Narrows Gate Audiobook By Jim Fusilli cover art

Narrows Gate

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Narrows Gate

By: Jim Fusilli
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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Narrows Gate is the novel Lee Child raves is "outstanding in every way - major talent, voice, feel and been-there knowledge meets a story as tough and complex as the time that inspired it.”

In the years surrounding World War II, Narrows Gate, New Jersey, is a dangerous place - and a world of possibilities.

For Sal Benno, a neighborhood kid who doesn’t take to school, Narrows Gate is where he can provide the favors the Mafia needs. His street smarts and his sharp wit bring him into the mob’s inner circle - and closer to ultimate danger. His lifelong friend, Leo Bell, aspires to a life well beyond the mean streets. He sticks by Sal through thick and thin, but harbors a dangerous secret that could either keep Sal alive - or bring his life to an abrupt end. Looming over both of them is the shadow of Bill “Bebe” Marsala, a handsome and hugely popular crooner who becomes a pawn in a mob war that could destroy them all.

Narrows Gate is an epic saga that George Pelecanos calls “equal parts Ellroy, Puzo and Scorsese” - a powerful story that captures the heart of the immigrant experience, and the soul of America.

©2011 Jim Fusilli (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC. Crime Fiction Historical Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Crime Mafia Fiction War

Go Behind the Scenes with Jim Fusilli and Edoardo Ballerini

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Our favorite moments from Narrows Gate

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"This could be cheating..."
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Narrows Gate
"I bring her and she sees I’m a singing waiter."
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"You want me to be Bebe’s babysitter?"
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  • Narrows Gate
  • "This could be cheating..."
  • Narrows Gate
  • "I bring her and she sees I’m a singing waiter."
  • Narrows Gate
  • "You want me to be Bebe’s babysitter?"

About the Creator

Jim Fusilli is the author of 9 novels including The Mayor of Polk Street, an Audible Original, and its predecessor Narrows Gate, which Mystery Scene magazine said, "must be ranked among the half-dozen most memorable novels about the Mob." Jim’s debut novel Closing Time was the last work of fiction set in New York City published prior to the 9/11 attacks. The following year, his A Well-Known Secret addressed the impact of 9/11 on the residents of lower Manhattan. His subsequent novels include Tribeca Blues and Hard, Hard City. Closing Time, A Well-Known Secret, and Tribeca Blues were reissued by Open Road Media in October 2018. Lawrence Block provided a new foreword for Closing Time. The former Rock & Pop Critic of the Wall Street Journal and occasional contributor to NPR’s All Things Considered, Jim is the author of two books of nonfiction including Pet Sounds, his tribute to Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys’ classic album. A favorite of novelists inspired by contemporary pop music, it was translated for a Japanese language edition by Haruki Murakami.

Edoardo Ballerini

About the Performer

Edoardo Ballerini has narrated over 250 audiobooks and appeared in over 50 films and television series, including The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire. His 2013 recording of Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins was named Audible’s Audiobook of the Year and earned him the Audie Award for Best Solo Narration. He won a second Audie Award for Best Male Narrator, for his reading of Dean Koontz’s Watchers in 2019. He recently completed work on Karl Ove Knausgaard’s My Struggle, which has garnered international acclaim. He lives in New York.

All stars
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I started and stopped, started and stopped-I couldn't get interested enough in the characters to finish the book.

Couldn't Finish It

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Although the story was interesting I thought there were too many characters and at times a bit confusing.

Interesting story

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I love historical novels. I could be lost in the time of the mafia while loving the characters grow up.

Great story and performance

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I love mafia yarns but only if they're done with the necessary background knowledge and skill. Jim Fusilli did an outstanding job on this one with realistic dialogue and story. Also not a short book so more to enjoy without dragging the story out. One thing I would recommend is that throughout the prologue and first chapter you might want to sketch yourself a character map or list. It could just be me but when you introduce quite a few characters in quick succession, and especially if they all have Italian/Sicillian surnames it can be a bit confusing until you sort out who's who (or maybe that's just me...) Enjoy.

So good getting book 2 now

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Seemed to have the right ingredients but the story jumped around and it was hard to keep up with the many characters. Too many Italian names to deal with. 😳

Mixed review

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For some unfashionable reason the author took it upon himself to rewrite Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather.”
Eduardo Ballerini does the best he can but he’d be better served reading “The Godfather.”

Not impressed at all ...

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I bought this book because of Edoardo Ballerini but the story just never go going. I couldn’t finish it.

Struggled to get through it

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