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Danno Garland #1
Blood Red Turns Dollar Green
1972 New York City and a dazed LENNY LONG walks away from a crash carrying someone's foot in his hand. He is also searching for the VIP passenger who has somehow disappeared from the back of his overturned van. It's the first day of his new promotion and LENNY has less than twenty minutes to deliver the missing person or a lot of people are going to get badly hurt.
DANNO GARLAND is in Shea Stadium trying to avoid a riot. He's coming to the end of the most successful wrestling card of all time but he's also coming to the realisation that he might not be able to deliver his widely hyped main event. He knows there's more than just the eyes of the stadium looking at him and if LENNY doesn't arrive soon, blood is going to be sought. probably his.
PROCTOR KING nervously watches the show on TV, wondering why his fuck-up of a son doesn't already have the Heavyweight Championship in his hands. Arranging this match has taken PROCTOR four years of pay-offs, double dealing and bone breaking to arrange. If all that effort has been wasted then he might just have to take him a business trip to New York.
LENNY, DANNO and PROCTOR. Three men with pieces of the puzzle but none with the full picture. When they do piece it all together, the 'fake' world of professional wrestling is going to get very real.
“Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is one hell of a novel, with shades of Mario Puzo, Elmore Leonard and Michael Connelly. The action is relentless, the characters are shady and the justice is swift and final. Paul O'Brien is the real deal and a rising star in the crime arena.” - Eoin Colfer, International Bestselling Author of Artemis Fowl, And Another Thing..., and Plugged
DANNO GARLAND is in Shea Stadium trying to avoid a riot. He's coming to the end of the most successful wrestling card of all time but he's also coming to the realisation that he might not be able to deliver his widely hyped main event. He knows there's more than just the eyes of the stadium looking at him and if LENNY doesn't arrive soon, blood is going to be sought. probably his.
PROCTOR KING nervously watches the show on TV, wondering why his fuck-up of a son doesn't already have the Heavyweight Championship in his hands. Arranging this match has taken PROCTOR four years of pay-offs, double dealing and bone breaking to arrange. If all that effort has been wasted then he might just have to take him a business trip to New York.
LENNY, DANNO and PROCTOR. Three men with pieces of the puzzle but none with the full picture. When they do piece it all together, the 'fake' world of professional wrestling is going to get very real.
“Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is one hell of a novel, with shades of Mario Puzo, Elmore Leonard and Michael Connelly. The action is relentless, the characters are shady and the justice is swift and final. Paul O'Brien is the real deal and a rising star in the crime arena.” - Eoin Colfer, International Bestselling Author of Artemis Fowl, And Another Thing..., and Plugged
278 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2012
34 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Paul O'Brien
4 books29 followersPaul O’Brien is a writer from Wexford, Ireland. In the last fifteen years he has written sixteen plays and two screenplays.
He has been commissioned and/or produced by The Abbey, Druid, Red Kettle Theatre Company, Town Hall Theatre, Galway and Spare Key Productions in New York.
Blood Red Turns Dollar Green, his debut novel, was named as one of Spinetingler Magazine's "Best Crime Fiction of 2012." It also reached #1 Bestseller status in both the US and the UK.
He has been commissioned and/or produced by The Abbey, Druid, Red Kettle Theatre Company, Town Hall Theatre, Galway and Spare Key Productions in New York.
Blood Red Turns Dollar Green, his debut novel, was named as one of Spinetingler Magazine's "Best Crime Fiction of 2012." It also reached #1 Bestseller status in both the US and the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 22, 2022
Great for any fan of wrestling. The writing was thrilling and really enjoyed seeing all the plot threads coming together. The characters were all really well-written. I loved it.
July 19, 2012
Think the organized crime genre is played out? Think you have no interest in a story about professional wrestling? Think again, on both counts. Author Paul O’Brien’s debut, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green, is a magnificent melding of the two, breathing fresh life into an old genre and presenting the late 1960s/early 1970s world of pro wrestling in a light even those who aren’t fans of the sport will find fascinating.
Unfolding over the course of three years, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green weaves together the fates of three primary characters. Having worked himself up from circus strongman to wrestler to territory owner, Proctor King is a man who does not take no for an answer. He’s paid his dues, and King’s ready to collect on his investment. He’ll work with you if he can, but he’s more than happy to run over you if he has to.
Lenny Long is the eternal hanger-on, desperate to break into the money side of the business but stuck on the ring crew. Married with a kid, and another on the way, Lenny’s resorted to providing transportation for some of the wrestlers between gigs and selling them his wife’s homemade sandwiches. To ever be more than a lackey Lenny’s going to have to make a bold move, but doing so may put both his marriage and his life in danger.
Danno Garland inherited his territory from his father, but he has ambitions for the business far beyond anything his old man ever achieved. When he lucks into the discovery of a huge new talent, literally and figuratively, Garland’s willing to make a deal with the devil – or Proctor King as the case may be – to put on the biggest event the wrestling world has ever seen. If everything goes as planned Garland will make history, and a lot of money. If…
Peppered with a colorful cast of supporting characters, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green works on two levels. For those who are fans of a good organized crime story, the business structure of the wrestling territories and how all the owners worked, and occasionally fought, with each other is as complicated and fraught with danger as anything La Cosa Nostra ever conceived. You were just as likely to get a tire iron to the back of the head as you were your piece of the pie if the other members didn’t like how you were doing business.
There’s also the professional wrestling aspect of the story which, you must trust me, is fascinating even if you think the sport is as corny and fake as it gets. (A cop in the story finds out the hard way that calling wrestling “fake” in front of the wrong people can be hazardous to your health.) O’Brien works the history and lingo of the sport into the overall narrative beautifully, showing how those in the business run the gamut from level-headed, hard-working professionals to borderline psychopaths just looking for a legal way to inflict pain. Quite simply, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is an instantly engaging trip through the back rooms and shady deals that formed the backbone of the territorial professional wrestling circuit in its heyday.
But don’t just take my word for it. None other than legendary professional wrestler and accomplished author himself Mick Foley has given the book his seal of approval. Sure, the guy took a lot – and I do mean a lot – of chair shots to the head, but he still knows the goods when he sees it. And Paul O’Brien’s got the goods.
Unfolding over the course of three years, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green weaves together the fates of three primary characters. Having worked himself up from circus strongman to wrestler to territory owner, Proctor King is a man who does not take no for an answer. He’s paid his dues, and King’s ready to collect on his investment. He’ll work with you if he can, but he’s more than happy to run over you if he has to.
Lenny Long is the eternal hanger-on, desperate to break into the money side of the business but stuck on the ring crew. Married with a kid, and another on the way, Lenny’s resorted to providing transportation for some of the wrestlers between gigs and selling them his wife’s homemade sandwiches. To ever be more than a lackey Lenny’s going to have to make a bold move, but doing so may put both his marriage and his life in danger.
Danno Garland inherited his territory from his father, but he has ambitions for the business far beyond anything his old man ever achieved. When he lucks into the discovery of a huge new talent, literally and figuratively, Garland’s willing to make a deal with the devil – or Proctor King as the case may be – to put on the biggest event the wrestling world has ever seen. If everything goes as planned Garland will make history, and a lot of money. If…
Peppered with a colorful cast of supporting characters, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green works on two levels. For those who are fans of a good organized crime story, the business structure of the wrestling territories and how all the owners worked, and occasionally fought, with each other is as complicated and fraught with danger as anything La Cosa Nostra ever conceived. You were just as likely to get a tire iron to the back of the head as you were your piece of the pie if the other members didn’t like how you were doing business.
There’s also the professional wrestling aspect of the story which, you must trust me, is fascinating even if you think the sport is as corny and fake as it gets. (A cop in the story finds out the hard way that calling wrestling “fake” in front of the wrong people can be hazardous to your health.) O’Brien works the history and lingo of the sport into the overall narrative beautifully, showing how those in the business run the gamut from level-headed, hard-working professionals to borderline psychopaths just looking for a legal way to inflict pain. Quite simply, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is an instantly engaging trip through the back rooms and shady deals that formed the backbone of the territorial professional wrestling circuit in its heyday.
