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The Starlight Club #4
Marilyn
The Starlight Club is jumping . . .
All Big Red Fortunato wants to do . . . is clear his name and get his movie studio running in the black, but lately problems appear whenever he tries to leave Queens.
Was it destiny that caused the world's most beautiful actress to be shoved into the protective arms of the most powerful mobster in Queens, NY at the exact moment that assassins tried to kill her? Red wonders who wants her dead, and why?
This was a war Big Red never wanted, but he's not immune to the charms of the beautiful actress. Red never wore his heart on his sleeve but the more he gets to know Marilyn Monroe the more he finds himself drawn to her. But sinister forces are at work and, as he tries to protect the beautiful movie queen; he is unwittingly drawn into a web of deceit that reaches into the highest levels of government.
Red tells Marilyn . . . "From now on wherever you go Trenchie goes with you. And if he's with you, you'll stay alive."
Red is proud of his three fighters. Henri was just crowned the Welterweight Champ. Swifty is scheduled to fight for the Middleweight Championship of the world - but Red's heavyweight fighter Gonzo has a problem. His opponent has just lapsed into a coma from a powerhouse right hand to his head … and he may not live.
Joey Bones shook his head. "What do we do now? Here we are holed up with the most popular female star in the world and if the authorities find that we have her, they'll think we kidnapped her."
Richard Nixon is scheduled to speak at the Republican Convention in Madison Square garden, where assassins plan to kill him. Red must protect Nixon and his family. The question is - why is Nixon being targeted? Red wonders. Is there a connection between Marilyn and Nixon?
In Madison Square Garden Red asks Frankie Carbo. "Frankie if you wanted to kill Nixon, where would you place your shooter." "That's easy." He said pointing to the highest point in the Garden. "I'd put him up there in the eagle's
nest."
She whispered to him softly, “I only have one good friend and that’s … Joe.” Her hand lingered over his scars and his hand remained over hers. Her face was close to his, almost brushing it. He turned to say something, but their lips touched and he kissed her tenderly. The kiss lingered longer than either of them expected. He didn’t want the kiss to end, but he broke away.
Marilyn promised Frank Sinatra that she'd be at the grand opening of his Cal Neva Lodge. Red wants to go with her for protection, but problems with a Neo Nazi group has surfaced so instead he sends Joey Bones to protect her.
"Make sure nothing happens to her Joey. Because if something does, I'm holding you responsible."
A Nazi youth group desecrates a Jewish Temple in Queens and the Rabbi is threatened. Red must deal with the problem.
Red made sure that Frankie the Horse's wife received a check every week he was in prison. But now he’s out and he wants more money. What does he have that can hurt Red?.
It was hard for Piss Clam to do, but he completed the job. Now Red asks him to follow him into the cellar, but Piss Clam is worried about who might be down there waiting for him.
The re-grand opening of the Starlight Club is an extravaganza that regulars would never miss. A surprise guest entertainer always provides the entertainment. This night Red's guests are in for a very special treat.
All Big Red Fortunato wants to do . . . is clear his name and get his movie studio running in the black, but lately problems appear whenever he tries to leave Queens.
Was it destiny that caused the world's most beautiful actress to be shoved into the protective arms of the most powerful mobster in Queens, NY at the exact moment that assassins tried to kill her? Red wonders who wants her dead, and why?
This was a war Big Red never wanted, but he's not immune to the charms of the beautiful actress. Red never wore his heart on his sleeve but the more he gets to know Marilyn Monroe the more he finds himself drawn to her. But sinister forces are at work and, as he tries to protect the beautiful movie queen; he is unwittingly drawn into a web of deceit that reaches into the highest levels of government.
Red tells Marilyn . . . "From now on wherever you go Trenchie goes with you. And if he's with you, you'll stay alive."
Red is proud of his three fighters. Henri was just crowned the Welterweight Champ. Swifty is scheduled to fight for the Middleweight Championship of the world - but Red's heavyweight fighter Gonzo has a problem. His opponent has just lapsed into a coma from a powerhouse right hand to his head … and he may not live.
Joey Bones shook his head. "What do we do now? Here we are holed up with the most popular female star in the world and if the authorities find that we have her, they'll think we kidnapped her."
Richard Nixon is scheduled to speak at the Republican Convention in Madison Square garden, where assassins plan to kill him. Red must protect Nixon and his family. The question is - why is Nixon being targeted? Red wonders. Is there a connection between Marilyn and Nixon?
In Madison Square Garden Red asks Frankie Carbo. "Frankie if you wanted to kill Nixon, where would you place your shooter." "That's easy." He said pointing to the highest point in the Garden. "I'd put him up there in the eagle's
nest."
She whispered to him softly, “I only have one good friend and that’s … Joe.” Her hand lingered over his scars and his hand remained over hers. Her face was close to his, almost brushing it. He turned to say something, but their lips touched and he kissed her tenderly. The kiss lingered longer than either of them expected. He didn’t want the kiss to end, but he broke away.
Marilyn promised Frank Sinatra that she'd be at the grand opening of his Cal Neva Lodge. Red wants to go with her for protection, but problems with a Neo Nazi group has surfaced so instead he sends Joey Bones to protect her.
"Make sure nothing happens to her Joey. Because if something does, I'm holding you responsible."
A Nazi youth group desecrates a Jewish Temple in Queens and the Rabbi is threatened. Red must deal with the problem.
