First, thank you to Chris Pavone, NetGalley and MacMillan for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Doorman. When I read the plot summary I was totally hooked.

This is a book about The Dakota... oh, I'm sorry, "The Bohemia," a luxury apartment building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan (my old neighborhood). It's a mysterious building, home of many famous (or were famous to a specific genre and generation)) and rich New Yorkers. So, when you get a mix of "nouveau rich" and "old money rich", conflict is bound to arise.

And then you have the "unseen". The (mostly hispanic) building staff, who hold open doors, clean apartments, and most-importantly, guard the secrets of the residents.

I love a good New York City soap opera, and that's what The Doorman provides: insights to the unhappy wealthy couples, the secrets that go behind closed doors and what could go wrong... and does!

The story revolves around 2 apartments, and the connections (business and personal) between them all, along with the story of the actual Doorman of the building, "Chicky", of whom the book is titled. And the City. Don't forget the City, that also plays a major character. And this City is on the verge of blowing up due to racial tensions and murders that stereotypically creates tension between the "haves and have nots." (Keeps the book current with today's - or last years times, I suppose.)

For me, Chicky's story was actually the least interesting, but he plays an increasingly pivotal role as the gatekeeper of the building.

I really enjoyed "The Doorman." It's a lesser "Bonfire of the Vanities," but definitely has those aspirations. It's a page-turner, and for fans of the author (Why haven't I read "Two Nights in Lisbon"? I know I heard of it when it came out, and I certainly want to! I did read "The ExPats", and looking back at my review, I wasn't so hot on it. "The Doorman" is a much better read, and I hope it does well !)

I don't often read this kind of thriller, but I liked it better than I thought I would. The story is slow in places, especially in the first half, but the book makes up for that in the second half when the setup starts paying off. I hadn't expected the socio-political themes of race and class in a thriller like this, especially in such a prominent way, but I didn't mind their inclusion. On the whole I had a good time with this story, and I might read more from the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

I've been a fan of Pavone's books for years and this one doesn't diappoint. The writing is well paced, the main cast of characters are well fleshed out, the storyline is compelling and the motivations make sense. The final twist at the end was a bit hard to believe but overall the book had me engaged from beginning to end. Pavone is a very consistent writer and I'll continue to read his work.

An interesting book but it rambles too much among characters. I did not find the characters sympathetic. They were too woe begone. Not up to his other books but still interesting v

In The Doorman, Chris Pavone delivers a sophisticated thriller set against the backdrop of international espionage. The narrative is intricately woven, with each character playing a pivotal role in the unfolding drama. Pavone's sharp writing and attention to detail create a vivid and immersive experience. The protagonist's journey is both thrilling and intellectually stimulating, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. This novel is a masterclass in suspense, cementing Pavone's reputation as a top-tier thriller author.

Most of this story takes place in and around a luxury apartment building called the Bohemia in Central Park West in New York City. The chapters alternate mainly among three characters: the front doorman, Chicky Diaz, and two of the residents, Julian Sonnenberg in 2A and Emily Longworth in 11-cD: a double penthouse.

Emily’s husband Whit had, as Emily described it, “nearly incomprehensible wealth.” While Emily felt an intellectual guilt about it, it didn’t take her long to get accustomed to its benefits - the luxurious apartment, expensive meals, chauffeured cars, private planes, clothes, jewelry, and even high-end linens from all the best places. Cost was no object. The purchase price of their apartment, for example, was 32 million *before* all the costly renovations, and yet that amount represented perhaps only three percent of his net worth.

At the same time, however, as Emily got to know Whit more, she became increasingly repelled by his unsavory business practices; lack of compassion for those with less - especially if they were not white heterosexual men; and an increasing desire to hurt Emily during sex. So Emily avoided being near him.

Meanwhile, the owner of Apartment 2A, Julian Sonnenberg, was starting to feel his age (50) and “felt himself becoming irrelevant,” to his wife, to his kids, his business partner, and to his career.

