New York, 1915: Alex Cohen and his family have fled yet another rising tide of violence against Jewish people in the Ukraine, looking for a new start in the land of opportunity.
Misnamed Fabian Mustard on their arrival at Ellis Island, Alex is forced to look for a way to support his parents and siblings, as the struggle to find gainful employment is harder than they anticipated. He finds himself drawn back into the criminal life he was embroiled in back home, by his new best friend Sammy, despite the misgivings of his parents.
Alex's reputation as someone trustworthy and good with his fists soon earns him promotion and the nickname "Slugger", but his relationship with Sammy becomes strained as he begins to make a name for himself.
Alex's career choice is also a problem for the innocent fellow immigrant, Rebecca, that he has fallen in love with. Rebecca dreams of becoming a ballet dancer and wants no part of the life Alex has chosen to lead, so he has to turn to the arms of "working girl" Sarah for comfort.
But Alex cannot forget about the girl he loves and he has some hard choices to make if he ever wants to be with her. How can he balance the pull of easy money against that of true love?
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The Bowery Slugger introduces us to the seedy side of the Jewish Ghetto of New York, at a time when war is waging across Europe.
Isolated from the lives and constant threat of violence that Alex and his family have left behind, their minds turn to how they can make America their new home. How do you support yourself when you step foot in a new country when practically all you have is the clothes you stand up in? It soon becomes clear that this is not going to be easy, especially when you cannot even speak the language.
Leopold Borstinski cleverly transports us to the heart of the Bowery, New York, where Jewish immigrants have made their home. You can almost feel yourself on the same streets as Alex, as he searches for a way to bring some money home for his family - the noise, the hustle and bustle, and the sound of Yiddish voices all around. It is almost too easy for Alex to find himself back on the wrong side of the law, drawn by the pull of an easy buck in the land where the streets are said to be paved with gold.
This book has such an evocative feel for the struggle of immigrants first arriving in New York at the beginning of the 20th Century (think Mario Puzo's The Godfather, when Vito Corleone arrives in America with his family). What makes this book so unusual to read is that this time our new companions are Jewish, rather than Italian. I found this really interesting, as I have read a lot about the early Irish, Black and Italian gangs in New York, but very little about the gangs established by the Jewish settlers to the city. It was fascinating to read about the involvement of the Jewish gangs with the Union movement and the early days of their collaboration with the Italian mob, and the contrast of the new settlers to their second generation compatriots was very cleverly done.
It is true to say that the characters are a little stereotypical - for example, the troubled poor boy making a name for himself; the best friend who contemplates betrayal; the beautiful, innocent maiden with dreams, who catches the eye of our boy; and "the tart with a heart" who falls for our lovelorn boy and offers him comfort, but this did not matter one bit or spoil my enjoyment of the story. I really became caught up in Alex's life and was very keen to find out where his choices would lead him.
The story builds nicely and the closing pages of this first volume in Alex Cohen's story are very exciting. I am very keen to see where the story goes in the second installment, as our writer seems to be taking Alex down a very different path at the end of the book.
I must also say that Leopold Borstinski has made the right decision in not regaling us with the gratuitous sex found in his Lagotti Family books, which was a great relief. This book is completely plot driven and a great story it is too - gritty and violent, it will keep you turning the pages until the thrilling climax!
Thank you to Leopold Bortinski, Sobriety Press and Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for providing me with a copy of The Bowery Slugger in return for an honest review.
From the book cover:
When Alex Cohen arrives in 1915 America, he seizes the land of opportunity with both hands and grabs it by the throat. But success breeds distrust and Alex must choose between controlling his gang and keeping his friend alive. What would you do if the person you trusted most is setting you up to die at your enemies' hands?
The first book in the Alex Cohen series is a violent historical novel, which rips through the early years of the Jewish New York mob. Leopold Borstinski's gripping crime noir beats at the chest of every reader with a bloody fist.A turn-of-the-century Jewish boy punches his way into the gangs of New York.
Purchase links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Google Books
Nook
About the author:
There is nothing he likes better so he does as much nothing as he possibly can. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the US and has visited Asia on several occasions. Leopold holds a Philosophy degree and tries not to drop it too often.
He lives near London and is married with one wife, one child and no pets.
See more about Leopold Bortinski here:
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Thanks so much x
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