King Suckerman, George Pelecanos

This is part of the DC – 4 book series. Set in DC in 1976 during the eve of the bicentennial and July Fourth celebrations it weaves in blaxploitation films, drug deals, soul music, and racial tensions that defined this era of the 70s in DC. There are the natural-born killers who do it for fun, the old friends (Karras and Clay) who grew up together playing basketball together and now are put in a predicament after a drug deal gone wrong plays out in front of them. Clay, the Vietnam vet is a man of character, and regret for a foolish, in-the-moment action who tries to make things right… for Karras – a lost, pot-dealing man in his twenties who has no direction and follows the crowd, lacking the character and resolve his best friend Clay has. It all comes together in a combination of morality, friendship, and unexpected consequences. Another good one from Pelecanos.