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Nightworkers
"Electric, surprising, and tightly plotted . . . A compelling writer to watch." --Adrienne Westenfeld, Esquire
"A gripping, big-hearted thriller . . . whip-smart and surprisingly funny." --Harlan Coben
The Nightworkers is an electrifying debut crime novel from Brian Selfon about a Brooklyn family of money launderers thrown into chaos when a runner ends up dead and a bag of dirty money goes missing.
Shecky Keenan's family is under fire--or at least it feels that way. Bank accounts have closed unexpectedly, a strange car has been parked near the house at odd hours, and Emil Scott, an enigmatic artist and the family's new runner, is missing--along with the $250,000 of dirty money he was carrying.
Shecky lives in old Brooklyn with his niece Kerasha and nephew Henry, and while his deepest desire is to keep his little makeshift family safe, that doesn't stop him from taking advantage of their talents. Shecky moves money for an array of unsavory clients, and Henry, volatile and violent but tenderhearted, is his bagman. Kerasha, the famed former child-thief of Bushwick, is still learning the family trade, but her quick mind and quicker fingers are already being put to use. They love one another, but trust is thin when secrets are the family trade. And someone will be coming for that missing money--soon.
Inspired by a career that has included corruption cases and wiretaps as an investigative analyst for New York law enforcement, Brian Selfon unspools a tale of crime and consequence through shifting perspectives across the streets, alleys, bodegas, and art studios of Brooklyn. The Nightworkers is an evocative blend of genres: a literary crime thriller with a mystery at the center of its big beating heart: What really happened to Emil Scott, and what can the future possibly hold for a family when crime is what keeps them together?
"A gripping, big-hearted thriller . . . whip-smart and surprisingly funny." --Harlan Coben
The Nightworkers is an electrifying debut crime novel from Brian Selfon about a Brooklyn family of money launderers thrown into chaos when a runner ends up dead and a bag of dirty money goes missing.
Shecky Keenan's family is under fire--or at least it feels that way. Bank accounts have closed unexpectedly, a strange car has been parked near the house at odd hours, and Emil Scott, an enigmatic artist and the family's new runner, is missing--along with the $250,000 of dirty money he was carrying.
Shecky lives in old Brooklyn with his niece Kerasha and nephew Henry, and while his deepest desire is to keep his little makeshift family safe, that doesn't stop him from taking advantage of their talents. Shecky moves money for an array of unsavory clients, and Henry, volatile and violent but tenderhearted, is his bagman. Kerasha, the famed former child-thief of Bushwick, is still learning the family trade, but her quick mind and quicker fingers are already being put to use. They love one another, but trust is thin when secrets are the family trade. And someone will be coming for that missing money--soon.
Inspired by a career that has included corruption cases and wiretaps as an investigative analyst for New York law enforcement, Brian Selfon unspools a tale of crime and consequence through shifting perspectives across the streets, alleys, bodegas, and art studios of Brooklyn. The Nightworkers is an evocative blend of genres: a literary crime thriller with a mystery at the center of its big beating heart: What really happened to Emil Scott, and what can the future possibly hold for a family when crime is what keeps them together?
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2020
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October 14, 2020
Shecky Keenan lives from terror to terror. He heads a family of three, glued-together misfits. Their game: money laundering in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York. Why move money for an unsavory clientele? In Shecky's words, "Profit from the two heavies tomorrow means a mortgage payment for the family". Shecky is worried..."a shadow haunts his home".
Uncle Shecky was used to the dark side of life, an unnurtured existence with no one to look after him. He was determined to love and look out for Henry Vek , his nephew and Kerasha Brown, his niece. This included home cooked family dinners. Shecky, however, had his agenda, ongoing plans to immerse Henry and Kerasha into the money laundering fold.
Henry Vek, now 23 years old, had been living with Shecky and learning his trade since age 10. Henry, a brawler at school has..."grown into his anger". "Henry has artistic aspirations, the opposite of good business sense...responsible...willing to start fights...". Kerasha Brown, 21 years old, is "fresh out of the cage" having been jailed for six years. "Kerasha is famous in Bushwick's underworld...no room she can't get out of, no person she can't get past...".
Emil Scott, a budding artist, attends an art opening and meets Henry. Henry is taken with Emil. Emil has "yellow on his hands...purple on his pants-this is a worker". "If Emil is maybe 90 percent artist and 10 percent criminal, Henry is the same, only with the proportions reversed". Henry teaches Emil the ins and outs of being a runner. "It's simple. You pick up, you drop off, and I'll pay you...I will keep you in the dark...Ignorance is deniability". Emil is ready for his first big pick-up. Uncle Shecky is distressed. "A runner must be dependable, but they should also be expendable...forget likeable...what you want is useable". Henry's disregard of Shecky's warning will have ramifications. Where is Emil and the $250,000 in dirty money he was carrying" "Did something bad happen to Emil...or did something bad happen because of him?"
"The Nightworkers" by Brian Selfon is a Brooklyn Noir crime novel written from the point of view of a criminal, money laundering family. Uncle Shecky, Henry, and Kerasha each carry the scars of turbulent, violent upbringings. They have personal demons wrecking havoc on their lives. Kerasha knows "the power of the urge...you can't fight it. You're the vehicle, and something wicked does the steering". Will the urge define each one of them? Author Selfon, having worked as an investigative analyst for New York law enforcement, has written a multi-layered analysis of criminals in crisis and a compelling snapshot of a small time money laundering business. An excellent debut novel.
Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD, and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Uncle Shecky was used to the dark side of life, an unnurtured existence with no one to look after him. He was determined to love and look out for Henry Vek , his nephew and Kerasha Brown, his niece. This included home cooked family dinners. Shecky, however, had his agenda, ongoing plans to immerse Henry and Kerasha into the money laundering fold.
Henry Vek, now 23 years old, had been living with Shecky and learning his trade since age 10. Henry, a brawler at school has..."grown into his anger". "Henry has artistic aspirations, the opposite of good business sense...responsible...willing to start fights...". Kerasha Brown, 21 years old, is "fresh out of the cage" having been jailed for six years. "Kerasha is famous in Bushwick's underworld...no room she can't get out of, no person she can't get past...".
Emil Scott, a budding artist, attends an art opening and meets Henry. Henry is taken with Emil. Emil has "yellow on his hands...purple on his pants-this is a worker". "If Emil is maybe 90 percent artist and 10 percent criminal, Henry is the same, only with the proportions reversed". Henry teaches Emil the ins and outs of being a runner. "It's simple. You pick up, you drop off, and I'll pay you...I will keep you in the dark...Ignorance is deniability". Emil is ready for his first big pick-up. Uncle Shecky is distressed. "A runner must be dependable, but they should also be expendable...forget likeable...what you want is useable". Henry's disregard of Shecky's warning will have ramifications. Where is Emil and the $250,000 in dirty money he was carrying" "Did something bad happen to Emil...or did something bad happen because of him?"
"The Nightworkers" by Brian Selfon is a Brooklyn Noir crime novel written from the point of view of a criminal, money laundering family. Uncle Shecky, Henry, and Kerasha each carry the scars of turbulent, violent upbringings. They have personal demons wrecking havoc on their lives. Kerasha knows "the power of the urge...you can't fight it. You're the vehicle, and something wicked does the steering". Will the urge define each one of them? Author Selfon, having worked as an investigative analyst for New York law enforcement, has written a multi-layered analysis of criminals in crisis and a compelling snapshot of a small time money laundering business. An excellent debut novel.
Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD, and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2020
Emil is a talented up-and-coming Brooklyn artist but perennially broke. So when he meets Henry, another wannabe artist, and is offered a gig being a runner for money laundering, he decides that’s an easier way of making cash instead of slinging baggies of dope - until he suddenly disappears along with a quarter million in cash. Henry and his small crime family have to figure out what happened and where the cash has gone before the money’s owners come looking for it…
Brian Selfon’s debut novel The Nightworkers is really two and a half stories, only one of which is half-decent. The half-decent story starts well - Emil and Henry’s new friendship, it develops nicely, there’s the twist. The problem is that the start of the book is the peak - everything afterwards is downhill.
The second story is about Kerasha, a troubled young woman on parole with a heroin addiction. We learn about her horrible childhood, junkie mother, and weird, burgeoning obsession with her shrink, Dr Xu - only none of it matters. You could excise Kerry’s entire story and it wouldn’t affect the main narrative of the missing money and the trouble surrounding it. It’s not very interesting to read in itself, it pointlessly distracts and only makes the novel overlong.
The half story is about Officer Montenegro, a victim of human trafficking turned cop/fighter of human trafficking. Like Kerry’s story, Montenegro’s could easily be cut as it hasn’t got any relevance to anything, is grimly dull and pads out the novel still further without adding much besides pages.
I liked the character of Uncle Shecky, who’s a sort of modern-day Fagin with a heart, and Henry was interesting for the most part as he’s something of a livewire with a chip on his shoulder. Then add his upset feelings at Emil and he becomes this unpredictable Tazmanian devil so there was always an element of tension wherever he went. The novel was mostly well-written and there were a number of moments in the main narrative that were genuinely gripping to read.
Selfon’s got a lot of potential as a crime novelist and might write a great novel one day but The Nightworkers isn’t that great novel - it’s too unfocused and messy, lacking anything substantial to sink your teeth into to be satisfying. If he had cut Kerry and Montenegro’s stuff and stuck with and dug deeper into Henry/Emil/Shecky’s narrative, this would be a strong novella, but, as it is, it’s too long by half and made dreary and boring for it. A weak debut.
Brian Selfon’s debut novel The Nightworkers is really two and a half stories, only one of which is half-decent. The half-decent story starts well - Emil and Henry’s new friendship, it develops nicely, there’s the twist. The problem is that the start of the book is the peak - everything afterwards is downhill.
The second story is about Kerasha, a troubled young woman on parole with a heroin addiction. We learn about her horrible childhood, junkie mother, and weird, burgeoning obsession with her shrink, Dr Xu - only none of it matters. You could excise Kerry’s entire story and it wouldn’t affect the main narrative of the missing money and the trouble surrounding it. It’s not very interesting to read in itself, it pointlessly distracts and only makes the novel overlong.
The half story is about Officer Montenegro, a victim of human trafficking turned cop/fighter of human trafficking. Like Kerry’s story, Montenegro’s could easily be cut as it hasn’t got any relevance to anything, is grimly dull and pads out the novel still further without adding much besides pages.
I liked the character of Uncle Shecky, who’s a sort of modern-day Fagin with a heart, and Henry was interesting for the most part as he’s something of a livewire with a chip on his shoulder. Then add his upset feelings at Emil and he becomes this unpredictable Tazmanian devil so there was always an element of tension wherever he went. The novel was mostly well-written and there were a number of moments in the main narrative that were genuinely gripping to read.
Selfon’s got a lot of potential as a crime novelist and might write a great novel one day but The Nightworkers isn’t that great novel - it’s too unfocused and messy, lacking anything substantial to sink your teeth into to be satisfying. If he had cut Kerry and Montenegro’s stuff and stuck with and dug deeper into Henry/Emil/Shecky’s narrative, this would be a strong novella, but, as it is, it’s too long by half and made dreary and boring for it. A weak debut.
February 8, 2021
The Nightworkers is a debut novel by Brian Selfon, and I was intrigued as soon as I read the synopsis. It was gritty, dark, and I was oddly addicted to it. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Ella Turenne and she was the perfect narrator for this one. She was able to bring across exactly what was needed with her amazing voice and skillful narration, and I didn't want to stop listening to her. This book touches on all kinds of things - money laundering, human trafficking, art, and the list goes on, but what really shines through are the relationships between all of the characters. Selfon didn't delve too deeply into telling us how any of the crimes worked in the book, but he did tell us a whole lot about each character and the relationships they had with each other. And even though they were committing crimes, I couldn't not love Kerasha and Henry. So many of the people in this book are damaged in one way or another and it makes your heart ache for them.
The Nightworkers is a truly stunning debut that grabbed me right away and didn't let me go. I had a hard time believing I was reading someone's first book, and thought it was incredibly smart, complex, and moving. I felt such an attachment to these characters and seeing their stories through, and the end completely shocked me. This does have a touch of crime fiction, but to me it felt much more like literary fiction with a tinge of mystery. Either way it was a winner for me, and I will definitely be interested to see what Selfon writes next.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The Nightworkers is a truly stunning debut that grabbed me right away and didn't let me go. I had a hard time believing I was reading someone's first book, and thought it was incredibly smart, complex, and moving. I felt such an attachment to these characters and seeing their stories through, and the end completely shocked me. This does have a touch of crime fiction, but to me it felt much more like literary fiction with a tinge of mystery. Either way it was a winner for me, and I will definitely be interested to see what Selfon writes next.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
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October 27, 2021Brooklyn artist Emil Scott has been supplementing his income running dirty money for a family of money launderers. He's been enjoying the gig. It's safer than peddling fentanyl, his former side hustle; his boss is a friend and also an aspiring artist; and the job gets him outside, where he marvels at the vibrant images everywhere around him.
But now Emil has disappeared, along with the $250K in drug money he was carrying. Suspects abound, from drug dealers to police officers, but the book's primary suspense is how the disappearance will affect the family of money launderers. And what a fascinating family they are!
