An Honest Living

This is a terrific debut novel, a love-letter to late 20th century New York. The protagonist is nominally a lawyer who has cast aside a very well-paid career policing trademarks and copyrights for general practice, not working too hard but enjoying his life a whole lot more. He is not named, although a hint is given that it might be that of the author, so I will call him Dwyer.

The book begins with a Chanderesque situation – a woman, Anna, appears in Dwyer’s office looking for assistance. She is in the throes of a divorce and her husband Newton Reddick is selling off rare books purloined from her. She offers a substantial payment for evidence sufficient to stop him.

Dwyer has no difficulty in making contact with Reddick and obtaining a signed offer to sell a number of the valuable volumes with the titles he has been given by Anna. He supplies this to her attorney, Reddick’s activities are exposed in the press, and Dwyer receives a handsome payment.

He is disconcerted, however, when he receives a visit at his apartment from a woman who declares herself to be the real Anna, better known as the author AM Byrne, who is very angry at the embarrassment arising from Dwyer’s activities. Dwyer’s attempts to discover who was behind the set-up, and for what purpose, takes up most of the rest of the book.

During the course of his investigations he walks long distances around New York, musing on what he observes: old buildings with historical associations, redevelopment and gentrification, changes in character and category of use. This presents an unusual picture of New York; not the famous skyscrapers or concert halls, but out-of-the-way parts better known to residents than visitors, always with palpable affection, reminiscent of Woody Allen’s pictures of the city.

Dwyer has a wide circle of friends and people with whom he feels a natural sympathy – and not the sort you would normally expect to find associated with a lawyer. His best friend, who initially recommended the fake Anna Reddick to him, is a Colombian poet, Ulises. He is also close to a gay fence, doing the latter a favour in clearing his warehouse while the principal is out of town. Dwyer goes to the cinema and bookshops frequently and refers to works of literature provoked by his situation.

So while the plot brings to mind a noir of an earlier generation, the book provides a gentle ride, full of references to contemporary life and art in its widest sense. Dwyer is very laid-back and good company, smart and witty, never trying too hard to impress.