Plot Summary

The Night Gardener

George Pelecanos
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The Night Gardener

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006

Book Brief

George Pelecanos

The Night Gardener

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Details
Pages

372

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Mystery & Crime Fiction

Horror & Suspense

Modern Classic Fiction
Setting

Washington, D.C. • 1980s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Set in contemporary Washington D.C., George Pelecanos's crime thriller The Night Gardener begins with a series of murders thought to be the work of a serial killer known as The Night Gardener. Twenty years later, detectives Gus Ramone and Dan Holliday reprise their roles to solve a new case with similar trademarks, uncovering layers of urban violence, secrets, and life in D.C. The book contains themes of sexual assault and murder.

Gritty

Dark

Mysterious

Emotional

Suspenseful

Reviews & Readership

3.9

6,934 ratings

63%

Loved it

28%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

George Pelecanos’s The Night Gardener offers a gripping narrative with rich characters and evocative settings, securing praise for its skilled storytelling and complex moral themes. However, some readers feel its pacing lags at times. Overall, it effectively maintains suspense while exploring profound human issues.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Night Gardener?

The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos captivates readers who enjoy gritty, urban crime dramas and morally complex characters. Fans of Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer or Dennis Lehane's Mystic River will appreciate the novel's intense narrative and intricate plotting rooted in the harsh realities of Washington, D.C.

3.9

6,934 ratings

63%

Loved it

28%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

372

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Mystery & Crime Fiction

Horror & Suspense

Modern Classic Fiction
Setting

Washington, D.C. • 1980s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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