Genre
Crime fiction, Historical novel
Setting and Context
Set between 1959 and 1964, the novel takes place in the neighborhood of Harlem with various scenes in other parts of New York City
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is told from a third-person perspective. The narrator closely follows Ray for most of the novel, with brief moments dedicated to Pepper and other secondary characters.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the novel is cynical and darkly comedic. The mood is tense.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the novel is Ray Carney; the antagonist is Ambrose Van Wyck.
Major Conflict
The main conflict of the story is between Ray's wish to lead a straight life and his success at handling illicit business.
Climax
The climax of the novel occurs when Pepper kills the Van Wyck henchmen.
Foreshadowing
Freddie's troubles with Linus are foreshadowed when Carney meets Linus for the first time at a diner and finds him off-putting.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The novel alludes to numerous historical places, people and events in 1960s Harlem, including the Hotel Theresa, Ornette Coleman, and the 1964 riots.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
There is parallelism between Ray and his father, who was also an effective and discrete criminal.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
