The Strangler: A Novel

This is well-written, atmospheric work of fiction. It takes place in 1963 when the city of Boston was terrorized by the Boston Strangler. The focus of the book is on three brothers of Irish descent, who father was a cop killed in the line of duty.This is their story against the backdrop of a city in turmoil. The oldest brother is a cop, following in his father’s footsteps. The middle brother is a lawyer, working in the Attorney General’s Office. The youngest brother is a thief. It is an intricate, well constructed crime story, involving the Boston Strangler. It Is the Strangler that gives the brothers unity of purpose.Still, despite the excellent plot and storytelling talents of the author, the book fell somewhat flat for me, as I did not find any of the brothers particularly likable. In fact, I found nearly all of the characters in the book unlikable. Therein lies the rub. Consequently, I thought the book was just okay, despite the author’s ability to weave a story together.

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE AUDIOBOOKI started with Landay's newest novel (Defending Jacob), which was a great listen. It wasn't a book that engrossed me right upfront, but by the time I was just past the middle point, I didn't want to stop listening. As impressed as I was with Defending Jacob, I was more so with The Strangler.Landay has it down. He writes excellent, intriguing, fully fleshed characters. There's real drama here (as opposed to the melodrama you often find in sub-par mystery/crime novels). He's got a great ear for the way people speak (which shows with his character's dialogue). The story is excellent - there's never an instance of characters bending to plot; everything is organic, realistic, natural.Not only is the writing really good, but so is the narration. Stephen Hoye was perfect for this book. He did such a great job that I actually browsed other books he'd narrated in hopes I'd find something that interested me (I haven't yet, despite the extensive catalog). There's quite a large cast of main characters here, as well as an abundance of minor players, and Hoye was able to lend nuance to each voice so that, almost always, you knew who was speaking even if the context didn't clue you in.One evening, after driving home from work, I actually sat in my driveway, listening for an extra five minutes to a tense scene. I couldn't not know how that scene wrapped up before I tuned out for the day. And I couldn't wait to get back at it the next day.I've got several hundred books in my audible library, and there are perhaps only half a dozen or so I've gone back to for a second listen (to name a few: Hearts In Atlantis, A Widow for One Year, Terror's Echo: Novellas from Transgressions, American Gods). Even knowing how this one ends, I'll be going back for a second listen. I even bought a used paperback edition to loan out to friends, that's how much I liked this book.Both of Landay's other novels are good too, but this one was my favorite. I only wish he published more frequently.

After reading Landay's Defending Jacob and loving it, I was excited to read another one of his books. I have found that in many crime fiction books that I have read in my career, the plot is a little slower to develop, and the same was the case for The Strangler. Landay does a nice job developing the personalities of the three brothers created in the story, all with different flaws that seem to come back to haunt them later on. Though the plot was a little slower to start, I was hooked by the end and engaged by the twists at the end of the novel when long-pondered secrets were unraveling and figured out by the brothers. By the end, I felt that there was closure both for the characters and myself as a reader. I did like Defending Jacob a lot more, but this is still a novel worth reading by Landay.

I struggled to finish this book. I've read Landay's other two books and enjoyed them, especially Defending Jacob. This one really fell short for me. There was not even one character that I liked or cared about. I think all of them were drawn on such a surface level that I don't know how readers could care what happened to any of them. Beyond that, interweaving a fictional tale with historical facts--especially something as notorious as the Boston Strangler--can be dicey, and Landay does not do it successfully. Then adding mob wars and murders and burglaries and crooked cops to the mix, it just becomes a jumble that is hard to follow and even harder to care about.

In his second crime novel, William Landay weaves together the story of three brothers, the death of their policeman father, Boston's urban renewal projects, and the Boston Strangler. It's Boston in 1963. Kennedy has just been assassinated. Real estate developers are bulldozing Boston's West End to put up shiny new towers. A mob war is being waged. The Boston Strangler is terrifying the city.I thought it was great book. You see see the flow of violence and changes to the city of Boston through the eyes of the three brothers: Ricky, the burglar; Michael, the lawyer; and Joe, the cop. The story gets complicated as all you jump around through the eyes of the brothers and the backdrop of criminal activity.The crime is not just in the background. Joe, the cop, is a bad gambler who gets behind on his debts and starts working for the bad guys. In the first chapter, Ricky steals some jewelry from a hotel room at the Copley Plaza Hotel.The Boston underworld in the book is a brutal place. It may be too violent for some readers. Just as violent is the destruction of the physical city as 46 acres of homes and small businesses in the West End are bulldozed to make way for a handful of residential high rises.I need to let you know that Bill (yeah, I know him as Bill) is a friend. Our sons went to the same preschool. We have been to each others' homes and countless kids' birthday parties.

When we first meet the Daley brothers, John F Kennedy has just been shot and Boston is in the grip of the Boston Strangler. There are three brothers: cop Joe, lawyer Michael and thief, Ricky. Despite their differences, they are, ultimately, loyal only to each other. Their father, Big Joe, was also a cop and was shot and killed by a kid in an alley. This storyline, along with that of the Strangler and the mob's influence in the 'rebuilding' of Boston, create different threads through the book. This is an unusual crime book, having far more depth in characters than many other of the genre.Gradually, things begin to spiral out of control, as someone close to the family is killed by either the Strangler, or a copycat killer. And, if a copycat, then why? And why did nobody get caught for their fathers murder? The Daley brothers are under threat and, when the mob begin to lean on them, they are all under pressure. This is a very atmospheric book and I enjoyed the period setting and the way the author used the case of the Boston Strangler in the plot. There were quite a few different storylines running parallel and I think the book may have been brilliant if the author had perhaps concentrated on less. However, saying that, it was an extremely enjoyable novel and I recommend it highly. I read the kindle edition and it was well edited and typo free.

i read mission flats, Landry's first novel, and was disappointed after reading all the rave reviews. i thought it rambled on for too long, losing interest and credibility towards the end.this book - the strangler - is much stronger, i think. it is a not a standard whodunnit, or serial killer hunt, it is about a family drawn into the events and circumstances of the boston strangler murders in 1963.i found that it sustained interest and attention well. it is extremely well-written, avoiding the cliches, and the freshness of the language is rewarding. if i have one gripe, it would be that - like mission flats - it is perhaps overlong, and could have done with some editing down to make it tauter.anyway, i would recommend this for anyone interested in the strangler's times, and in police corruption and mob involvement in those days.a good crime novel; much better than the usual stuff.

William Landay's first novel was a quality genre contribution, and I have looked forward to his second. The title and theme (another serial killer, and a 60s period setting at that) nearly put me off - and how wrong I would have been. The background is Boston; the texture a particular period and set of killings; but the focus is the Daley family and the complex set of relationships and challenges they experience. The novel is as a much a moral journey as it is a crime procedural. It is crafted beautifully, written impeccably and easily transcends its ostensible subject matter. I recommend it very highly. In the league of Scott Turow for writing above the genre.

A fantastic novel - this author is superb.

I felt like there were too many storylines and it took a long time to really like any of the characters. It was entertaining but not nearly as good as Defending Jacob.