Cityside

by William Heffernan

"Funny, sad, clever, original, heartwarming, timely, and terrific . . . A must-read."
—Nelson DeMille

"Highly recommended . . . Heffernan is masterly in -examining the scruples of corporate downsizing with a discerning eye and levity in his cauldron of good and evil."— Library Journal

"An enormously entertaining yarn that puts the concept of human resources in an arresting new perspective."
— Kirkus Review

"A highly entertaining read."
— Publishers Weekly

"Fun and amusing, Heffernan’s book nonetheless mirrors a growing societal terror."
— Gannett News Service

In his highly acclaimed and bestselling novel The -Dinosaur Club, William Heffernan turned the world of corporate greed and downsizing on its head in what USA Today called a "page turner" and a "funny and witty tale." Now, Pulitzer Prize nominee Heffernan takes readers behind the scenes at a major New York newspaper. Set against the backdrop of the ’70s, when a bankrupt town danced its nights away to a disco beat and attack journalism as we know it today was born, Cityside brings to life the ever-eccentric, sometimes endearing, and always devious cast of characters who populate a big-city newsroom.

With the crisp pace and sharp characters that are hallmarks of his writing, Heffernan again tackles issues as real as today’s headlines in this tale of ruthlessness and power. Once one of New York’s most respected investigative reporters, Heffernan is the perfect writer to tell this story, and in his hands Cityside becomes a compelling novel that readers won’t soon forget.

William Heffernan , a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee from his days as an award-winning journalist, is the author of fifteen novels, including such bestsellers as The Corsican, The Dinosaur Club (a New York Times bestseller), Blood Rose, Tarnished Blue (winner of the Edgar Award in 1996), and Beulah Hill . He lives in Vermont with his wife and three sons.

Genres: Fiction

270 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

William Heffernan, a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, is the author of eighteen novels, including such bestsellers as The Corsincan, The Dinosaur Club (a New York Times bestseller), The Dead Detective, and Tarnished Blue (winner of an Edgar Award). Heffernan lives outside of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Reviews

[ABC Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that could easily be turned into a movie, or even David Simon series. Heffernan has the ability to tread the thin line between beach book and complicated narrative. In the end, it was a bit more feel good than I would have liked, but it is classic Heffernan. He just doesn't shine as he does in some other books.

[Randy Garry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling story. Although fictional, it surely offered insights into the behind-the-scenes world of newspaper publishing, and the medical profession. Both offered up in a quite cynical fashion. Good character development. A great read!

[Sheila Garry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good story of investigative reporting about a 5 yr old boys quest for heart surgery that he can't afford. Well developed characters kept my interest as the pace quickened and the boy sickened.

[Joe Aten · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful accounting of newspaper investigative reporting that could only be written by someone who lived it like Heffernan. Add a heart warming story of a boy with a fatal heart condition. Together they make a great read that is well written, fast paced, at times humorous and romantic and a real page turner.