Gruelling, bitter thriller. Rewarding for Burke fans only, 27 Dec 2007
If you have read followed the earlier misadventures of Vachss' antihero, Burke, then you'll know what to expect with this latest installment and you'll get a buzz out of joining Burke on his latest nasty escapade in the land of city shadows.
If you haven't read any earlier Burke books then this is no the place to start. Go back and find the earliest ones, when Burke was an unofficial PI working from a hidden office, when he surfed the underworld and when the plot drove more of the action in each novel. These days, a Burke book is like a role call of ghosts from the past; the dregs of Burke's appalling upbringing at the hands of abusers within the childcare system; his sustained grief over the loss of his partner; his tight-knit family of misfits; his brutal hatred of the 'humans' who ruin children and lives. If you don't know the background then you'll drown in all the details, and you'll miss the subtle rewards of knowing that Max the Silent can kill as easily as he can place a bet on a good trotter, or that Mama's soup should never be ignored.

The last few Burke books have been pretty similar; by the time you've gone through all the namechecks and routines of a long-established series, there ain't so much room for plot. Nor does Andrew Vachss choose to develop a new storyline; the Burke books exist to remind us over and again that there are terrible people still doing terrible things, and Vachss is happy to let his characters re-tread the same old ground of previous epiosdes. Yet there's just enough development to keep our interest -- Burke's still listens to the blues but his tastes are changing; Wolfe may or may not give him another chance -- and Vachss' writing is still sharp enough in places to make even a seasoned reader wince.
Don't read the Burke books if you're looking for a happy ending or a quick thrill. But give them a go if you want to take a look in a mirror held up to modern society, and if you want to understand a complex group of misfit characters welded together in adversity. The writing is rapid and the pace is quick -- you may sometimes be confused by the slang or the unspoken messages, but the experience can become an addictive one.

Gruelling, bitter thriller. Rewarding for Burke fans only, 27 Dec 2007
If you have read followed the earlier misadventures of Vachss' antihero, Burke, then you'll know what to expect with this latest installment and you'll get a buzz out of joining Burke on his latest nasty escapade in the land of city shadows.
If you haven't read any earlier Burke books then this is no the place to start. Go back and find the earliest ones, when Burke was an unofficial PI working from a hidden office, when he surfed the underworld and when the plot drove more of the action in each novel. These days, a Burke book is like a role call of ghosts from the past; the dregs of Burke's appalling upbringing at the hands of abusers within the childcare system; his sustained grief over the loss of his partner; his tight-knit family of misfits; his brutal hatred of the 'humans' who ruin children and lives. If you don't know the background then you'll drown in all the details, and you'll miss the subtle rewards of knowing that Max the Silent can kill as easily as he can place a bet on a good trotter, or that Mama's soup should never be ignored.

The last few Burke books have been pretty similar; by the time you've gone through all the namechecks and routines of a long-established series, there ain't so much room for plot. Nor does Andrew Vachss choose to develop a new storyline; the Burke books exist to remind us over and again that there are terrible people still doing terrible things, and Vachss is happy to let his characters re-tread the same old ground of previous epiosdes. Yet there's just enough development to keep our interest -- Burke's still listens to the blues but his tastes are changing; Wolfe may or may not give him another chance -- and Vachss' writing is still sharp enough in places to make even a seasoned reader wince.
Don't read the Burke books if you're looking for a happy ending or a quick thrill. But give them a go if you want to take a look in a mirror held up to modern society, and if you want to understand a complex group of misfit characters welded together in adversity. The writing is rapid and the pace is quick -- you may sometimes be confused by the slang or the unspoken messages, but the experience can become an addictive one.

Uneven, but any Burke novel is a treat, 26 Jan 2003
This is the twelfth Burke novel by my reckoning - "Pain Management" is the thirteenth - and it's a little different. While some readers may find that hard to accept, it is implicit in Andrew Vachss' style of merciless realism. Without giving too much away, Burke's elaborate defences finally let him down as he accepts one job too many. It spells the end of his life in New York, and very nearly the end of his life period. Things drifted a little out of focus for me as Burke sets out to track down those responsible, winding up in Portland, Oregon with a new identity and a new girlfriend. But then the momentum builds again, relentlessly, to an elegantly understated climax. On the way, we get some more flashes of Burke's early life when he and Wesley befriended a saintly boy with a talent governments would kill to lay their hands on. And pay a flying visit to a place that is almost literally out of this world.

Vachss' style can't be everyone's favourite, or he would be top of the best-seller lists. But I for one rate his books as one of the things that make life worth living.

Bad Burke - bummer!, 12 Dec 2002
Oh dear. What a disappointment. Having loved most of Vachss's previous Burke novels with their taut, pared-down prose and hellish underworld milieu, I was looking forward to reading this. But, sadly, this isn't a very good book. The narrative felt tired - I found myself bored as the standard mechanics of Burke thrillers (Burke goes through paranoid urban survivalist precautions while unravelling mystery, leading to violent climax in which Burke pulls off intricate scam) unwound in uninspired fashion.

I think I've lost the faith with this one - won't be coming back for more...

After treading water, Vachss returns to top form with Burke, 18 Mar 2002
It's difficult to review this without giving too much away. Suffice to say Vachss hits us readers early on with a blow that is the literary equivalent of a punch from Max the Silent and then goes on to re-create the tension that was so prevalent in the early Burke novels but that has been missing in the last few. We meet the old crew, we meet a new crew, we revisit Burke's past (and learn a lot of new things about his childhood) and best of all Vachss leads us down a path that you don't see the end of until it arrives.

Dead and Gone is hair-raising!, 14 Jan 2001
It's not an unusual job for Burke to act as a middleman in an exchange of cash for a kidnapped child. This time the only things exchanged are bullets & they're all meant for Burke.

Reading an Andrew Vachss book is to race through a tunnel at top speed, briefly catching sight of stops only to be hurtled on to the next. With tense jolts Vachss drives us relentlessly through every intersection & offers us panting station halts for memories long since forgotten; or hoped so. There is a lean & hungry feel to Vachss' writing & yet, for the first time, I note a bubbling up of humor. A thrilling & unput-downable adventure!

If you haven't read any of Andrew Vachss' hair-raising philosophical thrillers I do encourage you to do so.

Not his best work, but still brilliant, 20 Sep 2000
Just read this, the latest Burke novel. Very different to his previous books. For a start it it set in the North West. He seems to be mellowing a bit, maybe it's his age. He must be in his 50's by now. The book starts of with the death of a long term partner, this starts his drive for revenge, a drive that sends him to Portland. He needs help from 2 old friends, and we learn even more about Burke's horrific childhood. It's about time somebody made these books into films, I think we've all seen quite enough Stephen King & John Grisham films. Come on Hollywood, get your act together...

Gruelling, bitter thriller. Rewarding for Burke fans only, 27 Dec 2007
If you have read followed the earlier misadventures of Vachss' antihero, Burke, then you'll know what to expect with this latest installment and you'll get a buzz out of joining Burke on his latest nasty escapade in the land of city shadows.
If you haven't read any earlier Burke books then this is no the place to start. Go back and find the earliest ones, when Burke was an unofficial PI working from a hidden office, when he surfed the underworld and when the plot drove more of the action in each novel. These days, a Burke book is like a role call of ghosts from the past; the dregs of Burke's appalling upbringing at the hands of abusers within the childcare system; his sustained grief over the loss of his partner; his tight-knit family of misfits; his brutal hatred of the 'humans' who ruin children and lives. If you don't know the background then you'll drown in all the details, and you'll miss the subtle rewards of knowing that Max the Silent can kill as easily as he can place a bet on a good trotter, or that Mama's soup should never be ignored.

The last few Burke books have been pretty similar; by the time you've gone through all the namechecks and routines of a long-established series, there ain't so much room for plot. Nor does Andrew Vachss choose to develop a new storyline; the Burke books exist to remind us over and again that there are terrible people still doing terrible things, and Vachss is happy to let his characters re-tread the same old ground of previous epiosdes. Yet there's just enough development to keep our interest -- Burke's still listens to the blues but his tastes are changing; Wolfe may or may not give him another chance -- and Vachss' writing is still sharp enough in places to make even a seasoned reader wince.
Don't read the Burke books if you're looking for a happy ending or a quick thrill. But give them a go if you want to take a look in a mirror held up to modern society, and if you want to understand a complex group of misfit characters welded together in adversity. The writing is rapid and the pace is quick -- you may sometimes be confused by the slang or the unspoken messages, but the experience can become an addictive one.

Uneven, but any Burke novel is a treat, 26 Jan 2003
This is the twelfth Burke novel by my reckoning - "Pain Management" is the thirteenth - and it's a little different. While some readers may find that hard to accept, it is implicit in Andrew Vachss' style of merciless realism. Without giving too much away, Burke's elaborate defences finally let him down as he accepts one job too many. It spells the end of his life in New York, and very nearly the end of his life period. Things drifted a little out of focus for me as Burke sets out to track down those responsible, winding up in Portland, Oregon with a new identity and a new girlfriend. But then the momentum builds again, relentlessly, to an elegantly understated climax. On the way, we get some more flashes of Burke's early life when he and Wesley befriended a saintly boy with a talent governments would kill to lay their hands on. And pay a flying visit to a place that is almost literally out of this world.

Vachss' style can't be everyone's favourite, or he would be top of the best-seller lists. But I for one rate his books as one of the things that make life worth living.

Bad Burke - bummer!, 12 Dec 2002
Oh dear. What a disappointment. Having loved most of Vachss's previous Burke novels with their taut, pared-down prose and hellish underworld milieu, I was looking forward to reading this. But, sadly, this isn't a very good book. The narrative felt tired - I found myself bored as the standard mechanics of Burke thrillers (Burke goes through paranoid urban survivalist precautions while unravelling mystery, leading to violent climax in which Burke pulls off intricate scam) unwound in uninspired fashion.

I think I've lost the faith with this one - won't be coming back for more...

After treading water, Vachss returns to top form with Burke, 18 Mar 2002
It's difficult to review this without giving too much away. Suffice to say Vachss hits us readers early on with a blow that is the literary equivalent of a punch from Max the Silent and then goes on to re-create the tension that was so prevalent in the early Burke novels but that has been missing in the last few. We meet the old crew, we meet a new crew, we revisit Burke's past (and learn a lot of new things about his childhood) and best of all Vachss leads us down a path that you don't see the end of until it arrives.

Dead and Gone is hair-raising!, 14 Jan 2001
It's not an unusual job for Burke to act as a middleman in an exchange of cash for a kidnapped child. This time the only things exchanged are bullets & they're all meant for Burke.

Reading an Andrew Vachss book is to race through a tunnel at top speed, briefly catching sight of stops only to be hurtled on to the next. With tense jolts Vachss drives us relentlessly through every intersection & offers us panting station halts for memories long since forgotten; or hoped so. There is a lean & hungry feel to Vachss' writing & yet, for the first time, I note a bubbling up of humor. A thrilling & unput-downable adventure!

If you haven't read any of Andrew Vachss' hair-raising philosophical thrillers I do encourage you to do so.

Not his best work, but still brilliant, 20 Sep 2000
Just read this, the latest Burke novel. Very different to his previous books. For a start it it set in the North West. He seems to be mellowing a bit, maybe it's his age. He must be in his 50's by now. The book starts of with the death of a long term partner, this starts his drive for revenge, a drive that sends him to Portland. He needs help from 2 old friends, and we learn even more about Burke's horrific childhood. It's about time somebody made these books into films, I think we've all seen quite enough Stephen King & John Grisham films. Come on Hollywood, get your act together...

Disappointing work in progress, 11 Oct 1999
I have read all Vachss' work as soon as I can get it, starting from his very first novel; I'm a big fan.

But I was dissapointed and in places angered and bored by this.

Its a collection of short stories and one novella. Many of the stories are so short and sparse they are really no more then you'd expect from a writers inspiration notepad book as he jots down ideas.

So we have a collection with 1) a section miniscule ideas that may have made a great tale if they'd been developed. 2) a section of mystifying and boring tales about people I couldn't care about living underground 2) a section, including the novella, of tales about CROSS (the hero that isn't Burke). A pure cypher, but with loyal troops which of course are either man mountains, wear makeup and are called Princess or etc. I sudenly realised that if you pretend the Cross stories are comic strips then it works, I can see them in a Marvel comic.

