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The Killing Yards
This gritty crime novel set in 1990s New York City will appeal to fans of Dennis Lehane.
New York, 1993. Jimmy Lettner, a convicted drug-trafficker who once lost a daughter in a narco-fueled car wreck, runs Manhattan’s hottest nightspot, Abattoir. Reformed by his time in prison, all he wants is to run a clean club. But that’s not possible in a city rife with corruption.
Jimmy doesn’t know it, but his right-hand man, Serge Thanakis, is operating an ecstasy ring that’s drawing the wrong kind of attention. Jealous industry rivals will do anything to shut Abbatoir down, and the new mayor presses the NYPD to clean up the city’s darkest corners. As Jimmy’s troubles mount, temptations from his past call to him.
Meanwhile, Ben Hopkins, a straight-edge rookie cop on the hunt for a fast-track ticket to detective, turns his attention to Abattoir. He has something to prove—to his father and to himself. But he’s not prepared for undercover work. The club scene devours Ben, along with his ability to tell right and wrong.
As the war for Abattoir escalates, bodies drop, drawing more heat from city officials. The competition threatens Jimmy’s only surviving daughter, a revelation about his past threatens his future, and he questions how long his reign as NYC’s nightclub king can last. But through it all the dance floor stays packed—and Jimmy will do anything to keep his crown.
New York, 1993. Jimmy Lettner, a convicted drug-trafficker who once lost a daughter in a narco-fueled car wreck, runs Manhattan’s hottest nightspot, Abattoir. Reformed by his time in prison, all he wants is to run a clean club. But that’s not possible in a city rife with corruption.
Jimmy doesn’t know it, but his right-hand man, Serge Thanakis, is operating an ecstasy ring that’s drawing the wrong kind of attention. Jealous industry rivals will do anything to shut Abbatoir down, and the new mayor presses the NYPD to clean up the city’s darkest corners. As Jimmy’s troubles mount, temptations from his past call to him.
Meanwhile, Ben Hopkins, a straight-edge rookie cop on the hunt for a fast-track ticket to detective, turns his attention to Abattoir. He has something to prove—to his father and to himself. But he’s not prepared for undercover work. The club scene devours Ben, along with his ability to tell right and wrong.
As the war for Abattoir escalates, bodies drop, drawing more heat from city officials. The competition threatens Jimmy’s only surviving daughter, a revelation about his past threatens his future, and he questions how long his reign as NYC’s nightclub king can last. But through it all the dance floor stays packed—and Jimmy will do anything to keep his crown.
352 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Jason Allison
10 books72 followersBronx-born and raised, Jason Allison spent twenty years with the NYPD, mostly as a homicide detective. THE KILLING YARDS is his first novel. His award-winning fiction has been featured in literary journals and anthologies. He and his wife live in Massachusetts with their judgmental Golden Retriever.
Jason posts intermittently about culture at jasonallison.substack.com.
Jason posts intermittently about culture at jasonallison.substack.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 27, 2026
Is like The Duece meets The Wire and everything Dennis Lehane has written combined. DOPE. Gritty 1990s Manhattan.
September 1, 2026
Meet your new favorite nineties noir thriller, courtesy of a remarkably talented debut. There's so much to love about Jason Allison's storytelling, which combines grit and unflinching action with vivid, stylish prose. This multi-POV novel takes readers into the minds of criminals and cops, but don't expect cookie-cutter detective fiction from its exploration of New York City's illicit underworld. Allison's deep professional experience with investigative work provides the backdrop for an authentic high-octane dive into nightclubs, crime rings, and collateral damage. I'm obsessed.
September 10, 2026
I finished this last night, and honestly I am not sure when the last time I felt so excited about an ending was. You know, a lot of times you read a book and there’s so much buildup and then the ending comes and it’s like a downhill mountain snowball rolling out of control and then it just ends… well The Killing Yards by Jason. Allison is the complete opposite. This book was so well paced and evenly balanced. The ending was so well executed, I jumped up from the couch and ran to my husband’s office to tell him how good the ending was. It was just so so satisfying. I want to say more, but I don’t want to spoil it.
