Set in a Brooklyn housing project in 1969, the story begins when Sportcoat, an aging, hard-drinking church deacon, shoots a young drug dealer named Deems Clemens in broad daylight. This public act of violence affects a wide cast of characters, including Italian mobsters, local churchgoers, the police force, and the neighborhood’s drug runners. As the community reacts to the shooting, the narrative traces the deacon’s chaotic survival and the secrets buried within the Cause Houses, involving a missing stash of heroin and a legendary ancient statue.
Readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction and complex urban ensembles will find value in this portrayal of mid-century New York. It appeals to those interested in how race, religious tradition, and organized crime intersect within a tight-knit neighborhood. The reader walks away with a detailed understanding of how a single impulsive event can expose the interconnected loyalties and social hierarchies that sustain a community during a period of rapid cultural transition.
- Published
- 2020
- Language
- EN