But you know Cross will succeed; need a Harrier jump jet? - no problem, not only can he rent one but he also has a team member that can fly one in combat. I mean - come on....

And because there is no explanation, you cannot even admire Cross's cleverness at doing the exploit. Although Cross seems to suceed because the author forgets some restriction he previously set as soon as it becomes inconvenient. (what happened to the guard on the girl when the prisoners were being executed?)

NO - if you've not read Vachss before, don't start with this mistake. If you have - then its for die hard fans only (like me) so you can get a full set.

Hardcore for the hardboiled, 29 Aug 1999
EVERYBODY PAYS is the perfect starting point for fans of true crime, action, thrilling suspense filled drama, romance, and the honor driven double cross. If you have not yet heard of or read Andrew Vachss' work, EVERYBODY PAYS is the place to start. VACHSS' writing grabs you like Joe Pesci in CASINO shoving your head into a vice grip. EVERYBODY PAYS is a collection of razor-wired short stories. The hardest, coldest crime you've ever been exposed to anywhere. It will chill you, like Edward Norton in AMERICAN HISTORY X as he coldly stomps on a rivals neck. Yet VACHSS' writing can also move you like DeNiro in HEAT as he walks away from his one true love. No one touches VACHSS' stripped down, hit and run style of writing. He spins the absolute brutal best in reading entertainment. Take that first step and you find yourself falling into sheer hard poetry of language that is VACHSS' unique talent to possess and share with us.

EVERYBODY PAYS has the perfect mix, from PROVING IT, VACHSS' best love story since SHELLA; to gut-wrenching tragedy by evil done to innocence as found in DRESS UP DAY; to a voyage for truth in SEARCHER. For you first time readers, I couldn't be more jealous at your fortune of having just discovered VACHSS and having all those wonderful novels and stories ahead of you. Let yourself fall into this collection of short stories, indulge. As for the rest of us, VACHSS addicts, we'll greedily read this new collection the minute we get home with our copies.

Vachss'short fiction as remedy to veil of maya, 13 Jul 1999
The veil of maya, a Hindu precept/concept that bespeaks the *veil* or gauze that the unenlightened see out of, into the world, not the world as it in its true form is, but the world they *would want* it to be, or better yet the world they've created in order to continue in their ignorance. My personal experience with Vachss' work goes beyond the average, as I have had the privilege of seeing prepublished galleys of his work, and in so doing can securely and with utmost confidence speak to the upcoming publication of Everybody Pays. Just as in his first collection of short fiction, Born Bad, Everybody Pays is another testimonial from a man who has devoted pretty much the better part of his life on Earth to the dissemination and hoped for eradication of vile and evil in its worst form--child abuse. Those who shy away from his novels, due to whatever personal or political agendas they carry as baggage, might find his short fiction well worth the ride. Rather than being forced over a longer train ride to view his razor-like force of verbiage, sticking the reader's face into the truth, not the veiled truth, but the *real* truth of how children are *handled* in this, our fair world, the reader is treated to the shorter train ride, the express if you will, and the impact is that much graver, and that much sharper, and that much more painful, and poignant. It is a sad treatise in our society today that those of us who are so moved to buy into false gods and false premises, will not look away, for even just a moment, to peer into the world's atrocities. Vachss has wrested from his words a truth that cannot be denied. If one wants to live on a planet inhabited by monsters, child predators (who come in many forms and masks), then one must look inside oneself to see just how that particular play got written. Mr. Vachss shines the light, most pointedly, on the evil of child abuse with precision and perspicacity pretty near unseen in most authors writing today. If you, as readers, would like to make a mark in your own lives, as testament to your own existence on this earth, you do yourself and those who come after, the honor of reading these words. Each story is much like an aphorism, a warning, an omen, a way of telling us all we have precious little time left to right the wrongs we have sown in our little people. Yet, he is with hope and astounding optimism because there are so many who have fought this fight, as as he, for so long, and at least have partially won the many battles that perhaps might lead to a victory in the war against child predation and misery for the future. His detractors enjoy taking the left jabs to his writing ability, to his persona, all that crap. They fail to see the throngs of individuals in the wings who are cheering him on in this battle, as they themselves are walking, running right beside him to change the face of social evil, and he can walk extremely proud because the ability to write with such massive talent, and still inform the subject matter with new light, exists in rarefied air. When this book launches in September, you will honor all the children who've been sacrificed as well as honoring yourself by enlightening the veil of maya that surrounds our earth.

THUNDERSTRUCK, grateful beyond the shadows of the moon..., 01 Jul 1999
FORTY TWO STARS: I'm still on the first page so unable to be too specific but once again, Mr. Vachss has given us something that is beyond what it seems. For many of us, Mr. Vachss' works are handbooks and manuals that each reader assimilates and applies in her own way, inspired by an energy that stimulates, I believe, ones highest potential to choose any action, or even state of mind, however small, oriented toward mopping up and transmuting the maggot infested cesspool we participate in and help to propogate. I do not mean that if a Vachss character is killing and mahemming, that Mr Vachss urges anarchic violence. His message, his "roadmaps" lie beneath and among the stories and characters, in transcended compassion and glorious sensitivity, woven together with silvery threads caressing the garbage, hinting at another way. Mr Vachss seemingly operates on many levels and I dare say that a left brain anylysis of his work is useless or at least short changing. One must read his work as poems and perhaps augeries.Ultimately, though, I think one might most wisely dismiss any mental macinations and simply surrender to the power of the work. The great gifts of the work is yours for the joy of reading, whatever and despite what you think.

