Surrender, New York

This was not a novel - it was an excuse for the author to spew his personal vitriol against law enforcement, Giuliani, Bloomberg, Cuomo, modern New York City, television... It's the 600-page equivalent of an 80 year old man saying, “In my day...” It's not even that these were woven into the story: the reader is beat over the head with how great NYC was back in the crime-ridden 70s and 80s. If these aren't the author's personal beliefs, then it certainly feels that way and completely takes the reader out of the story. After 125 pages, I really wanted to stop reading. Marcianna is the only character I cared anything about, and the dialogue sounds like it came from a bad comic book. Oh, the stereotypes! Also the characters use British terms for things that Americans just do not use. Then there's the creepy older man with 20 year old girl romance. Not to mention that the premise of the book just doesn't make sense. The hypocrisy of a book that talks about the Thought Police while spewing inaccurate Thought Police talking points...that talks about inaccuracy in tv while doing the very same...I expected better from this author. He's been around Hollywood too long, ironically. If you liked The Alienist, do not read this book - it will change your opinion of this author. I wish I could take back reading this. I will not even donate this book to the library because I don't want anyone else to have to read it.