But don’t just take my word for it. None other than legendary professional wrestler and accomplished author himself Mick Foley has given the book his seal of approval. Sure, the guy took a lot – and I do mean a lot – of chair shots to the head, but he still knows the goods when he sees it. And Paul O’Brien’s got the goods.
June 30, 2014
I strongly suggest reading BLOOD RED TURNS DOLLAR GREEN Vol. 1 and 2 one after the other despite the daunting length of the task. These are crime novels, yes. But there also is an historical aspect to it, so if you want to grasp the scope of what Paul O'Brien is doing with these two novels, you have to consume the entire thing. O'Brien's breakdown of how the world of pro wrestling evolved into becoming a behemoth business was as interesting as the storyline of BLOOD RED TURNS DOLLAR GREEN, for me.
The content of the novels is good, yet a little confusing. There are several jumps in time, to a point where I kind of lost the highway a couple times. Paul O'Brien tried to keep it as user-friendly as possible and clearly identified the jumps, but the troublesome temporality still confused me. I read BLOOD RED TURNS DOLLAR GREEN for the fantastic characters, who echoed the vaudeville spirit of the business and yet,had a soul of their own. If there were half-point in this ranking system, I would've given BLOOD RED TURNS DOLLAR GREEN 3.5, but since there isn't, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, knowing this peculiar baby doesn't come from a prefabricated mold. It's a piece of pure craftsmanship.
The content of the novels is good, yet a little confusing. There are several jumps in time, to a point where I kind of lost the highway a couple times. Paul O'Brien tried to keep it as user-friendly as possible and clearly identified the jumps, but the troublesome temporality still confused me. I read BLOOD RED TURNS DOLLAR GREEN for the fantastic characters, who echoed the vaudeville spirit of the business and yet,had a soul of their own. If there were half-point in this ranking system, I would've given BLOOD RED TURNS DOLLAR GREEN 3.5, but since there isn't, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, knowing this peculiar baby doesn't come from a prefabricated mold. It's a piece of pure craftsmanship.
August 16, 2019
The world of professional wrestling, especially during the days of the territory system, is one that is full of story potential. Blood Red Makes Money Green meets that potential and tells a gripping story of shady deals, cons, and double crosses, filled with the kind of characters that could only exist in pro wrestling.
Written in a style that will please the hardcore fan while still being accessible to those who are not wrestling enthusiasts, I was grabbed from the very beginning and flew through this book. Luckily, there are two more books, because I did not want to leave these characters behind after reading the last page.
This books would easily appeal to anyone interested in crime dramas or the seedy underbelly of a business run by con men of the highest level. That wrestling enthusiasts should read it goes without saying, but it does have great appeal outside of that particular niche audience.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this trilogy. Highly recommended!
Written in a style that will please the hardcore fan while still being accessible to those who are not wrestling enthusiasts, I was grabbed from the very beginning and flew through this book. Luckily, there are two more books, because I did not want to leave these characters behind after reading the last page.
This books would easily appeal to anyone interested in crime dramas or the seedy underbelly of a business run by con men of the highest level. That wrestling enthusiasts should read it goes without saying, but it does have great appeal outside of that particular niche audience.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this trilogy. Highly recommended!
February 28, 2020
Una curiosa mezcla de historia de mafiosos al estilo Scorsese con el despiadado mundo del pro-wrestling americano de principios de los 70. Quizá su problema es que el autor está apuntando hacia la televisión (el proyecto de piloto está siendo desarrollado) y la narración de escenas marcadas por entradas con tiempo y lugar la desvirtúan un poco, pero es una novela muy entretenida y con personajes memorables. Aunque en algunos momentos sea algo irregular, voy a seguir con sus dos secuelas.
July 17, 2012
I recently met Paul O'Brien after learning about and buying this novel. Only after I read it, I learned that the book has been endorsed by Mick Foley, the bestselling-ever writer about professional wrestling. Great endorsement.
It's a hard-nosed suspenseful drama about the early 70's wrestling business. Like most thrillers, it shifts viewpoint characters, in this case mainly between promoter Danno Garland and his bumbling operative Lenny Long. Danno bears comparing to Michael Corleone in many ways, needing to rise to the level of his father's own ruthlessness if he is to succeed. Lenny is a lifelong "mark" or fan who doesn't have the size to be a wrestler, longs to be "smartened up" and is willing to sacrifice his family life and his health to get closer to the wrestling business.
