Lords: A Novel

by Mark Brandstetter

Amidst the neon haze of the Mermaid Parade, Coney Island, early summer 1996, Jeremy stares at the spectacular of the Wonder Wheel, and it's there he decides to rob the host of a friendly visit."LORDS" by Mark Brandstetter plunges readers into the gritty depths of Brooklyn, weaving a fast-paced and darkly humorous coming-of-age tale inspired by raw lived experiences and urban myths. At the heart of this whirlwind story are five individuals, bound tighter than family, their lives a tangled web of secrets, love, and treachery.Jeremy, the mastermind of their unity, harbors a haunting love for the elusive Mary and a secret that drives him from the sanctity of college life into the underbelly of crime following a disastrous heist at a Novelty Candy Store.Manny, the clear-headed artist of the group, uses his share of their ill-gotten gains in a desperate bid to free his jailed father, sacrificing his dignity in the squalor of the city's most rundown chicken joint.The enigmatic duo, Ian and Spaceman, exist in a delirious world of their own. Straddling the line between reality and fantasy, they embark on a perilous journey, their love for chaos unquenched until they find themselves protagonists in a real-life video game narrative, battling past demons.At the center of their universe is Mary, young and torn, wrestling with her desires and loyalties. She's caught in a tumultuous love triangle, grappling with her feelings for the worldly Tom, her complex love for Jeremy, and a passionate entanglement with her best friend, Janice. Her path is one of shattered dreams and redemption, marked by the aftermath of the robbery and the relentless scrutiny of a court-appointed therapist.Their hedonistic escapades begin to unravel as Paulie, burdened by debts and a thirst for revenge, brings a rogue cop into their circle, familiar with their every move. The story spirals into a tragic crescendo of betrayal, culminating in a heart-wrenching confrontation that cruelly upholds the sanctity of a promise. As their world implodes, a final act of deceit sets the stage for a deadly clash with the authorities.Mark Brandstetter's explosive debut, "LORDS" paints a raw, gripping portrait of youth teetering on the edge, laced with piercing satire and the raw emotion of a generation navigating uncertain futures. It's a vivid journey through love, betrayal, and the slim hope of redemption, leaving readers breathless until the very last page.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

I have been writing since I was a teenager. LORDS might be my first work but I have plenty of stories to tell. studied at NYU. I am a freelance video editor and motion designer and hold a BA in Film and Television. I self-published a short story Clown Town, and currently writing my follow-up The Heartland Menagerie, and then Freaks Come Out at Night, with a collection of short stories in between.

LORDS is inspired by my early teens in the Borough of Kings and the urban tales told around the neighborhoods. It’s the land I know like the back of my hand. First toiled writing it as a screenplay that evolved with greater depth to now a novel.