The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins

Summary:

Eddie Coyle works for Jimmy Scalisis, supplying him with guns for a couple of bank jobs. A cop named Foley is leaning on Eddie for information, and Eddie needs to sell someone out to avoid going back to prison. Nobody knows who’s a friend and who’s a snitch in this richly plotted book that reads like one long caper.

Analysis:

George V. Higgins wrote some of the best dialogue in the history of American crime fiction. His conversations contain a mesmerizing rhythm and a seasoned style peppered with colloquialisms. Often the dialogue will bob and weave like a boxer trying to wear down his opponent, and then Higgins lands his punch, and the purpose of the conversation becomes clear.

Several chapters in The Friends of Eddie Coyle consist of a single conversation between two people, and the conversations are so well written that the novel moves forward like a single car chase, multiple elements moving against one another to arrive at the same conclusion. Higgins builds tension first in one area and then in the next until, ultimately, the situations he crafted unravel along with the lives of the characters at their center.

There’s no better place to learn how to write dialogue than the work of George V. Higgins, and The Friends of Eddie Coyle is a great place to start.

Biography:

Goerge V. Higgins worked as a lawyer, journalist, and teacher, and wrote twenty-nine books. The Friends of Eddie Coylehis debut novel, was made into a brilliant film starring Robert Mitchum.

*I may earn a small commission on books purchased through affiliate links in this post. I only recommend books, films, or music that have influenced my writing.

Share This Post

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Explore More News

Subscribe to Perro's Prism and
Receive a Free Short Story

Register for the monthly newsletter for exclusive essays, discounts, content, news, and more. 

You can unsubscribe at any time. For more details, review our privacy policy.