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A riveting and suspenseful debut, The Narrowback is the tale of a soulful Irish-American gangster who dares to betray the IRA.
- GenresFiction
Paperback Bunko
First published January 1, 1999
3 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Michael Ledwidge
78 books443 followersMichael Ledwidge is the son of Irish parents and was born and raised in the Bronx. A graduate of Manhattan College, he is married and has two children.
As the co-author of a series of some of James Patterson’s most profitable books to date, Ledwidge has risen from an admired but, it’s fair to say, mostly unread author, to co-writing some of the most widely read books in the world. He’s made real money doing it, too, enough to change his life completely.
As the co-author of a series of some of James Patterson’s most profitable books to date, Ledwidge has risen from an admired but, it’s fair to say, mostly unread author, to co-writing some of the most widely read books in the world. He’s made real money doing it, too, enough to change his life completely.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 11, 2013
The Narrowback was Michael Ledwidge's first book, written, he says, to fill the hours while he was working as a freight elevator operator in a NYC building. It's a good book for a first attempt.
Having read his third book as well, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead", I can see a definite pattern emerging in Ledwidge's writing. Both books take place in NYC (which is also true of the Michael Bennett collaboration with James Patterson), with the action centering around the borough of the Bronx. Both books have as their subjects Irish-American men who were basically good people that just got a bad deal in life, and thus turned to crime. In both books, the criminals get away with their crimes at the end (although in both cases there is ample opportunity for a sequel).
This particular book centers around three men. Tommy Farrell is an ex-con who grew up in a tough neighborhood in the Inwood section of the Bronx, and whose life direction was shaped by an alcoholic father who unjustly threw his brother out in the streets to fend for himself while he was still in his teens. Tommy, along with his friend Mullen, two brothers named Burns, and an Irish import named Durkin execute the perfect robbery of an upscale hotel's safe, making away with bundles of cash and jewels. The problems arise when they turn to a bunch of Albanian gangsters to fence the jewels, at which time the Albanian's try to rip them off, and Farrell cold cocks their leader with his gun, making him some very powerful enemies who take their revenge on the small group.
Patrick Ryan is a carpenter and Vietnam vet who spent some time with the IRA in Belfast, where he received a favor that is now being called in. Ryan also lives in the Bronx.
Francis McCarry is an ambitious FBI agent who is tasked with curtailing the terrorist activities of the IRA in New York.
Circumstances bring these three (and others) together towards the end, and it's a suspenseful (if violent) confrontation. If you don't mind reading about Farrell's constant boozing, drugging, and cigarette smoking (in nearly every chapter after the confrontation with the Albanians), and aren't squeamish about violent confrontations, this is a very good book.
Having read his third book as well, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead", I can see a definite pattern emerging in Ledwidge's writing. Both books take place in NYC (which is also true of the Michael Bennett collaboration with James Patterson), with the action centering around the borough of the Bronx. Both books have as their subjects Irish-American men who were basically good people that just got a bad deal in life, and thus turned to crime. In both books, the criminals get away with their crimes at the end (although in both cases there is ample opportunity for a sequel).
This particular book centers around three men. Tommy Farrell is an ex-con who grew up in a tough neighborhood in the Inwood section of the Bronx, and whose life direction was shaped by an alcoholic father who unjustly threw his brother out in the streets to fend for himself while he was still in his teens. Tommy, along with his friend Mullen, two brothers named Burns, and an Irish import named Durkin execute the perfect robbery of an upscale hotel's safe, making away with bundles of cash and jewels. The problems arise when they turn to a bunch of Albanian gangsters to fence the jewels, at which time the Albanian's try to rip them off, and Farrell cold cocks their leader with his gun, making him some very powerful enemies who take their revenge on the small group.
Patrick Ryan is a carpenter and Vietnam vet who spent some time with the IRA in Belfast, where he received a favor that is now being called in. Ryan also lives in the Bronx.
Francis McCarry is an ambitious FBI agent who is tasked with curtailing the terrorist activities of the IRA in New York.
Circumstances bring these three (and others) together towards the end, and it's a suspenseful (if violent) confrontation. If you don't mind reading about Farrell's constant boozing, drugging, and cigarette smoking (in nearly every chapter after the confrontation with the Albanians), and aren't squeamish about violent confrontations, this is a very good book.
October 2, 2010
In an utterly realistic, noir novel, the reader follows the actions of Tom Farrell as if someone was walking behind him and filming every event.
After release from prison, Farrell gets a job as a night doorman on Park Avenue. Across the street is a hotel and he sees the schedule of the armored car as it picks up money on a regular basis. He also makes note of the times of the radio car patrols.
He puts together a team for the heist and the last member is a man named Durkin, an Irishman. Although the robbery went smoothly, Durkin has his own agenda for the money. He shoots at Farrell but misses, Farrell returns the shot, wounding Durkin, then Farrell's accomplices take care of the rest and do away with the body.
Not long after Durkin was at the bottom of the Hudson River, Farrell learns that he was a member of the IRA.
The next step is to find a fence for the jewels taken in the robbery. Farrell and his gang go to the home of an Albanian but there is an altercation when the man attempts to cheat Farrell.
