In this masterful work of neo-noir, William Boyle expertly captures the grit and desperation of a neighborhood in flux, and spotlights the neighbors who find themselves caught up in the crimes of the past.
Industry Reviews
"Boyle chews the local dialect like a Nathan's hot dog, biting into the juices of pure Brooklynese and savoring the mustardy aftertaste." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review
"An adrenaline-charged debut in the Elmore Leonard vein: blue-collar Brooklyn setting, idiomatic dialogue, no detective figure. Bristling with energy, Gravesend marks Boyle out as a new name to watch." -- The Guardian (UK)
"A moving debut. The characters are swept into a downward spiral of desperation as they grapple with the weight of the past and the pull that the neighborhood has on them. Fans of classic noir will find a lot to like." -- Publishers Weekly
"A simply riveting and deftly crafted novel of revenge, desperation, and escape, Gravesend showcases author William Boyle's genuine flair as a novelist for character and narrative driven storytelling." -- Midwest Book Review
"This a powerful novel, with realistic, complex characters. In fact, I would say (if this isn't self-contradictory) they are 'complex' in their 'simplicity.' If that is a puzzling statement, I should mention that Boyle (in an interview that appends the novel) expresses admiration for Flannery O'Connor, and I would describe many of her characters the same way." -- Popular Culture Association
"A bruiser and a heartbreaker of a debut. With echoes of Lehane and Pelecanos but with a rhythm and poignancy all its own, it's a gripping tale of family, revenge, the strains of the past and the losses that never leave us." -- Megan Abbott, author of 'You Will Know Me' and 'The Fever'
"Gravesend is a taut exploration of the ways we hurt and save (or try to save) one another. With unforgettable characters, a fist for a plot and a deeply evocative setting, Boyle navigates alleys and streets with the best of them, Lehane, Price, and Pelecanos." -- Tom Franklin, author of 'Poachers' and 'Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter'
"Gravesend kicks ass! An irresistible combo of an insider's tour of Brooklyn and true and authentic 21st Century Noir. Boyle is one to watch." -- Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of 'The Fallen' and 'Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies'
"Gravesend is a book that hits you in the guts the same way David Goodis or Charles Willeford's books do. Boyle's mining that dark edge of America where no one is safe, not even from themselves. A dark ride but a seriously great ride." -- Willy Vlautin, author of 'The Motel Life' and 'The Free'
"William Boyle has written a terrific novel for the new millennium of Noir. A beautiful actress returns to her Brooklyn neighborhood where she finds the dark world she left has gotten worse. Peopled by ex-cons and ex-cops, teenage gangsters and Russian mobsters, Gravesend creates a claustrophobic intimacy as it moves swiftly to its shocking end. I finished the book grateful for release from its relentless grip, and admiring the guts it took to write such a brutal story." -- Chris Offutt, author of 'Kentucky Straight' and 'Out of the Woods'
