Richard Price was a precocious 24-year-old when his first novel, "The Wanderers," was published in 1974. The book landed just after the petroleum and beef shortages that ensued during the Ford presidency and was part of a trend of romanticizing the less complicated and arguably more innocent preceding era of the 1950s.

Most of the retro fixations of the '70s have long been forgotten. (Sha-Na-Na and Happy Days reruns, anyone?) So, it's astonishing that Price, a wunderkind depicting nostalgic themes back then, has been creating fiction based on the evolving New York City street scene for exactly half a century.

Even more surprising is the discovery that his forthcoming novel, his tenth, is by far his best. "Lazurus Man" is due for publication later this year. It continues several of the themes of his earlier work, offering nuanced portraits of everyday working people whose lives intersect in a manner that could be either entirely random or perhaps preordained, should you choose to think that way.

Set in 2008, when Manhattan has not fully recovered from the World Trade Center trauma, Price introduces his protagonist with one of those exhilarating run-on sentences that fill a page and test a reader's resolve.

The about-to-be born-again Anthony Carter ("forty-two, two years unemployed, two years separated from his wife and stepdaughter, six months into cocaine sobriety...") is a schlub who is unexpectedly transformed into a hero, only to repeat the cycle in his thoughts. He emerges miraculously from being trapped in a collapsed tenement building and goes on to find purpose in inspiring others. That premise could be treacle if provided by another writer, but that's not part of Price's recipe.

His current narrative style is mature and masterful. Whereas his earlier work occasionally suggested a faint Bruce Springsteen ethos, Price has matured confidently into Charles Dickens and Tom Wolfe territory. His characters are all fully realized and richly revealed, from the homeless man who shares profound observations to the South Asian bodega keepers, African American funeral home operators, storefront preachers, sex workers, and NYPD officers who make their way through a confined space and mostly learn to co-exist -- while pausing to reflect on what it might all be about.

"Lazurus Man" will be published to considerable acclaim in November 2024. I predict it will be regarded as one of the finest novels of this year. Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for making an advanced review copy available.

Though 'Lazarus Man' shares many of the preoccupations of earlier Price novels (specifically the close cultural anthropology of New York neighborhoods, the creaky machinery of politics and law enforcement, and the glue of human relationships which hold it all together), it has a looser and jazzier feel. This may be because there is relatively little at stake in the freewheeling plot, with much more attention paid to the ups and downs of its characters' lives, and Price's continued honing of a voice that is both world-weary and refreshingly hopeful.

Richard Price writes of the City he knows. In Lush Life, it was the lower East Side, where he lived at the time. Far as I know, he now lives in Harlem. As with other authors, he sets his story pre-2016 which avoids the changes wrought in that year.

The Lazarus Man is Anthony Walker, who is extricated from the rubble of a building that leveled itself 36 hours previously. The miracle of his being found alive sets off a media frenzy, and he finds another version of himself "blessed" (it is complicated) with the ability to inspire hope in those who listen to him. I did not for one minute forget that his words were forged by Price. What makes Price such a compelling writer is his ability to create characters that jump off the page and stand in front of you. With a few phrases, he creates an entire history and the personality that has been molded by it. The entire community is here, even the victims of the building's collapse as their stories are encapsulated in a memorial, similar to the New York Times's feature on the 911 victims, "The Lives They Led."

Another area in which Prince's talent reigns is dialogue. Years ago I had the privilege of being present at a lunch with him when he recounted the first table read of his first screenplay, in which his dialogue was informed by his experience as a novelist. After reading for what seemed an eternity, Robert deNiro looked up and asked "Am I still talkin' here?" It changed how Price's approach, and his novels and screenplays reflect his snappy, cinematic repartee.

Need I say, highly highly recommended.

By far the gentlest and most soulful of Richard Price’s books, this is a quiet profile of four characters whose lives are upended by the collapse of an apartment building. It’s a book of small, intimate scenes, quiet conversations, good intentions, and full of forgiveness and grace. And the book is often so funny, but its humor is grounded in the sadness of everyday life. Not much happens in the book, yet it adds up to something so consequential. In many ways, this book has nothing to do with plot - it’s all about small revelatory moments that take their time revealing themselves.

Richard Price is so generous towards his characters, with such empathy, and this is such a sweet, beautiful novel.

Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

A really great story with great dialog. I really felt what the characters were feeling!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Lazarus Man is Richard Price's tenth novel. Like his others, it is set in New York City. The novel follows the lives of several people impacted by the tragedy of a building collapse in East Harlem. Price's novels have a good sense of drama and scene (which makes sense as he also writes for television). In this novel, the scenes move so quickly it seems like the writing is better suited to television. And, like a good Seinfeld episode, most of the characters are utterly human and often unlikeable. And most are keeping secrets - some more than others. The reveal is a good, slow burn.
Thank you to NetGally and the publishers for the ARC.

Price captures the world of a Harlem neighborhood. He is one of the few writers who writes dialogue that feels real. I didn't love this quite as much as Lush Life or Clockers, but it is another great Price novel which is better than 98% of what's out there. The novel continually rotates amongst a series of characters, which gives the novel an enjoyable fast-paced style. It's always nice when Price takes a break from his TV/film demands to give us a new novel.

While some of the characters didn't fully grab me, the dialogue is enjoyable throughout.

I received a free e-copy of the book in return for an honest review.

The novel follows the lives of four diverse individuals in the aftermath of a building collapse in East Harlem in 2008. Anthony found alive in the rubble of the building. Felix a young man with a camera. Royal who runs a funeral parlour. Mary a veteran city detective.
This is a street-level story depicting the characters actions and reactions after a five-storey tenement collapses killing at least six people. With vibrant street scenes and fully fleshed out characters, Richard Price has once again taken us to a place where we needed to go, despite our apprehension and concern for our safety. In a sense, this is a story of community, personal growth and taking care of our own. I loved all of the characters, especially Anthony, Mary and Felix. I was rooting for them all the way! 5 out of 5 stars!

Richard Price has still got it! Perhaps his best since Clockers, this is gritty and immersive and features a cast of characters you will absolutely believe, I loved the fundamental idea and particularly felt Felix was deeply written and felt. Price’s prose never disappoints and he makes the reader look at less pleasant aspects of life without blinking.

Very strong characterization, fantastic dialogue, a nice plot twist toward the end. Richard Price should be treasured for his work on television (The Wire/The Night Off) and novels. This is one to savor as you explore the intersecting lives of several characters after the tragedy of a building collapse.