The Man Who Came Uptown by George Pelecanos

Michael Hudson makes some bad choices as a D.C. youth and ends up in prison.  There he meets Anna, the prison librarian who changes his life.  She engages Michael in reading, the classics primarily, which make him want to be a better man. 

Michael is suddenly released from prison when a P.I., Phil Ornaizon intimidates a witness into withdrawing his testimony against Michael.  Michael returns to his D.C. neighborhood, finds a job washing dishes, and becomes a voracious reader.  Coincidently, Anna lives in his neighborhood and continues to recommend books to support his new found hobby.  Ornaizon, however, has other plans for Michael.  The P.I. runs a criminal side business where he robs crooks of ill-gotten gains and continually pesters Michael to join him.  Michael feels some loyalty to Ornaizon but truly wants to go straight.

I love the way Pelecanos brings out both the good and bad in his characters.  They are all flawed but have many redeeming qualities that make you root for them and hope they make good choices… such an honest and intimate view of humanity.  No one does this as well as Pelecanos.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance look.