Under the Eye of God Book Summary
After decades of madness in the Bronx, Isaac Sidel
visits the craziest state in the country.
Isaac Sidel is too popular
to be America’s vice president. Once the New York Police Department
commissioner, he became the most beloved mayor in the city’s history—famous for
his refusal to surrender his Glock, and for his habit of disappearing for months
at a time to fight crime at street level. So when baseball czar J. Michael Storm
asks Sidel to join him on the election’s Democratic ticket, the two wild men
romp to an unprecedented landslide. But as the president-elect’s mandate goes
off the rails—threatened by corruption, sex, and God knows what else—he tires of
being overshadowed by Sidel, and dispatches him to a place from which tough
politicians seldom return: Texas.
In the Lone Star state, Sidel confronts
rogue astrologers, accusations of pedophilia, and a dimwitted assassin who
doesn’t know when to take an easy shot. If this Bronx bomber doesn’t watch his
step, he risks making vice-presidential history by getting killed on the
job.
Review
Isaac Sidel never pretends to be perfect, nothing even close to it. But he also does not back down from a fight, or from anything he believes in. When he finds himself the most likeable part of the Presidential ticket, his life quickly becomes complicated. Not only is he accused of liking young girls, he has become the target of a man who will stop at nothing to destroy him.
Few authors do gritty and edgy like Jerome Charyn. From characters to setting, there's something very dark and authentic about Under the Eye of God. Isaac Sidel is front and center in this novel, finding his way from one mess to another. No matter how high the stakes become, he rarely seems to flinch.
Earlier this year, I read Jerome Charyn's Blue Eyes and commented...
Although this is the first Isaac Sidel
mystery, Isaac is not a main character. Yet, he manages to be the force behind
much of the story. Just enough of his character is revealed to entice the reader
to want to know more about him, especially since his sphere of influence is so
large.
So I was thrilled for further insight into Isaac, a well-developed and interesting "good" guy who has no problem blurring the lines of a traditional hero. I loved this unconventional approach to a memorable main character. He will stick with you as much for his mistakes as his achievements.
From page one, the intricate story never lets up. Although it's confusing at times and keeping up with the long cast of characters can be daunting, the story never manages to let up. Interesting characters pull you from page to page, wondering what could possibly happen next.
This story doesn't simply follow the stereotypical good guy beats bad guy; instead it exposes the realistic, and rarely pretty, underbelly of society. If you are a reader who appreciates the unexpected, I highly recommend this book. Jerome Charyn plays by his own rules, and he's a strong enough writer to turn those rules into good reading.
Rating: 4 stars
Book Trailer
Jerome Charyn's Bio
Jerome Charyn (b. 1937) is the critically acclaimed
author of nearly fifty books. Born in the Bronx, he attended Columbia College,
where he fell in love with the works of William Faulkner and James Joyce. After
graduating, he took a job as a playground director and wrote in his spare time,
producing his first novel, a Lower East Side fairytale called Once Upon a
Droshky, in 1964.
In 1974 Charyn published Blue Eyes, his
first Isaac Sidel mystery. Begun as a distraction while trying to finish a
different book, this first in a series of Sidel novels introduced the eccentric,
near-mythic detective and his bizarre cast of sidekicks. Charyn followed the
character through Citizen Sidel (1999), which ends with his antihero
making a run at the White House. Charyn, who divides his time between New York
and Paris, is also accomplished at table tennis, and once ranked amongst
France’s top 10 percent of ping-pong players.
Buy Under the Eye of God
Note: I received a
complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation
was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views
expressed are my own.
*****
I have had the privilege of reviewing two other Jerome Charyn books, so I wanted to share them here:
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