First published 2012
Jackie Cogan works as an enforcer in New England's criminal hierarchy. Unknown thieves rob a high-stakes card game, disrupting the delicate balance of Boston's underworld operations. The mob calls Cogan to solve the problem and restore their authority. He moves through a network of small-time criminals, hangers-on, and more established crooks to identify the perpetrators. Cogan navigates this world of misfits with calculated precision, following leads and applying pressure where needed. His investigation reveals the chain of events that led to the heist and the people responsible for the breach. The enforcer's method of justice comes swift and final. Five bullets from his Smith & Wesson .38 Police Special settle the matter permanently. Cogan's work ensures that the mob's rules remain the only rules that matter in his territory.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: anti-hero, morally-ambiguous-protagonist
Setting: Boston, New England
Period: 20th-century
216 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: graphic-violence, murder