A 1970 novel by George V. Higgins, the work presents a stark and lifelike portrayal of the felony underworld in Boston. The narrative focuses on Eddie Coyle, a low-level gun runner dealing with a possible jail sentence, and the people he interacts with, together with law enforcement officials, informants, and fellow criminals. The story unfolds primarily by dialogue, providing a character-driven exploration of desperation, loyalty, and betrayal inside a world of petty crime.
Its significance lies in its modern strategy to crime fiction, eschewing conventional plot buildings and emphasizing naturalistic dialogue. This system supplies a uncooked and genuine glimpse into the lives of these working outdoors the legislation. Its influence on the style is appreciable, influencing subsequent crime writers with its lifelike portrayal of criminals and its concentrate on the mundane facets of their lives. The narrative affords a historic context, depicting the felony panorama of the early Seventies.