Even if you have no interest in crime novels, this book is worth reading just to meet Shecky Keenan, head of the family, and his niece and nephew. Shecky is an indelible character -- clearly a crook but someone who loves his niece and nephew desperately, painfully, unwisely. Niece Kerasha is recently paroled, a thief and an addict trying to surface the want inside her that drives her to steal and use. And nephew Harry is the bagman, the muscle, who wants something more for himself, who cared blindly about Emil.
This is an accomplished and compelling debut novel, and I look forward to the next book by this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
But now Emil has disappeared, along with the $250K in drug money he was carrying. Suspects abound, from drug dealers to police officers, but the book's primary suspense is how the disappearance will affect the family of money launderers. And what a fascinating family they are!
Even if you have no interest in crime novels, this book is worth reading just to meet Shecky Keenan, head of the family, and his niece and nephew. Shecky is an indelible character -- clearly a crook but someone who loves his niece and nephew desperately, painfully, unwisely. Niece Kerasha is recently paroled, a thief and an addict trying to surface the want inside her that drives her to steal and use. And nephew Harry is the bagman, the muscle, who wants something more for himself, who cared blindly about Emil.
This is an accomplished and compelling debut novel, and I look forward to the next book by this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2020
Interesting debut novel. I thought there would be a lot more action in this, based on the description of the story. What I got was some action and a lot of introspection from all three of the main characters. It's hard to describe what this book is about, as it doesn't fit into any nice, neat box.
I suppose the most simple way to explain it is that it's a story about family. Not a typical family, but yes, a family. And the secrets that families keep, even from themselves.
I suppose the most simple way to explain it is that it's a story about family. Not a typical family, but yes, a family. And the secrets that families keep, even from themselves.
March 18, 2022
Shecky Keenan betreibt in Brooklyn ein florierendes Geldwäscheunternehmen. Er lässt von Boten reale Geldlieferungen transportieren, deren Herkunft im weiteren Geschäftsgang über mehrere Bankkonten in aller Welt verschleiert wird. Keenan verwandelt Bargeldbündel in sauberes Buchgeld. Er dient z. B. harmlosen Bürgern, die ihr sauer verdientes Schwarzgeld waschen lassen wollen, weil sie schlecht die opulenten Studiengebühren ihrer Kinder mit Koffern voller Bargeld bezahlen können. In seinem Gewerbe ist Shecky ein angesehener Mann, indirekt vernetzt mit der Welt von Prostitution und Menschenhandel. Seit Shecky seine Nichte Kerasha/Kerry und den Neffen Henry quasi adoptiert hat, lebt er privat das Leben eines Mannes mit erwachsenen Kindern. Kerasha, die schon als Kind die Dealerin ihrer Mutter war, hat mit Anfang 20 gerade 6 Jahre Haft wegen Drogenvergehen hinter sich und wartet auf ein psychologisches Gutachten, das für ihre mögliche Haftentlassung nötig ist. Kerasha war schon in jungen Jahren eine begabte Fassadenkletterin und Diebin. Sie stiehlt, weil Leute Dinge herumliegen lassen oder weil Schlösser sich eben kinderleicht öffnen lassen. Ihr Psychotherapeut muss vermutlich noch viel lernen über das Leben …
Da Geldwäsche ein Familiengeschäft ist, hat Shecky seinen Neffen akribisch ins Geschäft eingeführt. Shecky arbeitet noch analog, d. h. er überwacht jeden Transport, jede Buchung und dokumentiert sie handschriftlich. Henry dagegen tickt völlig anders. Er sieht sich als Künstler, hat den Blick des Zeichners für Gesichter und Straßenszenen und verfügt über ein exzellentes Gedächtnis. Als Henry in einer Kunstausstellung Emil kennenlernt und als Boten für das Familienbusiness anwirbt, ist ihm in erster Linie die Beziehung zu Emil wichtig; denn Emil ist auch Künstler. An dieser Stelle könnte man ahnen, dass „das Familiengeschäft“ die gesamte Aufmerksamkeit seiner Mitarbeiter fordert – und dass Emil und Henry in Gedanken beide nicht bei der Sache sind. An einer anderen Stelle macht sich eine Frau bereit, die als Kind aus der Zwangsprostitution flüchten konnte und sich geschworen hat, Menschenhändler an einer empfindlichen Stelle zu treffen – ihren Geldbewegungen. Die Frau nennt sich Zera Montenegro und arbeitet als Sonderermittlerin.
Als ein Geldbote Sheckys tot und ohne sein Paket aufgefunden wird, scheint das nur ein Misserfolg in einer ganzen Reihe zu sein; denn Shecky hatte in letzter Zeit bereits andere Hiobsbotschaften zu verkraften. Irgendwo in seinem fein austariertem System muss ein Fehler passiert sein. Vielleicht schickt Selvon seinen Lesern sogar einen blauen Elefanten durchs Bild, um sie auf falsche Spuren zu führen.
Shecky Keenan als allein lebender Berufskrimineller adoptiert zwei Jugendliche aus weit trostloseren Verhältnissen und alle profitieren bisher von der Notgemeinschaft. Das Setting erinnert an Candice Fox‘ Hades. Einige Aspekte scheinen mir bei Selvon etwas zu schnell abgehandelt zu sein, z. B. Herkunft und Hautfarbe der jungen Adoptierten oder ob zwischen Henry und Emil mehr als Geschäftsbeziehungen bestehen könnten …
"Nachtarbeiter" ist durch zahlreiche Zeitsprünge und seine Detailfülle ein komplexer Roman noir für konzentrierte Leser. Familienbeziehungen und liebevolle Charakterisierung der Figuren nehmen breiten Raum ein, das gefällt mir. Als Fan detailreicher Ermittler-Plots kann ich den Roman aufmerksamen, detailversessenen Lesern empfehlen.
Da Geldwäsche ein Familiengeschäft ist, hat Shecky seinen Neffen akribisch ins Geschäft eingeführt. Shecky arbeitet noch analog, d. h. er überwacht jeden Transport, jede Buchung und dokumentiert sie handschriftlich. Henry dagegen tickt völlig anders. Er sieht sich als Künstler, hat den Blick des Zeichners für Gesichter und Straßenszenen und verfügt über ein exzellentes Gedächtnis. Als Henry in einer Kunstausstellung Emil kennenlernt und als Boten für das Familienbusiness anwirbt, ist ihm in erster Linie die Beziehung zu Emil wichtig; denn Emil ist auch Künstler. An dieser Stelle könnte man ahnen, dass „das Familiengeschäft“ die gesamte Aufmerksamkeit seiner Mitarbeiter fordert – und dass Emil und Henry in Gedanken beide nicht bei der Sache sind. An einer anderen Stelle macht sich eine Frau bereit, die als Kind aus der Zwangsprostitution flüchten konnte und sich geschworen hat, Menschenhändler an einer empfindlichen Stelle zu treffen – ihren Geldbewegungen. Die Frau nennt sich Zera Montenegro und arbeitet als Sonderermittlerin.