I’ve read my fair share of crime novels, and this one though really sucked me right in. I felt like I was in New York City in the 90’s and I felt like in Jimmy’s nightclub… dancing not doing drugs (to be clear 😉) the descriptions were on point but weren’t overdone.
The characters; Jimmy, Serge, Michelle, Ben, Hannah… ugh they were all imperfect and sketchy and exactly all of the things you expect a noir crime thriller character to be. Not in a cliche way but more of a tradition archetype. They never felt flat.
Anyways, you can read what the stories about I’m not going to regurgitate a good read summary. All you need to know that this is one of the best debut books. I have read all year and if you’re into greedy, hard-boiled crime thrillers then this absolutely needs to be on your TBR.
I’ve read my fair share of crime novels, and this one though really sucked me right in. I felt like I was in New York City in the 90’s and I felt like in Jimmy’s nightclub… dancing not doing drugs (to be clear 😉) the descriptions were on point but weren’t overdone.
The characters; Jimmy, Serge, Michelle, Ben, Hannah… ugh they were all imperfect and sketchy and exactly all of the things you expect a noir crime thriller character to be. Not in a cliche way but more of a tradition archetype. They never felt flat.
Anyways, you can read what the stories about I’m not going to regurgitate a good read summary. All you need to know that this is one of the best debut books. I have read all year and if you’re into greedy, hard-boiled crime thrillers then this absolutely needs to be on your TBR.
October 8, 2026
A Gripping, Gritty Trip Back to 1990s New York!
I won’t take time summarizing the plot of The Killing Yards, as this is already done quite well in the Amazon/GoodReads Book Descriptions. Instead, my review will focus on why I highly recommend this debut novel by Jason Allison, a former NYPD detective.
The Killing Yards is the kind of debut novel that stays with you after you’ve finished the last page. Jason Allison has created a story that doesn’t simply takes place in New York City—it makes you feel like you are there, walking the streets, stepping into the clubs, sensing the tension, and experiencing the gritty world of 1990s New York firsthand.
One of the book’s major strengths is its well-developed characters. They are not polished or predictable; they are flawed, complicated, vulnerable and very real; thus making them characters in which I became personally invested in what happened to them.
Allison also brings the reader deep into the club and drug scene of 1990s New York City, and this is where the novel really comes alive. The atmosphere, the people, the danger, the nightlife, and the darker side of the city are portrayed with a definite sense of authenticity. You can almost hear the music, feel the energy of the clubs, and sense the uncertainty of what might happen next.
And Allison’s background as a former New York City detective clearly adds something special to the book. His understanding of police work, street life, criminal behavior, and the people caught up in that world gives the story an authenticity that I found particularly compelling. But what impressed me most is that he doesn’t simply tell the reader what is happening—his writing pulls you into the scene. There were moments when I genuinely felt as though I had stepped back in time and was personally experiencing 1990s New York alongside these characters.
Most importantly, The Killing Yards kept me captivated. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, but I was equally interested in the people and the world Allison had created. The combination of suspense, flawed and memorable characters, authentic New York atmosphere, and Allison’s firsthand knowledge makes this an especially impressive debut.
For me, The Killing Yards is a 5-star read as I got a “good high” just from the experience of reading it. Jason Allison’s debut novel is one that I hope reaches the large reading audience it deserves. I’ll definitely be looking forward to his next book.
I won’t take time summarizing the plot of The Killing Yards, as this is already done quite well in the Amazon/GoodReads Book Descriptions. Instead, my review will focus on why I highly recommend this debut novel by Jason Allison, a former NYPD detective.
The Killing Yards is the kind of debut novel that stays with you after you’ve finished the last page. Jason Allison has created a story that doesn’t simply takes place in New York City—it makes you feel like you are there, walking the streets, stepping into the clubs, sensing the tension, and experiencing the gritty world of 1990s New York firsthand.
One of the book’s major strengths is its well-developed characters. They are not polished or predictable; they are flawed, complicated, vulnerable and very real; thus making them characters in which I became personally invested in what happened to them.