O'Brien captures well the backroom, cigar-smoking atmosphere of the territory days, as well as I can judge from the numerous wrestler autobiographies I have read covering that time. His narrative is gripping, his characters well-defined. There is a certain wild-west feel that very much suits a depiction of the era. And O'Brien touches on many key themes in the story of wrestling, with his convincing imitation of the NWA, his representation of wrestlers' kayfabe (protecting industry secrets), social relationsips, drinking, health problems, relations with the fans, secret homosexuality, and genuine violence.
I was continuously interested in this good short novel. My only regret is that O'Brien did not also develop the perspective of an in-ring wrestler, with details of the work itself. As he has left a few loose ends to support an intended series, I hope this element will appear in his next wrestling novel.
In summary: Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is good if you are a wrestling fan and good if you like suspenseful drama about sports or dirty business dealings. Paul O'Brien is a writer I mean to keep reading.
It's a hard-nosed suspenseful drama about the early 70's wrestling business. Like most thrillers, it shifts viewpoint characters, in this case mainly between promoter Danno Garland and his bumbling operative Lenny Long. Danno bears comparing to Michael Corleone in many ways, needing to rise to the level of his father's own ruthlessness if he is to succeed. Lenny is a lifelong "mark" or fan who doesn't have the size to be a wrestler, longs to be "smartened up" and is willing to sacrifice his family life and his health to get closer to the wrestling business.
O'Brien captures well the backroom, cigar-smoking atmosphere of the territory days, as well as I can judge from the numerous wrestler autobiographies I have read covering that time. His narrative is gripping, his characters well-defined. There is a certain wild-west feel that very much suits a depiction of the era. And O'Brien touches on many key themes in the story of wrestling, with his convincing imitation of the NWA, his representation of wrestlers' kayfabe (protecting industry secrets), social relationsips, drinking, health problems, relations with the fans, secret homosexuality, and genuine violence.
I was continuously interested in this good short novel. My only regret is that O'Brien did not also develop the perspective of an in-ring wrestler, with details of the work itself. As he has left a few loose ends to support an intended series, I hope this element will appear in his next wrestling novel.
In summary: Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is good if you are a wrestling fan and good if you like suspenseful drama about sports or dirty business dealings. Paul O'Brien is a writer I mean to keep reading.
November 2, 2012
Paul O'Brien has developed wonderful characters in his debut novel, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green. Opening with a dazed and confused Lenny, who has no idea what caused the accident which left him holding a shoe with someone’s foot still inside, far less how he came to be carrying a passenger he really shouldn’t have been anywhere near, the novel hits the ground running from the very first paragraph.
Staggering to a payphone, Lenny makes a call that causes the wrestling world to implode and the story then goes back in time, to long before the accident takes place. From that point on, we follow the fortunes of Danno Garland and his various wrestlers and employees, of whom Lenny is one, until we eventually catch up with the accident. The final part of the novel shows the aftermath, with Danno desperately trying to save his disintegrating empire.
Set during the sixties and seventies, when professional wrestling was fixed and run by those with the muscle to keep the ill-gotten gains to themselves, Danno had frequently been promised a share of the top flight rewards, but had always been pushed out.
When he makes a deal with the devil in the form of Proctor King, his fortunes change for the better. But there is always a heavy price to pay for doing business on the sly and Danno soon finds out that the price is higher than he ever dreamed possible.
Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is more than a novel about wrestling and crime. It is a wonderful portrayal of the people – their lives, loves, businesses, losses and heartbreaks. I am not a wrestling fan, but this book held my interest all the way through.
On the negative side, the formatting lets it down and the whole is in need of proofreading to fix the incorrectly facing dialogue marks and other punctuation issues.
I see from the final page that a sequel is in the offing. I’ll look forward to finding out what Danno does next.
Staggering to a payphone, Lenny makes a call that causes the wrestling world to implode and the story then goes back in time, to long before the accident takes place. From that point on, we follow the fortunes of Danno Garland and his various wrestlers and employees, of whom Lenny is one, until we eventually catch up with the accident. The final part of the novel shows the aftermath, with Danno desperately trying to save his disintegrating empire.
