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The Blue Flame

by George P. Pelecanos

A Washington investigation tests Derek Strange’s instincts

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A Washington investigation tests Derek Strange’s instincts

Private investigator Derek Strange takes on an alibi case for a lawyer whose client is accused of murder, drawing him into conflict with dangerous criminals and a police department wary of his involvement. As violence escalates, the investigation also puts Strange’s judgment under pressure. Washington, D.C., is more than a backdrop here: the case connects criminal power, police authority, and questions about how easily heroes and villains can share the same moral ground.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers of crime thrillers centered on a private investigator’s case
  • Readers interested in Washington, D.C., crime and tensions between investigators and police
  • Readers who enjoy stories that examine moral ambiguity alongside criminal investigation

Themes

Revenge and greedRedemptionMoral ambiguityPolice authority and private investigation

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Private investigator Derek Strange returns in a riveting drama about revenge, greed, and redemption--from bestselling author and Emmy-nominated writer for HBO's The Wire and Treme, George Pelecanos.

He was curious. It was the cop in him. That flame was still alive.

The neon "Strange Investigations" sign may be flickering in disrepair outside his office, but private investigator Derek Strange is still accepting new cases. When a flashy drug lawyer hires him to prove an alibi for an accused murderer, Strange can't help getting drawn into the darkness.

In his hunt for answers, he stands his ground against some of Washington, D.C.'s most dangerous criminals, and a police department that doesn't entirely welcome his interference. As the violence escalates and claims another victim, the raised stakes force Strange to question his own moves. Are his instincts still intact?

The Blue Flame is signature Pelecanos: tough, smart, rich with details of a time and place--and at its core, exposing the good and bad that exist side by side in so-called heroes and villains alike.
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