"An extraordinary thriller about the political gangsters, builders, and bullies who constructed the Empire State Building."--Esquire
"Empire Rising is everything a period novel should be."--Time
"There is a compelling muscularity to his work--the plots barrel along, the characters are wildly colorful."--Joe Klein, The New York Times Book Review
"An engaging book in the grand old realistic tradition, a gripping piece of national history, a nicely felt lovely story, that takes us into the building sites and busy streets . . . that becomes, because of Kelly's convincing storytelling manner, every city."--Alan Cheuse, Chicago Tribune
"New York in 1930 shines through the pages with high resolution."--Peter Campion, San Francisco Chronicle