Allison also brings the reader deep into the club and drug scene of 1990s New York City, and this is where the novel really comes alive. The atmosphere, the people, the danger, the nightlife, and the darker side of the city are portrayed with a definite sense of authenticity. You can almost hear the music, feel the energy of the clubs, and sense the uncertainty of what might happen next.
And Allison’s background as a former New York City detective clearly adds something special to the book. His understanding of police work, street life, criminal behavior, and the people caught up in that world gives the story an authenticity that I found particularly compelling. But what impressed me most is that he doesn’t simply tell the reader what is happening—his writing pulls you into the scene. There were moments when I genuinely felt as though I had stepped back in time and was personally experiencing 1990s New York alongside these characters.
Most importantly, The Killing Yards kept me captivated. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, but I was equally interested in the people and the world Allison had created. The combination of suspense, flawed and memorable characters, authentic New York atmosphere, and Allison’s firsthand knowledge makes this an especially impressive debut.
For me, The Killing Yards is a 5-star read as I got a “good high” just from the experience of reading it. Jason Allison’s debut novel is one that I hope reaches the large reading audience it deserves. I’ll definitely be looking forward to his next book.
July 31, 2026
Allison's debut reads nothing like a debut. Beyond an intricate plot and tons of moving parts in this novel, Allison establishes an incredibly strong style and voice that I'm certain will bolster his career in crime fiction. The period details and the pulsing insanity of the 1990s nightclub scene in New York are written in a way that only a veteran New Yorker could write, and the vast cast of characters are a thing of brilliance. Story-wise, this novel offers a little of everything you'd want: scandal, murder, double-crossing, and a never-ending struggle for power. All of this burns hot, delivering a conclusion that, quite honestly, is one of the best I've read this year.
September 23, 2026
“Give me tonight, because tonight is all we have.”
I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. Set in the 90s NY club scene this had a little bit of everything - drugs, corruption, crime, betrayal, and I devoured this on the plane home from London last week.
Jason spent 20 years with the NYPD, mostly as a homicide detective, and his experience really comes through in this book. I can’t believe this is his debut, and am so excited this is out in the world for you all to read. You absolutely must make sure this is on your list!
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Jason Allison for the ARC to review.
I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. Set in the 90s NY club scene this had a little bit of everything - drugs, corruption, crime, betrayal, and I devoured this on the plane home from London last week.
Jason spent 20 years with the NYPD, mostly as a homicide detective, and his experience really comes through in this book. I can’t believe this is his debut, and am so excited this is out in the world for you all to read. You absolutely must make sure this is on your list!
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Jason Allison for the ARC to review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It’s the nineties and the murder rate in New York City is off the charts.
Jimmy is a former hood who now wants nothing more than to run a clean night club, but he’s a felon, so his wife Michelle’s name is on the paperwork. Michelle is ambitious, a former party girl turned realtor, and she’s tired of being the silent partner to her husband. She hates Jimmy’s enforcer, Serge, who is the reason Jimmy went to prison in the first place. And Ben’s a clean-cut kid, a young cop with visions of making detective to spite his ol man.
The Killing Yards is told through the POVs of these four characters. I was searching for a title to compare to The Killing Yards and the closest I could find would be the film Donnie Brasco combined with Dennis Lehane's knack for precise characterization and dialogue.
The four stories merge into one as Jimmy and co must push back against industry rivals and mayor Giuliani who is hell bent on shutting down Jimmy's club, Abbatoir.
With richly drawn characters, and a plot soaked in the spilled drinks, hard drugs, and cigarette smoke of the raging NYC nightclub scene, The Killing Yards is a great slice of noir that keeps you guessing at each character’s fate until the very end.
Jimmy is a former hood who now wants nothing more than to run a clean night club, but he’s a felon, so his wife Michelle’s name is on the paperwork. Michelle is ambitious, a former party girl turned realtor, and she’s tired of being the silent partner to her husband. She hates Jimmy’s enforcer, Serge, who is the reason Jimmy went to prison in the first place. And Ben’s a clean-cut kid, a young cop with visions of making detective to spite his ol man.
The Killing Yards is told through the POVs of these four characters. I was searching for a title to compare to The Killing Yards and the closest I could find would be the film Donnie Brasco combined with Dennis Lehane's knack for precise characterization and dialogue.
The four stories merge into one as Jimmy and co must push back against industry rivals and mayor Giuliani who is hell bent on shutting down Jimmy's club, Abbatoir.
With richly drawn characters, and a plot soaked in the spilled drinks, hard drugs, and cigarette smoke of the raging NYC nightclub scene, The Killing Yards is a great slice of noir that keeps you guessing at each character’s fate until the very end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved. Gritty late 1980s-1990s NYC crime drama. Fabulous first novel, terrific period piece. This book had this Brooklyn girl hook, line, and sinker.
October 29, 2026
The Killing Yards captures the grit, energy, and unmistakable character of New York City during a time I remember well. Having lived through that era, I found myself connecting with the atmosphere, the people, and the authenticity of the story. It's a gripping, well-written novel that brings old New York to life without romanticizing it. A compelling read from beginning to end. Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy
Jason Allison is a talented and passionate crime fiction author who just happens to have spent twenty years policing the city he writes about—most of those years as a homicide detective.
Jimmy Lettner can’t officially own New York’s hottest club, Abattoir, because he did time for drug trafficking. His wife, Michelle, is the official owner, but they both know Jimmy lives for the club, and he means to stay clean to keep Abattoir on top. Everything conspires against him, though: the couple’s shared past, full of incredible joy and incredible tragedy, their seedy business associates, and, of course, the NYPD. I couldn’t help but care about this rich cast of characters, and more than one perfectly crafted plot twist caught me by surprise.
Allison writes of the city he grew up in, and he owns the atmosphere of New York in those days more completely than any author I can think of. The sense of place in The Killing Yards rivals modern masters like Adrian McKinty and S. A. Cosby, even if the places they write of differ greatly.
This is a blistering debut novel from an award-winning short-story author with a very bright future.
Jimmy Lettner can’t officially own New York’s hottest club, Abattoir, because he did time for drug trafficking. His wife, Michelle, is the official owner, but they both know Jimmy lives for the club, and he means to stay clean to keep Abattoir on top. Everything conspires against him, though: the couple’s shared past, full of incredible joy and incredible tragedy, their seedy business associates, and, of course, the NYPD. I couldn’t help but care about this rich cast of characters, and more than one perfectly crafted plot twist caught me by surprise.
Allison writes of the city he grew up in, and he owns the atmosphere of New York in those days more completely than any author I can think of. The sense of place in The Killing Yards rivals modern masters like Adrian McKinty and S. A. Cosby, even if the places they write of differ greatly.
This is a blistering debut novel from an award-winning short-story author with a very bright future.
October 16, 2026
Jason Allison's debut is a thrilling, engaging ride!
The premise is this: Jimmy Lettner is relatively fresh from prison, where he took the fall for cocaine to spare Serge, his right-hand man, a longer sentence. Since then, he’s opened the hottest night club in NYC, but the business is in his wife’s name (Michelle Lettner), felon that he is. The three—Jimmy, Michelle, and Serge—have a history, all relying on one another in some capacity, while also carrying grievances and secrets that complicate their interactions. And no, this isn’t a love-triangle thing. It’s the slow burn of resentment, shared ambition, and (eventually) self-preservation, all played against the gritty underbelly of a nightlife rife with drugs and drug money.
Things, quite naturally, go sideways as Jimmy’s success attracts the interest of a rival club, organized crime, and the NYPD+feds. Shots fire. Blood spills. Everyone crosses lines they’d hoped not to, and the plot snowballs with complications/twists that never feel cheap or unearned. Everything is tight, both structurally and thematically, with dueling perspectives that make each character understandable, whether or not they’re sympathetic—whether they’re making desperate or calculated decisions. Throw in some this-isn’t-what-I-wanted regressions as well.
