Effortlessly straddling any number of genres CITIZEN VINCE is a book that is easier to read than describe. If pressed to assign it a genre I'd have to put in the "philosophical-political-comedy-crime-thriller" section. Or maybe the "mystery-morality-tale-slash-black-comedy" section...I'm not sure.

CITIZEN VINCE centers on the life of a former small-time gangster in the witness protection program in the early eighties. To say that the plot is about Vince's past catching up with him is to do the story a gross misservice. While the unraveling of one of his small-time rackets is the starting point of the plot, there is much more, both thematically and structurally, going on. The story really focuses on Vince's seduction by "normal" life, and his realization of the price he is willing to pay to be a decent person. Interwoven around Vince's internal discovery is an engaging yarn of the criminal underworld, good (and bad) cops, love and betrayal.

The writing is crisp and direct. For a story with so many different levels, it never bogs itself down in internal monologues and naval-gazing prose. The writer deftly moves the focus of your attention from character to character, point to point, and always leaves you eager to turn the page. If the book has any weakness it is that it's too short: I wanted to hang around in Vince's head for just a little while longer and see if he had the strength to follow through on his newfound convictions.