Set during the sixties and seventies, when professional wrestling was fixed and run by those with the muscle to keep the ill-gotten gains to themselves, Danno had frequently been promised a share of the top flight rewards, but had always been pushed out.
When he makes a deal with the devil in the form of Proctor King, his fortunes change for the better. But there is always a heavy price to pay for doing business on the sly and Danno soon finds out that the price is higher than he ever dreamed possible.
Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is more than a novel about wrestling and crime. It is a wonderful portrayal of the people – their lives, loves, businesses, losses and heartbreaks. I am not a wrestling fan, but this book held my interest all the way through.
On the negative side, the formatting lets it down and the whole is in need of proofreading to fix the incorrectly facing dialogue marks and other punctuation issues.
I see from the final page that a sequel is in the offing. I’ll look forward to finding out what Danno does next.
April 26, 2013
I decided over the weekend to pick this book up because I had won it in the Goodreads Giveaway and it was nicely mailed to me and autographed by the author. It had been sitting on my shelf for a while and I didn't anticipate enjoying it, but I really did. It opened my eyes to a world of which I had previously been ignorant. It grabbed me from the first page, but then moved slowly for a while but when it got going, I was entranced. It opens in 1972 and it might be my imagination, but the font looked like the font that would be found on a typewriter during that time period. I would have been writing college essays at that time, so I remember that font. I did think that the F word could have been used about half as frequently as it was, and there were a lot of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, which I tend to see frequently in self published books. I think this book would be particularly compelling to someone with an interest in the world of professional wrestling. The ending was wonderful and I might even consider picking up the sequel. Thanks Paul O'Brien for sending it to me. I will be giving it to my son and I think he will love it.
May 22, 2012
An exciting book that delves into the mirky depths of professional wrestling back in the day. Through Proctor and Danno we're let 'in' on the business and through Lenny we see what devotion to the business and a desire to get in can do to a man (and his loved ones). Will Danno and Proctor be able to work together to make some serious money and will Lenny's devotion pay off? These questions spur us on through a story that keeps us guessing until the end - just like a good wrestling match! Characters like the loyal Ricky who's both violent and caring and the mute, South African monster Babu all make the world of this twisiting tale very interesting indeed. Well worth a read. I'm looking forward to the next book from Paul O' Brien.
March 13, 2013
great great book really is a page turner, didn't know what to expect but as a fan of wrestling i really enjoyed it from start to finish
have to say not since fever pitch has a book been written that both fans and non fans of a sport can read and enjoy and come away saying yes that was a great book
recommend this to everyone
have to say not since fever pitch has a book been written that both fans and non fans of a sport can read and enjoy and come away saying yes that was a great book
recommend this to everyone
February 3, 2020
Very disappointed in that I wanted much more wrestling, even though I also love organized crime stories. Most characters were very generic and not much of the plot was memorable. I did enjoy the use of works vs shoots, and how we were always in the dark, although sometimes it was too much. I may continue on to the next one to see where it goes, but overall not a book I would recommend to many.
August 6, 2019
Phenomenal.. a gritty crime drama set in the world of 1970s Territory wrestling. An absolute must for any wrestling fans, and a great read for even those who don't know a thing about the business. Can't wait to continue the trilogy!!!
July 20, 2020
It really is The Godfather with suplexes! I can see why JR sought out Paul O'Brien to help with his autobiography. The man obviously knows the business of pro wrestling. He weaves an intriguing tale with multiple characters. Just about the time, I thought I knew where the plot was going . . . swerve! If you like pro wrestling. If you like old school territory wrestling, this is the book for you. The highest compliment I can give is that my wife (not much into wrestling) is reading the book and enjoying it. Good stuff, Maynard!
March 17, 2022
A little lacking in details and reads more like a screenplay, However it's still a must for fans of wrestling, A decent page turner with great insight into the dark waters of the world of pro wrestling. I've seen it described as "The Godfather with Suplexes" and I wouldn't go that far, But it's a fair book that doesn't take long to read, trust me you'll finish the whole thing in like a day or two.
