Beware the Solitary Drinker

Rating:
Summary: Cynical but with hope shining through--very nice
Review: Bartender Brian McNulty lives in a strange New York world populated by drunks, unemployed actors, and ex-communists still searching for the revolution. When beautiful young Angelina walks into his bar, he is instantly smitten--as is every other man in the bar. Angelina is troubled and sexually inappropriate (with everyone but Brian, it seems). But that doesn't make her murder any easier to take. When Angelina's sister comes into town, she convinces Brian to help her investigate.

The investigation turns into a tour of Brian's bizarre world. Everyone has a secret that they won't share with the cops, or even with their bartender. Worse, Brian's investigation seems to make things worse. Everyone is threatened by Brian, even if they aren't the ones who actually committed this particular murder.

Author Cornelius Lehane delivers a thoughtful and probing look into a strange society. Brian's leftist views are carefully modulated--he knows that some of them are silly but they are part of his upbringing and self-concept. His relationship with Kevin, his son, develops a little late but adds emotional resonance to the story.

BEWARE THE SOLITARY DRINKER will appeal to fans of film noire. It combines cynicism with just a hint of a hopeful world view. I found this a charming story by a first-time author. Check it out.

Rating:
Summary: Well written but dull
Review: Brian McNulty is a bartender on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He befriends a young woman who is strikingly beautiful, yet, highly promiscuous. He fears for her, yet, he is powerless to stop her dangerous lifestyle until she turns up dead. He takes it upon himself to find out who killed her, after the police arrest the wrong man. Through his investigation we meet a whole host of characters any of whom could have been the murderer.
Cornelius Lehane can write very very well. This becomes almost immediately apparent once starting this debut novel. Characters are richly portrayed as is the NYC locale. There is a strong sense of realism to the life of McNulty. However, the author is much less skilled in the art of storytelling. For most of the book, as we meet character after character, there is little plot progression. A pitfall of so many novelists is they forget that above all else they should have a compelling story to tell. Otherwise it is hard to call the book a complete success. The bottom line: well written but dull.

Rating:
Summary: The new rising star of the American mystery genre?
Review: In brief, Mr. Lehane creates a facinating world of bar flys, beautiful women, murder and mystery in his very successful debut effort, "Beware the Solitary Drinker." One can practically taste the Jack Daniels and smell the cigarette smoke of the Upper West Side watering hole that is the heart of the story. Written with surprising depth and realism, this is a very captivating and satisfying read. I highly recommend Mr. Lehane's book, and look forward to his future works.

Rating:
Summary: The new rising star of the American mystery genre?
Review: In brief, Mr. Lehane creates a facinating world of bar flys, beautiful women, murder and mystery in his very successful debut effort, "Beware the Solitary Drinker." One can practically taste the Jack Daniels and smell the cigarette smoke of the Upper West Side watering hole that is the heart of the story. Written with surprising depth and realism, this is a very captivating and satisfying read. I highly recommend Mr. Lehane's book, and look forward to his future works.

Rating:
Summary: a working class hero
Review: Manhattan sleaze is a heady brew, and Upper West Side Manhattan sleaze makes for an even headier one. The narrator/protagonist of this fine debut novel is a bartender who works mids on the Upper West Side, thereby providing the stage for a goodly assortment of rogues and oddballs. (The only insufferable person in this movel is the murder victim's sister. However, she is from Massachusetts, so what can you expect?)

The book is well plotted, and overall it is a very good read. (My only--and very minor--observation is that it did tend to drag here and there.)

One caveat: If you are reading this book for the first time, I suggest making a little list of who's who. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and I kept having to look back to see which was Sam the Hammer and which Eric the Red.

The writer knows his territory. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: strong amateur sleuth tale
Review: On the Upper West Side of Broadway, there is a bar called Oscar's and the night bartender, forty-year-old Brian McNulty is familiar to the regulars who drink there every night. One night Angelina shows up, a beautiful, vibrant and enchanting young woman who ensorcells the men fortunate enough to catch her eye. She is a bit promiscuous but even when she stays in Brian's apartment, she doesn't sleep with him.

One day she comes in throwing money around saying she's got a sugar daddy. Shortly thereafter, her dead body is found with no clue who did it because there are so many known suspects, never mind the unknown ones. Brian, who is egged on by Angelina's sister Janet, decides to conduct an independent investigation because he knows that some of the people involved won't talk to the police. As the investigation progresses, another person dies and Brian almost becomes the killer's third victim.

The hero is an "everyman" sort of guy, making him appealing to both genders. For an amateur, he is a very good detective and he actually unearths some very decent clues that lead to possible suspects. Any New Yorker will realize that the story line is an actual portrayal of life in the Big Apple (at least the Manhattan borough). Beware THE SOLITARY DRINKER has much to recommend it.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: great mystery
Review: This is the best mystery story I've ever read. Much more than the usual puzzle book, it's an exploration of fascinating, strange yet totally believable characters, starting with the bartender-sleuth. I couldn't put it down.