The Deal

I wouldn't have put those three words together before reading this book, but apparently it can get pretty thrilling when the buildings you're talking about are worth billions. I had no idea how Byzantine the world of commercial real estate was, but add hungry young men looking to make the big score of a lifetime, a healthy supply of Bolivian marching powder and a stolen Faberge egg, and you have THE DEAL by Adam Gittlin. My description doesn't do it justice - this novel will keep you guessing until the last page. I'm always a fan of authors with an eye for the telling detail and Gittlin delivers. He's created a believable protagonist in Jonah Gray, who falls into a deal with an old friend that he thinks is going to put him above the competition forever, and he can't pass that up. He fuels the machinations necessary to pull the deal off with a lot of coke and some questionable sex in a Hamptons mansion bathroom. Unsurprisingly, this combination doesn't work out so great, and he's scrambling for his life and his sanity all too quickly. Gittlin keeps the plot churning, yet plausible without ever resorting to hackneyed devices. Highly recommended!

Adam Gittlin has created a convincing anti-hero in his protagonist Jonah Gray, a young, high-powered real estate exec in NYC: a shark among sharks. He tears through women, cocaine and real estate deals with equal skill and hunger. When he gets offered the real estate deal of a lifetime, it's too good to pass up. Then, with the help of a crazy one-night stand, a dad who's taught his son all too well, and a stolen Faberge egg, it all goes to hell. Gittlin is pitch-perfect in the details of the real estate biz, immersing us in the world of shady money with consummate skill. He has a sharp eye for character and a flair for the unexpected twist. A satisfying and thought-provoking novel.

Gittlin nails the excess of Big Apple money hounds like a guy who might just have seen it up close. I was totally drawn by his attention to detail and obvious first-hand knowledge of his subject. He kicks things off with an enticing cold-open that sets up his first-person narrative, then rockets us through a plot that serves as a cautionary tale for anyone presented with the devil's bargain...the devil's going to be a tough S.O.B. A constantly moving plot propels you towards a conclusion that I didn't see coming, and keeps the knife turning with some satisfying sub-plots, nicely linked to Jonah Gray, the protagonist's journey, including one little flip that in retrospect, is completely horrifying. It's a testament to Gittlin's skill that he's able to pull off a late-in-the-game reminder that this thing can still get nasty, and just 'cause Gray's narrating the story doesn't make him a "good guy." It's like watching a man become an animal...Couldn't help but think of a mystery/thriller version of Bright Lights, Big City.

A densely plotted real estate thriller, framed in the intrigue of international finance and art theft, THE DEAL consistently surprised me with its breathless, yet never out-of-control pacing and well-thought out twists and turns. The novel weaves together several worlds and Gittlin details them all with a painterly eye without breaking a sweat. I was hooked from the opening pages, which set up Jonah Gray, the first-person narrator who is going to tell us how he got out of this jam; a mess that in true anti-hero fashion, he got himself into. Gittlin rides a fine line between letting Gray get away with it and paying for his sins, which keeps it grounded and avoids indulgence. He also has the campfire story-teller's innate talent for knowing when to string you along a little, then lay the cards on the table and let you catch up. I'm looking forward to his next project!

There are very few rewards in life that do not carry related risks - and typically, the bigger the reward, the bigger the risk, and Jonah Grey quickly learns this in "The Deal". Jonah was set for life, he was a complete success in everything he did. What was one more deal to cement his place in the financial elite for the rest of his life? The risks finally catch up with him, as his latest deal goes from easy money to certain bankruptcy - of both his money and the very people he loves, quite quickly. Jonah goes through anything to avoid it. "The Deal" is a highly recommended thriller for community library collections, and for any reader who wants a captivating story from first page to last.