An unmarried father : A novel

Norman Overbeck has just earned his place at the prestigious law firm founded by his father, yet the weight of a famous surname hangs over him like a shadow. Walking the creaking hall of the Overbeck office, he feels both the thrill of his first big case and the sting of self‑doubt, wondering whether he can ever live up to the family reputation. A brief, almost comical phone call about a sister’s dog‑search adds a touch of domestic reality to his otherwise lofty ambitions, hinting at the tangled relationships that lie just beyond his door.

As the day unfolds, Norman’s thoughts drift between the polished law books on his desk and the murkier questions about his own identity. The novel captures the tension between a fast‑moving, jazz‑age society and the lingering expectations of an older, more staid generation. Through witty dialogue and sharply observed scenes, the story explores what it means to forge a personal path when the world seems eager to define you for someone else.