This book by Chris Pavone (author of Two Nights in Lisbon) came so highly recommended that I forced myself to finish after many times wanting to give up. It is such a slow burn to reach the dramatic highpoint--essentially over ¾ of the book--that to me it just wasn't worth it. Others disagreed, however.
Publishers Weekly refers to the book as an "adrenaline-pumping thriller" that "delivers a lacerating, Tom Wolfe–worthy dissection of Manhattan society in the post-Covid era." They go on to summarize the plot: "The primary setting is the Bohemia, a storied Central Park West co-op where protagonist Chicky Diaz stands watch. A streetwise former Marine who moonlights as a security guard to pay off his late wife’s crushing medical debt, Chicky has seen and done a lot—but nothing approaching the perfect storm of catastrophes that converge during the fraught hours over which the narrative unfolds..." and they conclude with: "Page-turning from the opening paragraph to its killer finale, the narrative combines noirish atmosphere with a sharp attunement to the particular depravities of ultrawealthy urbanites. Pavone’s provocative look at the city that never sleeps will keep readers up well into the wee hours." I, on the other hand had to push myself to finish the book, but you can see why I was sucked in by the review.
The New York Times offers a more detailed account of the story line and effuses: "With its laser-sharp satire, its delicious set pieces in both rich and poor neighborhoods — a co-op board meeting, a Harlem food pantry and more — and its portrait of a restive city torn apart by inequality, resentment and excess, “The Doorman” naturally invites comparison to “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” Tom Wolfe’s lacerating dissection of New York in the 1980s." And they go on to offer a minor qualification to their praise but end up recommending the book with this: "If 'The Doorman' suffers from anything, it’s a surfeit of riches — details and digressions that can lead you away from the central story. But all of it accelerates into a tour de force ending (this is where it becomes a thriller) that rewards close attention."
Kirkus closes their short review with this: "Social, racial, and political commentary add color to the profanity-peppered pages.Readers will root for the doorman in this enjoyable yarn." I did root for Chicky (the doorman) but can't say I found the book at all enjoyable except for the very end when some deserving person gets their comeuppance.
