In 1970s Albany Secrets Hide Under Every Streetlight
A haunting tale of survival, identity, and defiant artistry in New York City.
Follow the unforgettable voices that echo through broken townhouses, basement sanctuaries, and jazz-soaked nights.
Meet Albert Loftus
Albert Loftus
Albert Loftus is a playwright and novelist. Born in Albany, NY, he always dreamed of becoming a writer. He met his literary mentor, a flamboyant narcissistic editor and speech writer when he was 17. What started as interesting stories from his mentor, later became deadly stories. His mentor advised him to move to New York City to explore the “underbelly of life.” At 21 he headed to New York with a friend, and over the years explored Greenwich Village, jazz, the seedy side of gay life, fine art, house music, East Hampton and Paris — every adventure provided more stories. He was a NYC taxicab driver, he managed a movie house on Broadway, he was a chauffeur to the rich and famous and eventually became General Manager of the largest limousine service in New York. His fiction sometimes tells uncomfortable truths; ones that speak through drag queens, drugs, drifters and dreamers that live on the edge of society.
the end of the
river
A story of survival, identity, and art on the fringe of society.
Set in 1970s Albany, New York, The End of the River follows the unlikely bond between a young aspiring writer and his flamboyant, sharp-tongued mentor—a drag queen named Aeshma who lives in a crumbling Victorian townhouse overlooking the frozen Hudson.
As the city gentrifies and dreams unravel, the writer moves to New York City and navigates a world of addiction, poetry, chaos, and his new found family. Their connection becomes both a refuge and a reckoning, revealing the cost of living truthfully in a society that prefers silence.
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Reviews
This book is raw, vivid, and unforgettable. The characters leap off the page with their flaws, humor, and pain, and the storytelling feels both
gritty and poetic. It pulled me in from the first chapter and kept me hooked with its honesty and intensity. A powerful read that lingers long
after the last page.
★★★★★
It was beautiful and interesting. the writing is sharp and rich, the atmosphere is vivid and the city feels alive. You don't just read this book, you also live inside it. it was a haunting
look at ambition, art and the shadows that follow both. I highly recommend it!
★★★★★
The End Of The River by Albert Loftus may not be a suitable read for general readers, as it begins with stories about drag queens, male
prostitutes, and is set in a sordid world that some may like.
★★★★★
The setting of 1970s New York is so vivid and a perfect backdrop for this dark story. I loved the way the book blurs the line between fiction and
reality as the young writer gets pulled into his mentor's dangerous world. It's a suspenseful read that kept me guessing until the very end. If
you're looking for something different and intense, this is a great book.
★★★★★
The End of the River follows a young aspiring writer drawn into the darker corners of society under the influence of a mysterious mentor. This is
a gripping psychological thriller set in a vivid 1970s New York. The plot is well-paced and filled with unpredictable turns. Characters are sharply
drawn and complex. The narrative explores ambition, corruption, and control without relying on cliches. Strong sense of time and place adds
depth. It keeps your interest from start to finish, with a tone that's dark but compelling.
★★★★★
"The End of the River" is a captivating book that explores the complexities of creativity, mentorship, and identity. Set in 1970s New York, the story follows a young gay man as he
navigates the challenges of his artistic and creative ambitions and personal relationships.
★★★★★
A captivating novel that blends mystery, adventure, and psychology. The story follows a young man from Albany, NY, who moves to New
York City to pursue his writing dreams, only to get tangled in a web of corruption and deceit.
What sets this book apart is Loftus' exploration of the darker side of human nature, especially through the mind of a serial killer, which is
fascinating. The pacing is excellent, with plenty of twists to keep you on edge. If you enjoy stories with deep characters, dark humour, and a
thrilling plot, this is a must read!
★★★★★
The End of the River is a quietly powerful story that unfolds like a slow, winding current-steady, reflective, and surprisingly gripping. Albert
Loftus crafts a narrative that doesn't rely on flashy twists but rather leans into authenticity, personal hardship, and raw emotional depth. The
protagonist's journey is both literal and metaphorical, touching on themes of isolation, resilience, and the fragile thread of human connection
in a harsh world.
The writing is clear and unsentimental, yet often poetic in its observations. Some passages linger in the mind long after turning the page. If
you enjoy introspective stories that explore survival without veering into melodrama, this is a strong choice. While it may not be for readers
seeking high-octane action, those who appreciate character-driven fiction with a strong emotional undercurrent will find it a rewarding
experience.
★★★★★
The End of the River is a haunting thriller that pulls you deep into the shadows of 1970s New York. The mix of artistic ambition and sinister
obsession makes the story both chilling and unforgettable. I was hooked by the atmosphere, the complex characters, and the way the novel
explores ambition, corruption, and the cost of creation. A powerful and unsettling read that stays with you long after the last page.
★★★★★
Beneath the glitter of 1970s New York lies a story that feels both raw and unsettling. This book captures the grit of Albany and Manhattan's
underbelly with sharp detail-bohemian hangouts, shadowy clubs, and the dangerous pull of ambition. The relationship between the young
writer and his mysterious mentor is tense and unnerving, blurring the line between creativity and corruption. With its mix of noir
atmosphere, psychological depth, and historical edge, this novel lingers long after the last page.
★★★★★
This psychological thriller plumbs the shadowy depths of 1970s New York, where the pursuit of artistic truth becomes a perilous descent into
moral ambiguity. Through the eyes of a young writer lured by a charismatic editor, the narrative explores the seductive pull of mentorship
and the fine line between inspiration and exploitation. The novel's richly atmospheric setting-split between Albany's quiet menace and
Manhattan's chaotic allure-serves as a backdrop for a layered tale of obsession, corruption, and the dark undercurrents of literary ambition
★★★★★
I was drawn into the gritty world of New York in the 1970s by this book, where ambition and art collide into obsession. The young writer and
his enigmatic mentor have an intriguing and unsettling relationship that makes it difficult to distinguish between manipulation and
inspiration. It made me wonder what is lost when the pursuit of art devolves into something darker and how far one will go to achieve
greatness.
★★★★★
Set in the turbulent 1970s of NYC, this psychological thriller follows a young writer whose quest for authenticity leads him into the sinister
depths of his mentor's world. Blending art, obsession, and moral decay, it's a haunting exploration of how ambition can blur the line between
creation and corruption.
★★★★★
This book totally pulled me in from the first page. The 1970s New York setting felt so real - dark, gritty, and full of secrets. I liked how the
story slowly twisted from a creative journey into something much deeper and more unsettling. The characters felt complicated in the best
way, especially the relationship between the writer and his mentor. It's not your typical crime story - it's thought-provoking and intense,
with moments that stick with you after reading. I finished it in just a couple of sittings!
★★★★★
The End of the River drew me in from the first pages. The writing is elegant and deliberate ... simple on the surface, but full of emotion and
symbolism. It's one of those books that stays with you after you finish, making you reflect on choices, time, and the currents of life itself.
Highly recommended if you enjoy stories that are more about meaning than plot twists.
★★★★★
Dark, haunting, and irresistibly atmospheric-this novel captures the grit and glamour of 1970s New York with cinematic precision. What begins as a tale of literary ambition
transforms into a chilling psychological descent, blurring the line between fiction and reality. The characters are magnetic, the writing razor-sharp, and the tension relentless. A
must-read for fans of noir, art, and obsession-it's the kind of story that stays under your skin long after the final page.
★★★★★
This is one of those rare books that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Set in the gritty world of 1970s New York, it's a smart, haunting mix of
crime, obsession, and art. Sharp writing, complex characters, and a story that stays with you long after the last page.
★★★★★
This is a fairly dense and psychological crime thriller. It's set in the gritty urban landscape of New York. I enjoyed the slow and unnerving
descent into a world of horror.
★★★★★
I think the novel's strength lies in its layered characters and its slow, disturbing descent into darkness. It's a story that stays with you long
after you've read the last page ... at least, that's how it was for me.
★★★★★
Exciting until the end and very impressive and approachable characters with whom you can relate. Super book
★★★★★
This book swallowed me whole. From the first chapter, I felt like I was walking the smoky streets of 1970s New York, where everything
beautiful hides something rotten underneath. The writing is sharp and cinematic, filled with that haunting mix of art and corruption that
keeps you questioning who's really in control. I couldn't stop thinking about the relationship between the young writer and his mentor-it's
magnetic, unsettling, and brilliantly written. By the time I reached the end, I was both disturbed and awed. It's one of those rare stories that
crawls under your skin and refuses to leave.
★★★★★
Set against gritty Albany and Manhattan in the 1970s, this psychological thriller is atmospheric, stylish, and utterly relentless. The story of a
young writer drawn into the orbit of an enigmatic editor in his glass tower is haunting; what starts as mentorship morphs into a disturbing
test of ambition, morality, and survival.
The prose sparkles with period detail, the city's glamour and grime feel alive, while the psychological tension tightens page after page.
Characters are complex and morally ambiguous; the mentor is magnetic and terrifying in equal measure. The novel brilliantly probes the cost
of artistic obsession and the fine line between creation and destruction.
★★★★★