Beyond doubt this is one of the best books that I have read. A spinning, swirling story that drags you through New York in 1974 that is told at a relentless pace. After the first section, told from the perspective of an Irishman travelling to the Big Apple to see his brother, the plot is told from the first person of a host of other characters that are all involved in one interlaced and intricate story of life.

For me this book captures the experience of New York City perfectly, and it is filled with deep, character-driven imagery that is near perfect. As close to flawless as writing gets.