Who Would Like This Book:
Looking for gritty, no-frills crime fiction with dialogue so sharp it slices? This one’s for you. George V. Higgins draws from real-world legal and criminal experience, offering an unglamorous peek into Boston’s 1970s underworld. If you love realistic atmosphere, smart banter, and a focus on the sad, scrambling lives of small-time crooks, you’ll probably love it. Genre fans, especially those who admire Elmore Leonard or classic noir, will see why it’s considered a touchstone in crime writing.
Who May Not Like This Book:
It’s not for everyone: The novel is almost all dialogue, with little traditional scene-setting or character description. Some readers get lost in who’s speaking, especially early on. The bleak, unromanticized portrayal of criminals and the occasionally harsh period language (including offensive terms) can be off-putting. If you’re after heartwarming stories, fast-paced action, or deep character introspection, you might not connect with this one.
About:
'The Friends of Eddie Coyle' by George V. Higgins is a hard-boiled crime novel set in Boston in the 1970s. The story revolves around Eddie Coyle, a small-time crook who is facing trial for stealing a truckload of whiskey. The novel primarily focuses on dialogue, providing a gritty and realistic portrayal of the criminal underworld, with characters engaging in gunrunning and bank robbing activities. As the plot unfolds, readers witness the intricate relationships between criminals, cops, lawyers, and informants, showcasing the trade-offs and betrayals that occur within these circles.
Higgins' writing style is characterized by crisp and authentic dialogue, reminiscent of the slang used in the 1970s Boston underworld. The narrative is mainly driven by conversations among characters, offering a claustrophobic and noir atmosphere akin to classic crime fiction. Despite the predictable nature of the plot, the novel impresses with its execution, dark humor, and the way characters are developed through their interactions and dialogues, creating a compelling and immersive reading experience.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include strong language, racial slurs, and depictions of violence and betrayal inherent in the criminal world.
From The Publisher:
The classic novel from "America's best crime novelist" (Time), with a new introduction by Dennis Lehane
George V. Higgins's seminal crime novel is a down-and-dirty tale of thieves, mobsters, and cops on the mean streets of Boston. When small-time gunrunner Eddie Coyle is convicted on a felony, he's looking at three years in the pen-that is, unless he sells out one of his big-fish clients to the DA. But which of the many hoods, gunmen, and executioners whom he calls his friends should he send up the river? Told almost entirely in crackling dialogue by a vivid cast of lowlifes and detectives, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is one of the greatest crime novels ever written.
"The best crime novel ever written-makes The Maltese Falcon read like Nancy Drew." - Elmore Leonard
Ratings (7)
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Reader Stats (11):
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What can you read after
The Friends of Eddie Coyle?
About the Author:
George V. Higgins (1939-1999) was a lawyer, journalist, teacher, and the author of 29 books, including Bomber's Law, Trust , and Kennedy for the Defense. His seminal crime novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle was the basis for the 1973 Robert Mitchum film of the same name.
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