Motherless Brooklyn
by Jonathan Lethem
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem holds a well received rating of 3.91 out of 5, based on 23.6K reader ratings. First published in 1999. The book spans 311 pages.
About Motherless Brooklyn
Lionel Essrog is Brooklyn’s very own self-appointed Human Freakshow, an orphan whose Tourettic impulses drive him to bark, count, and rip apart our language in the most startling and original ways. Together with three veterans of the St. Vincent’s Home for Boys, he works for small-time mobster Frank Minna’s limo service cum detective agency. Life without Frank Minna, the charismatic King of Brooklyn, would be unimaginable, so who cares if the tasks he sets them are, well, not exactly legal. But when Frank is fatally stabbed, one of Lionel’s colleagues lands in jail, the other two vie for his position, and the victim’s widow skips town. Lionel’s world is suddenly topsy-turvy, and this outcast who has trouble even conversing attempts to untangle the threads of the case while trying to keep the words straight in his head. Motherless Brooklyn is a brilliantly original homage to the classic detective novel by one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Jonathan Lethem |
| Published | 1999 |
| Pages | 311 |
| Genres | Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 3.91 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 23,614 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Motherless Brooklyn?
Motherless Brooklyn is categorized as Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller, Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.
Is Motherless Brooklyn worth reading?
Based on 23.6K reader ratings, Motherless Brooklyn has an average score of 3.91 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Motherless Brooklyn?
Motherless Brooklyn has 311 pages.
Who wrote Motherless Brooklyn?
Motherless Brooklyn was written by Jonathan Lethem. It was first published in 1999.
What is the ISBN for Motherless Brooklyn?
The ISBN-13 for Motherless Brooklyn is 9780375724830.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