Gruelling, bitter thriller. Rewarding for Burke fans only, 27 Dec 2007
If you have read followed the earlier misadventures of Vachss' antihero, Burke, then you'll know what to expect with this latest installment and you'll get a buzz out of joining Burke on his latest nasty escapade in the land of city shadows.
If you haven't read any earlier Burke books then this is no the place to start. Go back and find the earliest ones, when Burke was an unofficial PI working from a hidden office, when he surfed the underworld and when the plot drove more of the action in each novel. These days, a Burke book is like a role call of ghosts from the past; the dregs of Burke's appalling upbringing at the hands of abusers within the childcare system; his sustained grief over the loss of his partner; his tight-knit family of misfits; his brutal hatred of the 'humans' who ruin children and lives. If you don't know the background then you'll drown in all the details, and you'll miss the subtle rewards of knowing that Max the Silent can kill as easily as he can place a bet on a good trotter, or that Mama's soup should never be ignored.

The last few Burke books have been pretty similar; by the time you've gone through all the namechecks and routines of a long-established series, there ain't so much room for plot. Nor does Andrew Vachss choose to develop a new storyline; the Burke books exist to remind us over and again that there are terrible people still doing terrible things, and Vachss is happy to let his characters re-tread the same old ground of previous epiosdes. Yet there's just enough development to keep our interest -- Burke's still listens to the blues but his tastes are changing; Wolfe may or may not give him another chance -- and Vachss' writing is still sharp enough in places to make even a seasoned reader wince.
Don't read the Burke books if you're looking for a happy ending or a quick thrill. But give them a go if you want to take a look in a mirror held up to modern society, and if you want to understand a complex group of misfit characters welded together in adversity. The writing is rapid and the pace is quick -- you may sometimes be confused by the slang or the unspoken messages, but the experience can become an addictive one.

Uneven, but any Burke novel is a treat, 26 Jan 2003
This is the twelfth Burke novel by my reckoning - "Pain Management" is the thirteenth - and it's a little different. While some readers may find that hard to accept, it is implicit in Andrew Vachss' style of merciless realism. Without giving too much away, Burke's elaborate defences finally let him down as he accepts one job too many. It spells the end of his life in New York, and very nearly the end of his life period. Things drifted a little out of focus for me as Burke sets out to track down those responsible, winding up in Portland, Oregon with a new identity and a new girlfriend. But then the momentum builds again, relentlessly, to an elegantly understated climax. On the way, we get some more flashes of Burke's early life when he and Wesley befriended a saintly boy with a talent governments would kill to lay their hands on. And pay a flying visit to a place that is almost literally out of this world.

Vachss' style can't be everyone's favourite, or he would be top of the best-seller lists. But I for one rate his books as one of the things that make life worth living.

Bad Burke - bummer!, 12 Dec 2002
Oh dear. What a disappointment. Having loved most of Vachss's previous Burke novels with their taut, pared-down prose and hellish underworld milieu, I was looking forward to reading this. But, sadly, this isn't a very good book. The narrative felt tired - I found myself bored as the standard mechanics of Burke thrillers (Burke goes through paranoid urban survivalist precautions while unravelling mystery, leading to violent climax in which Burke pulls off intricate scam) unwound in uninspired fashion.

I think I've lost the faith with this one - won't be coming back for more...

After treading water, Vachss returns to top form with Burke, 18 Mar 2002
It's difficult to review this without giving too much away. Suffice to say Vachss hits us readers early on with a blow that is the literary equivalent of a punch from Max the Silent and then goes on to re-create the tension that was so prevalent in the early Burke novels but that has been missing in the last few. We meet the old crew, we meet a new crew, we revisit Burke's past (and learn a lot of new things about his childhood) and best of all Vachss leads us down a path that you don't see the end of until it arrives.

Dead and Gone is hair-raising!, 14 Jan 2001
It's not an unusual job for Burke to act as a middleman in an exchange of cash for a kidnapped child. This time the only things exchanged are bullets & they're all meant for Burke.

Reading an Andrew Vachss book is to race through a tunnel at top speed, briefly catching sight of stops only to be hurtled on to the next. With tense jolts Vachss drives us relentlessly through every intersection & offers us panting station halts for memories long since forgotten; or hoped so. There is a lean & hungry feel to Vachss' writing & yet, for the first time, I note a bubbling up of humor. A thrilling & unput-downable adventure!

If you haven't read any of Andrew Vachss' hair-raising philosophical thrillers I do encourage you to do so.

Not his best work, but still brilliant, 20 Sep 2000
Just read this, the latest Burke novel. Very different to his previous books. For a start it it set in the North West. He seems to be mellowing a bit, maybe it's his age. He must be in his 50's by now. The book starts of with the death of a long term partner, this starts his drive for revenge, a drive that sends him to Portland. He needs help from 2 old friends, and we learn even more about Burke's horrific childhood. It's about time somebody made these books into films, I think we've all seen quite enough Stephen King & John Grisham films. Come on Hollywood, get your act together...

Disappointing work in progress, 11 Oct 1999
I have read all Vachss' work as soon as I can get it, starting from his very first novel; I'm a big fan.

But I was dissapointed and in places angered and bored by this.

Its a collection of short stories and one novella. Many of the stories are so short and sparse they are really no more then you'd expect from a writers inspiration notepad book as he jots down ideas.

So we have a collection with 1) a section miniscule ideas that may have made a great tale if they'd been developed. 2) a section of mystifying and boring tales about people I couldn't care about living underground 2) a section, including the novella, of tales about CROSS (the hero that isn't Burke). A pure cypher, but with loyal troops which of course are either man mountains, wear makeup and are called Princess or etc. I sudenly realised that if you pretend the Cross stories are comic strips then it works, I can see them in a Marvel comic.

But you know Cross will succeed; need a Harrier jump jet? - no problem, not only can he rent one but he also has a team member that can fly one in combat. I mean - come on....

And because there is no explanation, you cannot even admire Cross's cleverness at doing the exploit. Although Cross seems to suceed because the author forgets some restriction he previously set as soon as it becomes inconvenient. (what happened to the guard on the girl when the prisoners were being executed?)

NO - if you've not read Vachss before, don't start with this mistake. If you have - then its for die hard fans only (like me) so you can get a full set.

Hardcore for the hardboiled, 29 Aug 1999
EVERYBODY PAYS is the perfect starting point for fans of true crime, action, thrilling suspense filled drama, romance, and the honor driven double cross. If you have not yet heard of or read Andrew Vachss' work, EVERYBODY PAYS is the place to start. VACHSS' writing grabs you like Joe Pesci in CASINO shoving your head into a vice grip. EVERYBODY PAYS is a collection of razor-wired short stories. The hardest, coldest crime you've ever been exposed to anywhere. It will chill you, like Edward Norton in AMERICAN HISTORY X as he coldly stomps on a rivals neck. Yet VACHSS' writing can also move you like DeNiro in HEAT as he walks away from his one true love. No one touches VACHSS' stripped down, hit and run style of writing. He spins the absolute brutal best in reading entertainment. Take that first step and you find yourself falling into sheer hard poetry of language that is VACHSS' unique talent to possess and share with us.

EVERYBODY PAYS has the perfect mix, from PROVING IT, VACHSS' best love story since SHELLA; to gut-wrenching tragedy by evil done to innocence as found in DRESS UP DAY; to a voyage for truth in SEARCHER. For you first time readers, I couldn't be more jealous at your fortune of having just discovered VACHSS and having all those wonderful novels and stories ahead of you. Let yourself fall into this collection of short stories, indulge. As for the rest of us, VACHSS addicts, we'll greedily read this new collection the minute we get home with our copies.

Vachss'short fiction as remedy to veil of maya, 13 Jul 1999
The veil of maya, a Hindu precept/concept that bespeaks the *veil* or gauze that the unenlightened see out of, into the world, not the world as it in its true form is, but the world they *would want* it to be, or better yet the world they've created in order to continue in their ignorance. My personal experience with Vachss' work goes beyond the average, as I have had the privilege of seeing prepublished galleys of his work, and in so doing can securely and with utmost confidence speak to the upcoming publication of Everybody Pays. Just as in his first collection of short fiction, Born Bad, Everybody Pays is another testimonial from a man who has devoted pretty much the better part of his life on Earth to the dissemination and hoped for eradication of vile and evil in its worst form--child abuse. Those who shy away from his novels, due to whatever personal or political agendas they carry as baggage, might find his short fiction well worth the ride. Rather than being forced over a longer train ride to view his razor-like force of verbiage, sticking the reader's face into the truth, not the veiled truth, but the *real* truth of how children are *handled* in this, our fair world, the reader is treated to the shorter train ride, the express if you will, and the impact is that much graver, and that much sharper, and that much more painful, and poignant. It is a sad treatise in our society today that those of us who are so moved to buy into false gods and false premises, will not look away, for even just a moment, to peer into the world's atrocities. Vachss has wrested from his words a truth that cannot be denied. If one wants to live on a planet inhabited by monsters, child predators (who come in many forms and masks), then one must look inside oneself to see just how that particular play got written. Mr. Vachss shines the light, most pointedly, on the evil of child abuse with precision and perspicacity pretty near unseen in most authors writing today. If you, as readers, would like to make a mark in your own lives, as testament to your own existence on this earth, you do yourself and those who come after, the honor of reading these words. Each story is much like an aphorism, a warning, an omen, a way of telling us all we have precious little time left to right the wrongs we have sown in our little people. Yet, he is with hope and astounding optimism because there are so many who have fought this fight, as as he, for so long, and at least have partially won the many battles that perhaps might lead to a victory in the war against child predation and misery for the future. His detractors enjoy taking the left jabs to his writing ability, to his persona, all that crap. They fail to see the throngs of individuals in the wings who are cheering him on in this battle, as they themselves are walking, running right beside him to change the face of social evil, and he can walk extremely proud because the ability to write with such massive talent, and still inform the subject matter with new light, exists in rarefied air. When this book launches in September, you will honor all the children who've been sacrificed as well as honoring yourself by enlightening the veil of maya that surrounds our earth.

THUNDERSTRUCK, grateful beyond the shadows of the moon..., 01 Jul 1999
FORTY TWO STARS: I'm still on the first page so unable to be too specific but once again, Mr. Vachss has given us something that is beyond what it seems. For many of us, Mr. Vachss' works are handbooks and manuals that each reader assimilates and applies in her own way, inspired by an energy that stimulates, I believe, ones highest potential to choose any action, or even state of mind, however small, oriented toward mopping up and transmuting the maggot infested cesspool we participate in and help to propogate. I do not mean that if a Vachss character is killing and mahemming, that Mr Vachss urges anarchic violence. His message, his "roadmaps" lie beneath and among the stories and characters, in transcended compassion and glorious sensitivity, woven together with silvery threads caressing the garbage, hinting at another way. Mr Vachss seemingly operates on many levels and I dare say that a left brain anylysis of his work is useless or at least short changing. One must read his work as poems and perhaps augeries.Ultimately, though, I think one might most wisely dismiss any mental macinations and simply surrender to the power of the work. The great gifts of the work is yours for the joy of reading, whatever and despite what you think.

Hey, it's not so bad, really..., 08 May 1999
Okay, so this isn't the *best* Burke novel, but some of the things I had read about it almost had me scared to read it. Luckily, it's not nearly as preachy or slow or off-track as they'd have you believe. I was expecting it to turn into a textbook or something, but nope, it's definitely a Burke novel, and still a good one, with some convoluted plot twists going on, especially at the end. You can't really fault Vachss for having an "agenda" with his novels, 'cuz, face it, that's what the man's about. His novels are all about promoting the things Vachss likes (from dogs to cool cars to Judy Hensky to loyalty as the cardinal virtue, etc.) and damning the things he hates (which should be obvious - the man's obsessed, but more power to 'im for that). But the bottom line is, Vachss would never steer you toward anything that wasn't good for you. He ain't preachin' - he's *testifyin'*. And ya gotta respect him for it. This is one guy I have heavy, heavy respect for, both as a fine writer and a heckuva stand-up, sincere human being, and I've been putting in work to promote this guy's work to any and everyone I can. This may not be the Burke novel you want to start with, but it shouldn't be too big a disappointment to those who've taken the ride a few times already. Even if it's the weakest of the series, the series is so incredibly strong that you can't go wrong, schoolboy... ;)