There isn’t one character whom I’d invite to dinner, but gosh, are they compelling.* At the end, I was rooting for Serge, Jimmy, and Michelle to come through despite their transgressions, and it’s nice that the antagonists (although everyone’s cut from the same cloth) come off as grimier and/or scarier than Jimmy and crew. That, coupled with the fact that Jimmy and team don’t go looking for a war, is a smart, authorial choice, because it spared me feeling bad when antagonists got toasted. Renzo, I’m looking at you. Luc, your kiddo with the leather and licked knives is the stuff of nightmares.
[Spoilers start below and continue.]
Did I mention that every cop in this novel is dirty? and here is where the novel really got me, because the plot might be clever, but plot alone doesn’t sell me on a novel.
*This book is a lesson in human hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance.*
Jimmy is trying to run a clean club, because his eldest daughter died in a drug-related accident during his incarceration. Michelle is equally devastated, but both she and Jimmy set up the new club with drug money, and there isn’t a whiff of regret for the families their previous trade destroyed, not until it affects them. Even then, Michelle likes the luxury life and has no qualms blackmailing others. The promoters and addicts have issues all their own, living as though the party will never end, but as Serge is wont to emphasize, the party ends sooner than you think.
This novel is where self-improvement and owning the truth go to die. Even as threats and conflict drag the characters toward uncomfortable realizations—all unpacked with perfect timing for dramatic tension—they’ve worn tracks in the ground. They’re on a one-way train, and one most of them cling to it, even when they suspect its end point. Don’t expect anyone to reform or secure a happy ending, but the novel itself isn’t nihilistic either. If anything, Ben in particular provides a dire warning about trying to operate in (and game) a world of corruption without succumbing to it. Jimmy likewise highlights the futility of trying to have your cake and eat it too, cashing in on being criminally adjacent while believing he can keep his hands clean. Time and again, characters who think they can work the underworld without paying a price, whether moral or physical, have their delusions ripped from them, not rewarded.
Serge is an interesting exception to the self-deception mentioned above and emerged as a favorite POV. From the start, he owns and reflects on his regrets and failings, never lying to himself quite like other characters do. He sees himself as he is, acting with a self-awareness and practicality that won’t win any kindness awards, but which don’t invite the discomfort and pity that other characters do. Serge never made me sit with the unease of a cop thinking himself morally right while plotting murder, because his interiority never devolved into double standards. In that sense, his POV was a reprieve from the friction inherent in others, and there’s something interesting about the character who seems most self-aware and accepting of ugly truths and contradictions surviving—not rewarded, but surviving. It made me flip back to the novel’s opening passage.
Any triumph in The Killing Yards is on borrowed time. Do yourself a favor and check out this book.
------
*Admittedly, I couldn’t find any objections to Ike or some other minor characters.
**I could be wrong and am open to that, although I have my reasons for thinking it’s Serge.
The premise is this: Jimmy Lettner is relatively fresh from prison, where he took the fall for cocaine to spare Serge, his right-hand man, a longer sentence. Since then, he’s opened the hottest night club in NYC, but the business is in his wife’s name (Michelle Lettner), felon that he is. The three—Jimmy, Michelle, and Serge—have a history, all relying on one another in some capacity, while also carrying grievances and secrets that complicate their interactions. And no, this isn’t a love-triangle thing. It’s the slow burn of resentment, shared ambition, and (eventually) self-preservation, all played against the gritty underbelly of a nightlife rife with drugs and drug money.
Things, quite naturally, go sideways as Jimmy’s success attracts the interest of a rival club, organized crime, and the NYPD+feds. Shots fire. Blood spills. Everyone crosses lines they’d hoped not to, and the plot snowballs with complications/twists that never feel cheap or unearned. Everything is tight, both structurally and thematically, with dueling perspectives that make each character understandable, whether or not they’re sympathetic—whether they’re making desperate or calculated decisions. Throw in some this-isn’t-what-I-wanted regressions as well.
