When Larry Brown witnesses a boy being confronted by two men who want the boy to leave against his wishes, he doesn't know he will later face a situation that is, in a way, linked to the incident. Set in the 1970s, The Narrows focuses on Larry Brown, a public school teacher in Medford who is on a mission to rescue his cousin and a friend's brother from a religious cult with the help of Black Lightning. Black Lightning is a man who considers it his duty to kidnap people from cults, deprogram them, and set them free. As the plot unravels, Mark Zvonkovic engages the audience with educative conversations, thoughts about several psychological and philosophical ideas, and fond and painful memories of the characters.

The Narrows is what you get when you mix strong character development and voice with some ideologies and concepts that inspire people to think further, or at least, make them realize that they are not alone in contemplating them. I was fully absorbed in the discussions about literature, racism in the educational system, intelligence, brainwashing, free will, goals, and other philosophical and psychological topics. The first-person narrative brings its protagonist to life by portraying him to have relatable flaws, feelings, and conflicting values, which made me feel for him and easily connect with him. Mark Zvonkovic builds a story around real social issues of the United States in the 1970s, and it exposes the good and bad of humanity with some humor. I had a great time reading The Narrows; it is perfect for readers who love to challenge themselves mentally.

The Narrows by Mark Zvonkovic is a literary fiction novel that centers around its main character, Larry Brown. The book begins with Larry's backstory as he recounts his relationship with his childhood, his family, and his girlfriend Millie, an extrovert thespian who flirts with and comfortably changes clothes in front of handsome leading men. The story is told entirely in the first person by Larry, shifting back and forth between the present and his recollections of moments in his past that shaped where he stands as he narrates. In the throes of all of this, Larry finds himself on a mission to pull his cousin out from a cult, working alongside a professional known among the cult as Black Lightning, the man who is able to 'kidnap' cult members for deprogramming and, ultimately, safety from both the cult and themselves.

The Narrows is a fantastic piece of literature that does exceptionally well at allowing its protagonist to navigate a juggernaut with an intelligent, character-driven arc that elevates an already unique plot. Mark Zvonkovic provides Larry with a fragile resolve that lends to his authenticity as a character even when the narrative Larry delivers feels strong. He is insecure and profoundly human, a combination that makes his arc so much more believable. The other characters are equally intriguing and, as the tension builds, it is easy to forget that the story is actually taking place over a mere matter of days. I liked Jenny, whose brother is in line for extraction from the cult alongside Larry's cousin, and how the pair comes to terms with their loved ones having such degrees of brainwashing that their thought process is unrecognizable. Overall, this is an excellent book and I have no doubt other readers will agree.