Descent Into Hell by F. Della Notte

F. Della Notte opens a door to the rich traditions of old New York in Descent Into Hell, a captivating new novel about the Italian-American experience and the bonds that link us all.

Buddy, an unlikely half-Irish, half-Italian cop in the 1940s, is thrown into his own backyard to tackle a massive crime ring. The powerful family ties of this complex story make for a suspenseful tangle, while the relentless pace of the story will keep you gripped to the very end. As one might expect, it isn’t long before his new career and his own blood clash violently, but this novel also boasts delicate, thoughtful scenes of grief, self-reflection, and familial love.

While the plot is dramatic and gripping, the colloquial dialogue can be inconsistent, and the first-person narrative voice sometimes tells more than shows. An additional editing sweep could also sharpen some flat stretches of language. There is a rough-around-the-edges authenticity to the prose, however, and the brusque tone one expects in the Big Apple.

Despite the time period, the story feels relevant to today, an age of desperation and tough decisions, where people feel guided by instinct and guts, just like Buddy and his generation, touching on relatable ideas of family loyalty, our ever-shifting moral compass, and the murky waters of justice. All told, Descent Into Hell is a well-balanced character study with plenty of action, humor, and surprising turns, for a fiery, New York slice of life.

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