bio here on GR: "Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for “aggressive-violent” youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youths exclusively."
His crusade arrives with the public in the form of crime-fiction (primarily). For readers worried that the crusade will detract from the reading of one of his novels, let me assure you: At no time does Vachss lose sight of what he is doing, which is to say, he is writing a fictional novel where the author never loses sight of the story he is telling. In fact, his novels are intense reads, dark, enfused with raw material and heart-pounding suspense and dead-pan heroes.
Most readers who have read him will be familiar with his Burke Series. Aftershock, a stand-alone novel, is a further edition to his crusade. It deals with rape, abuse, sociopaths, and school shootings, albeit with an ususual twist. This book too features a dead-pan, historically violent but likeable hero, named Dell (we sense similarities to Burke). Dell's allies are women - intelligent, loyal and sexy (Dolly, Dell's reason for living), teenagers hardened by a war against abuse and in this case driven to the ultimate act of a killing, a wicked sociopath in the form of a lovely teenager, all set in a small town setting (unlike the Burke series which are very urban). The crusade doesn't stop there, however. Aftershock is a condemnation of legal practices, court room settlements and the overall tendency to not prosecute rape cases. All of his novels explore areas such as: What is the difference between being "sick" vs. "evil; sociopaths; the acceptance in society of cases involving children; behavior vs. truth...and more.
There is some suspension of disbelief necessary especially with court room scenes, and a heavily weighted and unrealistic defense procedurals, but anyone reading pulp and loving it is quite used to doing so. Some might say the jury verdict is a given. There are instances of french paragraphs for which no translation is given for which we might lower the rating a bit. Some might say there's too much historical background on Dell (his experiences in the French Foreigh Legion). The beginning outlines some killings that are left alone and given no further explanation later in the book.
But make no mistake, Vachss is a great story teller. His prose is like a bullet: hard and fast. It's simply the case that you want to continue turning pages, you eagerly grab the book whenever you can to see what happens next. Vachss gives us the "why" of a crime, not just the "who" of it. Perhaps questions if it is a crime at all.
I've given it a 4 star rating. It's a good read, but not as good as a 5 star Burke novel.
------------------------------------------------
Series Review
Currently, not part of a series
December 6, 2015
4.5 stars. My favorite Vachss characters so far. Check it out!
June 28, 2013
Hands down, this is one of the best books Vachss has ever written. This book reminds me of when I first started reading him.
May 20, 2014
A new Andrew Vachss book is always cause for celebration! I've honestly reached the point where I don't even bother to read the plot summaries on the jacket flaps. It's a Vachss book. I know it's going to be good. That said, this one kicks off a new series. Dell, a former mercenary, is moved to investigate a school shooting in the small Oregon city where he lives. What he uncovers goes much deeper than anyone suspected and the novel climaxes in a sizzling courtroom drama that I literally could not put down until I'd finished reading it. Fans of Vachss' work will recognize that part of this novel previously appeared as a short story (in, I think, the Mortal Lock collection, though I haven't actually checked. It's the Alfred Hitchcock story. You fans know the one.) As always, the prose is pared down to the bone and gleams with a razor's edge. Vachss can imply in one sentence things that would take, say, Stephen King paragraphs to explain. Why his work isn't more well-known is a mystery to me. He's one of the best mystery/thriller writers around, and this novel is an excellent starting point if you're game to check him out. Be warned: Vachss novels can be an addiction.
August 1, 2013
This is a nifty no-frills thriller that should have grabbed me more than it did. Perhaps I was looking for more insight in school shootings, considering that was the basis of the plot. Instead we have a former mercenary investigating an odd shooting of a popular high school boy by an equally popular girl. Needless to say, there is a hidden reason behind the shooting. The author does a nice job in exploring certain elements such as social pressure and hidden town secrets. Yet I found the protagonists to be not all that sympathetic (girl or mercenary) and I didn't always believe the mercenary's motives. He was a little too cold for my taste. Add on a courtroom drama in the latter part of the novel where Vachss packs the deck with unbelievably stupid prosecutors and the ending comes out too predictable and too pat. Yet Vachss has a realistic if somewhat cynical style that I like. I may try his Burke series which I have heard raves about. Until then...good thriller but not out of the ballpark.
December 22, 2015
The author is well known for books about people taking the law into their own hands and acts of vengeance and vigilanteism. justifiable murder is a pretty big pot to stir. The heroes history as a mercenary gives one point of you. I listen to this book on an audible recording.
October 29, 2024
This is one of my favorite authors so it bums me out to rate one of his books this low! The pacing of this book just did not work for me. I enjoyed the characters and premise enough to not DNF but maybe I should of because this book plunged me into a book slump! Insert sad face here
June 4, 2016
The main character, Dell, is a mercenary. He's a hard man. Brutal. At the beginning of the book, he commits several murders that are extremely dubious from a moral sense. Like, killing hunters to make his little neighbourhood safe.
These creepy murders intrigued me, and I thought, here we go. A super noir, dark, crazy book.
Then, about half way through the book, the mercenary from the French Foreign Legion, tough as nails and who is occasionally portrayed as almost entirely nonverbal, is pretending to be a Hollywood talent scout in order to trick a young girl into giving him information. Worse, this goes on for many, many unbelievable and pointless pages.
The book also takes a strong left turn. Suddenly a guy who solves problems by murdering people is helping with a trial. And then Vachss does what he has done in other novels of his: he forgets to have a plot, or conflict, or intrigue, and lectures us on PTSD and rape and psychology for countless pages.
If you start a book with a guy who murders a teenager for torturing a crow, you cannot then have the same character not kill an organized gang of rapists. It literally makes no sense. No, instead he pursues it in court, with the help of powerful psychologist experts.
I skimmed the last 50 pages of the book, having lost all faith and interest in the book. The ending is a fizzle of zero conflict or intrigue.
These creepy murders intrigued me, and I thought, here we go. A super noir, dark, crazy book.
Then, about half way through the book, the mercenary from the French Foreign Legion, tough as nails and who is occasionally portrayed as almost entirely nonverbal, is pretending to be a Hollywood talent scout in order to trick a young girl into giving him information. Worse, this goes on for many, many unbelievable and pointless pages.
The book also takes a strong left turn. Suddenly a guy who solves problems by murdering people is helping with a trial. And then Vachss does what he has done in other novels of his: he forgets to have a plot, or conflict, or intrigue, and lectures us on PTSD and rape and psychology for countless pages.
If you start a book with a guy who murders a teenager for torturing a crow, you cannot then have the same character not kill an organized gang of rapists. It literally makes no sense. No, instead he pursues it in court, with the help of powerful psychologist experts.
I skimmed the last 50 pages of the book, having lost all faith and interest in the book. The ending is a fizzle of zero conflict or intrigue.
January 23, 2015
The usual edgy language and storyline I expect of the author and excellent characterization. Main character is reminiscent of Burke, through a different and military background, with a wife, who has a very different outlook on life but is his 'lifeline'. Interesting psychology involved, not only between the two main characters but also with the teenage killer they are defending.
June 20, 2013
I have been reading Andrew Vachss for many years. I first read Blue Belle, and then proceeded to read the entire "Burke" novels. To say I 'enjoyed' them might be a difficult term, but they were always well-written and thought-provoking.
Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for “aggressive-violent” youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youths exclusively.
As such, some of the subject matter in Vachss' books may be difficult to read. That is a given. However, as a forum for disseminating information to the 'world at large' they are highly effective.
I have to admit that I haven't read any of his post-Burke novels (yet) - until this one.
Aftershock is well-written, and exposes - yet again - many issues affecting society with regard to the perception of rape.
And at the same time, he's spun a good yarn: likeable (to some extent) main and secondary characters; a believable anti-hero; a loving and perceptive mate.
I have particularly enjoyed the courtroom interaction.
I have not finished the book as of yet (90%), but I'm certain I will appreciate the final outcome.
I do plan on going back to read some of the books I've missed. And I hope that Dell will make a return visit to the world of Mr. Vachss.
Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for “aggressive-violent” youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youths exclusively.
As such, some of the subject matter in Vachss' books may be difficult to read. That is a given. However, as a forum for disseminating information to the 'world at large' they are highly effective.
I have to admit that I haven't read any of his post-Burke novels (yet) - until this one.
Aftershock is well-written, and exposes - yet again - many issues affecting society with regard to the perception of rape.
And at the same time, he's spun a good yarn: likeable (to some extent) main and secondary characters; a believable anti-hero; a loving and perceptive mate.
I have particularly enjoyed the courtroom interaction.
I have not finished the book as of yet (90%), but I'm certain I will appreciate the final outcome.
I do plan on going back to read some of the books I've missed. And I hope that Dell will make a return visit to the world of Mr. Vachss.
July 21, 2014
Via Goodreads First Reads:
When an author writes the second book in a character series, there's a fine line to be walked between rehashing the entire plot of the first and and dropping indecipherable hints that muddy the waters. For the first 25 or so pages of Aftershock by Andrew Vachss, the current gets rather murky, with circular meanderings, chronological landmines, and philosophical digressions peppering a slippery, rocky bottom.
But it does get better. Though in a sometimes halting, street style, the plot is brought to light, and a series of shallow twists and low-altitude maneuvers help to pick up the pace a bit. Still, the depth of main characters Dell and Dolly, to me, in the end, just doesn't develop enough to inspire much care beyond wanting to see how the problems resolve, almost independently of the two themselves. In fact, a pair of secondary characters, Mack and camera-creep, leave me wanting to know more about them than the two chief protagonists.
The climax, to call it that, and the denouement proceed apace over the last several pages in an almost "oh yeah, by the way fashion," leaving the reader not so much edified as cryptically resigned to having reached the end of the book.
I've enjoyed Vachss in the past, but I have to say, this book, as #2 in the series, does little to inspire me to go back to #1 and find out where and how it all began for Dell and Dolly. Indeed, the alliterative duo will be moving on without my continued company.
When an author writes the second book in a character series, there's a fine line to be walked between rehashing the entire plot of the first and and dropping indecipherable hints that muddy the waters. For the first 25 or so pages of Aftershock by Andrew Vachss, the current gets rather murky, with circular meanderings, chronological landmines, and philosophical digressions peppering a slippery, rocky bottom.
But it does get better. Though in a sometimes halting, street style, the plot is brought to light, and a series of shallow twists and low-altitude maneuvers help to pick up the pace a bit. Still, the depth of main characters Dell and Dolly, to me, in the end, just doesn't develop enough to inspire much care beyond wanting to see how the problems resolve, almost independently of the two themselves. In fact, a pair of secondary characters, Mack and camera-creep, leave me wanting to know more about them than the two chief protagonists.
The climax, to call it that, and the denouement proceed apace over the last several pages in an almost "oh yeah, by the way fashion," leaving the reader not so much edified as cryptically resigned to having reached the end of the book.
I've enjoyed Vachss in the past, but I have to say, this book, as #2 in the series, does little to inspire me to go back to #1 and find out where and how it all began for Dell and Dolly. Indeed, the alliterative duo will be moving on without my continued company.
September 13, 2013
Vachss starts a new series featuring Del and Dolly. Del doesn't know who he is, all he remembers is escaping from a hospital and living on the streets in Paris until Luc takes him in and raises him and tells him to join the French Foreign Legion. Del fights all over the world and meets Dolly in two separate locations as she is a nurse with Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders). Dolly wants to live in the Pacific Northwest, so Del buys a house, tracks her down and they go to Oregon to live. But there is a dark underbelly to the town where they live. A rape culture has grown up around a secret group known as Tiger Ko Khai. When the town's star softball pitcher kills the head of the group, the lid is blown off the secrecy. Del and Dolly have to protect Mary Lou and rescue the underage girls upon whom the Tigers prey. Another adrenaline-soaked thrill ride from Vachss; there's even a dog named Rascal (who isn't quite as cool as Pansy, but maybe he will grown into it). Vachss' spare writing style takes some getting used to, but his knowledge of the horrible things people do to each other informs this book. I am looking forward to more adventures and learning more about Dolly's background. Vachss' female characters are not as well-drawn as his men are.
August 14, 2014
Vachss struck literary gold with his Burke series. Since he apparently grew bored with the characters, he has struck out with new scenarios and characters, none of which, in my mind are too successful. Don't get me wrong - I have great admiration for both the man and the writer; he has had a challenging career practicing law in a tough area, and then exorcising those ghosts by writing about it. But this new series involving Dell, the mercenary and Dolly, the nurse, feels like low rent James Lee Burke, his stygian hero Dave Robichaux, and his various wives. I couldn't engage with the characters. Dell is all hard man, no heart, with a bag of tricks all out of proportion to the situation he finds himself in. Dolly is simply written as a simpleton, all boobs and squeals. I certainly understand a writer's need to write something new. It is just too bad that in this case, it appears Vachss peaked with Burke. P.S. Sloppy editing too. "Oregan", anyone?!
December 18, 2014
"Like being cut with a ceramic knife."
You don't know you are wounded until you feel the blood flowing. Or something like that. It's a quote from this novel, or as close as I can remember, and it describes Andrew Vachss' writing perfectly. This is a book about love. And revenge. It's a courtroom drama that doesn't leave you yawning over boring bits of legal procedure. It's a crime novel with no question about who done it, but with a why that slowly reveals itself in the pain of the victims. I can't really tell you anything about the plot, except that you'll be up all night reading it because your hunger to know will rush over your desire to sleep. Don't say I didn't warn you.
You don't know you are wounded until you feel the blood flowing. Or something like that. It's a quote from this novel, or as close as I can remember, and it describes Andrew Vachss' writing perfectly. This is a book about love. And revenge. It's a courtroom drama that doesn't leave you yawning over boring bits of legal procedure. It's a crime novel with no question about who done it, but with a why that slowly reveals itself in the pain of the victims. I can't really tell you anything about the plot, except that you'll be up all night reading it because your hunger to know will rush over your desire to sleep. Don't say I didn't warn you.
November 21, 2013
I finally signed up for this site because of the reviews to this book. I can't believe how high they are. I have not read any other Vachss books, but this was a very unexciting non-mystery with some of the worst courtroom 'drama' I've read. I don't think it's very realistic at all.
I'm not a big fan of reviews that recount what happens in a book, so I'll leave it at that. And I realize with only 1 review I sound like someone who has something against the author, I'll try to post some more. In the meantime I can say, I really enjoy the Lee Child Jack Reacher series, and I think this was trying to be like that, but it is awful.
I'm not a big fan of reviews that recount what happens in a book, so I'll leave it at that. And I realize with only 1 review I sound like someone who has something against the author, I'll try to post some more. In the meantime I can say, I really enjoy the Lee Child Jack Reacher series, and I think this was trying to be like that, but it is awful.
August 20, 2014
I'm not sure what I think about this book. Good story and you could really imagine this happening, but the narration was a bit disjointed. I also found the references to the activities that Dell conducted both in the Foreign Legion and as a mercenary to be unnecessarily gratuitously violent. Also, some things sounded a bit off. For example - why DID Dolly just drop her old life? Still, I thought it was good enough to make me want to look at the extensive Burke series by this author, this being the first book of his I've read.
July 15, 2014
Gave up on this one. Not Vachss' fault. I just couldn't get my mind wrapped around the characters. I guess I've read too many of the Burke books and to me Vachss set the bar too high with Burke and his merry band.
June 4, 2014
I hadn't read one of his books in 20 years or so, and there's a reason for that.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/0...
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/0...
December 10, 2016
couldn't get into it.....
September 22, 2023
It seems this is going to be an unpopular stance, but this book bothered me intensely, and not in the way I think the author intended.
First, Dell is an awful, irredeemable human. I don't know why he referred to the lawyer's receptionist as "The Pig" unless he was basing that just on her physique, which is shitty and reflected poorly on his already dubious (at best) character. I don't care what kind of avenging angel he thought he was, but I found him wholly unlikable, untrustworthy, and morally bankrupt. Dell made many offensive judgments based on looks alone and came across like an obnoxious teenager in that way. Not the hero of any story I enjoy. He was the main sociopath in the story.
Second... I don't know how to emphasize this enough. A 14-year-old who has been sexually assaulted by multiple guys at once, possibly going back to the age of 12, even more possibly having survived things before that, who is exhibiting sociopathic, dissociative, and narcissistic behaviors is not the "slut" or "whore" or monster she was portrayed to be. She's a child. A very, very damaged child who did the best she could with the situation she was in, with no trustworthy adults or advocates she could count on, and it likely ruined her forever. A f'ing child! She was not the ultimate evil character in this story! Who exactly did she hurt or kill? Why did no one talk about Stockholm Syndrome? Why did no one get her any help? So very f'ed up! How on earth multiple adults, experts in their fields, could say without any shame, that the rape club and rape culture present in this town, started by the true villain who indoctrinated other villains into the "society", could somehow take one of the victims and make her the enemy, I will never understand. Yes, 14-year-olds can be sociopaths and do very damaging and destructive things. But how about we stop focusing on how this one little girl dealt with her trauma and focus on the vile guys who did it to her? Ridiculous.
