The Arriviste — James Wallenstein

A wealthy man's bitter decline takes a sinister turn in this “slow-burn noir” of love, greed, and deceit in 1970s New York (Washington Post Book World).

Neil Fox has made a fortune off the “head we win / tails you lose” venture capital deals negotiated by his brother, costing him almost everything but money. His ex-wife and daughter spurn him, and he lost his young son years ago. Now he spends his days working as a lawyer at a small investment-banking firm and his nights at home with a drink.

When the affable Bud Younger moves in next door -- on a parcel that Neil had sold off -- Neil takes an almost instant dislike to him. Bud is nearly everything Neil is not -- a gregarious, energetic striver loved by his family. When Bud asks Neil to fund a new business venture, it sets in motion events that hurtle to a startling and haunting conclusion.

Named a Booklist Top 10 First Novel of 2011, The Arriviste delves into the psyche of avarice and envy, presenting a portrait of a man both ordinary and monstrous.