About the book
Comedy, consequence, and community
Deacon King Kong begins in September 1969 at a housing community in south Brooklyn. Sportcoat, an aging church deacon struggling with alcohol and memory, confronts a young drug dealer in a crowded courtyard and fires a gun at him.
The novel follows the aftermath without reducing the neighborhood to that single incident. Residents, church members, police officers, local criminal figures, and the two men at the center of the event each carry different histories and obligations. Their lives intersect as the investigation develops and long-held secrets begin to surface.
James McBride balances suspense with broad humor and close observation. The result is a historical neighborhood portrait concerned with friendship, faith, inequality, grief, change, and the practical ties that hold a community together.
Reading notes
The story uses an ensemble cast rather than a single narrow point of view. Readers can expect a blend of literary fiction, historical fiction, social observation, comedy, and crime-story momentum.
Indie reading-list context
The hardcover appeared on the March 2020 Indie Next List. Contemporary bookseller commentary highlighted its New York setting, interlocking storylines, humor, and empathetic treatment of a complicated community.
About James McBride
James McBride is a novelist, memoirist, biographer, and musician. His books include The Good Lord Bird, The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung, Miracle at St. Anna, Five-Carat Soul, and a biography of James Brown. His work often combines history, music, humor, and questions of American identity.