Lastly, and this relates to both issues I have already stated, the girls in this book were referred to as ugly, fat, slutty, whoreish, stupid, evil, manipulative, and a pig... and that was by the people we're supposed to think of as the protagonists. The football player was called a "retard" by many people, but Dell defended him, and his character was greatly redeemed. The only other man in the book who was in any way insulted and called names was the prosecutor "Fat Face". The rapists and their gang had their actions described, but hardly any name-calling at all for them. No words like "manipulative" and "grooming" or "pedophiles" were used for these scumbags. They were all handsome and popular boys, then reduced only to their actions. Why such misogynistic slurs for the girls, some of whom were barely pubescent girls, many who had PTSD, and no post-trauma care at all? What is up with that, sir? Danielle supposedly had no conscience, yet Dell was a mercenary and a vigilante murderer calling her names. Get real. The man who adopted Dell as a child and taught him how to steal and commit crimes: "mentor". The man who showed him secrets of surviving and killing when training as a legionaire: "mentor". The barely pubescent girl who had been gang raped by multiple guys over and over: "slut", "sociopath", "evil", and "monster".
I'd heard good things about Andrew Vachss' books. I'd seen this book description and thought it could be really disturbingly interesting. If not for the rampant misogyny running all through this story, the victim-blaming, and the disparity between the way the girls and guys were judged, the plot was actually compelling. But I just can't with all the bullshit. It gets 2 stars because I read to the end and wanted to know the outcome. It loses 3 stars because everyone in this book sucked except the shooter, MaryLou, and her friend Franklin. Was that the point of the book? Was this supposed to piss people off? Was this supposed to make some kind of point about how 99% of the world's population sucks? Point made. No more books by him.
First, Dell is an awful, irredeemable human. I don't know why he referred to the lawyer's receptionist as "The Pig" unless he was basing that just on her physique, which is shitty and reflected poorly on his already dubious (at best) character. I don't care what kind of avenging angel he thought he was, but I found him wholly unlikable, untrustworthy, and morally bankrupt. Dell made many offensive judgments based on looks alone and came across like an obnoxious teenager in that way. Not the hero of any story I enjoy. He was the main sociopath in the story.
Second... I don't know how to emphasize this enough. A 14-year-old who has been sexually assaulted by multiple guys at once, possibly going back to the age of 12, even more possibly having survived things before that, who is exhibiting sociopathic, dissociative, and narcissistic behaviors is not the "slut" or "whore" or monster she was portrayed to be. She's a child. A very, very damaged child who did the best she could with the situation she was in, with no trustworthy adults or advocates she could count on, and it likely ruined her forever. A f'ing child! She was not the ultimate evil character in this story! Who exactly did she hurt or kill? Why did no one talk about Stockholm Syndrome? Why did no one get her any help? So very f'ed up! How on earth multiple adults, experts in their fields, could say without any shame, that the rape club and rape culture present in this town, started by the true villain who indoctrinated other villains into the "society", could somehow take one of the victims and make her the enemy, I will never understand. Yes, 14-year-olds can be sociopaths and do very damaging and destructive things. But how about we stop focusing on how this one little girl dealt with her trauma and focus on the vile guys who did it to her? Ridiculous.
Lastly, and this relates to both issues I have already stated, the girls in this book were referred to as ugly, fat, slutty, whoreish, stupid, evil, manipulative, and a pig... and that was by the people we're supposed to think of as the protagonists. The football player was called a "retard" by many people, but Dell defended him, and his character was greatly redeemed. The only other man in the book who was in any way insulted and called names was the prosecutor "Fat Face". The rapists and their gang had their actions described, but hardly any name-calling at all for them. No words like "manipulative" and "grooming" or "pedophiles" were used for these scumbags. They were all handsome and popular boys, then reduced only to their actions. Why such misogynistic slurs for the girls, some of whom were barely pubescent girls, many who had PTSD, and no post-trauma care at all? What is up with that, sir? Danielle supposedly had no conscience, yet Dell was a mercenary and a vigilante murderer calling her names. Get real. The man who adopted Dell as a child and taught him how to steal and commit crimes: "mentor". The man who showed him secrets of surviving and killing when training as a legionaire: "mentor". The barely pubescent girl who had been gang raped by multiple guys over and over: "slut", "sociopath", "evil", and "monster".
