Clear Blue Sky

by F.P. Lione
Published by Revell (2007)
352 pages

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the sky was clear blue, offering no hint of impending disaster. Tony Cavalucci, an 11 year NYPD veteran, was following his daily routine, grabbing an egg sandwich at the end of his night shift. But then he glanced up 5th Avenue and saw smoke rising from one of the towers of the World Trade Center and knew his routine would never be the same again.

While Clear Blue Sky is a fictional account of 9/11, the story is related with gritty realism. The tale begins on September 2nd, introducing the reader to the individuals who would become heroes. We are taken on rides in the patrol car; you can hear the Eastern accent in the character’s dialogue; the banter in the police station is rife with the cynical humor of those who frequently witness the worst in humanity. The attitude of the New York citizen, toward the NYPD, is painted as disdainful. These heroes are clearly under appreciated, but yet they faithfully perform their duty protecting the innocents of New York.

Tony Cavalucci, a recovering alcoholic and an infant Christian, finds time spent with his dysfunctional full-blooded Italian family is proving more difficult than his job. His family exhibits an open dislike for Tony’s fiancée, Michele, who is only one-half Italian, and, worse yet, is an unwed mother. Yet, even worse, she is a Christian. Tony’s family faults Michele for his growing faith and his new “morality.” He faces a continuous struggle having to choose between living the life God wants for him and appeasing his family. Life was easier before he became a Christian.

Then the events of September 11th happen, and faith and family are viewed from a new perspective. Will Tony’s family learn to accept the man he has become?