Als ein Geldbote Sheckys tot und ohne sein Paket aufgefunden wird, scheint das nur ein Misserfolg in einer ganzen Reihe zu sein; denn Shecky hatte in letzter Zeit bereits andere Hiobsbotschaften zu verkraften. Irgendwo in seinem fein austariertem System muss ein Fehler passiert sein. Vielleicht schickt Selvon seinen Lesern sogar einen blauen Elefanten durchs Bild, um sie auf falsche Spuren zu führen.
Shecky Keenan als allein lebender Berufskrimineller adoptiert zwei Jugendliche aus weit trostloseren Verhältnissen und alle profitieren bisher von der Notgemeinschaft. Das Setting erinnert an Candice Fox‘ Hades. Einige Aspekte scheinen mir bei Selvon etwas zu schnell abgehandelt zu sein, z. B. Herkunft und Hautfarbe der jungen Adoptierten oder ob zwischen Henry und Emil mehr als Geschäftsbeziehungen bestehen könnten …
"Nachtarbeiter" ist durch zahlreiche Zeitsprünge und seine Detailfülle ein komplexer Roman noir für konzentrierte Leser. Familienbeziehungen und liebevolle Charakterisierung der Figuren nehmen breiten Raum ein, das gefällt mir. Als Fan detailreicher Ermittler-Plots kann ich den Roman aufmerksamen, detailversessenen Lesern empfehlen.
October 23, 2020
This book is a rare combination of a crime thriller that actually reads like literature. There is true depth to the characters and their relationships that enhances the story. It also viscerally takes you inside the Brooklyn neighborhoods where it is set and deep into lives of people you may not have had the opportunity to know. The book manages to incorporate money laundering, art, poetry, theater, cooking and even international human trafficking. All the while, the characters and their relationships with each other are what ties everything together. Can't believe this is a first time author, I can't wait to see what he writes next.
February 28, 2021
A New York crime story about small time money launderers dripping in a distinctive voice that grabs the reader by the throat. Selfon’s prose demands attention. The narrative is non-linear, though, and I had some trouble placing events in chronological order. Still, it sounds like few other gritty, literary crime novels and I look forward to his next work.
October 16, 2021
The Nightworkers was better and more then I expected. It’s a story about a crime family that’s laundering money when one of their runners is murdered, the money stolen. Now missing hundreds of thousands of dollars of money that’s not theirs they have to find the killer, and the money. But even more it’s a story about family, recovery, trauma, and addiction. I was really surprised to find out this was a debut novel because it was so well written. By the end I really grew attached to the characters which I don’t normally do and the end really snuck up on me. I’m going to keep an eye on this author because any future works I know will be only better.
October 29, 2020
Dreadful story, I do not enjoy reading rambling thoughts of a drug addicted young woman.
December 29, 2020
I don't know where to really start with this book. I really liked it at first! It was gritty, dark, and mysterious. But then it kept taking, in my opinion, unnecessary turns. I hated the Kerasha story line. I didn't see how that connected at all. Then, in the end, they barely resolved the main mystery (someone dies) and it just ends. I wanted to like this ARC but now that I'm done I think what I liked most about it was the cover art. Such a bummer as I'd never really read anything in the money laundering world and thought it could be a fresh take on the normal "wife gets murdered/goes missing" mystery I usually gravitate towards.
June 8, 2020
This book started out great but did not sustain. Seldom has great potential as a literary crime author. The beginning of the book started out as a crime thriller andI was hooked. But then they got too be too much back and forth in time in connection epithet the narrative. One scene followed by another scene that took place a half hour early. And too many background digressions. The ironic thing is Selfon has it in him to be really good. I think his next book should be a bit more linear and focused.
November 21, 2020
I should not have liked this book, but I did. I should not have found these characters compelling, but I did. I should have laughed at the author's thesis that every career criminal is a frustrated artist, but I did not. And I should have guessed the twist about fifty pages before I did, but just like one of the enchanting thugs in this book, there are certain things I refused to believe about a certain character despite all the red flags. So I let Mr. Selfon fool me, No one to blame but myself.
Everything about "The Nightworkers," right down to the title, suggest "quirky crime novel." And I tend to hate "quirky crime novels," since they tend to be self-amused portraits of murders, pimps, dealers ad infinitum as a gallery of lovable rogues. So why did I read "The Nightwalkers?" Because I felt like I was drowning after a particularly horrible ARC and this was the first bit of debris I could find, i.e. the first title on the Kindle carousel. And in keeping with the genre, Mr. Selfon works furiously to make his felons adorable, but I gotta hand it to him . . . he succeeds.
Everything about "The Nightworkers," right down to the title, suggest "quirky crime novel." And I tend to hate "quirky crime novels," since they tend to be self-amused portraits of murders, pimps, dealers ad infinitum as a gallery of lovable rogues. So why did I read "The Nightwalkers?" Because I felt like I was drowning after a particularly horrible ARC and this was the first bit of debris I could find, i.e. the first title on the Kindle carousel. And in keeping with the genre, Mr. Selfon works furiously to make his felons adorable, but I gotta hand it to him . . . he succeeds.
November 12, 2021
Money laundering is just the start of the criminal activities that 'Uncle' Sheeky and his patchwork family are involved in. But rather than be a 'thriller' this book is more about trust and the need for family. It's strong on evoking a time and place - from the bodega's of Brooklyn, to coffee shops and community bakeries. But the non linear time line is a little clumsy and the author, whilst pushing for authenticity has over complicated everything! Sometimes less is more!
November 27, 2022
this book was depressing. no one in this whole book was a good person. they were all kinda psychotic and had serious childhood trauma. literally everything until the last 30 pages was about human trafficking, drug addiction, murder, rape, etc — hella depressing.
i didn’t love the writing (felt a little cliche, metaphors were overused— clearly a new author), but i liked the henry/emil/shecky murder plot line. i liked the other characters, but they kinda felt irrelevant to what i actually wanted to know. especially karesha. completely pointless character. too many pages on her. i want more of the interesting characters!! i felt like the book was scattered and the author couldn’t decide which characters he actually wanted the book to be about, so there were a lot of loose ends and rushed character development (like wtf was dr. xu’s date scene??).
the ending, the one optimistic part of the whole book, made me cry. it was cute. but not overly happy and out of place.
i need to go read a rom com now to make myself feel better about the world.
i didn’t love the writing (felt a little cliche, metaphors were overused— clearly a new author), but i liked the henry/emil/shecky murder plot line. i liked the other characters, but they kinda felt irrelevant to what i actually wanted to know. especially karesha. completely pointless character. too many pages on her. i want more of the interesting characters!! i felt like the book was scattered and the author couldn’t decide which characters he actually wanted the book to be about, so there were a lot of loose ends and rushed character development (like wtf was dr. xu’s date scene??).
the ending, the one optimistic part of the whole book, made me cry. it was cute. but not overly happy and out of place.
i need to go read a rom com now to make myself feel better about the world.
