New World Monkeys

The title grabs your interest first; the characters next ... and then the twisted plot. Ms. Mauro is a fine new talent. It is always a great sign when you can't put a book down, without wondering if you should read just one more chapter.

I really enjoyed this quirky novel which in my mind is akin to the writing of Douglas Coupland for its straightforward, slightly manic modernity. The characters were well developed, the theme (finding a centuries old skeleton buried on a yuppie couple's country property) was intriguing and not at all cliched (which I attribute to Mauro's deft writing). The events are in the context of the couple's intense city lifestyle (he works for an ad agency, she is cobbling together her dissertation) but action takes place in a fictional city upstate from New York along the Hudson (supposedly near Tivoli). The author's descriptions are sparse yet adequate and keep the writing moving forward at a nice clip. There was one character who seemed incredibly unlikely (a loser voyeur the wife accidentally befriends) but again Mauro's writing makes this improbability seem normal if not inevitable. Some of the scenes with the loser friend suggested they were veering off into a weird area but in context the events seemed to make sense. Definitely light fiction but some of the best I have read recently.

Ms. Mauro is a true wordsmith, brilliant storyteller, and astute observer of the contemporary human condition. I'm looking forward to reading the other twisted tales she has locked up in her head!

At the core of New World Monkey's is a relationship in trouble. Confusion about anger or indifference, love or hate. Violence or passion. Lost or found. The characters are real, flawed, fascinating and well-developed. Surrounding them are sharp edges and dark mysteries. A marred family history, a small town verging on madness, a revered boar. It's a fabulous read. The story is original and well-crafted. Details from the chapter headings, to an edgy and enthralling advertising campain, take it beyond the norm. This is an outstanding debut.

I got my hands on a copy of this novel and I couldn't put it down. Nancy Mauro's writing style is truly unique and sets her apart from the masses of sound-alikes that abound. This book will take you on an unexpected journey. The power dynamics she explores will give you pause and make you think of your own life and relationships. I never imagined I would come to care about a peeping Tom and an ill-fated wild boar (that's where the tire iron comes in). One of her protaganists works in the Advertising Industry. I couldn't help but squirm at some of her spot-on observations. But don't be misled - this is about MUICH MUCH more than a look inside the twisted reality of the NY advertising scene. That provides only one of the delicately intertwining sub-plots. I highly recommend this book for everyone from the big city industry guy to the small town idealist. You will all be proven wrong.