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Black Cordite, White Snow: A Minnesotan Prohibition Thriller
Minnesota's winter is freezing cold, but its market for guns has never been hotter.
February 1922 - Prohibition has reached a fever pitch, transforming lowly bootleggers and gangsters into wealthy businessmen beyond sanction. The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, known to the criminal underworld as Crooks' Haven, has a rule for out-of-town Come visit anytime; just pay your bribes and keep your criminal activity outside the city limits.
Niklas and Kessler Kristofferson, Danish brothers recently returned from the Great War, recognize this as an opportunity. As military gunsmiths, they had access to the most fearsome weaponry the planet had ever seen, much of it in pieces and parts the U.S. government had forgotten on the battlefields of France. After quietly smuggling the machine guns home, they now have an arsenal to sell. And their first client, a Sicilian mobster from the mean streets of Chicago, seems eager to buy.
But dealing with criminals is never straightforward, especially when the goods they are selling can be turned against them the minute they trade hands. Facing unscrupulous gangsters, corrupt police, and the one principled detective left in the city, the brothers must rely on their guile and the few friends they have to survive. A single misstep may rob them of their fortunes—or deliver their corpses to the bottom of the frigid Mississippi River.
February 1922 - Prohibition has reached a fever pitch, transforming lowly bootleggers and gangsters into wealthy businessmen beyond sanction. The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, known to the criminal underworld as Crooks' Haven, has a rule for out-of-town Come visit anytime; just pay your bribes and keep your criminal activity outside the city limits.
Niklas and Kessler Kristofferson, Danish brothers recently returned from the Great War, recognize this as an opportunity. As military gunsmiths, they had access to the most fearsome weaponry the planet had ever seen, much of it in pieces and parts the U.S. government had forgotten on the battlefields of France. After quietly smuggling the machine guns home, they now have an arsenal to sell. And their first client, a Sicilian mobster from the mean streets of Chicago, seems eager to buy.
But dealing with criminals is never straightforward, especially when the goods they are selling can be turned against them the minute they trade hands. Facing unscrupulous gangsters, corrupt police, and the one principled detective left in the city, the brothers must rely on their guile and the few friends they have to survive. A single misstep may rob them of their fortunes—or deliver their corpses to the bottom of the frigid Mississippi River.
- GenresThriller
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2024
160 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Nate Granzow
9 books60 followersAn outdoorsman, award-winning novelist, and editor, Nate Granzow likes the smell of gunpowder, the taste of gin, and the feel of leather-bound books. He won the Clive Cussler Adventure Writer's Competition in 2017 for "The Phaistos Paragon," won a 2019 Best Independent Book Award for "Zimbabwe Hustle," and ranked as a finalist in the 2021 Minnesota Book Awards with "Get Idiota."
Follow Nate Granzow for updates and giveaways at:
www.nategranzow.com
www.facebook.com/NateGranzowAuthor
Follow Nate Granzow for updates and giveaways at:
www.nategranzow.com
www.facebook.com/NateGranzowAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 22, 2024
If you buy any thriller at all this year, make sure it’s this one!
Nate Granzow’s latest thriller showcases the outstanding talent of this award-winning author. Rich with captivating prose, heart-pounding action, and gritty characters, Black Cordite, White Snow is the first in a series set in the Prohibition Era in Minnesota. Brothers back from the Great War have smuggled machine guns and other weapons of war with a plan to sell them to a Sicilian mobster in Chicago who’s setting up shop in St.Paul. When their get-rich-quick scheme falls apart, the brothers must rely on themselves and their wits, dodging bullets, police detectives, and rival mobsters. Twists, turns, and high-wire risks keep you on the edge of your seat. Granzow’s writing is best-seller material and I can’t wait for the next installment in this thrilling series!
Nate Granzow’s latest thriller showcases the outstanding talent of this award-winning author. Rich with captivating prose, heart-pounding action, and gritty characters, Black Cordite, White Snow is the first in a series set in the Prohibition Era in Minnesota. Brothers back from the Great War have smuggled machine guns and other weapons of war with a plan to sell them to a Sicilian mobster in Chicago who’s setting up shop in St.Paul. When their get-rich-quick scheme falls apart, the brothers must rely on themselves and their wits, dodging bullets, police detectives, and rival mobsters. Twists, turns, and high-wire risks keep you on the edge of your seat. Granzow’s writing is best-seller material and I can’t wait for the next installment in this thrilling series!
February 13, 2024
“If you're looking for a mobster you haven't seen in a while, you can find him in one of three places: in jail, in the morgue, or in St. Paul.”
Nate Granzow has long been one of my closest friends. He’s also a hell of a salesman: we met when he cold-called me via a Goodreads request to read his first novel, The Scorpion's Nest. It didn’t sound like my cup of tea out the gate—I have a very one-track mind in that I’m either reading others in my genre or I’m reading non-fiction to better my own craft—but he convinced me to give it a read.
That novel happened to be the first of many fantastic works written by Granzow. Whether following a everyman journalist powered by moxie, a motley crew exploring supernatural horrors given life, or smart-aleck archeological fortune hunters, Granzow has always had a talent for telling compelling, fast-paced stories. He’s also displayed a knack for humor, as is the case with a pair of black comedy novels he wrote (again, displaying his sales skills; prior to those books, I wasn’t convinced prose was an effective medium for humor).
Well, Granzow’s back.
This time, he’s brought us a hardboiled historical crime thriller.
Black Cordite, White Snow: A Minnesotan Prohibition Thriller is set after the Great War (that’s World War I for those unaware of the history) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Niklas and Kessler Kristofferson are Danish by birth, American by naturalization, and veterans of the conflict in France. In the age of Prohibition and the rise of American organized crime as we know it, they see an opportunity to break free of tedious, underpaid labor on another’s behalf and establish freedom, security, and a higher standard of living for themselves and their loved ones.
How do they propose to do that?
As John Wick would say, "Guns. Lots of guns."
First of all, I appreciate the world building that went into this. For a good thriller that’s set in our world, world building consists of a ton of research. When that thriller goes historical, the research gets harder and more copious the farther you drift from the modern day.
Even if I hadn’t read Nate’s Substack to see the lengths he went to research and recreate 1920s Saint Paul on the page, it would be readily apparent. The results speak for themselves. He paints a picture of a frostbitten and hardboiled town where good guys are far and few between, where beneath the veneer of post-war optimism lurks heinous and hyperviolent criminals. The noir checklist is marked off in rapid order, and in a setting outside of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to boot.
The characters are compelling (with my favorite being Oscar Hole-in-the-Day, an Ojibwe tribesman and friend to the Kristoffersons), the dialogue bears the Granzow signature snappiness, and the action is crisp. Out the gate, there’s enough to Black Cordite, White Snow that it’s damn-near guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser to fans of thrillers, especially crime thrillers.
What I like the most? I honestly like he didn’t whitewash things.
It’s about a three-way shot with historical fiction. Some folks will look at the past through rose-colored lenses and gloss over the ugliness. Others will focus solely on what was ugly and wrong. A third will present things as they were, for better or worse, and use the time period as a canvas to depict a story. I definitely prefer the second approach to the first, but I find that unless that ugliness is central to the story (or it is a non-fiction book), the third approach seems best.
Granzow takes the third approach. He doesn’t shy away from accurately portraying the unsavory attitudes of the day (societal attitudes towards blacks, indigenous people, women, LGBT+ folks, and even other European demographics). There’s certainly the black market and general government corruption that both Prohibition and low pay/training standards for law enforcement created. All of these are put on display and played straight.
To me, this is big. It’s fine to admire the aesthetics, music, and culture of the past. Not only is it fine to look to the past to learn from it, it is highly encouraged. Too many people forget that there was a whole lot of ugliness to it. Granzow doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t let the reader forget, either.
From a writer’s perspective, it also adds to the immersion. If I hopped in a time machine and traveled to the past in the US and Europe, I would expect to be treated much worse. In that aspect, even parts that made me blink and side-eye particular characters were a testament to Granzow’s writing skill.
But, all of that is an aside. At the end of the day, Black Cordite, White Snow is not only an excellent hardboiled crime thriller of its own volition, it is also an effective cornerstone to a future series. The closing chapters make it readily apparent we have not seen the last of the Kristofferson brothers or the remainder of the characters that survived to the final page.
Do yourself a favor and pick up your copy today!
Nate Granzow has long been one of my closest friends. He’s also a hell of a salesman: we met when he cold-called me via a Goodreads request to read his first novel, The Scorpion's Nest. It didn’t sound like my cup of tea out the gate—I have a very one-track mind in that I’m either reading others in my genre or I’m reading non-fiction to better my own craft—but he convinced me to give it a read.