A greater writer, who has earned the right to preach!!!, 27 Apr 1998
I have enjoyed reading the noir of Andrew Vachss. His is a very hard boiled, no holds barred style, and will always, if nothing else leave his readers thinking. However, I'm rather surprised by the negative feed back Vachss has received for "False Allegations". The novel is certainly in keeping with Vachss' style and his character Burke. It is fast paced, and reads like his other works. Yet many seem to feel it is a bit preachy. To a certain extent it is preachy, But so what? Vachss having devoted his life to the helping of children, and abused children in particular, has earned the right to give a bit of a sermon if he so desires. His detractors should keep in mind that as a lawyer he didn't have to specialize in children' assistance, and defense. He could have specialized in other areas of law, become a real shark, and earned a fortune. But he didn't, and instead devoted his career to child welfare, and protection.And what they will learn is that unlike so many people in our day, Vachss doesn't simply talk the talk, he also walks the walk!!! Which is more than most people can say today. To not just believe in something, (Whatever it might be.) but living it on a daily basis. While I fully recognize that as noir prose, this novel isn't as hard boiled as his other Burke novels, nevertheless it is still a great read with a very legitimate message. It is for this reason that I gave it a ten. I have recently read "Safe House", the latest Burke novel, it was excellent, and I look forward to more in the Burke series. The series should be read in order starting with "Flood", and "False Allegations", the ninth in the Burke series should not be passed up.

Give us more Burke, 12 Jan 1998
Not as fast paced as some of the Burke novels in the past, but still worth reading for us Burke fans.

Not the Vachss book to judge by., 05 Jan 1998
Sorry, but for a novel by Andrew Vachss about Burke -- this is just not the place to go. If you want the information that is usually provided at the end of most of his books, go ahead and slog thought this one. There is some great descriptions of cerebral functioning tests and what's up with that; but, hey, that was not why I picked up the latest Burke book. O.K.?

The one disappointment in a great run., 25 Nov 1997
If you've never read a Burke novel, don't start here.Vachss has used his fictional Burke to advertise the non fictional work of CIVITAS, an admirable effort, but it just did not make for an entertaining read. False Allegations starts out strong, but the last half of the book has Burke standing around talking to people. Yawn. This one was an effort to finish

Gruelling, bitter thriller. Rewarding for Burke fans only, 27 Dec 2007
If you have read followed the earlier misadventures of Vachss' antihero, Burke, then you'll know what to expect with this latest installment and you'll get a buzz out of joining Burke on his latest nasty escapade in the land of city shadows.
If you haven't read any earlier Burke books then this is no the place to start. Go back and find the earliest ones, when Burke was an unofficial PI working from a hidden office, when he surfed the underworld and when the plot drove more of the action in each novel. These days, a Burke book is like a role call of ghosts from the past; the dregs of Burke's appalling upbringing at the hands of abusers within the childcare system; his sustained grief over the loss of his partner; his tight-knit family of misfits; his brutal hatred of the 'humans' who ruin children and lives. If you don't know the background then you'll drown in all the details, and you'll miss the subtle rewards of knowing that Max the Silent can kill as easily as he can place a bet on a good trotter, or that Mama's soup should never be ignored.

The last few Burke books have been pretty similar; by the time you've gone through all the namechecks and routines of a long-established series, there ain't so much room for plot. Nor does Andrew Vachss choose to develop a new storyline; the Burke books exist to remind us over and again that there are terrible people still doing terrible things, and Vachss is happy to let his characters re-tread the same old ground of previous epiosdes. Yet there's just enough development to keep our interest -- Burke's still listens to the blues but his tastes are changing; Wolfe may or may not give him another chance -- and Vachss' writing is still sharp enough in places to make even a seasoned reader wince.
Don't read the Burke books if you're looking for a happy ending or a quick thrill. But give them a go if you want to take a look in a mirror held up to modern society, and if you want to understand a complex group of misfit characters welded together in adversity. The writing is rapid and the pace is quick -- you may sometimes be confused by the slang or the unspoken messages, but the experience can become an addictive one.

Uneven, but any Burke novel is a treat, 26 Jan 2003
This is the twelfth Burke novel by my reckoning - "Pain Management" is the thirteenth - and it's a little different. While some readers may find that hard to accept, it is implicit in Andrew Vachss' style of merciless realism. Without giving too much away, Burke's elaborate defences finally let him down as he accepts one job too many. It spells the end of his life in New York, and very nearly the end of his life period. Things drifted a little out of focus for me as Burke sets out to track down those responsible, winding up in Portland, Oregon with a new identity and a new girlfriend. But then the momentum builds again, relentlessly, to an elegantly understated climax. On the way, we get some more flashes of Burke's early life when he and Wesley befriended a saintly boy with a talent governments would kill to lay their hands on. And pay a flying visit to a place that is almost literally out of this world.

Vachss' style can't be everyone's favourite, or he would be top of the best-seller lists. But I for one rate his books as one of the things that make life worth living.

Bad Burke - bummer!, 12 Dec 2002
Oh dear. What a disappointment. Having loved most of Vachss's previous Burke novels with their taut, pared-down prose and hellish underworld milieu, I was looking forward to reading this. But, sadly, this isn't a very good book. The narrative felt tired - I found myself bored as the standard mechanics of Burke thrillers (Burke goes through paranoid urban survivalist precautions while unravelling mystery, leading to violent climax in which Burke pulls off intricate scam) unwound in uninspired fashion.

I think I've lost the faith with this one - won't be coming back for more...

After treading water, Vachss returns to top form with Burke, 18 Mar 2002
It's difficult to review this without giving too much away. Suffice to say Vachss hits us readers early on with a blow that is the literary equivalent of a punch from Max the Silent and then goes on to re-create the tension that was so prevalent in the early Burke novels but that has been missing in the last few. We meet the old crew, we meet a new crew, we revisit Burke's past (and learn a lot of new things about his childhood) and best of all Vachss leads us down a path that you don't see the end of until it arrives.

Dead and Gone is hair-raising!, 14 Jan 2001
It's not an unusual job for Burke to act as a middleman in an exchange of cash for a kidnapped child. This time the only things exchanged are bullets & they're all meant for Burke.

Reading an Andrew Vachss book is to race through a tunnel at top speed, briefly catching sight of stops only to be hurtled on to the next. With tense jolts Vachss drives us relentlessly through every intersection & offers us panting station halts for memories long since forgotten; or hoped so. There is a lean & hungry feel to Vachss' writing & yet, for the first time, I note a bubbling up of humor. A thrilling & unput-downable adventure!

