Cityside (Paperback)

by William Heffernan (Author)
Key Phrases: civilian review board, hospital scam, surgical records, New York, University Hospital, Roberto Avalon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
More media fallout; here a reporter struggles with his conscience. Should he write the story that could win him a Pulitzer or risk his career by denouncing his newspaper's greedy ways? From an Edgar Award winner.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From The Washington Post
"Flawlessly plotted, seamlessly written, it portrays investigative reporting accurately." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Akashic Books (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888451475
• ISBN-13: 978-1888451474
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,358,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cityside, March 29, 2000

By	R. Vielie (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cityside (Hardcover)

I have read and enjoyed all of William Heffernan's previous books, thus looked forward eagerly to the release of Cityside. I was not disappointed. Obviously writing from the experience base of his past career as a journalist, Cityside is a passionate expose of the period in big-city journalism when newspapers changed their emphasis (as we say in Australia) from playing the ball to playing the man. The triumph of the novel is that he treats his subject with humour and intelligence, rather than descending into cliche. When I finished the last page, I thought to myself that it was the best book I had read in many years.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting look at journalism, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cityside (Hardcover)

His personal and professional lives are all but dead, leaving New York Globe reporter Billy Burke very depressed. However, suddenly things look much brighter when Billy finds a story that, if handled correctly, could provide him with a Pulitzer. A hospital refused to provide life saving open-heart surgery to an impoverished child because the mother has no means (either out of pocket or insurance) to pay the cost.

Billy begins to investigate and soon realizes that hospital administrators are protecting their butts by altering or destroying records. However, his superiors at the Globe want Billy to hang somebody because someone needs to take the public hit as the malevolent person refusing proper health care to a poor child. Billy remains the consummate professional, not concerned with a prize, but with an honest story that will help the victim. Still, the clock is ticking on the life of a little boy and the pressure mounting on Billy to find a public goat.

CITYSIDE is a fabulous look at the journalist profession to hit a home run at every bat since the Watergate exposure. The story line is entertaining and intriguing as readers hope the lad gets his needed operation. However, William Heffernam falters a bit by painting Billy and his seemingly horde of women as totally perfect beings. The so-called villains are portrayed in a more even manner as hospital administrators struggle between costs and proper health care. Mr. Heffernam provides readers with a deep, well-written thriller.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Novel By William Heffernan, February 8, 2005

By	Michael L. Slavin "HardBopper" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've enjoyed most all of his books. This is one of the best. The reader can enjoy the behind the scene workings and characters of a major N.Y. tabloid paper, and find hypocrisy behind the headlines. Also exposed are some of the greed and dealings between a prominent surgeon, a major teaching hospital and it's municipal hospital affiliate. How can a surgeon be paid to be at two places at the same time? The fast moving plot centers around an investigative reporter and a five year old boy, with a heart defect, as he fights for survival.