Eagle’s own sports editor shines in debut novel
Brooklyn BookBeat
Brooklyn Eagle’s own John Torenli has recently published his debut novel, “Last of the Creeps” (Maple Creek Media). A seasoned reporter who has covered Brooklyn sports for the Eagle since 1999, Torenli now has revealed his talent as a fiction writer.
“Last of the Creeps” takes place in Bensonhurst, where Bobby Casanova – born and raised in Brooklyn – is struggling to get by. Torenli paints a compelling portrait of Bobby, who, in his 40s, is bald, broke, and still battling night terrors. Trying to stay afloat in his own neighborhood amidst its changing demographics while also dealing with lingering complications of a well-documented ‘70s strip-club murder-suicide, Bobby shifts between numerous odd-jobs ranging from a linen warehouse security chief, to an overnight gas station attendant, to a part-time chauffeur.
Through his quest for romance, Bobby encounters several women, including Anne-Marie Gambale, who seems out of his league; Marnie Bellachio, a middle-aged spinster; and Nima, a beautiful Palestinian whom Bobby deems his “Forever Girl.”