HARD REVOLUTION

George Pelecanos's tough, disturbing novel depicts the African-American community in Washington, D.C., at the end of the 1960s. It's a time of hope for some blacks, but a time of extreme hopelessness for many others. The story has many characters, but three stand out: Derek Strange, a black DC cop; his brother, Dennis; and Frank Vaughn, a white cop whom Dennis admires but who is caught up in a terrible web of peer pressure. Lance Reddick's narration keeps the action moving; he gives each character a distinct personality and makes the reader care about what happens to him. The tragic conclusion to this gritty story centers around the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the eruption of pent-up hatred on both sides of the badge. J.L.C. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 04]