Last Call at Smokey Row

Jane Archer has been brought up right and done all the right things. She grew up in a straight-laced family, went to the right schools, got an advanced degree, taught high school biology, got married. Then why is it she finds herself at the age of thirty-three, living alone in a distant Chicago suburb, her marriage and her career a failure, a third of her life feeling like it’s been a waste? Why is she working in a small-town suburban grocery store and hanging out in a bar full of people she considers oddballs and losers, some lovable and some not so much? Why does she care so much about being accepted by these people?

Are they the oddballs? Or is she? The real question is whether or not she can get her life back on the track where she feels she belongs. If she can decide where she belongs, that is.

Interview with Pat Camalliere about Last Call at Smokey Row

What is Last Call at Smokey Row about?

Last Call at Smokey Row is my first novel outside of my Cora Tozzi Historical Mystery Series. The story takes place in the early 1980s and focuses on thirty-three-year-old strait-laced, former schoolteacher Jane Archer. Newly divorced and looking for a fresh start, Jane relocates to Lemont where she is introduced to a downtown tavern where she befriends pool shooters, colorful characters, and finds romance.

How did you come to write this book?

My husband used to shoot pool before we were married. I would go to watch his games and I met a lot of interesting people. I wanted to give these people life as characters in a story.

Why did you place your fictional bar in Smokey Row?

Lemont’s history has fascinated me ever since I moved here in 1998. All my novels are set in Lemont. This book is not part of my series, but Lemont is still the place I want to write about. Smokey Row especially speaks to the uniqueness of the town’s history, and although the story takes place in the 1980s, long after Smokey Row became history, the onetime notorious area still is felt in Lemont’s downtown. The fact that a bar in Lemont that dates back to the Smokey Row era and is noted for its pool leagues fit right into the story I wanted to tell. I’m grateful to the people at Main Inn, who were good enough to approve my photo that appears on the cover and enhances the image of Lemont I wanted to convey. An author’s note at the end of the book tells readers about the real history of Smokey Row.

Is there anything else you want to say about writing this book?

I had a lot of fun writing this book. I let my ideas loose to let my main character free to be herself and show her sense of humor while grappling with her need to create a satisfying life. She left herself open to people she would have avoided, while delving into their lives and facing such issues as the birth of the internet and the aftermath of the Vietnam war. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

How is the book being accepted?

I’ve been delighted at the reviews I’ve been receiving, mostly all 5 stars! Read some of the reviews below.

Where can I get Last Call at Smokey Row?

Last Call at Smokey Row, and my other books, can all be purchased on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle. They can also be purchased here in Lemont, at (where else?) Smokey Row Antiques, 112 Stephen Street, in downtown Lemont.

Last Call at Smokey Row, a captivating novel by Pat Camalliere, beautifully portrays a slice of life from a recently bygone era, blending the mundane with the bizarre. Engaging and masterfully composed, Last Call at Smokey Row by Pat Camalliere is an easy-to-read yet sophisticated story tinged with nostalgia and familiarity. The novel explores multiple themes, including loneliness, self-discovery, friendship, and the fragility of life. Character development is outstanding, featuring a range of personalities from good-natured barflies to unexpected villains … The pace is smooth and consistent, which, combined with one of the most impressive writing styles I've ever encountered, creates a relatable and immersive read. Overall, it is a truly excellent work that will appeal to fans of various genres, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Pat Camalliere’s writing shines in her ability to create vivid, relatable characters. Camalliere’s ability to balance humor, tragedy, and suspense is masterfully done. Her meticulous research is evident, and her passion for Lemont’s history is undeniable. Last Call at Smokey Row is a reflection on human connection and the impact of our choices. With richly drawn characters and historical intrigue, this novel is a must read for fans of character-driven stories and local history. Camalliere’s storytelling leaves a lasting impression, making this book a memorable addition to her repertoire.

Last Call at Smokey Row by Pat Camalliere is a historical novel about a woman named Jane Archer. Jane moved to a small town, Lemont, Illinois, feeling lonely and out of place, with hopes of starting a new life. One day, a co-worker invites her to Sami's Saloon, although she feels a bit uncomfortable in such an environment. Jane shares her story of how Sami's Saloon changed her life … Her journey from feeling lost to finding purpose touched me; it showed how people can grow even after going through hard times. The writing is detailed with strong character development. The supporting characters all played a major role in making the book stand out. I recommend Last Call at Smokey Row to readers who enjoy books about self-discovery, friendships, and finding a sense of belonging in unexpected places.

Last Call at Smoky Row tells of Jane, who finds herself alone and unloved in her early thirties, despite having followed the formula for a good life, getting a solid education and marrying appropriately. Ironically, the very place she hangs out and the characters she meets there form a foundation for new beginnings that sends Jane into a direction different from either the successful path she thought she was on or the downfall she thinks she’s experiencing now. As Jane reviews the patrons of the bar, how they begin “dropping like flies,” and the changing relationships and reputations that bind such disparate personalities together, readers enjoy a story steeped in character decisions and life experiences. It brings these oddballs to life, setting their courses in sync with events that propel them in new directions. Pat Camalliere’s story is as much about growth and adaptation as it is about a woman’s ability to reinvent her future from a present which looks decidedly different than any definition of a successful life that she’s absorbed in the past. Readers seeking a story that moves its main characters from a seeming end of life to new beginnings will find Last Call at Smoky Row a thought-provoking tale of how change happens, relationships and connections form, and institutions as venerable and lowly as bars can become incubators for change.

If you’re a fan of character-driven stories, you’ll love Last Call at Smokey Row. Author Pat Camalliere sets her tale in Lemont, Illinois, a place she knows well and clearly loves. Centered on Jane Archer, a bright and observant thirty-something in search of herself, the story takes place mainly at Sami’s Saloon, a local bar and pool hall that’s well past its glory days but still has something to offer. Jane’s quest is the framework for a colorful tapestry of human experience; the regulars she gets to know at Sami’s may not all be lovable, but every single one—the pool hounds, the drifters, the fellow searchers for someplace to belong—is unforgettable. There’s a quiet magic to Camalliere’s writing, a vividness of place and people that draws you in and doesn’t let go. Humor, friendship, unexpected loss, and a simmering conflict that ultimately leads to a startling act of vengeance, or perhaps rough justice, are expertly intertwined by a storyteller who’s a master of her craft. Don’t miss this one.

What a lovely and thoughtful look at the characters who find themselves drifting together at a small-town bar. Aware of it or not, whether likely to succeed or not, each one searches for what's missing in their lives. A careful, well-written exploration of how we escape our pasts and try to move forward with new people and new pursuits. Not all goes according to plan, of course, and a delicious thread of intrigue grows to a very clever ending. Satisfying at so many levels.

The main character and narrator, Jane Archer, is someone many people can relate to. But at the age of 33, she finds herself a divorced ex-teacher, living alone for the first time in her life, working a dead-end job in a grocery store, and wondering if she has the stamina and motivation to figure out what to do next. Invited by a coworker who participates in a pool league, Jane visits a local tavern called Sami’s. There she meets a collection of people seemingly as adrift as she is. In time, Jane builds relationships at Sami’s. With the help of one of her newfound friends, she slowly begins to find a new career path and perhaps even the hope of romance. With such a diverse mix of personalities, problems in the group are sure to bubble up. One conflict gets resolved in a way that I guarantee you won’t see coming. Through it all, Jane responds to the events around her by continuing to ask questions and to grow. Despite the large cast of characters, it is her story above all, and Camalliere brings it to a satisfying end.