The Long Fall

The Long Fall introduces Leonid McGill, a private investigator in New York City who is trying to leave behind his criminal past. McGill takes on what appears to be a simple case of locating four men, but the assignment proves more complex than expected. McGill must navigate both professional and personal challenges as he works the case. His marriage is troubled, his teenage sons are testing boundaries, and his efforts to go straight face constant obstacles from former associates who want to pull him back into illegal work. The novel moves through the streets of contemporary Manhattan while exploring questions of redemption and reinvention. Through McGill's perspective, the story examines how the past shapes identity and whether true change is possible.

Readers draw comparisons between McGill and Easy Rawlins, though many note McGill stands as his own character. The noir atmosphere and New York City setting receive frequent mention in reviews. Readers liked: - Complex, flawed protagonist trying to redeem himself - Sharp dialogue and descriptive writing style - Rich cast of supporting characters - Authentic portrayal of modern NYC Common criticisms: - Plot can be hard to follow with multiple storylines - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Too many characters to keep track of Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (180+ ratings) "McGill feels real - not a superhero, just a man wrestling with his past mistakes" - Goodreads reviewer "The descriptions put you right on those NYC streets" - Amazon reviewer "Got lost in all the subplots and had to backtrack several times" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🕵️ Author Walter Mosley created Leonid McGill as a homage to classic noir detectives, but made him a Black detective in modern-day New York City instead of the traditional white PI in mid-century Los Angeles. 📚 "The Long Fall" marks the beginning of Mosley's shift away from his famous Easy Rawlins series, which had been his primary detective series for over 15 years. 🗽 The protagonist's unusual first name, Leonid, comes from his communist-sympathizing father who named him after Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky. 🥊 McGill's background as a boxer plays a significant role in the story, reflecting author Walter Mosley's own interest in boxing and its culture. 🏆 Walter Mosley received the National Book Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, making him the first Black male writer to receive this honor in the foundation's history.