Author Night with Mark Wukas

The Kiss of Night is a sharp and heartfelt novel set in the shadowy underbelly of Chicago journalism and crime. Told through the lens of Will Moore, a former classicist turned newspaper editor, the story retraces the roots of a decades-old secret between Will and retired homicide detective Frank Foley. The plot unfolds as a mystery layered with reflections on morality, loyalty, and regret. What begins with the obituary of a legendary cop slowly unravels into an exploration of a shared past haunted by violence, ethical compromise, and a chilling understanding of justice.

The Kiss of Night is a book about ghosts—of people, places, past selves—and what it means to try and do right in a world that rarely lets you. It's for readers who love character-driven crime fiction, who want a story with soul and grit, not just blood and bullets. I'd recommend it to anyone who's worked in news, lived in Chicago, or wrestled with guilt. Wukas's writing reminds me of Michael Connelly's gritty realism mixed with the introspective depth of Raymond Chandler, but with the emotional resonance of Richard Russo.

- Literary Titan