Red made sure that Frankie the Horse's wife received a check every week he was in prison. But now he’s out and he wants more money. What does he have that can hurt Red?.
It was hard for Piss Clam to do, but he completed the job. Now Red asks him to follow him into the cellar, but Piss Clam is worried about who might be down there waiting for him.
The re-grand opening of the Starlight Club is an extravaganza that regulars would never miss. A surprise guest entertainer always provides the entertainment. This night Red's guests are in for a very special treat.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2013
25 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Joe Corso
125 books41 followersKoren Veteran, FDNY Retired, I grew up in Queens,New York and my motivation to write came from my wish to help my grandchildren pay for their college education. So far I've completed 16 books and 9 short stories including my popular 'ENGINE 24 FIRE STORIES' trilogy and I've just finished the 5th installment in the 'TIME PORTAL' series as well as LAFITTE'S TREASURE which is presently being edited.
THE STARLIGHT CLUB 5: The Nazi has been published. I'm in the process of writing a sequel to my award winning western 'THE ADVENTURES OF THE LONE JACK KID', titled 'THE RETURN OF THE LONE JACK KID'.
THE STARLIGHT CLUB 5: The Nazi has been published. I'm in the process of writing a sequel to my award winning western 'THE ADVENTURES OF THE LONE JACK KID', titled 'THE RETURN OF THE LONE JACK KID'.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 26, 2013
This book like my other books in the Starlight Club series takes place in Queens, NY during the early 1960's. I was well into this book when my daughter made a suggestion which caused me to rewrite the book. In my original approach to the story, I created a fictitious President and she questioned it. "Why include a person who didn't exist when there were such colorful people who lived during the 1960's like Elvis, the Kennedy's and Marilyn Monroe." When she mentioned Marilyn everything stopped for me. It was as if a light was switched on. I loved the idea of Marilyn strutting like a queen through the pages of my book. I thought of how I could I write a mob story and somehow weave the beautiful movie star into the story without tarnishing her image.
I researched her life during the Kennedy era and I discovered that she had become a threat to the Presidency. The Kennedy brothers each had affairs with her and they talked freely in front of her about sensitive national security issues. When Jack dumped her and wouldn't take her many phone calls, sometimes as many as 35 a day, she became depressed and despondent and she felt that they had used her. They had hurt her and to get back at them she naively threatened to destroy the presidency and go public with what she knew - and she knew a lot, and it was all in her diary. This knowledge frightened the brothers. So, armed with this information I created a short window in time and devised a situation where Marilyn fell under the protection of the powerful mobster from Queens, Big Red Fortunato.
My editor glibly informed me that there are conspiracy theorists that will applaud this story and then there are the Marilyn devotees that will be incensed at my including her in this story. No matter which side you're on, I hope you enjoy the book and if you have any question I'll be happy to answer them.
I researched her life during the Kennedy era and I discovered that she had become a threat to the Presidency. The Kennedy brothers each had affairs with her and they talked freely in front of her about sensitive national security issues. When Jack dumped her and wouldn't take her many phone calls, sometimes as many as 35 a day, she became depressed and despondent and she felt that they had used her. They had hurt her and to get back at them she naively threatened to destroy the presidency and go public with what she knew - and she knew a lot, and it was all in her diary. This knowledge frightened the brothers. So, armed with this information I created a short window in time and devised a situation where Marilyn fell under the protection of the powerful mobster from Queens, Big Red Fortunato.
My editor glibly informed me that there are conspiracy theorists that will applaud this story and then there are the Marilyn devotees that will be incensed at my including her in this story. No matter which side you're on, I hope you enjoy the book and if you have any question I'll be happy to answer them.
June 27, 2013
The beautiful and the dangerous.
It’s Thanksgiving, a great time for family and yet again we are transported back in time to 1962 by Bobby Valentine as he relaxes after dinner and settles down to tell his daughter Lynn a bit more about what life was like way back then.
Despite popular belief, Red Fortunato is not dead, he has survived, and what’s more, he’s determined to rebuild The Starlight Club and have Frank Sinatra perform there on opening night.
He’s a man used to giving orders and being in control, however, even he is surprises when he attends a business meeting and finds himself with Marilyn Munro in his arms.
This action packed story is full of sex and corruption, set in the dark world of politics with the writer throwing a new light on Marilyn’s death, the political intrigue surrounding Jackie and Bobby Kennedy and suggest there was a potential threat on Richard Nixon’s life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent story, which contains many of the familiar, if not lovable characters, from the Starlight Club series.
It’s Thanksgiving, a great time for family and yet again we are transported back in time to 1962 by Bobby Valentine as he relaxes after dinner and settles down to tell his daughter Lynn a bit more about what life was like way back then.
Despite popular belief, Red Fortunato is not dead, he has survived, and what’s more, he’s determined to rebuild The Starlight Club and have Frank Sinatra perform there on opening night.
He’s a man used to giving orders and being in control, however, even he is surprises when he attends a business meeting and finds himself with Marilyn Munro in his arms.
This action packed story is full of sex and corruption, set in the dark world of politics with the writer throwing a new light on Marilyn’s death, the political intrigue surrounding Jackie and Bobby Kennedy and suggest there was a potential threat on Richard Nixon’s life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent story, which contains many of the familiar, if not lovable characters, from the Starlight Club series.
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May 26, 2019Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews