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Thomas Flynn is a successful business owner, whose family life is unfortunately a difficult one. His son, Christopher, is one of those kids who seems destined to end up in trouble. Ultimately, he is sentenced to juvenile prison; and the relationship with his father is strained to the breaking point. Chris experiences an epiphany while serving his time and is ready to change his ways upon his release at the age of 26. But Thomas is not forgiving at all and continues to expect the worst from his child. Nonetheless, he gives Chris a job as a carpet installer. He's not very skilled, but he does work hard. Chris is partnered with another former convict, Ben Braswell. While removing the carpet during a job, they uncover a cache filled with money. Chris immediately rejects the idea of taking the money; instead, they continue with the installation. But Ben can't stop thinking about what that money could mean for his life; while drunk, he tells another friend about the discovery which results in the money being stolen. From that point on, it's one dangerous situation after another, as the felons who put the money there try to get it back. Sometimes even great authors turn out a book that is less than stellar. That is decidedly the case for THE WAY HOME. Normally, Pelecanos is a master of plotting. However, the plot for this book is completely clichéd. We have the rebellious son who goes wrong and disappoints his parents. He has an awakening and turns his life around. However, his father is not able to accept the fact that his son has changed. You can pretty much figure out where it goes from there. There's the strong and steady girlfriend whose love is placed in jeopardy. And then there's the whole thread about the stolen money that plays out just as expected. On the positive side, Pelecanos realistically depicts the challenges facing those who have been released from incarceration, the difficulties that they face in being reintegrated into society and the challenges of living the straight life. Overall, though, the book was a disappointment. There was the possibility of a strong story of redemption, but it was never realized.
Reviewed by Maddy Van Hertbruggen, March 2009
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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