Three-Martini Lunch

By: Suzanne Rindell

Narrated by: Will Damron, JD Jackson, Rebecca Lowman

From the author of the “thrilling” (The Christian Science Monitor) novel The Other Typist comes an evocative, multilayered story of ambition, success, and secrecy in 1950s New York.

In 1958, Greenwich Village buzzes with beatniks, jazz clubs, and new ideas - the ideal spot for three ambitious young people to meet. Cliff Nelson, the son of a successful book editor, is convinced he’s the next Kerouac, if only his father would notice. Eden Katz dreams of being an editor but is shocked when she encounters roadblocks to that ambition. And Miles Tillman, a talented black writer from Harlem, seeks to learn the truth about his father’s past, finding love in the process. Though different from one another, all three share a common goal: To succeed in the competitive and uncompromising world of book publishing. As they reach for what they want, they come to understand what they must sacrifice, conceal, and betray to achieve their goals, learning they must live with the consequences of their choices. In Three-Martini Lunch, Suzanne Rindell has written both a pause-resisting morality tale and a captivating look at a stylish, demanding era - and a world steeped in tradition that’s poised for great upheaval.

©2016 Suzanne Rindell (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Think of it as the publishing industry’s take on Mad Men: a gripping fictional dispatch from the world of talented writers and editors with big dreams, secrets, and booze bills.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“Packed with narrative surprises...Rindell keeps the suspense strong as we wonder if Eden and Cliff and Miles are fated for success or doomed to failure.” (CT Post)

“A rollicking period piece that builds to a magnificent crescendo. With an excellent ear for the patter and cadence of the time, Rindell expertly brings a bygone era to life, though the struggles of her trio feel anything but dated. While blackmail and backstabbing keep things suitably scandalous, Rindell also explores deeper issues of race, sexuality, class and gender in ways that feel vital and timely. The end result is a moving novel that proves provocative in more ways than one.” (BookPage)

WOW

I recommend everyone read this book. Spectacular, gripping, emotional; tell your friends about this one.

Another fascinating read

I love Suzanne Rindell's writing. This story was so well written and well performed--I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

Great book, starts of slow

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but I would say to push through the 1st chapter, then the book picks up

Excellent

Kept me interested from beginning to end; loved the technique of 3 separate narrators; audio production and readers were great!!

superb

Fantastic! Gripping story that you will remember for a long time. Don't miss this one!

Great story, great narration = great book !

I seriously enjoyed this well-written, compelling character drama of struggling writers in NYC, circa 1958. The 16 hours flew by ! Definitely worth the time if you are looking for literate entertainment.

Skillfully written, enjoyable read.

Cleverly switches between characters wine maintaining the plot thread l Carefully tackles social issues of the time. Recommended read.

Missed opportunity.

I enjoyed both the story and the narrators but it missed on any opportunity to satisfy a readers thirst for dramatic conclusions to the obvious wrongs committed and endured by many of the characters. Once invested with this lengthy novel, I longed for the dynamic and dramatic resolutions several characters rightly deserved, but I was sorely disappointed. Yes, the story wrapped up all the lose ends but with such meekness, the story had a lackluster finish. I’ll finish by saying it was worth the credit as I felt the writing was good and the narrators were wonderfully paired with the characters.

The characters were idiots

I found this so slow and pedantic. I didn't like any of the characters and kept wanting to scream at them to do something and say something other than the trite obvious predictable boring things that they did. Not for me.