The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

The Night Gardener takes place in D.C., like other Pelecanos books. This time out, two ex-cops and and couple of current cops are trying to make sense of a murder that looks a lot like some long ago serial murders.

If you have watched The Wire, it's hard not to feel like you're reading a story arc from that series. Pelecanos worked on The Wire, and either it sounds like him or he sounds like it.

In any case, this is a fast-paced, gritty, and beautifully observed story. Anyone who has liked previous Pelecanos books will want to read this one. Anyone who likes The Wire, may want to give it a try.

Pelecanos still has a few tricks up his sleeve--watch for him to surprise you in this outing.