That novel happened to be the first of many fantastic works written by Granzow. Whether following a everyman journalist powered by moxie, a motley crew exploring supernatural horrors given life, or smart-aleck archeological fortune hunters, Granzow has always had a talent for telling compelling, fast-paced stories. He’s also displayed a knack for humor, as is the case with a pair of black comedy novels he wrote (again, displaying his sales skills; prior to those books, I wasn’t convinced prose was an effective medium for humor).
Well, Granzow’s back.
This time, he’s brought us a hardboiled historical crime thriller.
Black Cordite, White Snow: A Minnesotan Prohibition Thriller is set after the Great War (that’s World War I for those unaware of the history) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Niklas and Kessler Kristofferson are Danish by birth, American by naturalization, and veterans of the conflict in France. In the age of Prohibition and the rise of American organized crime as we know it, they see an opportunity to break free of tedious, underpaid labor on another’s behalf and establish freedom, security, and a higher standard of living for themselves and their loved ones.
How do they propose to do that?
As John Wick would say, "Guns. Lots of guns."
First of all, I appreciate the world building that went into this. For a good thriller that’s set in our world, world building consists of a ton of research. When that thriller goes historical, the research gets harder and more copious the farther you drift from the modern day.
Even if I hadn’t read Nate’s Substack to see the lengths he went to research and recreate 1920s Saint Paul on the page, it would be readily apparent. The results speak for themselves. He paints a picture of a frostbitten and hardboiled town where good guys are far and few between, where beneath the veneer of post-war optimism lurks heinous and hyperviolent criminals. The noir checklist is marked off in rapid order, and in a setting outside of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to boot.
The characters are compelling (with my favorite being Oscar Hole-in-the-Day, an Ojibwe tribesman and friend to the Kristoffersons), the dialogue bears the Granzow signature snappiness, and the action is crisp. Out the gate, there’s enough to Black Cordite, White Snow that it’s damn-near guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser to fans of thrillers, especially crime thrillers.
What I like the most? I honestly like he didn’t whitewash things.
It’s about a three-way shot with historical fiction. Some folks will look at the past through rose-colored lenses and gloss over the ugliness. Others will focus solely on what was ugly and wrong. A third will present things as they were, for better or worse, and use the time period as a canvas to depict a story. I definitely prefer the second approach to the first, but I find that unless that ugliness is central to the story (or it is a non-fiction book), the third approach seems best.
Granzow takes the third approach. He doesn’t shy away from accurately portraying the unsavory attitudes of the day (societal attitudes towards blacks, indigenous people, women, LGBT+ folks, and even other European demographics). There’s certainly the black market and general government corruption that both Prohibition and low pay/training standards for law enforcement created. All of these are put on display and played straight.
To me, this is big. It’s fine to admire the aesthetics, music, and culture of the past. Not only is it fine to look to the past to learn from it, it is highly encouraged. Too many people forget that there was a whole lot of ugliness to it. Granzow doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t let the reader forget, either.
From a writer’s perspective, it also adds to the immersion. If I hopped in a time machine and traveled to the past in the US and Europe, I would expect to be treated much worse. In that aspect, even parts that made me blink and side-eye particular characters were a testament to Granzow’s writing skill.
But, all of that is an aside. At the end of the day, Black Cordite, White Snow is not only an excellent hardboiled crime thriller of its own volition, it is also an effective cornerstone to a future series. The closing chapters make it readily apparent we have not seen the last of the Kristofferson brothers or the remainder of the characters that survived to the final page.
Do yourself a favor and pick up your copy today!
June 20, 2025
This one grew on me- had a little trouble getting into it- was distracted and it has many characters introduced all at the same time. Once the plot started gelling in my mind- it was a page turner. A little grittier than I usually like, but it goes with the plot and setting. The characters are layered and well-developed. Having some backstory chapters from WWI were some of my favorite parts. This is a talented author and impressed with his craft. I learned a ton of new words. These word choices were very strategic and not just peppered in from an overuse of a thesaurus. I’m not sure if this is a start to a series or not- the way it ended- it could be. I’ll be looking for more titles from this unique styled author. Highly recommend.
April 23, 2024
There are two things that I have a deep, abiding, love for - period pieces and old time gangsters films. The always-excellent Nate Granzow provides both here with Black Cordite White Snow.
Our story follows two brothers, Niklas and Kessler Kristofferson, who have the brilliant idea to get rich by selling weapons to the gangsters that so infested the streets of 1920s America. A plan that quickly devolves into bloodshed.
Because where there are guns, gangsters, and money to be made, there's bound to be shootouts.
A real standout of this novel is its engaging characters. No one is coming out of this thing smelling of roses, but our heroes inhabit a morally grey world, and Granzow succeeds in creating an engaging roster here. We care for them and want them to succeed because we understand their plight. Not to mention the fact that at the time, no one was really morally pure, so to speak. Especially, not the coppers.
This really did bring back the feeling of watching Little Ceasar for the first time as a kid. Where smartly dressed gangsters would stalk the starkly lit, black and white streets with a Tommy Gun, ready to pick off their enemies.
Granzow has an incredible eye for detail. An eye that immerses one in the world so completely that you'll feel the texture of grip of the pistol in a character's hands and smell the cordite in the air. It is a rare talent indeed.
(Not to mention the fact that the novel opens with a Colt Pocket Hammerless, one of my favourite old time pistols. Not because of its fairly middling stopping power, but because it was featured in many a gangster film in the 30s and 40s.)
Needless to say that I loved this book. You should honestly do yourself a favour and grab a copy. You'll not regret the ride.
Our story follows two brothers, Niklas and Kessler Kristofferson, who have the brilliant idea to get rich by selling weapons to the gangsters that so infested the streets of 1920s America. A plan that quickly devolves into bloodshed.
Because where there are guns, gangsters, and money to be made, there's bound to be shootouts.
A real standout of this novel is its engaging characters. No one is coming out of this thing smelling of roses, but our heroes inhabit a morally grey world, and Granzow succeeds in creating an engaging roster here. We care for them and want them to succeed because we understand their plight. Not to mention the fact that at the time, no one was really morally pure, so to speak. Especially, not the coppers.
This really did bring back the feeling of watching Little Ceasar for the first time as a kid. Where smartly dressed gangsters would stalk the starkly lit, black and white streets with a Tommy Gun, ready to pick off their enemies.
Granzow has an incredible eye for detail. An eye that immerses one in the world so completely that you'll feel the texture of grip of the pistol in a character's hands and smell the cordite in the air. It is a rare talent indeed.
(Not to mention the fact that the novel opens with a Colt Pocket Hammerless, one of my favourite old time pistols. Not because of its fairly middling stopping power, but because it was featured in many a gangster film in the 30s and 40s.)
Needless to say that I loved this book. You should honestly do yourself a favour and grab a copy. You'll not regret the ride.
April 10, 2024
Nate Granzow's latest offering eschews the darkly comedic tone of his last couple books in favor of something more somber and serious but no less enjoyable. Truth be told, a historical hardboiled crime thriller would not be my usual cup of literary rotgut, but Granzow has a masterful ability to make you keep turning the pages, with prose so evocative than you can feel the cold, smell the gunpowder, and taste the bootleg booze.
There are no white hat heroes to be found here--shades of foggy gray abound--but aside from the obvious villains of the story, none of the main characters are downright evil either and the nuances make for the kind of rich characterization that so many authors strive for but rarely achieve. Despite the criminality and potential bloodshed of their goals, you'll find yourself rooting for the Kristofferson brothers to pull off their bold plan.
Some thrillers live on the strength of their writing, some on the strength of their plotting, and some on the strength of their action. But BCWS has a sturdy foundation of all three, with prose that is at times nearly poetic, a twisting narrative that never becomes confusing, and sporadic bursts of violence that would make Tarintino proud.
Bottom line, a new Nate Granzow book is always cause for celebration (preferably with a glass of gin in hand) and he has really outdone himself with this one. Hopefully we don't have to wait long for the next chapter in the Crooks' Haven chronicles.
There are no white hat heroes to be found here--shades of foggy gray abound--but aside from the obvious villains of the story, none of the main characters are downright evil either and the nuances make for the kind of rich characterization that so many authors strive for but rarely achieve. Despite the criminality and potential bloodshed of their goals, you'll find yourself rooting for the Kristofferson brothers to pull off their bold plan.
