Motherless Brooklyn, by Jonathan Lethem, is a noir novel set in modern-day New York City, with fiery detective Lionel Essrog at it's core. At its heart, the story is a classic crime novel with a very unique twist - that of being told from the perspective of a detective with Tourette's Syndrome.
Essrog, known as the "human freakshow" because of his uncontrollably jerking neck and continuous tics, works as a detective in a Brooklyn agency owned by small-time hoodlum Frank Minna. Along with his colleagues and close friends, Tony and Danny, he conducts investigations ranging from simple cases of marital infidelity all the way to grandiose schemes, including a mysterious murder investigation.
The protagonist’s story is focused notably on his quest for self discovery as a motherless orphan growing up in Brooklyn. His Tourette's syndrome contributes to how he detects and relates to people in his environment and the traumas he's been through in his younger years. It serves as a metaphor for the hurdles he has had to go through to prevent from becoming part of the neighborhood's corruption, and identifies with his search of his self identity.
The novel follows Essrog during his investigation into the mysterious death of Frank Minna, for whom Essrog has profound respect and admiration. Essrog's inner monologues throughout the novel, complimented by dialogues with the supporting characters, serve to capture his far away and often dreamy mood, through which he and the reader explore the depths of Brooklyn's mysteries. As the investigation progresses, Essrog is faced with obstacles meant to stop him, including violent street thugs and former FBI agents.
As the investigation continues, Essrog's Tourette's syndrome provides insight on how Essrog solves his cases, as well as his personal story. He is able to use his Tourette’s tics to his advantage, as he reads and interprets them to crack the enigmas that surround him. Along the way, he realizes that he must overcome his difficulty with his condition to be able to stay out of trouble and do what's right and noble.
The novel’s last chapters provide a magnificent reveal of the mysteries that surround and direct the plot of the novel. More than providing an exciting and sad story of crime and redemption, Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn is a poignant story of an uncommon, hidden character’s struggle to find his identity and discover his place in the society he lives in. As the investigation continues, Lionel slowly becomes aware of his true identity and the many challenges that being part of this society means. The intense and sometimes graphic scenes intersperse throughout the novel provide for a gripping story and a memorable ending.
Lethem’s portrayal of Lionel Essrog’s journey to self-discovery is a true work of art. The novel is a masterful display of a different side of crime fiction and provides a fresh perspective on the classic noir genre. With a story full of secrets, violence and thrilling twists, Motherless Brooklyn is a gripping and must-read novel.
