The Graving Dock

by Gabriel Cohen

Book Overview

"In the chill of winter, a homemade coffin drifts ashore in ""New York""""Harbor"," containing the body of a boy with the letters "G.I." written on his forehead. As a detective with ""Brooklyn"" South Homicide, Jack Leightner finds that corpses are a part of every working day. But today his attention is riveted on a considerably smaller box, containing an engagement ring for his girlfriend Michelle...." In his second mystery featuring Detective Jack...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312362668
• ISBN13: 9780312362669
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Interview on NPR hooked me on this author

I listened to an interview on NPR with Gabriel Cohen, who read an excerpt from this book and who explained the historical context of all three mysteries: Red Hook, The Graving Dock and Neptune Avenue. I downloaded Neptune Avenue onto my Kindle, had to search used book booksellers to find the other two. I read them backwards and it is the first mystery I have ever read. I was enthralled. (I read non-fiction) I am now interested in mystery and will be looking for Gabriel Cohen's next episode with Jack Leightner.

The Graving Dock

After reading the first book "Red Hook", I found the "Graving Dock" to be a more interesting read as well as a faster paced novel. The first book spent a lot of time giving background that I felt was unnessary and slowed the book down. The second book in the series gave enough background to be interesting and capable as a stand alone story.

good genre book with slight deviations from the usual

i picked this book up after hearing about gabriel cohen on NPR, and upon learning that his out-of-print debut novel "red hook" can run you $80-150 from online sellers who do have a copy. so i started with this one, which is easier to get and less expensive (and equally highly rated). after all the hype, i was expecting a bit more but was not seriously disappointed either. "graving dock" is a good detective genre book, easily falling in line with previous writers like chandler, block, etc. it deviates from the usual formula somewhat by making the city a living, breathing entity that really casts a tangible presence to red hook, brooklyn. the writing and plot are strong, the characterizations a bit campy at times. in short, this is a good book not a great book with a few unique angles that you don't normally find in standard cookie-cutter detective novels.

I Hope there will be More Jack Leightners

Both The Graving Dock and Red Hook were pleasures to read - realistic characters, palpable settings, and beautifully paced.

Death In A Quiet City

Gabriel Cohen's new novel, THE GRAVING DOCK, is as tense and exciting as RED HOOK, his terrific first novel featuring NYPD Detective Jack Leightner. From its opening image of a homemade coffin floating in New York Harbor to the final, life-or-death confrontation between Leightner and the principal villain in the eerie title setting, it will grip you with the sheer power of great storytelling. The most fascinating aspect of this novel is its vivid recreation of New York City at a specific time--the strangely quiet weeks just after 9/11. Everyone who was here then will appreciate how well Cohen has captured the look and feel of the city, and it serves as a memorable background for the lone detective's search for justice. By any standard, THE GRAVING DOCK is an overwhelmingly powerful reading experience. On the list of current detective fiction, it is at the top. Highly recommended.