January 31, 2018
Incredible novel (part of a trilogy) about professional wrestling taking place in the late sixties and early seventies. Smell the locker room, see the underhanded dealings, here the roar of the crowd. This is a cult classic and the real deal.
March 31, 2021
Outstanding
Great read, fast paced throwback to the days of back room deals and mental manipulations, it’s like The Sopranos donned the tights and entered the squared circle, can’t wait to read the next chapter
Great read, fast paced throwback to the days of back room deals and mental manipulations, it’s like The Sopranos donned the tights and entered the squared circle, can’t wait to read the next chapter
September 5, 2022
Excellent crime saga, based around a somewhat exaggerated version of the cut-throat politics of 1970s wrestling territories. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/201...
February 4, 2020
Not a bad story but not my cup of tea.
February 1, 2022
Definitely more about the crime and the organisation than the wrestling but the mix of it being something I spent a decade apart of is what makes the story for me. Great work.
October 12, 2024
To truly appreciate this book, I believe the reader has to have a desire to find out about the history of wrestling. Clearly, there are behind the scenes deal to be made that make the world of professional wrestling entertaining. Having said that, I found the writing style confusing, erratic and incomplete in attempts to convey important scenes. The characters were lackluster leaving the reader indifferent as to their role in the story. Overall, I was very disappointed.
March 19, 2017
This was an awesome book. Crime noir fiction set i the world of pro-wrestling. I tink someone wrote this just for me....
February 18, 2017
Amazing book and a true page turner from start to finish. If you are at all interested in professional wrestling and fictional novels give this book a read. And even if you aren't a wrestling fan, still pick this up. Lots of twists and turns in the plot and excellent writing. Can't wait to start on the 2nd book in the series, "A Shoot"!
December 20, 2016
I found this book kind of hard to follow, and it didn't help that I didn't like any of the characters. It wasn't unclear in what was happening in the moment, but I never really understood what the protagonist (if any character can even be called such) was trying to do, what his plan was.
And it wasn't even clear who the protagonist was. I think it's meant to be Danno, but we get way too many scenes from Lenny's perspective, even though he does little and knows less. And seriously, fuck Lenny, he's the worst. Just a complete dumb shit who reeks of desperation, a guy so pathetic that he wishes the bullies would pick on him, because then at least they'd be acknowledging his existence.
And Danno's not much better. It would help if we could understand his goals, but the book tries to keep you guessing, only by the time you hear the answer it just makes you wonder "well, did it work? I couldn't tell."
There were a couple of minor characters I didn't mind, but otherwise it's just a bunch of unpleasant people subjecting themselves to unpleasant things in order to make some nebulous profit. There's a lot of talk of money but it's never clear who's getting it or how much.
There are also a number of events that presumably fit into the narrative in some way behind the scenes but I couldn't see the connection. In at least one case it was an obvious sequel hook, but other times I feel like I was supposed to realise what was going on but I didn't.
I didn't absolutely hate this book, but it felt unfinished, like it needs a lot of rewriting and editing to make the story clearer and give it a tighter focus. And probably just cut Lenny from it entirely, because he's terrible and pointless.
And it wasn't even clear who the protagonist was. I think it's meant to be Danno, but we get way too many scenes from Lenny's perspective, even though he does little and knows less. And seriously, fuck Lenny, he's the worst. Just a complete dumb shit who reeks of desperation, a guy so pathetic that he wishes the bullies would pick on him, because then at least they'd be acknowledging his existence.
And Danno's not much better. It would help if we could understand his goals, but the book tries to keep you guessing, only by the time you hear the answer it just makes you wonder "well, did it work? I couldn't tell."
There were a couple of minor characters I didn't mind, but otherwise it's just a bunch of unpleasant people subjecting themselves to unpleasant things in order to make some nebulous profit. There's a lot of talk of money but it's never clear who's getting it or how much.
There are also a number of events that presumably fit into the narrative in some way behind the scenes but I couldn't see the connection. In at least one case it was an obvious sequel hook, but other times I feel like I was supposed to realise what was going on but I didn't.