Chicky knew all the residents and most of their habits. He loved his job; he had worked at the Bohemia for 28 years. The residents can’t imagine the place without Chicky. But he had mounting problems also. He found that he had to *pretend* to be nice more than he used to. And he was lonely; his wife Tiffani recently died of lymphoma, and left him with “two hundred grand in bills that were at various stages of unpaid or disputed or unreimbursed or what-the-fuck-ever. The processes were circular and the paperwork impenetrable.” He also had college tuition to pay for his girls in excess of the financial aid and loans they had.

In a typical passage Pavone adds commentary (in the voice of his characters) to the awful consequences of financial inequality, in this observation about student loans:

“Sometimes the whole setup didn’t look like financial aid so much as financial entrapment. A system that existed mainly to create loans to generate interest and defaults and fees. Maybe college was just another way to trick poor people into a lifetime of consumer debt. To redistribute income upward. Once you started looking for reverse redistribution schemes, they were everywhere.”

Chicky owed thousands to his landlord in back rent, thousands to various medical institutions, and his credit cards were maxed out. He now even owed money to a loan shark.

Each of the characters takes irrevocable steps to escape their situations that have profound consequences for all of them.

The actions come to a head on one dangerous night marked by protests and counterprotests after the NYPD fatally shot yet another Black man. As the tension ramps up and the book metamorphoses into the kind of thriller Pavone’s audience is familiar with, a number of twists lead to a surprising resolution for all of the characters. The ending seemed like a riff on the end of the movie “Chinatown.”

Evaluation: This entertaining character study/sociological treatise/thriller is a great choice for book clubs, with endless themes and topics to analyze.

I am a long-time fan of Pavone's spy thrillers, and when I saw he had a new title I immediately requested it. I was not approved for a while for the ebook, so when the audio version came available on here, I jumped on that. I got that approval quickly and began listening - and then received the ebook approval too! Because I was already listening, and loved the narrator, I wound up finishing the book on audio - and I'm SO glad I did!

This is an absolutely incredible story. It is thought-provoking and moving, emotionally charged and frustrating. It is not at all like the spy books Pavone is famous for, and I've seen a number of reviews that appear to have punished him for that. I, on the other hand, applaud him for taking on such difficult and timely subjects as privilege, classism and racism - and for handling them so well. He is a very talented storyteller, and he applied that gift to this book as well as he has to all of his others.

This is not an easy book to read, in the sense that it stirs up A LOT of emotional responses because of the no-holds-barred approach that Pavone takes in his writing (on whatever topic). This book will make you angry and irritated and frustrated. You will groan out loud at the ridiculousness of so many decisions. You will roll your eyes at the hypocrisy and excess. But you will also - if you pay attention - stumble on tidbits of thoughtful social commentary and a recognition of the inherent tensions in unfettered capitalism.

There's a lot going on here that is current and political. But set aside all the socioeconomic and sociopolitical elements of this one and you will also find a story about how we are all interconnected, whether we want to be or not and whether we acknowledge that we are or not. To me, that's the true magic here. Pavone's story reminds us that at the end of the day, consequences can and will find any one of us and no amount of money or privilege (or lack thereof) will prevent that.

It was a brilliant story that I thoroughly enjoyed, even when I was frustrated and yelling at the characters the loudest. The narration captured these tensions perfectly and was spot-on fabulous.

(I used this same review on the audio version as the salient points are relevant to both)

3.5 stars for me. This started out slower than I normally enjoy, but I can appreciate the back stories for all of the characters and I can appreciate the care the author took with dealing with politics. I would consider this, in my opinion, more of a political thriller than psychological. Once I hit the 80% mark, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, This was a slow paced read, but I did enjoy the ending, regardless of how heartbreaking it was.

This book's writing style was engaging and full of sharp, thought-provoking passages that kept the reader invested. The initial draw was the idea of following a doorman’s perspective in an iconic New York City apartment building, but the story expanded to include multiple points of view, weaving together different yet connected narratives. While not all storylines were equally compelling, they ultimately merged into a dramatic and suspenseful conclusion. However, the novel’s deep exploration of themes like racism, classism, and privilege sometimes made it feel heavy and different from what was expected. Despite this, the author's writing was captivating enough to inspire interest in his other works.

