Deacon King Kong

More about the book

From the author of the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird comes a wise and witty novel exploring the aftermath of a shooting. In September 1969, Sportcoat, a cranky old church deacon, enters the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn and shoots the local drug dealer at point-blank range. This act of violence and its repercussions lie at the heart of the story. McBride vividly portrays the lives of those affected by the shooting: the victim, the African-American and Latinx witnesses, white neighbors, local cops, members of the Five Ends Baptist Church, the neighborhood's Italian mobsters, and Sportcoat himself. As the narrative unfolds, the interconnected lives of these characters reveal the tumult of 1960s New York. When the truth finally surfaces, McBride illustrates that not all secrets should remain hidden and that facing change with courage is essential for growth. The seeds of love, he suggests, are rooted in hope and compassion. With masterful storytelling and a deep faith in humanity, McBride crafts a novel that is both engaging and emotionally resonant, demonstrating that love and faith reside within us all.