This political and legal story got better and better as it progressed, with the main actors becoming more defined, the plot becoming convoluted, and authentic insights into federal agency and legal system operations. I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Primarily New York City with excellent descriptions of actual locations and government facilities not usually described in fiction
Characters: A strong list of diverse and interesting characters including politicians, New York Southern District DA’s, FBI investigators, obligatory mafia personnel, and important cameo appearances
Overview: The book presents two interrelated court cases concerning murders of high-profile personnel with multiple, complex plots and some excellent twists that are not foreshadowed. Not really a story to read in small doses since attention is required to keep track of the characters and actions to understand, and perhaps anticipate, what is actually happening.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars, and fans of the political/legal genre would probably rate it even higher. It is always a good read when there are page-turning surprises requiring a moment to sit and think to put that last twist in context.
Extras: I liked this book much better than others of this type written by notable politicians or famous personalities. There are at least two of the main characters that would make reasonably intriguing sequels or series if Mr. Comey hopefully decides to keep going.
In summary, fans of political thrillers and legal cases will be more than satisfied with this great story. Thanx to Mysterious Press/ W.W. Norton and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide this unbiased review.

4.75/5 stars! Woah! I did not realize that the author of this book was a former FBI director! Holy smokes! That being said, my reviews are standardized to the content, not the author. I did feel like his background allowed him to delve really deep into the underlying motivation of these investigators that we might not see from other authors. I also love that at its heart, this is a legal thriller. We don't see enough good legal thrillers. I couldn't read this book fast enough. I do feel like, at times, it was an overload of information, but this was a page-turner and I can't wait to see what's next for James Comey's dive into writing.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I was pleasantly surprised by the literary chops shown by former FBI Top Cop, James Comey, in his first fling with crime fiction. His intimate knowledge of the workings of federal agencies and local lawmen lends credence to this legal thriller.

The book is full of procedure and jargon that is well explained by the author as he leads us step by step into the solution of the murder of a NY ex-governor living in his extravagant Central Park West penthouse. US Attorney, Nora Carleton, deals with organized crime but finds her current case brings her butting heads with Manhattan DA’s murder investigation.

Kyra Burke is the estranged wife of the ex-guv, Tony Burke, and is accused of the murder. She is many years his junior but fell in love with the man believing he was a feminist and advocate for women’s rights – JFK without the zipper problem. Turns out she was wrong about everything, including the zipper. Nora Carleton is prosecuting Dominic ‘the nose” D’amcio who wanted to barter info on the Burke murder in exchange for protection. He claimed it was a mob hit.

And so the story is layered, piece by pieces, with a bevy of well fleshed characters. I would love to see a second installment using the same personalities and format. I found the story intriguing and believable. I think some length could be cut by a talented editor but overall, this is a tight piece. Mr. Comey, may I have some more?

Thank you to Mysterious Press/ W.W. Norton and Company and NetGalley

Superb first novel. .NY Federal Prosecutor Nora Carleton is working non stop to put away a crime boss when he surreptitiously gives a note offering knowledge of the real killer of the former NY governor, another case bring tried.
The story takes off and just gets better and better with fast paced plot developments, intriguing side stories and fascinating characters. The author's familiarity with the NY Feds, the habitat, and the way they operate within and around the criminal world, is apparent from page one.
I had a hard time putting this one down and hope another one follows .

I have been enjoying this new novel by James Comey. I would not rank it up with my top authors but it’s a decent read

A well crafted legal thriller, this novel includes a lot of Comey's expected insider info on the workings of the FBI and the US Attorney's office in the Southern District of New York. It opens with the murder of a disgraced, former New York govenor, and the resulting trial of his estranged wife. While the state authorities charge her with murder, federal attorneys and investigators are tipped that the mafia was involved, leading to a race to prove who actually was responsible. I felt the ending was a bit unfulfilling and rushed. All and all a great read.

A great first book from James Comey. My only complaint is that it lagged in places and was heavy with detail, some of which could have been omitted for the sake of story.

A very interesting and informative book about our justice system. I learned a lot while being thoroughly entertained.

Picked up the book because of the author. He showed an expertise in the rules, regulations, and procedures of the legal organizations. The story and characters worked well to create a good read.

The former director of the FBI takes his shot at writing a political thriller and man does he deliver in Central Park West. As a man who knows the ins and outs of the political climate, this book is one to look forward to when it is published in May. James knows this world like the back of his hand and he absolutely knocks this one of the park. I am looking forward to hopefully reading more fiction books from Mr. Comey.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

When I saw the name James Comey attached to a mystery, I couldn’t resist reading it. I’m so glad that did. The catalyst is the apparent killing of a NY governor (think Cuomo) by his estranged wife. The murder case is being tried by attorney Nora Charleston.

Comey builds an interesting story around the investigation and trial. He brings in a strong Mafia connection. The characters are interesting and the plot is intricate and compelling. The novelist shares the fascinating techniques used by law enforcement to track suspects.

I really enjoyed this novel. The only bit of disappointment was the ending which really was not believable. The author should have used the end as a potential jumping off point for future novels, or at least given the reader some logical closure.

All things considered, this is a fun read and a fine start for a political figure turned novelist. Looking forward to more Comey novels.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this interesting book.

Central Park West: A Crime Novel is the debut novel by James Comey. It's about a murder investigation that reveals deadly connections between high-ranking politicians and the mafia.

This was just an okay read for me. The story had lots of exposition of explaining, which I felt was unnecessary and weighed down the action.

There were lots of suspects to keep track of. I did like Nora as the main character. But, by the time I got to the last third of the book, I really didn't care too much about how it was going to turn out. I did keep at it, though, and finished. The courtroom scenes are good, but it was just an okay legal thriller.

I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

#CentralParkWest #NetGalley @wwnorton

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Mystery thriller…unique characters…intrigue…talented writer…this book moves slowly at times but reaches a resounding end. Enjoy an afternoon with these characters

This I learned from the former FBI Director: if you consistently order from the Starbucks secret menu, even while in disguise, using a burner phone, and paying cash, the FBI can find you.

Let’s welcome James Comey to the group of crime novelists who really know what goes on behind the scenes — his knowledgeable descriptions in this debut novel assure you that he has insider knowledge about the way federal attorneys and FBI agents really work (not as lone wolves with secret past personal histories driving them forward).

This is a legal thriller that primarily follows Nora Carleton, a US Attorney, dealing with organized crime, whose latest case has a connection to the murder of a Harvey Weinstein-ish ex-governor. The “Luv Guv’s” ex-wife has been accused of the murder, but Nora’s federal defendant in another case opens a suspicion that maybe the swine-ish politician was knocked off by the mob. Included on Nora’s team is a seasoned ex-cop investigator, Benny, and a fresh out of Quantico FBI agent, Jessica. She also has Carmen, an experienced boss, supporting her. There is some warring between the FBI and NYPD and their respective attorneys, so it is necessary to keep a scorecard. For whatever reason, the Manhattan DA does not want the feds affecting the sensational murder case, so it’s up to the United States Attorney team to determine if Kyra Burke is being framed even as the trial is ongoing.

I appreciated the lengthy procedural and acronym explanations that lended to the authenticity and complicity of the novel. (No yarn strings for the FBI, just different colored Expo markers). This is a psychological drama about whether the justice system will work properly (is there a “nexus” or we can’t prosecute even though we have a pile of evidence?) provides as much suspense as the whodunit. And, surprisingly, from a new male author, women are the primary good guys (Nora, Jessica, Carmen, Kyra) and integral to the plot. Comey’s insider knowledge can also be scary — as when he talks about the digital dust we all leave behind (not just from our phones) with likes, logins, Starbucks orders (!), Uber rides, Google geolocations, that the government can sweep into a pile and collect a “pretty detailed picture of a life.”

This turns out to be a suspenseful, believable story, very worthy of a continuing series, if Comey chooses to reunite this team in the future. 5 stars.

Thank you to Mysterious Press/ W.W. Norton and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Dominic “The Nose” D’Amico has penetrating green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But I had to look up the garden-like Pomander Walk to see if it was a real place.