A man of lies A novel

Crane's ambitious, fast-moving debut follows a gay mobster desperate to leave the underworld behind. Hulking mob enforcer Barrett Rye thinks he's found a possible life partner in Mickey, a numbers whiz who went to work for Barrett's employer, Chicago mob boss Enrico Scarpello, as repayment for a debt Mickey's parents owed. But the relationship ends prematurely when Scarpello, believing that the couple ripped him off, has Mickey killed in front of Barrett. Left alive to repay the tens of thousands Scarpello believes was stolen from him, Barrett, who is routinely underestimated by others, hatches an elaborate plan centering on Omaha hoodlum Henry Holzmann, who believes he has a line on a lost Fabergé egg worth millions. There's a lot of bloodshed and a lot of plot twists here, perhaps one too many for most readers to swallow. Crane's reach may exceed his grasp, but it's a bold and exciting first effort. Agent: Murray Weiss, Catalyst Literary. (July)

DEBUT Effectively employing his experience working on films like Jack Ryan, Crane gives his ingeniously imaginative debut novel a cinematic sense of pacing, an unforgettable protagonist, and a veritable constellation of intriguing Damon Runyon--esque supporting characters. When their scheme to fleece their boss Enrico Scarpello goes horribly awry, Barrett Rye and his boyfriend Mickey find themselves in a world of trouble. First, Enrico has Mickey killed, and then he makes it clear to Barrett that he is next unless Barrett returns the money they stole. Fortunately, Barrett has a plan. Omaha-based mafioso Henry Holzmann is rumored to have a lucrative deal going down. All Barrett has to do is create enough commotion around the deal, thereby forcing Holzmann to pay Barrett the money he needs to back off. Can he pull it off? VERDICT While the book perfectly captures the near fatalistic tone of noir crime fiction at its best, Crane also gives world-weary readers a small measure of hope for the future with his pointed and poignant insights into life and love.--John Charles