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appalonia's review
5.0
Although marketed as a crime novel, this book was really written more as literature. There is a murder mystery, but it often takes backseat to focus on the people who populate its story. Unlike most first books in an intended series the main character, Detective Jack Leightner, is in the twilight of his career. The novel starts off with the Detective investigating the murder of a young Dominican in Red Hook, a section of Brooklyn where Jack was born. The stabbing investigation brings up unwanted memories of his father and his dead brother. Leightner goes on to try to make sense of his failed marriage and the other relationships in his life, including the estrangement of his son. His son Ben is an aspiring filmmaker, and much more like his father than he would like. He goes on a quest to make a film about the neighborhood of Red Hook in the hopes of understanding more about his father’s past.
stanl's review
4.0
Nicely written;not a wasted word. #1 in a growing series. Brooklyn and NYC setting and an interesting middle-aged homicide detective who has typical American male problems. That doesn't detract one whit from this debut, however.
alanfederman's review
3.0
The location of the story (Red Hook circa 2001) and the characters themselves seemed to exceed the plot. There were a few twists and turns, but for the most part, the results were predictable and the ending felt rushed.
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