Contributed by Erika Davis / Creekside Books & Coffee

Creekside Books & Coffee, an independent bookstore and coffeehouse in Skaneateles, welcomes Tom Coffey author of Blood Alley, Miami Twilight and The Serpent Club on Sunday June 22, 2008 from 12:30 to 1:45 pm.

“Mr. Coffey pulls the reader into his fictional world within the first page,” says Erika Davis, owner of Creekside Books and Coffee. “The momentum grows from there. Here is a fast paced novel readers of any genre can dive into, especially for summer.”

About the author:

Tom Coffey is a writer and editor with an extensive background in journalism. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, Tom has been a reporter and editor for some of America’s leading newspapers. A staff editor at The New York Times since 1997, he has also worked for New York Newsday, The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner and The Miami Herald.

His first novel, The Serpent Club, was published in 1999 to starred reviews. His second novel, Miami Twilight, was published in 2001. Tom has been a member of the Mystery Writers of America since 1999.
Tom lives in Lower Manhattan with his wife and daughter.

About the book:

New York in the 1940s was a wide-open town. In the city of Swing Street, Frank Costello, and the Stork Club, everything was for sale, including its people. Into this arena steps Patrick Grimes, a World War II veteran who works the graveyard shift for The New York Examiner, one of the city’s brassiest tabloids. Late one night, Grimes learns that a watchman has found the body of a young woman in a squalid section of tenements and breweries by the East River, and races over to investigate. The victim turns out to be Amanda Price, the eldest daughter of one of Manhattan’s wealthiest men. Grimes can’t help but wonder what would draw such a woman to that part of town.

The watchman who found her is arrested for her murder, and confesses, but Grimes is convinced it’s a forced confession and the man is truly innocent. He begins an investigation into Amanda Price’s life and death, uncovering truths that jeopardize not only his life, but also his sanity. Along the way, he traverses a dizzying world that offers endless possibilities that are tempting, dangerous and—for some people—overwhelming.

Praise for Blood Alley:

“This superb crime novel from Coffey will remind many readers of the hard-hitting work of James Ellroy. Sterling prose (“It was the voice of a girl who knew she would never be lonely because all her hellos were given to people who wanted her company”) and a pulse-pounding plot combined with an authentic picture of a mob-ruled New York City make this a compelling read.” - Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A complex, often gripping crime story that should come with a warning. What Coffey sees through his glass isn’t just dark, it’s stygian.” - Kirkus

“Blood Alley is a completely absorbing and enthralling tale. Tom Coffey doesn’t miss a beat or a detail as he takes us into the brilliantly realized world of New York City circa 1940s. Coffey uses the details to create a convincing mosaic of a dark world where anything can happen.” - Michael Connelly

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Creekside Books & Coffee is located at 35 Fennell Street in Skaneateles. The bookstore is the only retail store in the village selling new hardcover and paperback books as well as toys, gifts, greeting cards and other merchandise. The coffeehouse features the freshest roasted coffee in town, a light fare menu and a pleasant atmosphere to relax and enjoy.

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