I'd heard good things about Andrew Vachss' books. I'd seen this book description and thought it could be really disturbingly interesting. If not for the rampant misogyny running all through this story, the victim-blaming, and the disparity between the way the girls and guys were judged, the plot was actually compelling. But I just can't with all the bullshit. It gets 2 stars because I read to the end and wanted to know the outcome. It loses 3 stars because everyone in this book sucked except the shooter, MaryLou, and her friend Franklin. Was that the point of the book? Was this supposed to piss people off? Was this supposed to make some kind of point about how 99% of the world's population sucks? Point made. No more books by him.
March 19, 2022
Andrew Vachss writes like an avenging angel who has just been through hell.
I have long been a fan of Vachss and have read all the Burke series. He is sort of a guilty pleasure for me, not exactly literature, but a compelling read nonetheless. The man can write!
I ran across this volume in my favorite bookstore in Philadelphia, Molly Bloom’s, and I just couldn’t resist. Apparently, it is the first book in a new series featuring Dell and Dolly. Dell is an ex-legionnaire who was orphaned at a young age and has no idea where he came from. Dolly was a nurse with Doctors without Borders and their paths crossed when Dell was wounded in action on a mission somewhere in Africa. They fell in love, left their pasts behind, and moved to a small coastal town in Oregon. That is where the story begins.
The star softball player at the local high school walks into school on the last day of class and shoots to death a boy for no apparent reason. She also wounds two others. Why did she do it? Was it justified? That is largely what the book is about. But along the way, we meet some pretty onery characters inhabiting the dark underbelly of the town. We also meet some of the good guys. A small-town lawyer who rises to the occasion and puts on a masterful defense and a colorful expert witness from Kentucky.
The book culminates in a riveting courtroom scene that produces a satisfying denouement.
All in all, a good read. If you like thrillers, this is the book for you. Highly recommend!
I have long been a fan of Vachss and have read all the Burke series. He is sort of a guilty pleasure for me, not exactly literature, but a compelling read nonetheless. The man can write!
I ran across this volume in my favorite bookstore in Philadelphia, Molly Bloom’s, and I just couldn’t resist. Apparently, it is the first book in a new series featuring Dell and Dolly. Dell is an ex-legionnaire who was orphaned at a young age and has no idea where he came from. Dolly was a nurse with Doctors without Borders and their paths crossed when Dell was wounded in action on a mission somewhere in Africa. They fell in love, left their pasts behind, and moved to a small coastal town in Oregon. That is where the story begins.
The star softball player at the local high school walks into school on the last day of class and shoots to death a boy for no apparent reason. She also wounds two others. Why did she do it? Was it justified? That is largely what the book is about. But along the way, we meet some pretty onery characters inhabiting the dark underbelly of the town. We also meet some of the good guys. A small-town lawyer who rises to the occasion and puts on a masterful defense and a colorful expert witness from Kentucky.
The book culminates in a riveting courtroom scene that produces a satisfying denouement.
All in all, a good read. If you like thrillers, this is the book for you. Highly recommend!
March 27, 2018
AUTHOR Vachss, Andrew
TITLE: After Shock
DATE READ 03/24/2018
RATING 4.5/B+
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Crime Fiction/2013/Dreamscape/9 discs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 if After shock series
CHARACTERS Dell and Dolly -- a former mercenary and nurse -- starting a new life in a small coastal town in Oregon
TIME/PLACE: Present/Oregon
COMMENTS Love Andrew Vachss… was happy to see an audio of his at my library. In this small quaint town -- all seems very traditional and nice but that is only superficial. A rising softball star with a bright future ahead of her … a short time before graduation and she will be on scholarship for her pitching abilities. The community is stunned by her totally out of character shooting of the most popular boy in school. The defense was quite unique but believable.
TITLE: After Shock
DATE READ 03/24/2018
RATING 4.5/B+
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Crime Fiction/2013/Dreamscape/9 discs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 if After shock series
CHARACTERS Dell and Dolly -- a former mercenary and nurse -- starting a new life in a small coastal town in Oregon
TIME/PLACE: Present/Oregon
COMMENTS Love Andrew Vachss… was happy to see an audio of his at my library. In this small quaint town -- all seems very traditional and nice but that is only superficial. A rising softball star with a bright future ahead of her … a short time before graduation and she will be on scholarship for her pitching abilities. The community is stunned by her totally out of character shooting of the most popular boy in school. The defense was quite unique but believable.