If you haven't read any of Andrew Vachss' hair-raising philosophical thrillers I do encourage you to do so.

Not his best work, but still brilliant, 20 Sep 2000
Just read this, the latest Burke novel. Very different to his previous books. For a start it it set in the North West. He seems to be mellowing a bit, maybe it's his age. He must be in his 50's by now. The book starts of with the death of a long term partner, this starts his drive for revenge, a drive that sends him to Portland. He needs help from 2 old friends, and we learn even more about Burke's horrific childhood. It's about time somebody made these books into films, I think we've all seen quite enough Stephen King & John Grisham films. Come on Hollywood, get your act together...

Disappointing work in progress, 11 Oct 1999
I have read all Vachss' work as soon as I can get it, starting from his very first novel; I'm a big fan.

But I was dissapointed and in places angered and bored by this.

Its a collection of short stories and one novella. Many of the stories are so short and sparse they are really no more then you'd expect from a writers inspiration notepad book as he jots down ideas.

So we have a collection with 1) a section miniscule ideas that may have made a great tale if they'd been developed. 2) a section of mystifying and boring tales about people I couldn't care about living underground 2) a section, including the novella, of tales about CROSS (the hero that isn't Burke). A pure cypher, but with loyal troops which of course are either man mountains, wear makeup and are called Princess or etc. I sudenly realised that if you pretend the Cross stories are comic strips then it works, I can see them in a Marvel comic.

But you know Cross will succeed; need a Harrier jump jet? - no problem, not only can he rent one but he also has a team member that can fly one in combat. I mean - come on....

And because there is no explanation, you cannot even admire Cross's cleverness at doing the exploit. Although Cross seems to suceed because the author forgets some restriction he previously set as soon as it becomes inconvenient. (what happened to the guard on the girl when the prisoners were being executed?)

NO - if you've not read Vachss before, don't start with this mistake. If you have - then its for die hard fans only (like me) so you can get a full set.

Hardcore for the hardboiled, 29 Aug 1999
EVERYBODY PAYS is the perfect starting point for fans of true crime, action, thrilling suspense filled drama, romance, and the honor driven double cross. If you have not yet heard of or read Andrew Vachss' work, EVERYBODY PAYS is the place to start. VACHSS' writing grabs you like Joe Pesci in CASINO shoving your head into a vice grip. EVERYBODY PAYS is a collection of razor-wired short stories. The hardest, coldest crime you've ever been exposed to anywhere. It will chill you, like Edward Norton in AMERICAN HISTORY X as he coldly stomps on a rivals neck. Yet VACHSS' writing can also move you like DeNiro in HEAT as he walks away from his one true love. No one touches VACHSS' stripped down, hit and run style of writing. He spins the absolute brutal best in reading entertainment. Take that first step and you find yourself falling into sheer hard poetry of language that is VACHSS' unique talent to possess and share with us.

EVERYBODY PAYS has the perfect mix, from PROVING IT, VACHSS' best love story since SHELLA; to gut-wrenching tragedy by evil done to innocence as found in DRESS UP DAY; to a voyage for truth in SEARCHER. For you first time readers, I couldn't be more jealous at your fortune of having just discovered VACHSS and having all those wonderful novels and stories ahead of you. Let yourself fall into this collection of short stories, indulge. As for the rest of us, VACHSS addicts, we'll greedily read this new collection the minute we get home with our copies.

Vachss'short fiction as remedy to veil of maya, 13 Jul 1999
The veil of maya, a Hindu precept/concept that bespeaks the *veil* or gauze that the unenlightened see out of, into the world, not the world as it in its true form is, but the world they *would want* it to be, or better yet the world they've created in order to continue in their ignorance. My personal experience with Vachss' work goes beyond the average, as I have had the privilege of seeing prepublished galleys of his work, and in so doing can securely and with utmost confidence speak to the upcoming publication of Everybody Pays. Just as in his first collection of short fiction, Born Bad, Everybody Pays is another testimonial from a man who has devoted pretty much the better part of his life on Earth to the dissemination and hoped for eradication of vile and evil in its worst form--child abuse. Those who shy away from his novels, due to whatever personal or political agendas they carry as baggage, might find his short fiction well worth the ride. Rather than being forced over a longer train ride to view his razor-like force of verbiage, sticking the reader's face into the truth, not the veiled truth, but the *real* truth of how children are *handled* in this, our fair world, the reader is treated to the shorter train ride, the express if you will, and the impact is that much graver, and that much sharper, and that much more painful, and poignant. It is a sad treatise in our society today that those of us who are so moved to buy into false gods and false premises, will not look away, for even just a moment, to peer into the world's atrocities. Vachss has wrested from his words a truth that cannot be denied. If one wants to live on a planet inhabited by monsters, child predators (who come in many forms and masks), then one must look inside oneself to see just how that particular play got written. Mr. Vachss shines the light, most pointedly, on the evil of child abuse with precision and perspicacity pretty near unseen in most authors writing today. If you, as readers, would like to make a mark in your own lives, as testament to your own existence on this earth, you do yourself and those who come after, the honor of reading these words. Each story is much like an aphorism, a warning, an omen, a way of telling us all we have precious little time left to right the wrongs we have sown in our little people. Yet, he is with hope and astounding optimism because there are so many who have fought this fight, as as he, for so long, and at least have partially won the many battles that perhaps might lead to a victory in the war against child predation and misery for the future. His detractors enjoy taking the left jabs to his writing ability, to his persona, all that crap. They fail to see the throngs of individuals in the wings who are cheering him on in this battle, as they themselves are walking, running right beside him to change the face of social evil, and he can walk extremely proud because the ability to write with such massive talent, and still inform the subject matter with new light, exists in rarefied air. When this book launches in September, you will honor all the children who've been sacrificed as well as honoring yourself by enlightening the veil of maya that surrounds our earth.

