Book Details:
RENEWALS
by Gregory F. DeLaurier
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 276 pages
Genre: literary fiction, amateur sleuths
Publisher: Independently published/Gregory F. DeLaurier
Release date: February 2025
Content Rating: R. My book is rated R for one attempted child sexual abuse, not explicit. There is bad language throughout.
Book Description:
When academic Richard returns to his hometown he discovers a scam that has ruined the city, he must unite his friends and family to uncover the truth, but this pits him against the scam’s architect, aging but violent drug kingpin Giacomo Duchamps, who could destroy everyone Richard loves should he fail.
Renewals captures the nature of a hardscrabble small town and those who live and struggle there, in this pitch perfect tale of corruption and renewal. It is the story of the renewal of a city but also the renewal of the lives of those who are lost or oppressed; a young woman trapped in sexual abuse and exploitation, a young ex-con searching for a better life, and others.
How I Came to Write This Novel
The idea for this novel has floated around my brain for many years. I grew up in a small, working-class city in northern New York. While not a wealthy place it had a thriving downtown, with stores, restaurants, bars, a movie theater. On any Saturday it would be packed with shoppers and teenagers, like myself, hanging out. But in the early 1970s it got ‘Urban Renewaled’; all the buildings were torn down and replaced by new ugly buildings and for some reason a huge wall around the whole area. It was meant to be a pedestrian mall, but noone came and the downtown died.
This has always bothered me, and so I thought a fictional account of why this happened, complete with graft, corruption, and bad guys might work. The book follows the main protagonist Richard, an academic who has returned to his hometown, as he and a motley crew of new and old friends investigate what happened, at their own risk from a ‘gang that couldn’t shoot straight’ array of villains.
Richard, Brenda (a friend hardened by life), Itchy (a gay guitar genius), Theresa (a sexually abused and exploited young woman), Marat (a young ex-con) do indeed uncover what happened as the tale follows their amateur sleuthing, and hopefully renewal of the city.
However I chose the title RenewalS as this is the story of not only the renewal of a city but of people as well. I’ve always rooted for the underdog, and there are many of them here, who for many reasons find themselves on the down side of life.
To me, the most interesting character in the story is Theresa. Sexually abused by her father, tortured by her mother, she is rescued by her cousin Teddy (the subject of the novel’s Prologue). But as she matures she is sexually exploited by him, pimped out to a rapacious old crook named Leonard Vivelamore for whom Teddy works. Richard rescues her, but traumatized as she is, Teddy still holds sway over her and convinces her to tell him what Richard and his pals are up to. She is found out and returns to Teddy. But finally, not easily and not without misgivings, she breaks free of him and slowly discovers her own autonomy.
I grew to love and admire Theresa, yet others follow their own path to renewal. Marat, with the support of Richard, discovers he is able and intelligent. Brenda leaves her regrets behind and opens up to life. Richard’s corrupt brother, in on the doings of the crooks, repents and shows both courage and bravery.
There are other tales of renewal, but will save for readers to discover.
In all, Renewals is serious but leavened with a great deal of humor. It is more than a who-done-it (though that is there). It is also a meditation on hope and life.
Meet the Author Gregory F. DeLaurier:
Gregory F. DeLaurier is a retired university professor who has returned to his first love, fiction writing. He lives in Melrose MA, and has a daughter in her 40s who lives in Brooklyn and a 21 year old son attending Berklee College of Music. His fiction and non-fiction are widely available.
RENEWALS by Gregory F. DeLaurier Book Tour Giveaway
~~~~~
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
