The Friends of Eddie Coyle: A Novel

The Friends Of Eddie Coyle thoroughly merits its high reputation. Easily the most authentic criminals in all crime fiction; semi-literate chumps of the type the jails are full of. Cops nasty exploiters of informers, leading them on then screwing them over. True masterpiece.

Eddie's friends present great studies of the character of hoodlums and gangster wannabes. Book takes the reader beyond plot driven mysteries into character novel. Important for all readers of pop or literature.

As fine crime novel as has ever been published. The plot is deliberately prosaic, it's dialogue an honest portrait of the local dialect. Simple and direct, this novel is template all crime novelist's should study.

There are so many writers in this genre who should have long ago read this book. That way the truly good writers would have learned from Mr. Higgins, and the others would have realized that they shouldn't have even tried. The dialogue is a masters' class in writing dialogue. Some books age better than others, and this one will be enjoyed for many years to com.

Service was very quick , coming from Liverpool, great book ,everyone should read . Lived outside Boston for several years nice to know where they were going and what they were talking about , loved the book!!!!!

This book is a masterpiece, a crime novel written in a style unique in the genre. There are no real heroes or villains in the story but rather real characters peopoling a crime riddden segment of society. Nobody before or since, including Higgins himself, has used dialogue to such brilliant effect. In fact entertaining and realistic dialogue defines both the story and the characters. This is a book which has great impact and will remain unforgettable.

It's gritty, realistic, great dialogue, good storyline. So why didn't I like it more than I did? It was all on the surface like a movie script that hasn't been turned into a movie yet. The actors would make the characters seem real, but without the actors there's dialogue but the characters don't seem to be there. That might have been okay if it had been more fun. I needed someone to like.

Just finished Friends of Eddie Coyle and was not impressed. It was moderately entertaining, some funny dialogue, but average at best. Far from "the best crime novel ever written" as described by Elmore Leonard. I'd put it below anything from Lehane or Parker for local lore. While it was cool to read about local towns and landmarks, the author still mis-stated the capacity of the old Boston Garden.

This is touted as the best Crime novel ever written. I must have been reading a different book. I couldn't follow it. The story jumps around so much I just felt confused. I only got about half way through. Not my cup of tea.