March 16, 2021
Just ok
December 12, 2021
3.5 stars for a medium weight crime family mystery drama. Close vibes to Motherless Brooklyn, otherwise some drugs, some money laundering, some trauma bonds, a little human trafficking, (not too much of any of this graphic), and then some recovery and coping and boundaries, with art and poetry and uncles and nieces and nephews sprinkled throughout.
October 24, 2020
Anyone who has ever taken a creative writing class, whether it be for long or short fiction, will recognize that one of the golden rules before starting is to write what you know. This allows you to write with a more confident voice and allow your story to remain grounded in reality. This is precisely what debut novelist Brian Selfon has done with his novel THE NIGHTWORKERS. He reaches back into his experience with the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, where he focused on cases dealing with money-laundering and first-degree murder and used that as the background for a story that deals with a 'family' of Brooklyn criminals who focus primarily on 'moving money' from one place to another for their clients.
It all starts when Henry falls in love with Emil Scott at first sight. Neither represents as homosexual, but there is an obvious bond. One of them, Henry, is a member of a criminal family specializing in money laundering; the other, Emil, is an up-and-coming artist in a gentrified area of Brooklyn that seems to house nothing but artists. Henry plays to Emil's vanity as he is a fan of his artwork. He is able to convince Emil that having money will allow him to focus more on his work and achieve the fame he so desires. Henry intends to use Emil as a money runner because he is hungry and shrewd. Regrettably, this relationship will not end positively for either of them.
Henry is part of a 'family' of criminals who all live under one house. The patriarch of this family is Shecky Keenan who has been doing this his entire life. He has shared his trade with his housemates, Henry, and the recently paroled from prison, Kerasha. Both Henry and Kerasha have their own dreams for success and where they would take the family business once Shecky is no longer around or retired.
Kerasha is an expert at break-ins and has a sixth sense for blueprints and layouts. Henry is a numbers guy and he is always looking for that big score the two of them can claim together to make Shecky proud and show that they are ready to stand on their own. Things take a tragic turn when Emil is killed while in operation under Henry. The death is called a mugging gone wrong, but there is enough evidence to possibly tie things back to the 'family' and it is Shecky who has to answer the questions of the NYPD when they come knocking at the door of their Brooklyn home.
There is a quarter of a million dollars at play, the amount taken from Emil, and this brings along the involvement of a big-time criminal player in Brooklyn known as Red Dog. It also brings in a psychotic sometime-girlfriend of Henry's who goes by the tag Lipz and she will do anything to get what she sees as her share of the stolen money. Brian Selfon steps firmly into the new genre known as Brooklyn noir and the result is a twisty crime thriller that will hit home for those familiar with the area. THE NIGHTWORKERS also will appeal to fans of the crime thriller genre and they will particularly enjoy the time Selfon has taken to focus on what he knows while creating very believable characters that you will instantly care about.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Criminal Element
It all starts when Henry falls in love with Emil Scott at first sight. Neither represents as homosexual, but there is an obvious bond. One of them, Henry, is a member of a criminal family specializing in money laundering; the other, Emil, is an up-and-coming artist in a gentrified area of Brooklyn that seems to house nothing but artists. Henry plays to Emil's vanity as he is a fan of his artwork. He is able to convince Emil that having money will allow him to focus more on his work and achieve the fame he so desires. Henry intends to use Emil as a money runner because he is hungry and shrewd. Regrettably, this relationship will not end positively for either of them.
Henry is part of a 'family' of criminals who all live under one house. The patriarch of this family is Shecky Keenan who has been doing this his entire life. He has shared his trade with his housemates, Henry, and the recently paroled from prison, Kerasha. Both Henry and Kerasha have their own dreams for success and where they would take the family business once Shecky is no longer around or retired.
Kerasha is an expert at break-ins and has a sixth sense for blueprints and layouts. Henry is a numbers guy and he is always looking for that big score the two of them can claim together to make Shecky proud and show that they are ready to stand on their own. Things take a tragic turn when Emil is killed while in operation under Henry. The death is called a mugging gone wrong, but there is enough evidence to possibly tie things back to the 'family' and it is Shecky who has to answer the questions of the NYPD when they come knocking at the door of their Brooklyn home.
There is a quarter of a million dollars at play, the amount taken from Emil, and this brings along the involvement of a big-time criminal player in Brooklyn known as Red Dog. It also brings in a psychotic sometime-girlfriend of Henry's who goes by the tag Lipz and she will do anything to get what she sees as her share of the stolen money. Brian Selfon steps firmly into the new genre known as Brooklyn noir and the result is a twisty crime thriller that will hit home for those familiar with the area. THE NIGHTWORKERS also will appeal to fans of the crime thriller genre and they will particularly enjoy the time Selfon has taken to focus on what he knows while creating very believable characters that you will instantly care about.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Criminal Element
October 12, 2020
My opinions and impressions of THE NIGHTWORKERS were all over the place for a great deal of the story. Nearly all of the characters were fascinating and fully realized within a paragraph or two, but they disappeared all too quickly. Taken in parts, Brian Selfon’s debut may have its occasional weaknesses, but as a whole it is one of the best novels of the year thus far.
The book is about a family of criminals, but this isn’t one of your grand-concept Corleone stories. The family here moves great sums of money from criminal enterprises to offshore banks and back again. The head of the three-person unit is Shecky Keenan, who prepares large family breakfasts for his nephew Henry and niece Kerasha. The familial ties are beginning to stretch as the novel kicks off.
Henry, who is in his early 20s, is an integral part of Shecky’s business, managing the physical transfer of large amounts of cash to places where it can be quietly offloaded. He is an aspiring artist who is attracted to Emil, a rising star on the New York art scene. Emil, whose income has not quite caught up to his reputation, keeps body and soul together by doing a bit of dealing on the side, and Henry recruits him as a runner. Two things happen: the intricate system that Shecky has created begins to collapse, and Emil suddenly disappears after picking up a deposit.
Whether or not these incidents are connected is an unresolved element for a good portion of the book. Henry also has acquired an extremely dangerous girlfriend who is a treacherous combination of sweet and sour and is slowly bending him to her own purposes.
Kerasha is a more complicated soul. She is a recovering heroin addict who has been conditionally released from prison. Her major talent is an almost preternatural ability to burglarize, which ultimately resulted in her incarceration. Part of the condition for her release is her participation in counseling sessions with Andrew Xu. Dr. Xu is a somewhat off-putting psychiatrist who holds Kerasha’s freedom in her hands. Kerasha’s problems are aggravated by her compulsions --- addiction and stealing --- even as she exhibits a wide and deep appreciation for classic literature in her spare time.
Shecky is faced with trying to keep his business and his family together, often finding that when he does something to reach one of those goals, it moves the other further away. There are surprises to be found on the paths that he takes, and not all of them are good.
I underlined a number of passages in THE NIGHTWORKERS. Even as I struggled occasionally with Selfon’s pacing and plotting, his turns of phrase were remarkable from beginning to end. The conclusion is stunning; in fact, I need to read the book again to examine how he got everyone to where he did. I hope that his future novels will return to the streets and the characters he has introduced here.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
The book is about a family of criminals, but this isn’t one of your grand-concept Corleone stories. The family here moves great sums of money from criminal enterprises to offshore banks and back again. The head of the three-person unit is Shecky Keenan, who prepares large family breakfasts for his nephew Henry and niece Kerasha. The familial ties are beginning to stretch as the novel kicks off.
Henry, who is in his early 20s, is an integral part of Shecky’s business, managing the physical transfer of large amounts of cash to places where it can be quietly offloaded. He is an aspiring artist who is attracted to Emil, a rising star on the New York art scene. Emil, whose income has not quite caught up to his reputation, keeps body and soul together by doing a bit of dealing on the side, and Henry recruits him as a runner. Two things happen: the intricate system that Shecky has created begins to collapse, and Emil suddenly disappears after picking up a deposit.
Whether or not these incidents are connected is an unresolved element for a good portion of the book. Henry also has acquired an extremely dangerous girlfriend who is a treacherous combination of sweet and sour and is slowly bending him to her own purposes.
Kerasha is a more complicated soul. She is a recovering heroin addict who has been conditionally released from prison. Her major talent is an almost preternatural ability to burglarize, which ultimately resulted in her incarceration. Part of the condition for her release is her participation in counseling sessions with Andrew Xu. Dr. Xu is a somewhat off-putting psychiatrist who holds Kerasha’s freedom in her hands. Kerasha’s problems are aggravated by her compulsions --- addiction and stealing --- even as she exhibits a wide and deep appreciation for classic literature in her spare time.
Shecky is faced with trying to keep his business and his family together, often finding that when he does something to reach one of those goals, it moves the other further away. There are surprises to be found on the paths that he takes, and not all of them are good.
I underlined a number of passages in THE NIGHTWORKERS. Even as I struggled occasionally with Selfon’s pacing and plotting, his turns of phrase were remarkable from beginning to end. The conclusion is stunning; in fact, I need to read the book again to examine how he got everyone to where he did. I hope that his future novels will return to the streets and the characters he has introduced here.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
October 14, 2020
I don’t read crime novels. But this happens to be literary fiction masquerading as a crime novel. The writing is lovely and the humor is terrific and even touching at times. I sense Selfon has much more to share with us outside of this genre.
November 21, 2020
Superb first novel!
The basics:
Characters: At the core is a family. Uncle Shecky, his nephew, Henry, who came to live with him after Henry's mother died of an overdose, and his niece, Kerasha, who was recently released from prison. Henry's girlfriend, Lipz, is sort of part of the family (according to Henry), but not (according to Shecky). Peripheral players: Kerasha's shrink, a cop who escaped being trafficked for sex work as a child, a cop who helps out Henry, a friend of Henry's, Emil, who is an artist, and various family customers, mostly Vasya and Red Dog.
The family business: laundering money.
As the book begins, the family is being destabilized: Emil is splitting the difference between friend and employee, strictly against the rules; Henry has invited Lipz into the family, their home is under surveillance, and banks are refusing their money and freezing their accounts--not all of them, but enough to worry.
Then bodies start piling up; the police start to close in, and he family begins to spin apart. Following these characters, as we get more and more of each of their back stories, along with their inner dialogue, makes for fascinating reading.
Amazingly, this is Selfon's first novel. I hope he writes some more!
The basics:
Characters: At the core is a family. Uncle Shecky, his nephew, Henry, who came to live with him after Henry's mother died of an overdose, and his niece, Kerasha, who was recently released from prison. Henry's girlfriend, Lipz, is sort of part of the family (according to Henry), but not (according to Shecky). Peripheral players: Kerasha's shrink, a cop who escaped being trafficked for sex work as a child, a cop who helps out Henry, a friend of Henry's, Emil, who is an artist, and various family customers, mostly Vasya and Red Dog.
The family business: laundering money.
As the book begins, the family is being destabilized: Emil is splitting the difference between friend and employee, strictly against the rules; Henry has invited Lipz into the family, their home is under surveillance, and banks are refusing their money and freezing their accounts--not all of them, but enough to worry.
Then bodies start piling up; the police start to close in, and he family begins to spin apart. Following these characters, as we get more and more of each of their back stories, along with their inner dialogue, makes for fascinating reading.
Amazingly, this is Selfon's first novel. I hope he writes some more!
April 13, 2021
I liked the beginning of this story, but about halfway thru I had to make myself continue reading.
An interesting premise, a crime family involved in money laundering, and quite an interesting family they are. An uncle, a nephew and a niece, each alone because of terrible family histories.
But then lots of friends, acquaintances, peripheral stories all intervened and it all became mishmash and nothing was completed. Well some things were to an extent but never completely and satisfactorily, to me.
Won’t be recommending this one to anyone.
An interesting premise, a crime family involved in money laundering, and quite an interesting family they are. An uncle, a nephew and a niece, each alone because of terrible family histories.
But then lots of friends, acquaintances, peripheral stories all intervened and it all became mishmash and nothing was completed. Well some things were to an extent but never completely and satisfactorily, to me.
Won’t be recommending this one to anyone.
October 12, 2022
Definitely not my favorite writing style. It seemed to be very hard to follow and the story line was all over the place. Especially with the timing of everything. The chapters would jump time frames but not tell you to when so you think something is happening in the present but it really was a long time ago. I was so excited after reading the description to dive in, but I am severely disappointed with the outcome. I left this book with more questions than anything else and the story didn’t really have an ending.
May 19, 2023
Couldn’t get through at all. Not complete sentences and bounces around 3 characters with no warning. Doesn’t tell you when you’re in who’s characters head & you cannot tell whatsoever. Confusing & slow.
March 28, 2022
Der Autor bedient sich in seinem Debütroman eines eher ungewöhnlichen Genres der Kriminalliteratur, um eine gewisse gesellschaftliche Kritik zu äußern, nämlich das Genre des Gangsterromans. D. h. Verbrechen ja, Ermittlungen eher nur am Rande. Darauf muss man sich als Leser einlassen, gibt dem Roman aber eine sehr schöne Würze.
Im Wesentlichen bekommen wir es mit drei Hauptfiguren zu tun, die aus dem Underground von Brooklyn stammen. Sie sind in dieses Milieu hineingeboren, kennen gar nichts anderes. Für sie ist es selbstverständlich, dass sie ihren Lebensunterhalt mit Kriminalität verdienen.
Da ist zunächst Shecky. Er wünscht sich eine Familie. Ganz klassisch mit gemeinsamen Mahlzeiten, gemeinsam Beisammenstehen usw. Er ist das Oberhaupt der Familie und vermisst auch nach vielen Jahren immer noch seine Schwester. Shecky hat sich ein Unternehmen aufgebaut, welches gut funktioniert, aber nach strengen Regeln abläuft. Er betreibt Geldwäsche im großen Stil. Dabei wäscht er nicht sein eigenes Geld, sondern bietet dies als Dienstleistung für alle möglichen Kunden an. Beispielsweise überall da, wo ein Firmeninhaber mit viel Schwarzgeld hantiert. Die Transfers des Geldes über mehrere Konten und an Scheinfirmen, übernimmt Shecky mit seinem darauf spezialisierten Unternehmen.
Harry ist ein Junge, den Shecky zur Betreuung als Bewährungshelfer aufgenommen hat. Harry ist für ihn wie ein Sohn. Er bekommt all seine Liebe und all sein Wissen. Shecky bringt ihm alles bei, was er seinem „Sohn“ nur beibringen kann. Harry ist der beste Mitarbeiter im Geldwäscheunternehmens seines „Onkels“, wie er Shecky nennen soll. Er heuert Kuriere an, bringt ihnen das Handwerkszeug bei, stattet sie mit Wegwerfhandys aus. Harry ist der Mann für alles in der Firma, denkt aber, er wird nicht gut bezahlt.
Die jüngste, die Shecky in die Familie aufgenommen hat, ist Kerasha. Kerasha ist 23 Jahre alt und hat gerade 6 Jahre im Knast hinter sich. Als Kleptomanin muss sie ihre Therapiesitzungen noch bei einem Psychiater absolvieren, um von der Sucht des Klauens geheilt zu werden. Kerasha ist noch nicht voll in den Familienbetrieb integriert worden. Sie muss nach den sechs Jahren erst mal mit der Freiheit klarkommen. Und mit dem fehlenden Heroin. Aber an das Ritual der gemeinsamen Frühstücke und Abendessen hat sie sich schnell gewöhnt.
Brian Selfon hat ein besonderes Bild von Brooklyn gezeichnet, welches sich vielen Menschen nicht auf den ersten Blick erschließt. Das ist nicht nur die Selbstverständlichkeit, wie hier mit Kriminalität Geld verdient wird. Es sind auch die zahlreichen Verstecke, Unterschlüpfe und toten Briefkästen, die sich dem Auge eines normalen Bürgers oder gar Touristen gänzlich entziehen. Wer erwartet schon in einem alten Zeitungskasten, dass sich darin eine Nottasche mit Revolver, Geld und mehreren Pässen oder Führerscheinen befindet? Mit vielen Details und sehr authentisch schildert Selfon ein ungewöhnliches Bild von Brooklyn und seinen Bürgern.
Die Polizei scheint machtlos zu sein. Sie kann sich nicht um alle kleinen Verbrechen kümmern, die in der Drogen- oder Prostituiertenszene tagtäglich geschehen. Auch die Polizistin Zera, die als Kind aus Montenegro in die USA verschleppt wurde, verzweifelt an den Machenschaften des Menschenhandels.
Dieser besondere Schmelztiegel Brooklyn, wie ihn Brian Selfon als düstere Schattenseite präsentiert, hat mich ein wenig an die chaotische Familie in der TV-Serie „Shameless“ erinnert. Eine Familie voller Verlierer, die dennoch das Beste aus ihrem Leben herausholen wollen.
Der Stil von Brian Selfon ist unterhaltend, enthält auch humorige Sequenzen. Man kann ihm gut folgen. Zeitliche Sprünge und Rückblenden werden gut bekanntgemacht, so dass man die jeweilige Szenen sehr gut in die gesamte Geschichte einordnen kann.
Ein sehr guter Roman für Leser, die nicht immer nur einen 0-8-15-Krimi lesen möchten und gerne auch mal hinter die Kulissen der Handlungsorte schauen möchten.
© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2022
Im Wesentlichen bekommen wir es mit drei Hauptfiguren zu tun, die aus dem Underground von Brooklyn stammen. Sie sind in dieses Milieu hineingeboren, kennen gar nichts anderes. Für sie ist es selbstverständlich, dass sie ihren Lebensunterhalt mit Kriminalität verdienen.
Da ist zunächst Shecky. Er wünscht sich eine Familie. Ganz klassisch mit gemeinsamen Mahlzeiten, gemeinsam Beisammenstehen usw. Er ist das Oberhaupt der Familie und vermisst auch nach vielen Jahren immer noch seine Schwester. Shecky hat sich ein Unternehmen aufgebaut, welches gut funktioniert, aber nach strengen Regeln abläuft. Er betreibt Geldwäsche im großen Stil. Dabei wäscht er nicht sein eigenes Geld, sondern bietet dies als Dienstleistung für alle möglichen Kunden an. Beispielsweise überall da, wo ein Firmeninhaber mit viel Schwarzgeld hantiert. Die Transfers des Geldes über mehrere Konten und an Scheinfirmen, übernimmt Shecky mit seinem darauf spezialisierten Unternehmen.
Harry ist ein Junge, den Shecky zur Betreuung als Bewährungshelfer aufgenommen hat. Harry ist für ihn wie ein Sohn. Er bekommt all seine Liebe und all sein Wissen. Shecky bringt ihm alles bei, was er seinem „Sohn“ nur beibringen kann. Harry ist der beste Mitarbeiter im Geldwäscheunternehmens seines „Onkels“, wie er Shecky nennen soll. Er heuert Kuriere an, bringt ihnen das Handwerkszeug bei, stattet sie mit Wegwerfhandys aus. Harry ist der Mann für alles in der Firma, denkt aber, er wird nicht gut bezahlt.
Die jüngste, die Shecky in die Familie aufgenommen hat, ist Kerasha. Kerasha ist 23 Jahre alt und hat gerade 6 Jahre im Knast hinter sich. Als Kleptomanin muss sie ihre Therapiesitzungen noch bei einem Psychiater absolvieren, um von der Sucht des Klauens geheilt zu werden. Kerasha ist noch nicht voll in den Familienbetrieb integriert worden. Sie muss nach den sechs Jahren erst mal mit der Freiheit klarkommen. Und mit dem fehlenden Heroin. Aber an das Ritual der gemeinsamen Frühstücke und Abendessen hat sie sich schnell gewöhnt.
Brian Selfon hat ein besonderes Bild von Brooklyn gezeichnet, welches sich vielen Menschen nicht auf den ersten Blick erschließt. Das ist nicht nur die Selbstverständlichkeit, wie hier mit Kriminalität Geld verdient wird. Es sind auch die zahlreichen Verstecke, Unterschlüpfe und toten Briefkästen, die sich dem Auge eines normalen Bürgers oder gar Touristen gänzlich entziehen. Wer erwartet schon in einem alten Zeitungskasten, dass sich darin eine Nottasche mit Revolver, Geld und mehreren Pässen oder Führerscheinen befindet? Mit vielen Details und sehr authentisch schildert Selfon ein ungewöhnliches Bild von Brooklyn und seinen Bürgern.
Die Polizei scheint machtlos zu sein. Sie kann sich nicht um alle kleinen Verbrechen kümmern, die in der Drogen- oder Prostituiertenszene tagtäglich geschehen. Auch die Polizistin Zera, die als Kind aus Montenegro in die USA verschleppt wurde, verzweifelt an den Machenschaften des Menschenhandels.
Dieser besondere Schmelztiegel Brooklyn, wie ihn Brian Selfon als düstere Schattenseite präsentiert, hat mich ein wenig an die chaotische Familie in der TV-Serie „Shameless“ erinnert. Eine Familie voller Verlierer, die dennoch das Beste aus ihrem Leben herausholen wollen.
Der Stil von Brian Selfon ist unterhaltend, enthält auch humorige Sequenzen. Man kann ihm gut folgen. Zeitliche Sprünge und Rückblenden werden gut bekanntgemacht, so dass man die jeweilige Szenen sehr gut in die gesamte Geschichte einordnen kann.
Ein sehr guter Roman für Leser, die nicht immer nur einen 0-8-15-Krimi lesen möchten und gerne auch mal hinter die Kulissen der Handlungsorte schauen möchten.
© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2022
September 30, 2020
A surprisingly touching account of a small family of fixers, each with their own demons and dreams of belonging.
This is a layered story of a small, pieced-together crime family that works as fixers for all dangerous sorts: Uncle Shecky, an aging man and head of the family, yearning for their way of life to stay in tact and hearing the wisdom of the sister he lost at a young age, Henry, his nephew recovering from a past of anger and a broken family with dreams of being an artist, and Kerasha, his niece known for her impeccable acts of break ins and theft who is battling her own demons of a junkie heritage and time in prison. The book covers so many timeframes, but centers around a summer of murders that begin with that of one of their runners, and Henry's friend, Emil. As we trudge through this family's tumultuous time on the brink of falling apart, multiple histories and betrayals are revealed, and as a reader you never quite know who to root for.
I haven't read too many organized crime novels myself, so I was extremely surprised by this one! The characters are complicated and there is so much depth given to their backstories and the demons that they are all separately facing. Each has their own shade of a dark past and yet they also each have such hope and softness.
The pace and timing may be tricky for some. It moves extremely quickly back and forth between past and present but after getting my bearings, I found that I enjoyed it - it was a pace very reflective of the harried and dangerous lives playing out on the page.
Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for the advanced e-copy!
This is a layered story of a small, pieced-together crime family that works as fixers for all dangerous sorts: Uncle Shecky, an aging man and head of the family, yearning for their way of life to stay in tact and hearing the wisdom of the sister he lost at a young age, Henry, his nephew recovering from a past of anger and a broken family with dreams of being an artist, and Kerasha, his niece known for her impeccable acts of break ins and theft who is battling her own demons of a junkie heritage and time in prison. The book covers so many timeframes, but centers around a summer of murders that begin with that of one of their runners, and Henry's friend, Emil. As we trudge through this family's tumultuous time on the brink of falling apart, multiple histories and betrayals are revealed, and as a reader you never quite know who to root for.
I haven't read too many organized crime novels myself, so I was extremely surprised by this one! The characters are complicated and there is so much depth given to their backstories and the demons that they are all separately facing. Each has their own shade of a dark past and yet they also each have such hope and softness.
The pace and timing may be tricky for some. It moves extremely quickly back and forth between past and present but after getting my bearings, I found that I enjoyed it - it was a pace very reflective of the harried and dangerous lives playing out on the page.
Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for the advanced e-copy!
October 19, 2020
I was really impressed with large parts of first time writer Brian Selfon’s The Nightworkers. His characterization was of the highest quality. I found myself intrigued with most of the individual plot lines. His descriptions of Bushwick, a neighborhood I’m only somewhat familiar with, made it come to life. I always enjoy a good New York City crime tale set outside of Manhattan, if done right (thinking in this moment of William Boyle and Maggie Estep). And his use of dialogue, no doubt stemming from his days as an ADA in New York City, seemed authentic. Parts of the story reminded me of a Richard Price novel.
Ultimately however, this is a book I wish I liked more than I actually did. And that’s largely because of the non-linear narrative. Selfon sets his whole story up around a crime that happens to a “family” of criminals. But as he tries to build the world around it, he makes it impossible to get invested in most of the threads from the spine of the tale. He’s essentially telling three or four stories at once, whereas each of these characters are rich enough to demand their own novel. At times, he uses obfuscation to keep the reader off balance but it mostly left me confused.
So the result is a compelling crime novel with interesting pieces that aren’t put together in a way I found effective for a quality reading experience. Nevertheless, Selfon is a talent and I’ll be on the lookout for his next novel. I just hope he finds a way to streamline the story.
Ultimately however, this is a book I wish I liked more than I actually did. And that’s largely because of the non-linear narrative. Selfon sets his whole story up around a crime that happens to a “family” of criminals. But as he tries to build the world around it, he makes it impossible to get invested in most of the threads from the spine of the tale. He’s essentially telling three or four stories at once, whereas each of these characters are rich enough to demand their own novel. At times, he uses obfuscation to keep the reader off balance but it mostly left me confused.
So the result is a compelling crime novel with interesting pieces that aren’t put together in a way I found effective for a quality reading experience. Nevertheless, Selfon is a talent and I’ll be on the lookout for his next novel. I just hope he finds a way to streamline the story.
November 17, 2020
This is a debut novel from someone who has spent his life working in criminal justice, so we can believe that he knows what he is writing about. This novel had depth, kindness, love, concern - lots of good stuff among the three main characters, a man who provides a home for a nephew and a niece, who would would be homeless except for him. As the nephew explains early in the book, his Uncle Shecky is in the money business - "adjustable-interest loans, interest-only home loans, mortgages, LLCs, PACs, and profitable non-profits." Uncle Shecky is a kind man, caring for the relatives, and making a lot of money. He is also very smart and is teaching the nephew his business. He uses the nephew and niece in the business when necessary. There are very human moments in the portrayals of this family. The work is intricate, complex, a lot of trust and need-to-know information. I never realized that the criminal life was so complex but this writer shows us what happens. He also shows us the misjustice and the police abuse of power. These are things I knew about but seeing three human beings with feelings in these complex situations made them real for me. I feel more sympathy for folks at the bottom of society while reading this book. And I would love to discuss it in book group. Bravo to the author for putting his knowledge and awareness into a fiction book that will teach others.
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