Mark Wukas has spent his life in Chicago working as professional asker of questions as both a teacher and writer--and sometimes both at the same time. A native South Sider and graduate of Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Wukas credits his high school job--two years as an Andy Frain usher--with giving him a knowledge of the city and its neighborhoods that helped him on the streets as a young reporter. After receiving his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and spending two happy years at The Daily Illini, he returned to his high school alma... Read More
The Kiss of Night
February 28, 2025
Trade Paperback
Available for pre-order now. Book ships first week of March.
$25.00
The death of a retired Chicago homicide detective forces Will Moore, an assistant city editor for the Chicago Tribune, to revisit life-and-death events from his first days as a police reporter for City News Bureau.
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Mark Wukas
Author
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Here is a book that deserves a place among your favorite Chicago novels. Written with a reporter’s sharp eye and attention to detail and colorful characters, The Kiss of Night brings the city alive in all its good/evil struggles, giving you a story that is vivid and unforgettable.
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Mark Wukas has captured the essence of young reporters fueled by adrenaline and idealism. Their reporting is as unglamorous as it is thankless. Yet while reading The Kiss of Night I found myself yearning for those days when chasing a story was unvarnished and pure. The Kiss of Night is the real thing and makes for a compelling read from start to finish.
Summary
“The gates of hell are open night and day.”
–Vergil, Aeneid
The death of a retired Chicago homicide detective forces Will Moore, an assistant city editor for the Chicago Tribune, to revisit life-and-death events from his first days as a police reporter for City News Bureau. As he becomes immersed in the dark river of despair coursing through the streets at night, Will comes to understand the humanity lying beneath Chicago crime statistics. Will himself becomes part of the story when his next-door neighbor, a young Latino gang member is murdered, and Will is asked to help take revenge. The Kiss of Night will keep you turning page after page before reaching its affecting conclusion.