First published 2017
In the summer of 1903, a wave of terror grips New York City. Children of Italian immigrants vanish from their homes. Bombs destroy tenement buildings. Gunmen kill innocent victims in broad daylight. The wealthy and powerful receive death threats. Each crime bears the same signature: a black hand symbol. Detective Joseph Petrosino stands as the city's best hope against this secret society. Known as the Italian Sherlock Holmes, Petrosino uses his skills in disguise and investigation to infiltrate the criminal organization. He leads an all-Italian police squad in a desperate race to stop the Black Hand before public fear turns into violence against all immigrants. As the crimes become more outrageous, Petrosino must capture the perpetrators before the nation tears itself apart. This true crime account reveals how one detective fought to protect both his adopted country and his fellow immigrants from a conspiracy that threatened to destroy them both.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, detective, true-crime
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, underdog
Setting: New York City
Period: 1903
320 pages · Kindle Edition · Mariner Books