This book's writing style was engaging and full of sharp, thought-provoking passages that kept the reader invested. The initial draw was the idea of following a doorman’s perspective in an iconic New York City apartment building, but the story expanded to include multiple points of view, weaving together different yet connected narratives. While not all storylines were equally compelling, they ultimately merged into a dramatic and suspenseful conclusion. However, the novel’s deep exploration of themes like racism, classism, and privilege sometimes made it feel heavy and different from what was expected. Despite this, the author's writing was captivating enough to inspire interest in his other works.

Chicky Diaz is The Doorman at the Bohemia Apartments, the swanky building overlooking Central Park in NYC, and home to the uber-wealthy and celebrities. But underneath all that glitter are plenty of secrets, and all is not what it appears to be. Set against the backdrop of one of the richest neighborhoods in the city, The Doorman provides the reader with a brutal, if not accurate, narrative of today’s political climate with a no-holds-barred commentary from all sides of the spectrum, where no subject is taboo, and no one is left unscathed. Interwoven in this social commentary is a slow-burn thriller, as we get to know some of the residents and their ostentatious lifestyle, juxtaposed with the story of Chicky, living week to week on his doorman’s salary, saddled with medical bills and a looming eviction. Meanwhile, there’s an undercurrent of unrest in the city following the police shooting of a black man, and as heated protests form, the secrets the Bohemia holds are about to explode. This is quite a story that wrestles and exposes many hot-button topics, and the slow buildup leads to a frantic finish. A lot going on here, but definitely worth a read. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Doorman is a compelling thriller that artfully examines class divisions and other contemporary issues in New York City. Though it takes some time to build momentum, necessary to establish the intricate character dynamics and social context, once it finds its rhythm, the story builds up a head of steam that accelerated toward an explosive and seemingly inevitable conclusion.

The novel centers around Chicky Diaz, the beloved doorman at the prestigious Bohemia apartment building, and the residents whose lives intersect: Emily Longworth in her loveless marriage to a wealthy but morally bankrupt husband, aging art dealer Julian Sonnenberg, and the predominantly Black and Hispanic building staff. Against the backdrop of protests following a police shooting of a black man, Chicky makes the fateful decision to bring a gun to work, setting the stage for a night where secrets will be exposed.

Pavone skillfully weaves these diverse perspectives into a cohesive narrative that examines pressing social issues. The stark contrast between the privileged residents of the Bohemia and those who serve them creates a powerful lens through which to explore themes of race, class, and privilege in contemporary America. The author unflinchingly tackles topics including white privilege, police violence, right-wing extremism, homelessness, and the isolating bubble of extreme wealth.

What begins as a seemingly straightforward thriller evolves into something more complex and surprising. The plot delivers several unexpected twists that challenged my expectations and elevate the story beyond genre conventions. Pavone's sharp social commentary never feels heavy-handed, instead emerging organically through authentic characters and situations. By the climax, the various narrative threads converge in a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion that justifies the careful setup.

A big thank you to MCD and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

At an elite, historical apartment building on Park Avenue, the lives of the doorman and the inhabitants of the building converge in a way that no one could predict.

The Doorman is rich with emotions set against the backdrop of our current social and political situation. The story takes place in only one day, but Pavone digs deep into the what brings each character to this moment in time. Loss, bad decisions, lies, and secrets all propel our main characters to one night where everything changes for each of them. The city is in turmoil with racial conflicts but it's nothing compared to the personal struggles that are like a ticking bomb for our three main characters.

Chicky, everyone's favorite doorman is carrying a gun for the first time ever. Emily's secrets are many and Julian has little (and everything) to lose.

The first half of this book had me wondering so often, "When does the action start?", and yet, drawn into these characters thoughts and feelings, I could not walk away. Beautifully and richly developed, they had my attention from the start. And when the action does start? Hold on because it unravels quickly and with secrets that I didn't predict.

A well paced story that holds your attention from its opening pages. You can’t help but get sucked into this thriller. I’ve really enjoyed this author and would recommend this book to everyone that loves a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What a refreshing surprise of a book. It’s modern, exciting and savvy. This is my first Chris Pavone book but it certainly won’t be my last.

The story centers around the historic Bohemia in New York City, where the wealthy live and look down on others who they feel are lesser than. It is a very modern look at high class divisions, racism, politics and greed. The doorman, Chicky Diaz, mans the door to the Bohemia while quietly being very, very diligent and ever watchful. With some unsavory characters and other more likeable ones, this story comes to fruition on one fateful night when a black man has been killed by the police.

Though slow at times, this book is very relevant and satisfying. The writing is spectacular and the characters are well rounded and mostly likable. Thank you, NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the advanced reader copy of this 5-star book.

Boy, do I have mixed feelings about this entertaining, expertly-written, frustrating novel.

It appears that author Pavone, best known for thrillers, turned his talents towards a modern Bonfire of the Vanities, and on that count, he largely succeeds, offering a kaleidoscopic view of the various social strata of New York, capturing the city in small details, most particularly the way in which so much of these characters’ lives can change in a moment.

But there is the matter of the plot, which has many loose ends and is not quite as clear at critical moments as it needs to be.

Not for a moment, though, did I think of putting this down. Pavone writes with energy and authority, and while not a lot actually happens through most of the book, the sheer liveliness of the writing carries you along without objection.

It’s odd for a not-totally-successful novel to make you a fan of the novelist, but that’s the case here, for me.

Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Girous and NetGalley for the advance reviewer’s copy.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a pre-publication e-book copy in exchange for a review.

The writing is good but there are a LOT of missing commas and other punctuation marks including some quotation marks in the wrong place. I do hope that a line edit is underway and those errors will have disappeared by the time the book is released.

Other reviewers have offered synopses and I won't repeat their efforts here. The doorman in the title is a long-term fixture at one of New York City's most exclusive apartment buildings. Successful writers of fiction know that without conflict, there really is no story. This book has plenty of that ingredient to go around. Chicky the doorman has plenty of conflict in his own life, and he is at the center of it all in the apartment building. (Yes, we do get a clue as to why he uses that nickname and not his given name, but perhaps only readers who were around several decades will get it.) The other main characters are two couples that live in the building. I had a little trouble remembering who the people were in each scene when the point of view is shifted, as sometimes they are referred to by their first name, and at other times by their last name. Using one name or the other and sticking to it would have been helpful... but I would guess that other readers' mileage can and will vary.

I will not offer any further comments on the story as that would take me into spoiler-land. But before I go, I should warn the potential reader that there are quite a number of "f-bombs," so if that sort of thing offends you, you might want to skip this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for this ARC of the Doorman by Chris Pavone.

I requested this book because of the Goodreads synopsis excerpt detailing two of my favorite subjects:
“The Doorman is a book about class and privilege…”
Add in NYC and a high-end hotel? Yes, please.

However, this book was really a gritty spotlight on modern day classism, racism, and violence; with tension and dependence between the social underbelly and higher-ups.

Chicky is the long-standing doorman of NYC’s Upper West Side, tony Bohemia apartment building.
He is an observer of the city’s social upheaval and human hatred. He knows much and suffers much.
I did enjoy his introductory tour of the diverse layout of the city, introducing different worlds within.

The story also focuses on representative lives of two of the residents of the Bohemia, Emily and Whit, and Julian, each written in a different voice from Chicky’s.

Emily is a high-end housewife who yearns to be taken seriously, and unhappily married to the shady, obscenely-wealthy Whit. Both hated each other for growing older together.

Julian is a gallerist with health problems, saddened by his aging self, “washed out by time,” and the worst of all things in New York City: Irrelevance.

I found this book somewhat depressing despite the action. I’d hoped for more of a lighthearted peek at the elite and less of more of our modern-day grim reality. Nobody in this story is happy, whether rich or poor.

I did however enjoy this author’s simply detailed writing; and the fast-paced suspense riveted me once past the introductory chapters, especially during the climax.

Three and a half stars.

First, thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC of this book. This was my first book by this author, but I am definitely going to need to go back and check out his previous work. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the book, I just thought that the premise was interesting. The story was engaging and I did not see the ending coming. For a story with a timeline that happens over a day or so, the characters were spectacularly fleshed out- I was pleasantly surprised by how the author used each character to analyze the current political climate and the current backlash to progressive liberal ideas. This would have been a five star book except that 1.) I started to feel like the story wasn't really moving about 50-60% through 2.) There were a few times where the timeline was unclear and I didn't realize until later that something that I had read had actually been a flashback and not happening in the present storyline 3.) There was excessive foreshadowing right before the big events of the ending. But still, this was an absolutely fantastic read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.


This is my first book from this author. It was okay, at points I was engaged and in others I was bored.

I would try another book from this author.

I found this novel to be an interesting read despite the fact that it is more about the wealthy residents of a distinguished cooperative building in New York City than the doorman. Chicky, the doorman, is a likable character who has had a difficult life and finds himself incapable of paying his debts. The novel has several major subplots involving the residents at Board meetings, their business dealings, their sexual exploits, etc. all set against the background of race relations and police involvement. The book has an exciting twist at the end and leaves the reader satisfied.
I thank NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to its publication.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux | MCD for the opportunity to read The.Doorman by Chris Pavone.

Pavone hits it out of the park again. With, as usual, a few surprises.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Reminiscent of Bonfire of the Vanities in that it provides an overall portrait of the City populated with characters that have it all and those that make it possible for them to live their lives in luxury, all brought together by an act of violence. Not a perfect novel due to a lot of needless repetition and some cookie cutter characterizations, but a good read nonetheless.

The Doorman is a gritty and fascinating novel about the billionaires who live in an upscale New York City apartment building and the working class poor who tend to the residents' needs. Chicky Diaz is the long-time doorman at the apartment. He, of course, knows every resident by name and knows their wealth, fame, and secrets. Chicky is a widower, trying to manage his deceased wife's medical bills and college tuition for his three daughters. The story unfolds based on apartment numbers. The Longworth apartment stands out because Emily, a young and attractive wife and mother, is always kind to Chicky. Highly recommended for book discussion groups who enjoy discussing current events, especially those involving the diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Not very artsy, except for playing in the art world and the glamorous Bohemia of NYC, a bit lame at the end, but entertaining. I read it while lazying in Dubai on the beach. Perfect fit.

The first 80% of this book is exposition and backstory. As soon as there is any action at all, we switch narrators. It wa very frustrating and by the time we got to the action, I simply didn’t care what happened to any of these people.

As readers can easily find an online synopsis of this book, I am not going to summarize it other than to say it is the story of a doorman at an exclusive upper Manhattan apartment building and some of its inhabitants set in the social and political sphere of contemporary times. I don’t like to compare one book to another, but, for me, it is this generation’s Bonfire of the Vanities.

Well plotted and suspenseful, Pavone’s characterizations are masterful. He captures the pulse of New York City, along with the nuances and issues reflective of our societal and political culture. Here is social class, fiscal struggling and striving, racism, prejudice, blowback from so called woke values and initiatives. There are sharp, attuned, sometimes poignant observations of life. I did not want to put this book down and flew through it. Oh, and, yes, it is also a thriller.

I loved past Pavonee books, so I can say with my full being that this was not thier best work. I am not sure if it is just that class doesn't impress me, nor NYC and the politics in the US right now makes me want to move far far away. This book just kept reminding me of all that is wrong with the US.
I did also give this a try as an audio version, and still was not impressed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.