Chicky Diaz is The Doorman at the Bohemia Apartments, the swanky building overlooking Central Park in NYC, and home to the uber-wealthy and celebrities. But underneath all that glitter are plenty of secrets, and all is not what it appears to be. Set against the backdrop of one of the richest neighborhoods in the city, The Doorman provides the reader with a brutal, if not accurate, narrative of today’s political climate with a no-holds-barred commentary from all sides of the spectrum, where no subject is taboo, and no one is left unscathed. Interwoven in this social commentary is a slow-burn thriller, as we get to know some of the residents and their ostentatious lifestyle, juxtaposed with the story of Chicky, living week to week on his doorman’s salary, saddled with medical bills and a looming eviction. Meanwhile, there’s an undercurrent of unrest in the city following the police shooting of a black man, and as heated protests form, the secrets the Bohemia holds are about to explode. This is quite a story that wrestles and exposes many hot-button topics, and the slow buildup leads to a frantic finish. A lot going on here, but definitely worth a read. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Doorman is a compelling thriller that artfully examines class divisions and other contemporary issues in New York City. Though it takes some time to build momentum, necessary to establish the intricate character dynamics and social context, once it finds its rhythm, the story builds up a head of steam that accelerated toward an explosive and seemingly inevitable conclusion.

The novel centers around Chicky Diaz, the beloved doorman at the prestigious Bohemia apartment building, and the residents whose lives intersect: Emily Longworth in her loveless marriage to a wealthy but morally bankrupt husband, aging art dealer Julian Sonnenberg, and the predominantly Black and Hispanic building staff. Against the backdrop of protests following a police shooting of a black man, Chicky makes the fateful decision to bring a gun to work, setting the stage for a night where secrets will be exposed.

Pavone skillfully weaves these diverse perspectives into a cohesive narrative that examines pressing social issues. The stark contrast between the privileged residents of the Bohemia and those who serve them creates a powerful lens through which to explore themes of race, class, and privilege in contemporary America. The author unflinchingly tackles topics including white privilege, police violence, right-wing extremism, homelessness, and the isolating bubble of extreme wealth.

What begins as a seemingly straightforward thriller evolves into something more complex and surprising. The plot delivers several unexpected twists that challenged my expectations and elevate the story beyond genre conventions. Pavone's sharp social commentary never feels heavy-handed, instead emerging organically through authentic characters and situations. By the climax, the various narrative threads converge in a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion that justifies the careful setup.

A big thank you to MCD and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

At an elite, historical apartment building on Park Avenue, the lives of the doorman and the inhabitants of the building converge in a way that no one could predict.

The Doorman is rich with emotions set against the backdrop of our current social and political situation. The story takes place in only one day, but Pavone digs deep into the what brings each character to this moment in time. Loss, bad decisions, lies, and secrets all propel our main characters to one night where everything changes for each of them. The city is in turmoil with racial conflicts but it's nothing compared to the personal struggles that are like a ticking bomb for our three main characters.

Chicky, everyone's favorite doorman is carrying a gun for the first time ever. Emily's secrets are many and Julian has little (and everything) to lose.

The first half of this book had me wondering so often, "When does the action start?", and yet, drawn into these characters thoughts and feelings, I could not walk away. Beautifully and richly developed, they had my attention from the start. And when the action does start? Hold on because it unravels quickly and with secrets that I didn't predict.

A well paced story that holds your attention from its opening pages. You can’t help but get sucked into this thriller. I’ve really enjoyed this author and would recommend this book to everyone that loves a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What a refreshing surprise of a book. It’s modern, exciting and savvy. This is my first Chris Pavone book but it certainly won’t be my last.

The story centers around the historic Bohemia in New York City, where the wealthy live and look down on others who they feel are lesser than. It is a very modern look at high class divisions, racism, politics and greed. The doorman, Chicky Diaz, mans the door to the Bohemia while quietly being very, very diligent and ever watchful. With some unsavory characters and other more likeable ones, this story comes to fruition on one fateful night when a black man has been killed by the police.

Though slow at times, this book is very relevant and satisfying. The writing is spectacular and the characters are well rounded and mostly likable. Thank you, NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the advanced reader copy of this 5-star book.

A mystery/thriller with an unexpcted ending. Strong plot and suspenseful, Pavone’s characterizations are masterful. I loved the writing throughout this story. The story was full of clever and insightful passages. I was pulled into the narrative and made me want to read further.

Boy, do I have mixed feelings about this entertaining, expertly-written, frustrating novel.

It appears that author Pavone, best known for thrillers, turned his talents towards a modern Bonfire of the Vanities, and on that count, he largely succeeds, offering a kaleidoscopic view of the various social strata of New York, capturing the city in small details, most particularly the way in which so much of these characters’ lives can change in a moment.

But there is the matter of the plot, which has many loose ends and is not quite as clear at critical moments as it needs to be.

Not for a moment, though, did I think of putting this down. Pavone writes with energy and authority, and while not a lot actually happens through most of the book, the sheer liveliness of the writing carries you along without objection.

It’s odd for a not-totally-successful novel to make you a fan of the novelist, but that’s the case here, for me.

Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Girous and NetGalley for the advance reviewer’s copy.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a pre-publication e-book copy in exchange for a review.

The writing is good but there are a LOT of missing commas and other punctuation marks including some quotation marks in the wrong place. I do hope that a line edit is underway and those errors will have disappeared by the time the book is released.

Other reviewers have offered synopses and I won't repeat their efforts here. The doorman in the title is a long-term fixture at one of New York City's most exclusive apartment buildings. Successful writers of fiction know that without conflict, there really is no story. This book has plenty of that ingredient to go around. Chicky the doorman has plenty of conflict in his own life, and he is at the center of it all in the apartment building. (Yes, we do get a clue as to why he uses that nickname and not his given name, but perhaps only readers who were around several decades will get it.) The other main characters are two couples that live in the building. I had a little trouble remembering who the people were in each scene when the point of view is shifted, as sometimes they are referred to by their first name, and at other times by their last name. Using one name or the other and sticking to it would have been helpful... but I would guess that other readers' mileage can and will vary.

I will not offer any further comments on the story as that would take me into spoiler-land. But before I go, I should warn the potential reader that there are quite a number of "f-bombs," so if that sort of thing offends you, you might want to skip this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for this ARC of the Doorman by Chris Pavone.

I requested this book because of the Goodreads synopsis excerpt detailing two of my favorite subjects:
“The Doorman is a book about class and privilege…”
Add in NYC and a high-end hotel? Yes, please.

However, this book was really a gritty spotlight on modern day classism, racism, and violence; with tension and dependence between the social underbelly and higher-ups.

Chicky is the long-standing doorman of NYC’s Upper West Side, tony Bohemia apartment building.
He is an observer of the city’s social upheaval and human hatred. He knows much and suffers much.
I did enjoy his introductory tour of the diverse layout of the city, introducing different worlds within.

The story also focuses on representative lives of two of the residents of the Bohemia, Emily and Whit, and Julian, each written in a different voice from Chicky’s.

Emily is a high-end housewife who yearns to be taken seriously, and unhappily married to the shady, obscenely-wealthy Whit. Both hated each other for growing older together.

Julian is a gallerist with health problems, saddened by his aging self, “washed out by time,” and the worst of all things in New York City: Irrelevance.

I found this book somewhat depressing despite the action. I’d hoped for more of a lighthearted peek at the elite and less of more of our modern-day grim reality. Nobody in this story is happy, whether rich or poor.

I did however enjoy this author’s simply detailed writing; and the fast-paced suspense riveted me once past the introductory chapters, especially during the climax.

Three and a half stars.

First, thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC of this book. This was my first book by this author, but I am definitely going to need to go back and check out his previous work. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the book, I just thought that the premise was interesting. The story was engaging and I did not see the ending coming. For a story with a timeline that happens over a day or so, the characters were spectacularly fleshed out- I was pleasantly surprised by how the author used each character to analyze the current political climate and the current backlash to progressive liberal ideas. This would have been a five star book except that 1.) I started to feel like the story wasn't really moving about 50-60% through 2.) There were a few times where the timeline was unclear and I didn't realize until later that something that I had read had actually been a flashback and not happening in the present storyline 3.) There was excessive foreshadowing right before the big events of the ending. But still, this was an absolutely fantastic read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.


This is my first book from this author. It was okay, at points I was engaged and in others I was bored.

I would try another book from this author.