Paradise Man

By Jerome Charyn

Though he doesn’t know mink from sable, Sidney Holden is the most important employee at Aladdin Furs. He is a bumper, a well-dressed killer who collects the debts that cannot be paid, and Aladdin would be nothing without him. After all, fur is murder. As Cuban refugees flood the United States, the New York criminal class is rocked by the appearance of a Santería sect that hails a young girl as the newest incarnation of Changó, their bloodthirsty thunder god. But after a routine hit, Holden finds the girl cowering under the kitchen table – a divine witness to a double murder. Unable to kill her, he takes her with him, sparking an all-out turf war so vicious that Holden will be happy to have any god on his side.

• Language: English
• Publisher: mysteriouspress.com
• Release date: Jul 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781786698391

Jerome Charyn

Jerome Charyn (b. 1937) is the critically acclaimed author of nearly fifty books. Born in the Bronx, he attended Columbia College. After graduating, he took a job as a playground director and wrote in his spare time, producing his first novel, a Lower East Side fairytale called Once Upon a Droshky, in 1964. In 1974, Charyn published Blue Eyes, his first Isaac Sidel mystery. This first in the so-called Sidel quartet introduced the eccentric, near-mythic Sidel, and his bizarre cast of sidekicks. Although he completed the quartet with Secret Isaac (1978), Charyn followed the character through Under the Eye of God. Charyn, who divides his time between New York and Paris, is also accomplished at table tennis, and once ranked amongst France’s top 10 percent of ping-pong players.

Reviews for Paradise Man

[thorold_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very slick, stylish gangster story, with more than a touch of humour, but far too violent for my taste. The point of view character we're supposed to identify with is a professional murderer, and there's an enormous body count.

[iamindeed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m still at a loss with this book – so redolent with action, suspense, place and the overwhelmingly complex character of Sidney that it’s hard to just place it in a single set of thoughts. A surprisingly detailed yet unemotional character, he is an enforcer for his employer: with a penchant for high quality suits and always looking his best, the conflict of appearance and action are just one of the many juxtapositions in this gripping tale. Add in a mix of paranormal and near fanatic religious belief, a turf war and the seedy underbelly of back alleys and quiet side streets in New York and this book jumped from one situation to the next without taking a breath.

As an introduction to Charyn’s work, this was a winner for me as even the minor characters have some interesting detail that sets them apart and lets them breathe, while the non-stop action made it a page turner. I couldn’t foresee a possible outcome; there were far more players than play, every character with an angle and intention. Sidney’s ability to negotiate the different personalities, threats and locations made him one interesting guy to know, and difficult to read with his chameleon-like ability to best situate himself in most encounters. A clever book that will entertain and thrill as you struggle to work out the mysteries within.

I received an eBook from Publisher via NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own responsibility.