Rating: 
Summary: great, believable characters
Review: "The covers of this book are too far apart." AMBROSE PIERCEIt was with relish that I initially opened this book by Scott Flander. And when I say that I couldn't wait to finish it, it is merely to indicate that it was to be done with it and never see it again. "Sons of the City" is basically a 308-page script for a mediocre television crime drama. My guess would be that someone watched one-too-many episodes of Starsky & Hutch as a young adult and parlayed it into a novel. To be fair, this story does have all the necessary ingredients of a hard-boiled mystery...but unfortunately, the ingredients were left sitting out far too long and had already gone stale by the time they were used. The good cop, the bad cops, the mob boss and his henchman, the black community of some inner city...all these are here, but you could most likely guess the storyline and the outcome just from reading this review! The characters were wooden, mouthing exceptionally predictable dialogue, and the action was related in such a monotonous voice, I nearly acquired a bout of narcolepsy while trudging my way through it. All in all, reading this ate up a few hours of my time...but I can say honestly that I'll never make THAT mistake again!
Rating:
Summary: A gripping page-turner that's also literate and insightful
Review: Flander's novel is much more than a typical genre novel about cops and criminals. Picking it up casually in the book store, I was struck immediately by the strength of the voice and the exceptionally high quality of the writing. The scenes, the images from the streets, the variety of the characters, the funny and/or horrific set-pieces, the blistering action - very quickly, I found that I'd read a third of the book and become completely absorbed. Not that Flander cheats you out of the pleasures of the genre - it's all there, the chases, the bad guys, the boys in blue - but it's rendered with a level of authenticity, a sophistication about the way cops think and behave, a deep understanding of the ways in which the police and different communities within a boiling metropolis relate to, and negotiate with, one another that's, in my experience, really rare. At the center of it all is Eddie North, a deeply conflicted, angry, affectionate, smart, stupid, blind, observant, and finally extremely sympathetic and winning cop who is as human and intriguing as any character you're likely to find in a book like this. What can I say? I loved it, I loved everything about it - and I'd like to see these guys again. Any chance of a sequel (or two)?
Rating: 
Summary: FAST READ AND A REAL PAGE-TURNER
Review: I can't say this is the best crime novel I have read as some readers have stated, but if you are looking for a fast read with lots of twists and turns, I recommend this book. The story about the streets of Philadelphia and all of the city's inhabitants gives a real cross section of what life is like, from the law abiding to the law breaking. The characters are well written and the plot flows well. I'm sure this author's talents will grow and I look forward to reading future books. This is not GREAT, but good and he is definitely honing his talent.
Rating:
Summary: A fast-paced suspenseful cop book with believable characters
Review: I judge the writing in a crime novel by how well it carries me along with it. Sons of the City did a fine job in this regard. If not a book for the ages it's certainly one for the airplane flight. Eddie North and his cop colleagues are up against a lot - they're besieged not only by the usual bad guys, but to some extent also by their own bosses as well as the citizens they're employed to protect. Lots of conflict, lots of action, lots of suspense. The dialogue and character interactions are credible -- all too rare in this genre. You feel that Scott Flander really knows these people. I hope he has more stories to tell us about them.
Rating:
Summary: A great debut novel!
Review: I would definitely recommend this book to anybody that likes fast-pace police novels. After being transferred out of the Organized Crime Unit and put back in uniform and teamed with his cousin, Nick, Eddie North is torn between doing his duty as a cop or protecting Nick, who seems to be straying from the straight and narrow. Throw in a love interest (who just happens to be the Commissioner's daughter), street riots, and mafia and you have all the makings of a great read. I look forward to hearing more from this author.
Rating:
Summary: A great debut novel!
Review: I would definitely recommend this book to anybody that likes fast-pace police novels. After being transferred out of the Organized Crime Unit and put back in uniform and teamed with his cousin, Nick, Eddie North is torn between doing his duty as a cop or protecting Nick, who seems to be straying from the straight and narrow. Throw in a love interest (who just happens to be the Commissioner's daughter), street riots, and mafia and you have all the makings of a great read. I look forward to hearing more from this author.
Rating:
Summary: Roller Coaster Ride
Review: Mr. Flander takes you on an exciting roller coaster ride, deep inside the Philadephia Police Department. His knowledge of the inner workings of the department and the language of the street cop are dead on the money. This book has more red herrings than the Food Distribution Center. The inter action between the cops is as real as it gets. As a retired Phila Police Sergeant, I can vouch for the authenticity of the language and the action Scott has described. This book is for REAL.
Rating:
Summary: A Definite Must Read!
Review: Scott Flander's "Sons of the City" is one of the most compelling books I've read in a long time. He certainly did his homework. The book was a real "page turner"; with the only down side being that I was finished much too quickly. Scott -- how 'bout a follow up to the story? I feel like I know the characters personally. If this becomes a movie -- you will definitely be on the edge of your seat! This book would make a great Christmas gift -- even for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: New Respect and Admiration for Cops!
Review: Scott Flander's book so immersed me in the world of Philly cops that I no longer look at cops the same way. A few weeks after reading Sons of the City, I was sitting in a diner and noticed a large group of cops having lunch together at the next table. I found myself smiling at them and felt like I actually knew them. I realized that I recognized them - their smiles and mannerisms - as the characters from Flander's book. And I felt such a strong respect for what they do on a daily basis. Aside from enhancing the way I perceive cops in real life, Flander's book is superb! Very gritty, a lot of humor, and fantastic dialogue. The plot lines have been seamlessly woven together and the characters are so solid, you never question their actions or motivations. A definite pager-turner recommended for anyone who likes cop novels, mysteries, mafia story lines, the city of Philadelphia and/or just great writing!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book
Review: This book was so good. I'm only 16 and a female so I thought I might not enjoy this book. I usually can predict what's going to happen but this book was suspensefull and so clearly written. Very nice!
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