Dynamite: A Concise History of the NYPD Bomb Squad

by J.E. Fishman

Although it correctly calls itself “concise,” DYNAMITE is in fact the most comprehensive history ever written about the oldest, busiest and most sophisticated bomb squad in the world. For more than 100 years, NYPD bomb techs have combated explosive-related violence and threats, often risking (and sometimes losing) their own lives in the process.


The NYPD Bomb Squad traces its origins to the famous — if short-lived — Italian Squad, which successfully defeated Black Hand extortionists who terrorized Italian immigrants living in New York at the turn of the last century. Its story goes on to include the first large-vehicle bomb on American soil (targeting J.P. Morgan), anarchist bombings, plots by German saboteurs during World War I, the famed Black Tom explosion, the bombing of the 1939 World’s Fair, crimes of the so-called Mad Bomber, IEDs placed by Croatian and Palestinian terrorists, the relentless terror campaign of the FALN, anti-abortion bombings, the first World Trade Center bombing, and the attempted car bombing of Times Square by Islamic radicals.


Beginning in an era of horse-drawn carriages and ending in the Jet Age, DYNAMITE tells the colorful, informative, sometimes macabre, and always heroic story of this elite group of New York’s Finest.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

J.E. Fishman writes mysteries and thrillers and uses the pen name Dana I. Wolff for horror novels like. The Prisoner of Hell Gate.

He is author of THE DARK POOL and PRIMACY: A Thriller, which Kirkus Reviews called "more fun than a barrel of overgrown monkeys" and Publishers Weekly called "an appealing debut thriller." His mystery novel CADAVER BLUES was serialized weekly in 2010 on The Nervous Breakdown and published as ebook and paperback in September 2012. His short story "The Dead Field" (now a Dana I. Wolff book) took Second Prize in Word Hustler's Page-to-Screen Short Story Contest, judged by Sara Gruen.

His latest novel is WE ONCE WERE GIANTS.

A master of environmental studies, he also writes a Substack on the subject of Backyard Stewardship.

Reviews

[Jordan Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The explosive lineage of one of the oldest and most advanced Police Bomb Squads in the world is chronicled in “Dynamite: a Concise History of the NYPD Bomb Squad.” Best-selling crime novelist J.E Fishman goes beyond the red tape and the stark headlines of bombing incidents to reveal a world that only a select few in law enforcement are privy. What’s behind the veil of the thin blue line is a rich history of confronting diabolical lone wolves, extortionists, mobsters and international terrorists. J.E Fishman introduces us to a small but intuitive band of valiant detectives whose mission is to protect New Yorkers from the evil scourge of terrorism and the devious devices of madmen.

From their humble origins confronting the Italian Mafia in the early 20th Century, to matching wits with a cunning and sinister Mad Bomber, to acquiring an impressive array of tools and technologies in the form of state-of-the art x-ray machines, robotics and protective bomb suits, this elite team of cops stands ready to meet any challenge on the New York Beat.

J.E Fishman does a great job taking the reader on a journey back in time to explore the history as well as the trials and tribulations of one of the most secretive but certainly one of the most essential specialist units of the New York Police Department. If you’re a fan of Fishman’s book series “Bomb Squad NYC,” this book makes for a great prequel to appreciate the NYPD Bomb Squad in the realm of fiction, as well as the valor and sacrifice of the NYPD Bomb Squad in the realm of reality.

[Zeljka Ulan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fishman's knowledge of the subject is impressive. Loved it.