January 11, 2022
Vachss consistently refers to the villainous lawyer as 'Fat Face'. What does this say about Vachss's humanity? I read his first Burke novel ('Flood') and found it too gritty/explicit in its treatment of torture porn (and tiresome in its paranoia). I skipped ahead to this one hoping he'd mellowed, but it's just bad in different ways. (I was also shocked how often the victims described themselves as 'fat and ugly'.)
July 26, 2017
It's sad that we have to turn to fiction to find the satisfaction of punishing serial rapists and teenage/college age gang rapists, but I'll take it. Vachss' new characters here might remind you of his Burke series, and there are one or two elements the characters share, but that's as far as it goes. The enforcers and saviors in this novel are very different people, and work aboveground, mostly. Overall a very, very satisfying read. Almost read the whole thing in one sitting, but ended up going to bed after I'd gotten 3/4 of the way through. It's that engaging, though. I'd rather read Vachss than those serial detective pseudo-thrillers, produced by content mills, any day.
January 11, 2020
Interesting start to a series
But it has all of Vachss' tics, both good and bad. There's a compelling mystery and it ties into themes the author has written on extensively - namely sexual assault and the long shadow it leaves. But then there's the numerous detours the story takes, Vachss' weird fat-phobia (one overweight woman is just called 'pig', fatness is a sign of personal weakness here) and the Real Man narrator are tropes I can do without. Plus, the supporting cast does not rise to the level of his characters in the Burke novels. I like Dell and Dolly so I may check out more of the series.
But it has all of Vachss' tics, both good and bad. There's a compelling mystery and it ties into themes the author has written on extensively - namely sexual assault and the long shadow it leaves. But then there's the numerous detours the story takes, Vachss' weird fat-phobia (one overweight woman is just called 'pig', fatness is a sign of personal weakness here) and the Real Man narrator are tropes I can do without. Plus, the supporting cast does not rise to the level of his characters in the Burke novels. I like Dell and Dolly so I may check out more of the series.
October 2, 2020
I wish I could give this negative stars.
Why is the receptionist continually degraded as fat and lazy? The author gives absolutely no indication of this. He calls her a "harried slob". Just one example of the awful misogyny in this book.
Love the way that the supposed heroes of the book casually re-traumatize the victims of rape for their own purposes, then later argue in court that telling their stories would be traumatic.
I've read probably 13 of the Burke books, but I'm done with Andrew Vachss for good.
Why is the receptionist continually degraded as fat and lazy? The author gives absolutely no indication of this. He calls her a "harried slob". Just one example of the awful misogyny in this book.
Love the way that the supposed heroes of the book casually re-traumatize the victims of rape for their own purposes, then later argue in court that telling their stories would be traumatic.
I've read probably 13 of the Burke books, but I'm done with Andrew Vachss for good.
December 24, 2019
I'm not sure I'm being fair to this book. It is not the kind of book I normally read.
The story and characters were imaginative, but it lacked something... Warmth, is one thing, but there was something else too, that I can't really define.
The shooting reason, and the case that evolved, was very interesting and something I never heard of before. Those things I liked a lot. That's way I'm wondering if I'm not being fair.
The story and characters were imaginative, but it lacked something... Warmth, is one thing, but there was something else too, that I can't really define.
The shooting reason, and the case that evolved, was very interesting and something I never heard of before. Those things I liked a lot. That's way I'm wondering if I'm not being fair.
December 21, 2020
There were times that characters and the plot made some leaps that were difficult to understand the logic behind. I wasn’t opposed to it, it’s just that there was no understanding of the motives for said actions. There were some really cool character interactions, and some especially nice character dialogue. Worth investigating another one in the series.
January 3, 2019
Ok. I'm giving this a 4, but it's really a 3.5. I enjoyed the story. The characters. However I found it a bit hard to follow the Dell aspect. Too much jumping around for me, a little too wordy in some spots. All in all, good story line, good characters, decent ending.
May 19, 2019
Vachss is one of my top 3 favorite mystery authors for his Burke series. Though they are bleak and represent a grim reality I always enjoyed them. This book was too graphic and violent -- I could not even get half way through.
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