First published 2012
Joe Coughlin makes his living robbing banks in 1920s Boston. Everything changes when he encounters a bank teller who captivates him completely. Their romance pulls Joe into the vast criminal networks that flourish during Prohibition. He moves through a world of bootleggers transporting illegal liquor and speakeasies filled with thirsty customers. Corrupt police officers accept bribes while violent turf wars tear through the streets. Joe discovers that trust is a dangerous indulgence when those he relies on turn against him. As he advances through the hierarchy of organized crime, each new position forces him to make brutal decisions. Joe holds onto his vision of achieving the American dream while the criminal underworld slowly devours his conscience. The authority he gains demands sacrifices that make him wonder how much of his true self he can surrender. In a world where betrayal means death and showing vulnerability invites attack, Joe faces a choice between his ruthless ambitions and preserving what remains of his moral core.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, gritty, intense, morally-complex, noir
Tropes: betrayal, forbidden-romance, moral-descent, rise-and-fall
Setting: Boston, Massachusetts, Cuba, United States
Period: 1919-1933, 20th century
402 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow
Content warnings: murder, substance-abuse, violence