THUNDERSTRUCK, grateful beyond the shadows of the moon..., 01 Jul 1999
FORTY TWO STARS: I'm still on the first page so unable to be too specific but once again, Mr. Vachss has given us something that is beyond what it seems. For many of us, Mr. Vachss' works are handbooks and manuals that each reader assimilates and applies in her own way, inspired by an energy that stimulates, I believe, ones highest potential to choose any action, or even state of mind, however small, oriented toward mopping up and transmuting the maggot infested cesspool we participate in and help to propogate. I do not mean that if a Vachss character is killing and mahemming, that Mr Vachss urges anarchic violence. His message, his "roadmaps" lie beneath and among the stories and characters, in transcended compassion and glorious sensitivity, woven together with silvery threads caressing the garbage, hinting at another way. Mr Vachss seemingly operates on many levels and I dare say that a left brain anylysis of his work is useless or at least short changing. One must read his work as poems and perhaps augeries.Ultimately, though, I think one might most wisely dismiss any mental macinations and simply surrender to the power of the work. The great gifts of the work is yours for the joy of reading, whatever and despite what you think.

Hey, it's not so bad, really..., 08 May 1999
Okay, so this isn't the *best* Burke novel, but some of the things I had read about it almost had me scared to read it. Luckily, it's not nearly as preachy or slow or off-track as they'd have you believe. I was expecting it to turn into a textbook or something, but nope, it's definitely a Burke novel, and still a good one, with some convoluted plot twists going on, especially at the end. You can't really fault Vachss for having an "agenda" with his novels, 'cuz, face it, that's what the man's about. His novels are all about promoting the things Vachss likes (from dogs to cool cars to Judy Hensky to loyalty as the cardinal virtue, etc.) and damning the things he hates (which should be obvious - the man's obsessed, but more power to 'im for that). But the bottom line is, Vachss would never steer you toward anything that wasn't good for you. He ain't preachin' - he's *testifyin'*. And ya gotta respect him for it. This is one guy I have heavy, heavy respect for, both as a fine writer and a heckuva stand-up, sincere human being, and I've been putting in work to promote this guy's work to any and everyone I can. This may not be the Burke novel you want to start with, but it shouldn't be too big a disappointment to those who've taken the ride a few times already. Even if it's the weakest of the series, the series is so incredibly strong that you can't go wrong, schoolboy... ;)

A greater writer, who has earned the right to preach!!!, 27 Apr 1998
I have enjoyed reading the noir of Andrew Vachss. His is a very hard boiled, no holds barred style, and will always, if nothing else leave his readers thinking. However, I'm rather surprised by the negative feed back Vachss has received for "False Allegations". The novel is certainly in keeping with Vachss' style and his character Burke. It is fast paced, and reads like his other works. Yet many seem to feel it is a bit preachy. To a certain extent it is preachy, But so what? Vachss having devoted his life to the helping of children, and abused children in particular, has earned the right to give a bit of a sermon if he so desires. His detractors should keep in mind that as a lawyer he didn't have to specialize in children' assistance, and defense. He could have specialized in other areas of law, become a real shark, and earned a fortune. But he didn't, and instead devoted his career to child welfare, and protection.And what they will learn is that unlike so many people in our day, Vachss doesn't simply talk the talk, he also walks the walk!!! Which is more than most people can say today. To not just believe in something, (Whatever it might be.) but living it on a daily basis. While I fully recognize that as noir prose, this novel isn't as hard boiled as his other Burke novels, nevertheless it is still a great read with a very legitimate message. It is for this reason that I gave it a ten. I have recently read "Safe House", the latest Burke novel, it was excellent, and I look forward to more in the Burke series. The series should be read in order starting with "Flood", and "False Allegations", the ninth in the Burke series should not be passed up.

Give us more Burke, 12 Jan 1998
Not as fast paced as some of the Burke novels in the past, but still worth reading for us Burke fans.

Not the Vachss book to judge by., 05 Jan 1998
Sorry, but for a novel by Andrew Vachss about Burke -- this is just not the place to go. If you want the information that is usually provided at the end of most of his books, go ahead and slog thought this one. There is some great descriptions of cerebral functioning tests and what's up with that; but, hey, that was not why I picked up the latest Burke book. O.K.?

The one disappointment in a great run., 25 Nov 1997
If you've never read a Burke novel, don't start here.Vachss has used his fictional Burke to advertise the non fictional work of CIVITAS, an admirable effort, but it just did not make for an entertaining read. False Allegations starts out strong, but the last half of the book has Burke standing around talking to people. Yawn. This one was an effort to finish

Gruelling, bitter thriller. Rewarding for Burke fans only, 27 Dec 2007
If you have read followed the earlier misadventures of Vachss' antihero, Burke, then you'll know what to expect with this latest installment and you'll get a buzz out of joining Burke on his latest nasty escapade in the land of city shadows.
If you haven't read any earlier Burke books then this is no the place to start. Go back and find the earliest ones, when Burke was an unofficial PI working from a hidden office, when he surfed the underworld and when the plot drove more of the action in each novel. These days, a Burke book is like a role call of ghosts from the past; the dregs of Burke's appalling upbringing at the hands of abusers within the childcare system; his sustained grief over the loss of his partner; his tight-knit family of misfits; his brutal hatred of the 'humans' who ruin children and lives. If you don't know the background then you'll drown in all the details, and you'll miss the subtle rewards of knowing that Max the Silent can kill as easily as he can place a bet on a good trotter, or that Mama's soup should never be ignored.

The last few Burke books have been pretty similar; by the time you've gone through all the namechecks and routines of a long-established series, there ain't so much room for plot. Nor does Andrew Vachss choose to develop a new storyline; the Burke books exist to remind us over and again that there are terrible people still doing terrible things, and Vachss is happy to let his characters re-tread the same old ground of previous epiosdes. Yet there's just enough development to keep our interest -- Burke's still listens to the blues but his tastes are changing; Wolfe may or may not give him another chance -- and Vachss' writing is still sharp enough in places to make even a seasoned reader wince.
Don't read the Burke books if you're looking for a happy ending or a quick thrill. But give them a go if you want to take a look in a mirror held up to modern society, and if you want to understand a complex group of misfit characters welded together in adversity. The writing is rapid and the pace is quick -- you may sometimes be confused by the slang or the unspoken messages, but the experience can become an addictive one.