A highly acclaimed journalistic masterpiece and true crime classic, Homicide illustrates a year in the life of the detectives of the Homicide Unit in the city of Baltimore. David Simon, a reporter for the Baltimore Sun, spent 4 tears on the police beat before taking a leave of absence to write this book. By persuading the Baltimore Police Department to allow him unlimited access to the city's homicide unit for a full year, Simon shadowed one shift of detectives as they traveled from interrogations to autopsies, from crime scenes to hospital emergency rooms.
Baltimore recorded 234 murders during that year, and the homicide unit investigated dozens of those murders. Homicide, a harrowing, sometimes brutal, and always fascinating look at the dozens of murders investigated by these detectives, is the book that sparked the critically acclaimed television series.
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"This book blew me away with its breadth, storytelling, and Simon's ability to turn all the homicide officers into fully three-dimensional characters. This book is not really about policework, it's about the people who do it and the people they go up against. Some chapters in this book read like a great mystery novel, while others read like long magazine profiles of career police officers. Read this book." — Noah (5 out of 5 stars)
"This book blew me away with its breadth, storytelling, and Simon's ability to turn all the homicide officers into fully three-dimensional characters. This book is not really about policework, it's about the people who do it and the people they go up against. Some chapters in this book read like a great mystery novel, while others read like long magazine profiles of career police officers. Read this book."
" great book. recognized a lot of things from the Wire. "
" Best true crime book of all time. "
" GREAT book from the same brain behind The Wire and Homicide. Fans will recognize some of the story lines but you don't have to have watched his shows to appreciate. Gritty, realistic, real life procedural. "
" It could have been about 100 pages shorter - it is a whopping 650 - but this is a brilliant work of journalism. If you loved The Wire, this is a great read. Written back in 1988, sadly things are still this bad or worse in most American cities. It is a fascinating portrait of the real men who face surreal levels of horror daily. And they are very REAL, but you come to admire them, warts and all. "
" This is truely one of the best true crime books I have ever read. Following the Baltimore police department over the course of a year, David Simon observes the working men who are responsible for solving some 250 murders every year. "
" Best book I've read that gives you a real life non-Hollywood feel on what it is like to be a homicide detective. It's a long read but worth the time. "
" It took me a bit to get through this book but it was more than worth it. I don't think you'll find a better book written about a poh-leece department. One of the best books I've read. Amazing. "
" My dog eared copy of this book is one of my all time favourite comfort reads and is one of the great all time true crime novels. What is it says about me that for comfort I choose to read a book about death investigation. "
" I can't say enough good things about The Wire and this book. It is the perfect re-up for people who loved the Wire while exploring in greater detail the professional lives of Baltimore City homicide detectives. "
" Amazingly detailed, and at once tragic, poignant, ironic, and funny, a rarity for the true crime genre. I came away with tremendous respect for both the author and the Baltimore homicide department. "
" Noir, but it's real. Rarely have I found non-fiction with prose that is this exceptional. "
" As a Wire fan I had to read this... and didn't dissapoint. You grow to love the real-life detectives as much as the characters in The Wire. Briliant writing. "
" The problem with a book this good is that I immediately want to run out and become either a cop or a journalist. Even after almost 700 pages, I didn't want it to end. "
" The television series led me to this, Simon's non-fiction study of crime and cops in Baltimore. A book that is impossible to put down once you have started reading ...! "
" Worth reading. I found I enjoyed some parts/cases/characters much more than others but as the book progressed I was pretty well hooked. Looking forward to reading The Corner in the near future. "
" he's a captivating writer. "
" One of the best books I've read. Simon delves into the urine stained alleys of Baltimore and shows us how real police work gets done. Even in 1991, Simon made it clear that the drug war was a lost cause. "
" It all starts here - read this before diving in to all the 'Homicide: Life On The Killing Streets', 'The Corner', and 'The Wire' DVDs... "
" Too long, and a few too many characters. But generally an incredible, ground-level look at a homicide detective squad over the course of a year. "
" And to say this turned into a great tv show doesn't begin to describe it - it was epic! "
" Absolutely incredible!!! I found it fascinating to see how real detectives behave, the obstacles they face, and the heart wrenching tragedy of having to see mutilated people day in and day out. How they manage to compartmentalize and function this way on a daily basis is awe inspiring. "
" I put this book a few chapters in and just never got back to it. "
" Verplichte kost voor liefhebbers van de serie. Lijvig, in journalistieke stijl geschreven maar met voldoende vaart. Hoe onrealistisch moordonderzoek à la CSI is wordt hier goed duidelijk... "
" Picked this up after being glued to The Wire and this is where all the stories come from. Shocking read and surprising that he was allowed so much unrestricted comment and access really. Fascinating and depressing all at once. "
" I read this because I loved Homicide: Life on the Street (on NBC in the mid to late 90s) and wanted to read the book that started it all. The book doesn't disappoint. "
" My first ever 'true-crime' read. Really didn't think I'd like it. Read it because of it's recommendation into the 'top rated books' library by Greyweather. WOW. Absolutely fantastic read. Informative, gruesome, but oh so funny too. One of the very rare 5 stars I've ever given. "
David Simon’s Homicide won an Edgar Award and became the basis for the NBC award-winning drama. Simon’s second book, The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood, coauthored with Edward Burns, was made into an HBO miniseries. Simon is currently the executive producer and writer for HBO’s Peabody Award–winning series The Wire. He lives in Baltimore.
Reed Edward Diamond is an American actor. He is best known for the roles of Detective Mike Kellerman on Homicide: Life on the Street, Jason Pillar in season 8 of 24, and recurring character Laurence Dominic on Dollhouse. He also appeared in The Shield, Bones, The Mentalist and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..
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