Later, when Farrell and his men are celebrating, there is a payback from the Albanians and Farrell is lucky to escape with his life.
The story seems taken from a person from the hardest segment of Manhattan and the Bronx. It tells of the disintegration of a man and the many things that can go wrong when someone commits a crime and numbs his brain with alcohol and drugs. The story also teaches of what life can be like on the streets and the misery of a person's life.
After release from prison, Farrell gets a job as a night doorman on Park Avenue. Across the street is a hotel and he sees the schedule of the armored car as it picks up money on a regular basis. He also makes note of the times of the radio car patrols.
He puts together a team for the heist and the last member is a man named Durkin, an Irishman. Although the robbery went smoothly, Durkin has his own agenda for the money. He shoots at Farrell but misses, Farrell returns the shot, wounding Durkin, then Farrell's accomplices take care of the rest and do away with the body.
Not long after Durkin was at the bottom of the Hudson River, Farrell learns that he was a member of the IRA.
The next step is to find a fence for the jewels taken in the robbery. Farrell and his gang go to the home of an Albanian but there is an altercation when the man attempts to cheat Farrell.
Later, when Farrell and his men are celebrating, there is a payback from the Albanians and Farrell is lucky to escape with his life.
The story seems taken from a person from the hardest segment of Manhattan and the Bronx. It tells of the disintegration of a man and the many things that can go wrong when someone commits a crime and numbs his brain with alcohol and drugs. The story also teaches of what life can be like on the streets and the misery of a person's life.
December 10, 2017
Michael Ledwidge's The Narrowback introduces us to three Irish American men in New York City who have each endured hardship and privation, but who have also developed into very different people. Francis McCarry is the first of his family to go to college and is ruthlessly climbing the ladder at the FBI. Patrick Ryan is a carpenter, but also a Vietnam vet and a former sniper for the IRA during The Troubles in Belfast. And Tom Farrell is a small time criminal who has never had any kind of luck other than bad.
It is Farrell who sets things in motion, leading a crew on a heist of a luxury hotel in Manhattan. Everything goes according to plan until a man named Durkin - a hasty addition to the team - tries to murder the rest after the robbery. Farrell kills him, however, and the men are off to fence a haul of uncut diamonds to the Albanian mob before splitting up. Things don't go well, however, when the Albanians try to rip off Tom and his partners. Farrell bloodies the family godfather, and escapes with both cash and the diamonds.
This victory is short-lived - the Albanians are soon hot on Farrell's trail, and worse, so is the IRA, for Durkin turns out to have been an operative "fundraising" for the Irish movement, and his disappearance has been noted. Now, McCarry and the FBI are circling the Irish American underground, Patrick Ryan has been called in to avenge Durkin's death, and Farrell is circling the drain in a haze of alcohol, drugs, and rage, torn between running for his life and taking revenge for friends killed as the body counts climbs.
Ledwidge writes compellingly, with sharp, incisive dialog and a fast-moving, violent plot. The characters are well-drawn, and each of the main figures is three-dimensional, and even darkly sympathetic. Morality is flexible for these men, but at the end, they all have a code to which they adhere, and The Narrowback is top-flight modern noir.
It is Farrell who sets things in motion, leading a crew on a heist of a luxury hotel in Manhattan. Everything goes according to plan until a man named Durkin - a hasty addition to the team - tries to murder the rest after the robbery. Farrell kills him, however, and the men are off to fence a haul of uncut diamonds to the Albanian mob before splitting up. Things don't go well, however, when the Albanians try to rip off Tom and his partners. Farrell bloodies the family godfather, and escapes with both cash and the diamonds.
This victory is short-lived - the Albanians are soon hot on Farrell's trail, and worse, so is the IRA, for Durkin turns out to have been an operative "fundraising" for the Irish movement, and his disappearance has been noted. Now, McCarry and the FBI are circling the Irish American underground, Patrick Ryan has been called in to avenge Durkin's death, and Farrell is circling the drain in a haze of alcohol, drugs, and rage, torn between running for his life and taking revenge for friends killed as the body counts climbs.
Ledwidge writes compellingly, with sharp, incisive dialog and a fast-moving, violent plot. The characters are well-drawn, and each of the main figures is three-dimensional, and even darkly sympathetic. Morality is flexible for these men, but at the end, they all have a code to which they adhere, and The Narrowback is top-flight modern noir.
July 9, 2020
I liked the book, but it took a while for the plot to come together. Characters introduced early in the story don’t have a place in it until the very end. Almost like a cameo appearance. The ending was pretty decent.
May 9, 2017
It was a easy to read book, but jumped over the places bit. Good story
June 6, 2016
I read this too long ago to give it a fair review. Plus I was reading it a paragraph at a time between tables while serving at the Santa Maria Restaurant in St. Augustine. Hurricane season lol. The book was ok, that's the best I can do.
October 17, 2012
Eh. Couldnt get into it so I stopped
September 6, 2013
OK crime fiction between warring IRA members, some Albanians and some American born Irish. I think it was meant to be "deeper" than how it came across.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews