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tbsims's review against another edition
3.0
the first quarter, I would give a 4 - very funny cast of characters.
tommooney's review against another edition
3.0
Boyle is a decent noir writer but I much prefer his dark, moody stuff to this slightly more caper-ish affair.
Three women - the widow of a mob boss, an ex-porn star and a damaged teenager - get mixed up in murders, stolen cash and car chases. It's got a kind of Elmore Leonard feel to it but isn't ever in the same class. The humour isn't there and while the dialogue is good, it isn't Elmore.
Not a bad read but just not quite hitting the high notes
Three women - the widow of a mob boss, an ex-porn star and a damaged teenager - get mixed up in murders, stolen cash and car chases. It's got a kind of Elmore Leonard feel to it but isn't ever in the same class. The humour isn't there and while the dialogue is good, it isn't Elmore.
Not a bad read but just not quite hitting the high notes
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Visit the locations in the novel
If there’s not a genre of fiction called Brooklyn Noir then there should be as this is the title read. There’s not many books you can spend time with lovable rogues and funny gangsters if you can ever call a mobster lovable.
This is pure comedy gold as well as a brilliantly addictive insight into the various New York ’hoods’ – see I’m picking up the lingo already. The characters jump from the page kicking and screaming and even shooting. Each one is unique, their own stories and problems making up a rich tapestry of both mobster and regular traits.
I really enjoyed spending time with these characters as that’s exactly what they are – characters who could be in a movie given they’re so vivid and vibrant.
The setting comes alive – the sights, sounds, smells and neighbourhood eccentricities for which New York is so well known fight each other in a swirl of excitement.
Take time out and spend time in Brooklyn and the Bronx. A mobster of a plot, unforgettable characters and a whirlwind visit to some of the most vibrant New York neighbourhoods
joshuacalebwilson's review against another edition
5.0
Had no idea what this book was about before I started it. Definitely hits the ground running and doesn’t stop until the end. Lotta fun. Great characters.
kj2355's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tdblaylock's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’ve read just about all of Boyle’s books, and this one just didn’t do it for me. It was a clever story, and actually has one of my favorite scenes from any book I’ve read recently, but the plot wasn’t quite as catching as his other crime noir books. Despite that, his characters were still so good and believable. It’s a beautiful cover, and I’ll proudly put this book in my collection with his others.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
My William Boyle journey has been an interesting one. I’ve tried to read Gravesend three separate times with no success. They have the feel of those George Pelecanos style character-driven crime tales that I feel like I should enjoy more than I do, in part because the writer is too close to their home territory to let the story breathe.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I finally sat down and finished The Lonely Witness, which I found to be fine but lacking, aside from a great protagonist. It did encourage me to eventually try City of Margins and that one I couldn’t put down. Which led to this…
Ah this.
Man, this book was fun. Just pure fun, at times bonkers. It’s a story worthy of the rich characters Boyle creates, here the typical sad sacks and low level mafiosi based in Brooklyn (and this time, the Bronx). He sets the stage and when the story accelerates, it really doesn’t start.
At the heart of it though is the bonds the characters develop. This could have easily been a kind of obnoxiously condescending “Look at us crazy broads!” tale written from a male perspective but Boyle makes you care about the actors and that gives the story real stakes. I was rooting for the three female leads right to the end.
So: great story, great setting, great characters. Definitely the best thing I’ve read from Boyle and one of the best things I’ve read in 2020. I guess the only thing left to do is finally tackle Gravesend and wait for his next book.
2023 reread:
Not as tightly written as I remember but still a ton of fun. Rena is the character that makes this story for me. That Boyle grounds her and builds off of her makes her persona and plight feel genuine and thus the rest of the story can move as well as it does. It's a cinematically written book that's crying out for a sepia toned film.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I finally sat down and finished The Lonely Witness, which I found to be fine but lacking, aside from a great protagonist. It did encourage me to eventually try City of Margins and that one I couldn’t put down. Which led to this…
Ah this.
Man, this book was fun. Just pure fun, at times bonkers. It’s a story worthy of the rich characters Boyle creates, here the typical sad sacks and low level mafiosi based in Brooklyn (and this time, the Bronx). He sets the stage and when the story accelerates, it really doesn’t start.
At the heart of it though is the bonds the characters develop. This could have easily been a kind of obnoxiously condescending “Look at us crazy broads!” tale written from a male perspective but Boyle makes you care about the actors and that gives the story real stakes. I was rooting for the three female leads right to the end.
So: great story, great setting, great characters. Definitely the best thing I’ve read from Boyle and one of the best things I’ve read in 2020. I guess the only thing left to do is finally tackle Gravesend and wait for his next book.
2023 reread:
Not as tightly written as I remember but still a ton of fun. Rena is the character that makes this story for me. That Boyle grounds her and builds off of her makes her persona and plight feel genuine and thus the rest of the story can move as well as it does. It's a cinematically written book that's crying out for a sepia toned film.
kiwi_fruit's review against another edition
3.0
A fast paced story, a mix of comedy and violence. Each chapter is written from a different character POVs: an ex porno actress, the widow of a mafioso, her fourteen y.o. granddaughter, a disgruntled mobster who steals half a mil, etc. but the plot is not difficult to follow. Essentially it’s the story of a chase that leaves a trail of smashed cars and bodies in its wake. It’s a mix of humor, violence, old memories and family bonds. This mob/crime romp is for readers who enjoyed the Sopranos show. It is written as a movie script, the reader can easily imagine the likes of Adriana, Tony, Pauly, etc. in this book large cast of characters.