There isn’t one character whom I’d invite to dinner, but gosh, are they compelling.* At the end, I was rooting for Serge, Jimmy, and Michelle to come through despite their transgressions, and it’s nice that the antagonists (although everyone’s cut from the same cloth) come off as grimier and/or scarier than Jimmy and crew. That, coupled with the fact that Jimmy and team don’t go looking for a war, is a smart, authorial choice, because it spared me feeling bad when antagonists got toasted. Renzo, I’m looking at you. Luc, your kiddo with the leather and licked knives is the stuff of nightmares.
[Spoilers start below and continue.]
Did I mention that every cop in this novel is dirty? and here is where the novel really got me, because the plot might be clever, but plot alone doesn’t sell me on a novel.
*This book is a lesson in human hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance.*
Jimmy is trying to run a clean club, because his eldest daughter died in a drug-related accident during his incarceration. Michelle is equally devastated, but both she and Jimmy set up the new club with drug money, and there isn’t a whiff of regret for the families their previous trade destroyed, not until it affects them. Even then, Michelle likes the luxury life and has no qualms blackmailing others. The promoters and addicts have issues all their own, living as though the party will never end, but as Serge is wont to emphasize, the party ends sooner than you think.
This novel is where self-improvement and owning the truth go to die. Even as threats and conflict drag the characters toward uncomfortable realizations—all unpacked with perfect timing for dramatic tension—they’ve worn tracks in the ground. They’re on a one-way train, and one most of them cling to it, even when they suspect its end point. Don’t expect anyone to reform or secure a happy ending, but the novel itself isn’t nihilistic either. If anything, Ben in particular provides a dire warning about trying to operate in (and game) a world of corruption without succumbing to it. Jimmy likewise highlights the futility of trying to have your cake and eat it too, cashing in on being criminally adjacent while believing he can keep his hands clean. Time and again, characters who think they can work the underworld without paying a price, whether moral or physical, have their delusions ripped from them, not rewarded.
Serge is an interesting exception to the self-deception mentioned above and emerged as a favorite POV. From the start, he owns and reflects on his regrets and failings, never lying to himself quite like other characters do. He sees himself as he is, acting with a self-awareness and practicality that won’t win any kindness awards, but which don’t invite the discomfort and pity that other characters do. Serge never made me sit with the unease of a cop thinking himself morally right while plotting murder, because his interiority never devolved into double standards. In that sense, his POV was a reprieve from the friction inherent in others, and there’s something interesting about the character who seems most self-aware and accepting of ugly truths and contradictions surviving—not rewarded, but surviving. It made me flip back to the novel’s opening passage.
Any triumph in The Killing Yards is on borrowed time. Do yourself a favor and check out this book.
------
*Admittedly, I couldn’t find any objections to Ike or some other minor characters.
**I could be wrong and am open to that, although I have my reasons for thinking it’s Serge.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An incredible 1990’s crime noir set in the New York Club scene. 1990’s New York City was not very clean and inviting. Jimmy Lettner runs a successful club, Abattoir. With his right hand man, Serge by his side, taking care of any issues, Jimmy wants to run a clean club. Ben, a newly hired police officer, wants badly to become a detective, he sets his sights on Abattoir. Unbeknownst to Jimmy, Serge is running a drug ring in Abattior. Michelle Lettner, the true owner of Abattoir has different plans. Multiple point of views create a converging narrative. This was a lightning fast paced crime noir story. Very atmospheric. You can feel the base pumping in your chest . Extremely well written and very engaging. Be sure you check out Jason Allison on our podcast One Final Twist.
September 24, 2026
Thank you Crooked Lane Books #partner, for the advanced copy of The Killing Yards in exchange for my honest review.
This gritty crime novel set in the 1990s in NYC completely captivated me from page 1! I devoured this book over the weekend, unable to put it down. Told from four perspectives, I loved how deeply flawed they all were. None were all good or all bad, yet it was easy to sympathize with them in some ways.
This book was born out of the author’s 20 years experience being a NYPD detective and it shows. It has such a strong sense of place — the 90s really come alive and there is nothing that takes you out of the story here.