I didn't absolutely hate this book, but it felt unfinished, like it needs a lot of rewriting and editing to make the story clearer and give it a tighter focus. And probably just cut Lenny from it entirely, because he's terrible and pointless.
August 15, 2014
I can't seem to recall how long has it been since I read a non-fantasy/science fiction ; but however long it might be I don't recall enjoying the book this much.
There is no convoluted premise, things are pretty straight up with this book; you are about to delve into the mafia that is the world of pro wrestling (of course all characters and situation are fiction).
The characters are what you would expect of any good mafia film; individuals that are fully alive; are conflicted by the morals of the world around them or have simply made their peace with a world that is out to get them. There is change in the characters but not growth; the period over which this book takes place I don't believe allows for big changes in most of the characters not to mention most of them seem to have already decided what is best for their lives as far as their personality goes.
That said this book can be a bit confusing due to the way it is written and how much it trusts its user with being a smart enough person to keep track of a lot of happenings; another thing I didn't completely like was this one liners turn cliffhangers.
All in all the book is excellent and I would definitely recommend taking time to read it and enjoy every characters uniqueness and quirks; they may not be lobveable but some are relatable (hopefully not in the same scale) and they even manage to make you feel a part of the storytelling.
There is no convoluted premise, things are pretty straight up with this book; you are about to delve into the mafia that is the world of pro wrestling (of course all characters and situation are fiction).
The characters are what you would expect of any good mafia film; individuals that are fully alive; are conflicted by the morals of the world around them or have simply made their peace with a world that is out to get them. There is change in the characters but not growth; the period over which this book takes place I don't believe allows for big changes in most of the characters not to mention most of them seem to have already decided what is best for their lives as far as their personality goes.
That said this book can be a bit confusing due to the way it is written and how much it trusts its user with being a smart enough person to keep track of a lot of happenings; another thing I didn't completely like was this one liners turn cliffhangers.
All in all the book is excellent and I would definitely recommend taking time to read it and enjoy every characters uniqueness and quirks; they may not be lobveable but some are relatable (hopefully not in the same scale) and they even manage to make you feel a part of the storytelling.
December 25, 2012
This was a lot of fun, reading a very good fiction about the unknown backroom stories of pro wrestling. As an insider to the business I found a lot of details that made this a very interesting book to read, but I found myself drawn in by the characters and the stories and that is something anyone who love reading good book will like no matter the subject. The subject is also presented as the business that it was amd that's also interesting for someon who comes in with little or prior knowledge to the business. Can't wait for part 2.
November 30, 2012
I'm no sports fan so it was a little strange to be reading a book based around the management and stars of American wrestling in the 70's. Two rival Managers make a pact which will bring each of them fame and fortune over the coming years but they fall out and the increasingly bloody war between them comes to a head at a final grudge match. I well written book with plenty of action and a twisting plot keeps you on you toes.
April 20, 2016
As a pro wrestling fan, I had to read this book. Paul O'Brien has an obvious sense of professional wrestling and the era of wrestling in territories. However, he also mixes in a mob-like mentality and creates a very suspenseful atmosphere in the book. Even for someone who isn't a wrestling fan, I would recommend this book. You can easily follow what is happening and get very involved in this book!
February 10, 2016
First novel from an Observer subscriber which details a plot in 1970s territorial wrestling for the New York office to maintain their hold on the NWA title while promising it to Florida. A good read but jumps through time a lot and would probably be a below average thriller if it weren't for the interesting a well-realised setting.
August 22, 2015
Good book however I think it was rushed ... It was a little over 200 pages long but could have easily been 400-500 pages. Months go by in the book with little to no explanation of what happened in that time.
More could have been made of Lenny's home life and how it was affected or maybe a character which is seen from the wrestlers POV.
Easy read and entertaining.
More could have been made of Lenny's home life and how it was affected or maybe a character which is seen from the wrestlers POV.
Easy read and entertaining.
January 4, 2015
A fun read, especially for a wrestling fan (which I am). The territories were the lifeblood of the business for many years, and this showed the seedier side (really, isn't that all sides of wrestling?). The only qualm I had was the writing of Lenny's relationship with his wife. Seemed somewhat one dimensional, but a recommend regardless.
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