Dear Great Book Guru, I had such fun last week at the Sea Cliff Village-wide Garage Sale.  The Friends of the Library had a great selection of books, and I bought a few by my favorite author Chris Pavone. Someone mentioned at the sale that he has a new novel. Is it true…and - if so - I’m very excited!  Garage Sale Groupie

Dear Garage Sale Groupie, Yes - good news…THE DOORMAN, Chris Pavone’s latest novel, just came out and it is a spectacular read.  Set in New York City in the Bohemia - purported to be the world’s most famous apartment building (think the Dakota) - the story focuses on four characters: the building’s doorman, Chicky Diaz, and three of its residents.  Chicky is a former U.S.Marine, recently widowed. Julian Sonnenberg is an art dealer with a checkered past and a very bad medical diagnosis. Emily Longsworth is the wife of Whit, a billionaire whose wealth has loathsome origins. She is desperately unhappy but an onerous pre-nup agreement keeps her married to Whit. Other residents include dog-loving, human-hating Ethel Frum and Gucker Goff, bubble-wrap billionaire, and a myriad of colorful supporting characters. Chicky dutifully greets all by name, never shares his problems, walks their dogs, protects their children and remains basically invisible until trouble arises! Trouble in the form of racial riots besieging the city. And the residents of the Bohemia are not immune to its violence. Only Chicky can protect them, they feel, but can he?  An absorbing tale of class divide, domestic drama, and racial unrest… highly recommended!