There’s an intensity to the story that begs you to keep flipping the pages and you are rewarded with a fantastic ending. I cannot recommend this book enough and am blown away that this is a debut!!
My reviews can also be found on my blog: Always With A Book
This gritty crime novel set in the 1990s in NYC completely captivated me from page 1! I devoured this book over the weekend, unable to put it down. Told from four perspectives, I loved how deeply flawed they all were. None were all good or all bad, yet it was easy to sympathize with them in some ways.
This book was born out of the author’s 20 years experience being a NYPD detective and it shows. It has such a strong sense of place — the 90s really come alive and there is nothing that takes you out of the story here.
There’s an intensity to the story that begs you to keep flipping the pages and you are rewarded with a fantastic ending. I cannot recommend this book enough and am blown away that this is a debut!!
My reviews can also be found on my blog: Always With A Book
September 23, 2026
Jason Allison is the real deal, and The Killing Yards oozes authenticity. Muscular dialogue, intricate plot, fascinating characters, spot-on sense of place, and a touch of micro humor (is that a thing?) that is the lifeblood of real cops.
The industry loves "If you like that author, you'll like this author" comparisons, but make no mistake—Jason Allison is his own man. He's got the bona fides. The trifecta of credibility behind a crime novel set in 1990s NYC: retired NYPD, Bronx-born and raised, and one hell of a storyteller.
I'm a retired police officer, writer wannabe, and lifelong crime fiction aficionado. I read The Killing Yards in one sitting.
The industry loves "If you like that author, you'll like this author" comparisons, but make no mistake—Jason Allison is his own man. He's got the bona fides. The trifecta of credibility behind a crime novel set in 1990s NYC: retired NYPD, Bronx-born and raised, and one hell of a storyteller.
I'm a retired police officer, writer wannabe, and lifelong crime fiction aficionado. I read The Killing Yards in one sitting.
October 20, 2026
There’s Joe Wambaugh. There’s Ed McBain. Now there’s Jason Allison.
That’s all that needs to be said.
That’s all that needs to be said.
Did Not Finish
October 11, 2026DNFing at around 55%. Don’t care any of the characters, don’t care about the next chapter or what happens at the end. I could’ve DNFed way sooner but decided to give it a bit more chance, nope for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jason Allison’s debut novel is steeped in the violent, modern noir tradition of writers like James Ellroy, Don Winslow and, more recently Jordan Harper. The Killing Yards is historical crime fiction, set in the club scene that thrived in New York’s meat packing district well before it was gentrified. The Killing Yards is dark and gritty and spends most of its time either with criminals, former criminals or police who have lost their way. And it is compulsive and compelling.
The Killing Yards is set in New York in 1993. Jimmy Lettner runs Abattoir, the hottest club in the city. Jimmy is a former drug dealer who has spent time in prison and lost his daughter to drugs while he was there so is keen to keep his club clean. But it is not that easy. There are dealers on his floor from a rival club, unbeknownst to him his old partner Serge is still dealing, he is in competition with another club that wants to take over Abattoir, he is indebted to the mafia and the new Mayor Rudi Guiliani has just come in and has promised to clean up the city. And all of this is just the setup.
Allison dives deeply into the lives of three other characters besides Jimmy. This includes Serge, Jimmy’s wife Michelle - who holds the liquor licenses for the club and is keen to expand the business - and young police officer Ben - who is seeking to make his name by going undercover but in doing so finds himself way too deep. Swirling around these characters is a colourful and dangerous cast of drug dealers, addicts, prostitutes, mafia, party animals and bent cops.
Allison was a former New York City police officer and it shows. He delivers an atmospheric picture of this particular aspect of New York culture in the early 90s. The lines outside the dance clubs where people went to not only dance by to be seen and be part of the scene. The rundown area in which these enterprises thrived – the old warehouses that were converted into dance spaces.
