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Shamrock Alley
When Secret Service agent John Mavio infiltrates a ring of organized crime leaders involved in an elaborate counterfeit money operation, including two violent Irish criminals from Hell’s Kitchen, he risks his life to stop what may be the most sinister operation in the country’s history. Every step of drugs, booze, and blood brings him closer to his own demise in a gory, dangerous undercover world far removed from his own personal reality, which includes his pregnant wife and terminally ill father. But when these two worlds meet, Mavio must implement every skill he has learned to save himself, his family, and the people of New York City.
400 pages, ebook
First published September 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Malfi
76 books3,843 followersRonald Malfi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of many novels and novellas in the horror, mystery, and thriller genres. In 2011, his novel, Floating Staircase, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for best novel by the Horror Writers Association, and also won a gold IPPY award. In 2024, he was presented with the prestigious William G. Wilson Award for Adult Fiction by the Maryland Library Association. Perhaps his most well-received novel, Come with Me (2021), about a man who learns a dark secret about his wife after she's killed, has received stellar reviews, including a starred review from BookPage, and Publishers Weekly has said, "Malfi impresses in this taut, supernaturally tinged mystery... and sticks the landing with a powerful denouement. There’s plenty here to enjoy."
His most recent novels include Senseless (2025) and Small Town Horror (2024), both of which received favorable reviews and saw Malfi stretch his authorial voice.
Come with Me (2021) and Black Mouth (2022), tackle themes of grief and loss, and of the effects of childhood trauma and alcoholism, respectively. Both books have been critically praised, with Publishers Weekly calling Black Mouth a "standout" book of the year. These novels were followed by Ghostwritten (2022), a collection of four subtly-linked novellas about haunted books and the power of the written word. Ghostwritten received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called the book a "wonderfully meta collection...vibrantly imagined," and that "Malfi makes reading about the perils of reading a terrifying delight."
Among his most popular works is December Park, a coming-of-age thriller set in the '90s, wherein five teenage boys take up the hunt for a child murderer in their hometown of Harting Farms, Maryland. In interviews, Malfi has expressed that this is his most autobiographical book to date. In 2015, this novel was awarded the Beverly Hills International Book Award for best suspense novel. It has been optioned several times for film.
Bone White (2017), about a man searching for his lost twin brother in a haunted Alaskan mining town, was touted as "an elegant, twisted, gripping slow-burn of a novel that burrows under the skin and nestles deep," by RT Book Reviews, and has also been optioned for television by Fox21/Disney and Amazon Studios.
His novels Little Girls (2015) and The Night Parade (2016) explore broken families forced to endure horrific and extraordinary circumstances, which has become the hallmark for Malfi's brand of intimate, lyrical horror fiction.
His earlier works, such as Via Dolorosa (2007) and Passenger (2008) explored characters with lost or confused identities, wherein Malfi experimented with the ultimate unreliable narrators. He maintained this trend in his award-winning novel, Floating Staircase (2011), which the author has suggested contains "multiple endings for the astute reader."
His more "monstery" novels, such as Snow (2010) and The Narrows (2012) still resonate with his inimitable brand of literary cadence and focus on character and story over plot. Both books were highly regarded by fans and reviewers in the genre.
A bit of a departure, Malfi published the crime drama Shamrock Alley in 2009, based on the true exploits of his own father, a former Secret Service agent. The book was optioned several times for film.
Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he currently resides along the Chesapeake Bay.
When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock band VEER, who can be found at veerband.net and wherever you stream your music.
Visit
His most recent novels include Senseless (2025) and Small Town Horror (2024), both of which received favorable reviews and saw Malfi stretch his authorial voice.
Come with Me (2021) and Black Mouth (2022), tackle themes of grief and loss, and of the effects of childhood trauma and alcoholism, respectively. Both books have been critically praised, with Publishers Weekly calling Black Mouth a "standout" book of the year. These novels were followed by Ghostwritten (2022), a collection of four subtly-linked novellas about haunted books and the power of the written word. Ghostwritten received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called the book a "wonderfully meta collection...vibrantly imagined," and that "Malfi makes reading about the perils of reading a terrifying delight."
Among his most popular works is December Park, a coming-of-age thriller set in the '90s, wherein five teenage boys take up the hunt for a child murderer in their hometown of Harting Farms, Maryland. In interviews, Malfi has expressed that this is his most autobiographical book to date. In 2015, this novel was awarded the Beverly Hills International Book Award for best suspense novel. It has been optioned several times for film.
Bone White (2017), about a man searching for his lost twin brother in a haunted Alaskan mining town, was touted as "an elegant, twisted, gripping slow-burn of a novel that burrows under the skin and nestles deep," by RT Book Reviews, and has also been optioned for television by Fox21/Disney and Amazon Studios.
His novels Little Girls (2015) and The Night Parade (2016) explore broken families forced to endure horrific and extraordinary circumstances, which has become the hallmark for Malfi's brand of intimate, lyrical horror fiction.
His earlier works, such as Via Dolorosa (2007) and Passenger (2008) explored characters with lost or confused identities, wherein Malfi experimented with the ultimate unreliable narrators. He maintained this trend in his award-winning novel, Floating Staircase (2011), which the author has suggested contains "multiple endings for the astute reader."
His more "monstery" novels, such as Snow (2010) and The Narrows (2012) still resonate with his inimitable brand of literary cadence and focus on character and story over plot. Both books were highly regarded by fans and reviewers in the genre.
A bit of a departure, Malfi published the crime drama Shamrock Alley in 2009, based on the true exploits of his own father, a former Secret Service agent. The book was optioned several times for film.
Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he currently resides along the Chesapeake Bay.
When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock band VEER, who can be found at veerband.net and wherever you stream your music.
Visit
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 26, 2011
I've never read anything BUT Malfi's thriller/horror fiction before. I enjoy it immensely, and I can't recommend it enough to people. So, when I heard of Shamrock Alley last year, his foray into crime, I was intrigued. Based on his own father's experiences working undercover, Malfi completely blew me out of the water with this one.
Not only is a fantastic book, but quite frankly, it is in my top 5 out of all the books I read this year, without a doubt. Hell, it's in my top 2.
Seriously, this was a GREAT read, and I really can't recommend it enough to you.
Not only is a fantastic book, but quite frankly, it is in my top 5 out of all the books I read this year, without a doubt. Hell, it's in my top 2.
Seriously, this was a GREAT read, and I really can't recommend it enough to you.
November 15, 2020
Graue Nebel
In New York versuchen die Cops, dem Verbrechen Herr zu werden. Eine Aufgabe, die unmöglich zu lösen ist. Als jedoch das Gerücht umgeht, die Gangster Mickey O’Shay und Jimmy Kahn planten eine große Sache, versuchen die Polizisten einen Agenten bei den Verbrechern einzuschleusen. John Mavio übernimmt die Aufgabe, obwohl er eigentlich besser bei seiner schwangeren Frau und seinem schwerkranken Vater bliebe. Doch das Verbrechen nimmt auf private Belange keine Rücksicht und John schleust sich in die Kreise der Gangster ein. Dabei kommt ihm zu pass, dass er in der Gegend aufgewachsen ist.
John Mavio und sein Kollege Bill Kersh versuchen, die Verbrecher dingfest zu machen. Das erweist sich als schwieriger als gedacht, denn die Ganoven sind wirklich eiskalt und abgebrüht. Sie denken nur an ihren Vorteil und sie schrecken vor nichts zurück. Ihnen mangelt es an Empathie und Respekt. Will John weitere Verbrechen verhindern, muss er sich O’Shay und Kahn annähern und auch in Teilen auf ihre Ebene begeben. Eine Gratwanderung, um die ihn niemand beneidet. Doch kann John dabei übers Ziel hinausschießen? Er merkt, dass er sich von seiner Familie entfernt und er sehnt das Ende des Einsatzes herbei.
Dieser düstere Thriller zeichnet ein Bild von New York, dass dem üblichen Touristen wohl eher unbekannt bleibt. Dunkle Gassen, schmierige Spelunken, brutale Verbrecher, grausame Taten - keine ganz leichte Lektüre, wobei man sich einige Szenen wirklich nicht bildhaft vorstellen möchte. Gut hervorgebracht wird John Mavios innere Zerrissenheit, die im Verlauf seines Undercovereinsatzes immer deutlicher zutage tritt. Sein beruflicher Einsatz scheint immer wichtiger, aber auch gefährlicher zu werden. Auch wenn die Entwicklung der Handlung besonders zu Beginn etwas langsam wirkt und man bei der Lektüre der ungeschminkten Beschreibungen manchmal schlucken muss, ist hat man doch einen spannenden Thriller über die dunkle Seite New Yorks.
3,5 Sterne
In New York versuchen die Cops, dem Verbrechen Herr zu werden. Eine Aufgabe, die unmöglich zu lösen ist. Als jedoch das Gerücht umgeht, die Gangster Mickey O’Shay und Jimmy Kahn planten eine große Sache, versuchen die Polizisten einen Agenten bei den Verbrechern einzuschleusen. John Mavio übernimmt die Aufgabe, obwohl er eigentlich besser bei seiner schwangeren Frau und seinem schwerkranken Vater bliebe. Doch das Verbrechen nimmt auf private Belange keine Rücksicht und John schleust sich in die Kreise der Gangster ein. Dabei kommt ihm zu pass, dass er in der Gegend aufgewachsen ist.
John Mavio und sein Kollege Bill Kersh versuchen, die Verbrecher dingfest zu machen. Das erweist sich als schwieriger als gedacht, denn die Ganoven sind wirklich eiskalt und abgebrüht. Sie denken nur an ihren Vorteil und sie schrecken vor nichts zurück. Ihnen mangelt es an Empathie und Respekt. Will John weitere Verbrechen verhindern, muss er sich O’Shay und Kahn annähern und auch in Teilen auf ihre Ebene begeben. Eine Gratwanderung, um die ihn niemand beneidet. Doch kann John dabei übers Ziel hinausschießen? Er merkt, dass er sich von seiner Familie entfernt und er sehnt das Ende des Einsatzes herbei.
Dieser düstere Thriller zeichnet ein Bild von New York, dass dem üblichen Touristen wohl eher unbekannt bleibt. Dunkle Gassen, schmierige Spelunken, brutale Verbrecher, grausame Taten - keine ganz leichte Lektüre, wobei man sich einige Szenen wirklich nicht bildhaft vorstellen möchte. Gut hervorgebracht wird John Mavios innere Zerrissenheit, die im Verlauf seines Undercovereinsatzes immer deutlicher zutage tritt. Sein beruflicher Einsatz scheint immer wichtiger, aber auch gefährlicher zu werden. Auch wenn die Entwicklung der Handlung besonders zu Beginn etwas langsam wirkt und man bei der Lektüre der ungeschminkten Beschreibungen manchmal schlucken muss, ist hat man doch einen spannenden Thriller über die dunkle Seite New Yorks.
3,5 Sterne
September 18, 2009
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)
Regular readers will of course already be familiar with alt-horror author Ron Malfi; after all, I've reviewed two of his novels here in the past, 2007's atmospheric Via Dolorosa and 2008's even more atmospheric Passenger, two books that share with each other a quiet, unhurried sense of dread, and which owe as much to Southern Gothic as they do David Lynch. But it turns out that Malfi has gone in a whole different direction for his latest, Shamrock Alley, deciding to write a fictionalized account of what turns out to be a true story, concerning his real-life father's undercover bust of a notorious Irish gang in New York, back when he worked for the Secret Service; and that ends up making the book a straight-ahead crime tale, which then makes it problematic for me to review, in that I don't particularly care for crime fiction and thus only read one or two books a year in the genre, making it difficult for me to judge the difference between an only so-so crime book and a better-than-average one.
So instead today I'm giving the book a thoroughly middle-of-the-road score; because on the one hand, it at least seems to contain all the tropes I assume a typical crime fan is looking for in this genre -- the scrappy detective, the almost nonexistent loving wife, the world-weary partner, the crabby by-the-book boss, the utterly psychotic gangster villains, the single-mother hooker informant with a heart of gold -- but on the other hand, I at least didn't see anything in this manuscript to elevate it above the typical genre thriller, the kind of utterly stereotypical book that makes up the vast majority of titles published in any given genre, no matter what that genre is. And as I've said many times before, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but does mean that it's destined to be enjoyed only by existing fans of crime fiction, and enjoyed only in a comfort-food kind of way. That doesn't make the book terrible, but neither does it make it great, which is why Shamrock Alley is getting the score it is today.
Out of 10: 7.5
Regular readers will of course already be familiar with alt-horror author Ron Malfi; after all, I've reviewed two of his novels here in the past, 2007's atmospheric Via Dolorosa and 2008's even more atmospheric Passenger, two books that share with each other a quiet, unhurried sense of dread, and which owe as much to Southern Gothic as they do David Lynch. But it turns out that Malfi has gone in a whole different direction for his latest, Shamrock Alley, deciding to write a fictionalized account of what turns out to be a true story, concerning his real-life father's undercover bust of a notorious Irish gang in New York, back when he worked for the Secret Service; and that ends up making the book a straight-ahead crime tale, which then makes it problematic for me to review, in that I don't particularly care for crime fiction and thus only read one or two books a year in the genre, making it difficult for me to judge the difference between an only so-so crime book and a better-than-average one.
So instead today I'm giving the book a thoroughly middle-of-the-road score; because on the one hand, it at least seems to contain all the tropes I assume a typical crime fan is looking for in this genre -- the scrappy detective, the almost nonexistent loving wife, the world-weary partner, the crabby by-the-book boss, the utterly psychotic gangster villains, the single-mother hooker informant with a heart of gold -- but on the other hand, I at least didn't see anything in this manuscript to elevate it above the typical genre thriller, the kind of utterly stereotypical book that makes up the vast majority of titles published in any given genre, no matter what that genre is. And as I've said many times before, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but does mean that it's destined to be enjoyed only by existing fans of crime fiction, and enjoyed only in a comfort-food kind of way. That doesn't make the book terrible, but neither does it make it great, which is why Shamrock Alley is getting the score it is today.
Out of 10: 7.5
May 4, 2012
Shamrock Alley is a thriller written by Ronald Malfi based on the real life story of his father, who was a Secret Service agent, represented in this novel as John Mavio, who brought down some nasty gangsters in Hell’s Kitchen. Mavio and his partner Bill Kirsch are investigating a counterfeit money ring which leads them to Mickey O’Shay and Jimmy Kahn, two brutal young gangsters who employ violence as currency. O’Shay and Khan rule Hell’s Kitchen with intimidation. Khan is an intelligent businessman, while O’Shay is an absolute nut. Together they make a formidable team that Mavio is determined to bring down, regardless of the cost.
To say that Shamrock Alley is well written and entertaining hardly tells the story. Malfi’s tightly written prose and well constructed plot become obvious right from the beginning. But what stands out most is the way the characters come off the page and become alive. Perhaps it was because Malfi was so close to the subject matter, but Malfi has created one of the grittiest and most realistic pieces of fiction I have ever read. The dialogue, the emotion, the intensity, the action come together seamlessly. If Shamrock Alley was a movie, and I think it should be, it would be the type of movie that makes you stay on the edge of your seat.
As the novel progresses, John Mavio starts to spiral into an abyss. His desire to take down Khan and O’Shay become an obsession. He dives deeply into the underworld to get close to O’Shay. You can almost feel his sanity begin to unravel. The danger becomes very real as the gangsters invade his apartment and he has to get his pregnant wife out of imminent danger. The climax is both dramatically intense and satisfying. Simply put, Shamrock Alley is one of the best crime thrillers I have ever read, and I have read many.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
To say that Shamrock Alley is well written and entertaining hardly tells the story. Malfi’s tightly written prose and well constructed plot become obvious right from the beginning. But what stands out most is the way the characters come off the page and become alive. Perhaps it was because Malfi was so close to the subject matter, but Malfi has created one of the grittiest and most realistic pieces of fiction I have ever read. The dialogue, the emotion, the intensity, the action come together seamlessly. If Shamrock Alley was a movie, and I think it should be, it would be the type of movie that makes you stay on the edge of your seat.
As the novel progresses, John Mavio starts to spiral into an abyss. His desire to take down Khan and O’Shay become an obsession. He dives deeply into the underworld to get close to O’Shay. You can almost feel his sanity begin to unravel. The danger becomes very real as the gangsters invade his apartment and he has to get his pregnant wife out of imminent danger. The climax is both dramatically intense and satisfying. Simply put, Shamrock Alley is one of the best crime thrillers I have ever read, and I have read many.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
August 24, 2024
I definitely wasn't expecting this from Malfi. When Ronald writes a book, I don't read the synopsis, I just buy the book and read it. It was good. I liked the gore. I thought the book dragged at times and could've been shorter.
December 5, 2018
This is a perfectly good undercover cop/organized crime thriller, of the kind that I read several of per year, and I very much enjoy all of them. What distinguishes it, and gets it a full extra star, is its villain, Mickey O'Shay, easily one of the most terrifying antagonists I've encountered in fiction in a long while. He inspires hatred and fear in you, to be sure, but above all, he inspires *discomfort*, like he's sitting right there with you and you're waiting for him to make a move, not daring to look away.
November 9, 2023
Violent, gritty, and based on a true story. It paces like a Peter Straub novel where it creeps along and hooks you with a cast of characters that deliver. From the stodgy older typical detective type with Kersh, to the unpredictable Irish criminal Mickey, this does not disappoint. The climax is shot from a cannon to leave you with and ending that you should strive to find out. 5 solid stars
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December 27, 2009Author kept the pace quick with no pause; there wasn't really any depth to the story, good vs bad, and it becomes one man's personal goal to delete the bad. The author does an above average job of keeping the reader aware of the level of danger
the main character is constantly surrounded by. This is one of the most "all-around" entertaining quick-paced books i've read this year.
the main character is constantly surrounded by. This is one of the most "all-around" entertaining quick-paced books i've read this year.
August 28, 2016
This ebook was free when I downloaded it to my Nook library. I enjoy a good suspense story.
This is based on a true story about the author's father, a Secret Service agent who went undercover to track a counterfeiting ring.
The reason I gave it only 3 stars is the graphic description of the violence done by the criminals. I considered it too violent to be entertaining.
This is based on a true story about the author's father, a Secret Service agent who went undercover to track a counterfeiting ring.
The reason I gave it only 3 stars is the graphic description of the violence done by the criminals. I considered it too violent to be entertaining.
November 17, 2009
Based on a true story, a Secret Service undercover operation against 2 lowlife hoods turned major counterfit bill suppliers as an accidental result of another crime. Not allthat suspenseful, but a good crime story.
November 8, 2011
EPIC EPIC EPIC EEEPPPIIICCC!!! This book wass phenomenal from beginning to end.Plus the characters.....Jimmy and Mickey? Epicness at its very core.John Mavio? Also in its own epicness,This book was an EPIC read so I'm gonna re-read it again. :)
Want to read
June 21, 2012[free nook book]
July 19, 2012
Gritty! Tough to put down.
October 30, 2013
A bit long in the end, no real surprises. Things jump a bit. Fine for a read but nothing life changing
December 29, 2009
Great story.Pretty graphic,but was still a very gripping read.
February 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews