'Down in the Zero' by Andrew Vachss is the seventh novel featuring the hard-boiled detective Burke, who finds himself confronting the Zero of Oblivion, a deep black hole of intense emotional pain. As Burke investigates a string of mysterious teen suicides in a wealthy Connecticut town linked to a psychiatric clinic, he also becomes entangled in a complex relationship with a woman named Fancy, exploring themes of BDSM and personal identity. The narrative delves into Burke's past traumas and inner struggles, highlighting his role as a healer while navigating the dark and gritty world of crime and justice.
The writing style of 'Down in the Zero' is described as engaging, dark, and intriguing, with a focus on character development and psychological depth. Through Burke's first-person narrative, readers are drawn into a fast-paced story that combines elements of mystery, thriller, and introspective exploration, set against the backdrop of early 1990s New York City. The novel weaves together complex themes of guilt, redemption, and human connection, offering a compelling portrayal of a flawed yet resilient protagonist in a morally ambiguous world.
From The Publisher:
Andrew Vachss has reinvented detective fiction for an age in which guilty secrets are obsolete and murder isn't even worth a news headline. And in the person of his haunted, hell-ridden private eye Burke, Vachss has given us a new kind of hero: a man inured to every evil except the kind that preys on children.
Now Burke is back, investigating an epidemic of apparent suicides among teenagers of a wealthy Connecticut suburb. There he discovers a sinister connection between the anguish of the young and the activities of an elite sadomasochistic underground, for whom pan and its accompanying rituals are a source of pleasure-and power
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