All of this, coupled with Allison’s muscular noir styling, makes The Killing Yards a darkly compelling narrative. Allison gets into the heads of his main characters and gives readers enough to care about them even when they are doing terrible things. And they all do terrible things when the pressure is on. There are no angels here, only differing levels of darkness and readers are likely to find themselves hoping for all of the main characters to succeed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Crime noir-styled thriller set in 1993 New York City during its municipal changes and police crackdowns.
Abattoir, a nightclub owned by Michelle Lettner but run by her husband, Jimmy, has gone drug clean, or so Jimmy thinks. Unknown to him, his second-in-command, Serge Thanakis, runs an underground ecstasy ring out of Abattoir that rivals want to shut down - as well as the city with its new anti-crime leadership. Ben Hopkins, a newly minted cop, wants to make a mark and he thinks Abattoir may be his way to go that. However, Ben learns he’s over his head as an undercover cop. Meanwhile, Jimmy, who lost one daughter to drugs, will do anything to ensure his surviving daughter doesn’t meet the same fate.
Told from the perspectives of Michelle, Jimmy, Serge and Ben, we are treated to a “noir” that’s gripping, sizzling with tension and explosive actions. We see these characters change as their purposes are challenged and the underbelly of the drug world emerges at the Abattoir. It’s a very morally grey world! Shades of Don Winslow to me!
I liked Ben in a way. He was so naive, so eager and then so deflated by reality . Jimmy in his heart wanted to reform but in order to keep everyone “dancing” he had to pay a big price. All the characters wouldn’t win a peace prize but they fit this story so well.
This is a book for lovers of noir thrillers.
I gave this book five stars for its writing, structure and crime-feeling intensity, for the beauty of fashioning such a neatly told noir and for the enjoyment I got in reading it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for granting me access to this ARC.
Abattoir, a nightclub owned by Michelle Lettner but run by her husband, Jimmy, has gone drug clean, or so Jimmy thinks. Unknown to him, his second-in-command, Serge Thanakis, runs an underground ecstasy ring out of Abattoir that rivals want to shut down - as well as the city with its new anti-crime leadership. Ben Hopkins, a newly minted cop, wants to make a mark and he thinks Abattoir may be his way to go that. However, Ben learns he’s over his head as an undercover cop. Meanwhile, Jimmy, who lost one daughter to drugs, will do anything to ensure his surviving daughter doesn’t meet the same fate.
Told from the perspectives of Michelle, Jimmy, Serge and Ben, we are treated to a “noir” that’s gripping, sizzling with tension and explosive actions. We see these characters change as their purposes are challenged and the underbelly of the drug world emerges at the Abattoir. It’s a very morally grey world! Shades of Don Winslow to me!
I liked Ben in a way. He was so naive, so eager and then so deflated by reality . Jimmy in his heart wanted to reform but in order to keep everyone “dancing” he had to pay a big price. All the characters wouldn’t win a peace prize but they fit this story so well.
This is a book for lovers of noir thrillers.
I gave this book five stars for its writing, structure and crime-feeling intensity, for the beauty of fashioning such a neatly told noir and for the enjoyment I got in reading it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. This FAR exceeded my expectations and was a heck of a debut from Mr. Allison. At times, I felt like I was reading something written by Don Winslow! I felt like I was in the middle of the story the entire time I was reading it, which was enhanced by each chapter being from a different character's viewpoint. The switching viewpoints created a 360 view of the entire setting of the novel - I could very clearly see in my mind what the author was laying out, which isn't always easy to do. Needless to say this WILL make a great movie and I hope it gets picked up and a screen play written if it hasn't been already. I hope this is the first of many novels for Mr. Allison as I will eagerly read whatever he writes next!
Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. #TheKillingYards #NetGalley
Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. #TheKillingYards #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Crooked Lane for sending me a galley of this terrific debut. This crime novel steps on the gas early on, but eases up enough throughout to build an impressive cast of characters. What impressed me most was the attention to 90s details, specifically those of 90s NYC.
I'm not one for spoilers, so you'll find none here. Pick this one up. You won't regret it.
I'm not one for spoilers, so you'll find none here. Pick this one up. You won't regret it.
Review of advance copy
A home run debut. Lived-in characters and earned authenticity.
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