The Wall Street Journal’s Fusilli presents a new novel combining his love of music with history of New York City in Narrows Gate (Amazon Encore $14.95)
Jim writes to Patrick: “It’s my first novel in five years, and one that’s markedly different than any I’ve done before: In the years surrounding World War II, the mile-square city of Narrows Gate, a waterfront community in the shadows of New York City, is home to brutal wise guys, a gifted crooner hell bent on success and two young friends who have no idea what the future holds – or how it can rip them apart. Epic in scope, readers experience elements of the birth of the New York mob; World War II and the invasion of Sicily; the formation of the CIA; the televised Crime Commission hearings; the beginnings of the Las Vegas empire; the rise of a new singing sensation; and inside Hollywood. Needless to say, it’s a big book-about 600 pages.
“A big, broad-shouldered novel, equal parts Ellroy, Puzo and Scorsese.” –George Pelecanos.
Lee Child adds, “Outstanding in every way – major talent, voice, feel and been-there knowledge meets a story as tough and complex as the time that inspired it.”
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Jim Fusilli is an American writer. He serves as the rock and pop music critic of The Wall Street Journal and is the author of six novels. A native of Hoboken, NJ, he lives in New York City.
Fusilli’s debut novel, the mystery “Closing Time,” is the last work of fiction set in New York City published prior to the 9/11 attacks. The following year, Fusilli’s mystery “A Well-Known Secret” addressed the impact of 9/11 on the residents of New York City. Two novels for adults followed: “Tribeca Blues” and “Hard, Hard City,” which Mystery Ink magazine named its 2004 Novel of the Year.
In 2005, Fusilli wrote “Pet Sounds,” his tribute to Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys’ classic album. Described as “an experiment in music journalism,” the book combines the rhythm and emotional weight of his fiction with the often-unorthodox observations of his music criticism for the Journal, for whom he has written since 1983.
Fusilli served as the editor of, and contributed chapters to, the award-winning serial thrillers “The Chopin Manuscript” and “The Copper Bracelet.” His novel for young adults “Marley Z and the Bloodstained Violin” was published in 2008.
Fusilli has written and published many short stories; in several, he developed Narrows Gate as the setting, depicting the city in different eras. “Chellini’s Solution,” which appeared in the 2007 edition of the Best American Mystery Stories, features Narrows Gate in the years following World War II. “Digby, Attorney at Law” portrays the fictional city in the early 1960s. “Digby” was nominated for the Edgar and Macavity awards in 2010.
Fusilli is married to the former Diane Holuk, a senior public relations executive. They have a daughter, Cara, a graduate of the New School.
