The Doorman
A Novel
by Chris Pavone
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Pub Date May 20 2025 | Archive Date Jun 20 2025
Description
A pulse-pounding novel of class, privilege, sex, and murder, from the New York Times–bestselling author of Two Nights in Lisbon and The Expats.
Chicky Diaz is everyone’s favorite doorman at the Bohemia, the most famous apartment house in the world, home of celebrities, financiers, and New York’s cultural elite.
Up in the penthouse, Emily Longworth has the perfect-looking everything, all except her husband, whom she’d quietly loathed even before the recent revelations about where all the money comes from. But his wealth is immense, their prenup is iron-clad, and Emily can’t bring herself to leave him. Yet.
And downstairs in 2a, Julian Sonnenberg—who has carved himself a successful niche in the art world, and led a a good half-century of a full and satisfying, cosmopolitan life—has just received a devastating phone call that does nothing at all to alleviate his sense that, probably for better and worse, he has aged out and he’s just not that useful to anyone any more.
Meanwhile, gathered in the Bohemia’s bowels, the building’s almost entirely Black and Hispanic, working-class staff is taking in the news that that just a few miles uptown, a Black man has been killed by the police, leading to a demonstration, a counterdemonstration, and a long night of violence across the tinderbox city.
As Chicky changes into his uniform for tonight’s shift, he finds himself breaking a cardinal rule of the job: tonight, he’ll be carrying a gun, bought only hours earlier, but before he knew of the pandemonium taking over the city. Chicky knows that there’s more going on in his patch of sidewalk in front of the Bohemia than anyone’s aware of. Tonight in the city, enemies will clash, loyalties will be tested, secrets will be revealed—and lives will be lost.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“The Doorman is a near perfect blend of clever plotting, wicked social commentary, irresistible setting, truly memorable characters, and old-fashioned page-turning fun. What a romp!” —John Grisham
"A tense, pulse-pounding thriller!" —S.A. Cosby, author of King of Ashes
"Sensationally good, wise, wry and perceptive—this era's great state-of-the-city novel, up there with the very best of Tom Wolfe and Jay McInerney." —Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher novels
"The Doorman pits the privileged gentry of Manhattan against the serfs they fear will breach their moats and scale the walls of their high rise co-ops. Pavone’s depiction of present day New York City is a callback to The Bonfire of the Vanities, but his telling is too real to be satirical." —Griffin Dunne, author of The Friday Afternoon Club
"Chris Pavone swings big with The Doorman, a wise, expansive, and extravagantly readable thriller that keeps us guessing until the last page. A searing and hilarious social satire, Pavone unflinchingly takes on New York in this moment—class, race, social justice—with an eye as wicked as it is compassionate." —Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette
"In this superb novel, Chris Pavone artfully blends the murk and glitter of Manhattan, both rich and poor, into one combustible tale of greed, lust, and crime. An irresistible read that captures, in personal terms, this terribly fraught moment in our nation's cultural politics." —Ron Chernow, author of Alexander Hamilton
“Smart, twisty, and sharply written, The Doorman is hard to put down and harder to forget. A delight.” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of This is Why We Lied
“Like the New York City subway, Chris Pavone’s novel moves at breakneck speed, twisting and turning, jostling together those who might otherwise live worlds apart, intertwining their secrets, their private heartaches, and their fates as The Doorman hurdles to its shocking conclusion.” –Jenny Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780374604790 |
| PRICE | $30.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 400 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Lori E, Reviewer
Wow!!! What a fabulous, intense book! I have been a fan of Pavone's previous books, and I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Doorman. The intensity of this book was unexpected. His other books are great, fun thrillers, but this one combines suspense (and a little humor) with a critical look at contemporary life and all the big issues of our society: the haves and have-nots, racism, the MAGA movement, social correctness, and much, much more. I think this powerful book will become a classic and make Chris Pavone a name to remember. As others have mentioned, this book reminds me of an updated version of Bonfire of the Vanities, but from both the ultra-wealthy and working-class points of view. By the time I reached the second half of the book, I had to drop everything else and blast through the rest of it. This may be my favorite book of the year. I think this thought-provoking book would be an excellent choice for book discussions groups, and I highly recommend it.
Pam E, Reviewer
I agree with the hype around The Doorman which claims Chris Pavone’s thriller is less about crime and more about classism, privilege and racism. But Pavone manages to expertly bring the crime into the story as the reader watches in suspense as the tension rises page after page.
The Doorman is such a smart novel. New York City is about to boil over with rage at the killing of yet another unarmed black citizen. The scene for most the book – a luxury apartment building filled with very rich residents and not-rich staff, with an honorable doorman named, Chicky. On one fateful night, Chicky brings a gun to his duties because of his own problems, and that gun will make all the difference to everyone in the building that night.
Pavone’s characters are defined and drawn-out page after page, while the reader prepares for what is to come. Though not sure of how the character intrigue, adultery and love will play out, the reader is given a hint of what is to come even while learning to care for these characters. New York, as the setting, shows us that the way we live now only has one resolution. Murder.
I loved this insightful novel, and I thought that Pavone could not out do his wonderful first novel, The Expats, one of my most favorite mysteries of all time. (The Expats won the Edgar Award and the Anthony Award in 2013 for Best first Novel). But Pavone grew up in New York City and lives there now so The Doorman shines with realism and current cultural understanding. And also, it is a damn good mystery.
My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. The Doorman will be published on May 20, 2025.
Carol Z, Reviewer
Absolutely loved The Doorman. I've read all of Chris Pavone's books and this may be my favorite. I've enjoyed the locations, but most of all I enjoyed a book that takes place in my own neighborhood. Great characters and the usual twists and turns that make a Chris Pavone so worth reading.
Andrea D, Reviewer
Chicky Diaz is the doorman at the Bohemia, an opulent but steadily decaying apartment building in New York City, where the rent is as astronomical as the worth of its millionaire residents. Despite his modest position, Chicky carries himself with unwavering politeness and professionalism, going above and beyond for the building's elite inhabitants—many of whom fail to acknowledge his hard work. Chicky struggles with a mountain of medical debt from his late wife’s battle with cancer. The stress of unpaid rent looms over him. How much longer can Chicky maintain his integrity under such pressure? Will his financial desperation jeopardize his work or his moral compass?
As the story unfolds, readers are introduced to the eccentric and morally complex residents of the Bohemia. Among them are Emily and Whit, the penthouse occupants (with a sinister secret tied to Whit’s lucrative career). Then there’s Julian, an art dealer and his lawyer wife, Ann as well as various workers., Pavone skillfully layers intrigue and interpersonal drama, crafting a web of relationships that reflect the power struggles and moral ambiguities of contemporary life.
Chris Pavone masterfully uses the microcosm of the Bohemia to delve into broader societal issues as he weaves commentary on race, class, and the relentless grind of capitalism. The pacing is electrifying, reminiscent of a high-stakes thriller, yet Pavone balances this with literary depth that elevates the story. The Doorman is a fast-moving, thought-provoking narrative that grips you from start to finish, blending the author’s signature flair for suspense with richly drawn characters and sharp social critique. Pavone once again proves his ability to tell a story that is both highly entertaining and intellectually engaging.
If you love stories that combine razor-sharp writing with compelling plots, The Doorman will not disappoint!
#FarrarStrauss #ChrisPavone #TwoNightsInLisbon #TheDoorman
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