Some thrillers live on the strength of their writing, some on the strength of their plotting, and some on the strength of their action. But BCWS has a sturdy foundation of all three, with prose that is at times nearly poetic, a twisting narrative that never becomes confusing, and sporadic bursts of violence that would make Tarintino proud.
Bottom line, a new Nate Granzow book is always cause for celebration (preferably with a glass of gin in hand) and he has really outdone himself with this one. Hopefully we don't have to wait long for the next chapter in the Crooks' Haven chronicles.
September 3, 2024
Every so often, some brilliant song, painting, or person comes along to open my eyes to new possibilities. In this case, it was a novel.
First, the prose is good enough that I found myself reading merely for the pleasure of watching it scroll past, of imagining Granzow’s detailed and evocative descriptions of people and places. His vocabulary is nothing short of spectacular! I particularly enjoyed the dialogue.
Then he hits you with the plot, portraying realistically tense situations that unfold among nuanced characters, but with a clear dividing line between good and evil. Boy was I excited to come home today to find out how the bad guy would get his due!
Set during prohibition, Black Cordite, White Snow was meticulously researched, as evidenced by period-appropriate technology, terminology, clothing, people, and events such as World War One. On a deeper level, the story is a savage indictment of war profiteering, warmongering, and even war itself, while at the same time showing great respect for the soldiers who risk and lose their lives in the process.
Mark my words: Granzow is a master in the making. If he keeps writing, he’ll be a bestseller for sure.
First, the prose is good enough that I found myself reading merely for the pleasure of watching it scroll past, of imagining Granzow’s detailed and evocative descriptions of people and places. His vocabulary is nothing short of spectacular! I particularly enjoyed the dialogue.
Then he hits you with the plot, portraying realistically tense situations that unfold among nuanced characters, but with a clear dividing line between good and evil. Boy was I excited to come home today to find out how the bad guy would get his due!
Set during prohibition, Black Cordite, White Snow was meticulously researched, as evidenced by period-appropriate technology, terminology, clothing, people, and events such as World War One. On a deeper level, the story is a savage indictment of war profiteering, warmongering, and even war itself, while at the same time showing great respect for the soldiers who risk and lose their lives in the process.
Mark my words: Granzow is a master in the making. If he keeps writing, he’ll be a bestseller for sure.
February 13, 2024
If you have read Nate Granzow's books (highly recommend you do), then you know that every one is unique. This is a very good thing. Brothers Niklas and Kessler were gunsmiths during the war. Seeing an opportunity, they started collecting discarded gun and shipping them home to make them functional again. Unfortunately, the only market is with crooks and did they pick a doozy. A Chicago crime boss who is up to St. Paul for business. Naturally, the US Marshal's Service has them in their sites. Are Niklas and Kessler good guys about to go bad, or are they basically bad from the start? You will have a fun time deciding. One thing for sure, Niklas knows how to tie up all the lose ends,
May 19, 2024
This tale has a little real history and the kind of regional background needed to color in the story. It has completely believable characters who inhabit this gritty and downright mean world, keeping you on the edge of your seat to the end. I really appreciated the flashback chapters, giving you complete context of story and character.
Nothing lacks here. I loved all of it from the first sentence right to the last. I've read all of Granzow's previous work and I'll just wax poetic here and say that with this story he's truly turned a corner. I eagerly await what is to come next! (This is a series, **Right** Nate? LOL!)
Nothing lacks here. I loved all of it from the first sentence right to the last. I've read all of Granzow's previous work and I'll just wax poetic here and say that with this story he's truly turned a corner. I eagerly await what is to come next! (This is a series, **Right** Nate? LOL!)
February 1, 2024
Nate Granzow excels at the art of blending fact with fiction to the point where it’s hard to clearly say which parts may indeed be fictional. He brings to life the detailed minutiae of life in the Prohibition Era from the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota, to the deep-reaching underworld that existed in those days, all with rooted characters who struggle with their varying shades of grey as they entangle with each other.
Full review on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kas...
Full review on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kas...
June 1, 2025
The book was interesting in that it was set in St Paul’s gangster era. I was a St Paul resident for many years and have done some reading about that time as well as knowing places mentioned in the book. The description of WWI and how it changed the main character was also compelling
The story though plodded along for me. At times the action was unbelievable, at other times terribly slow. Threads of the story were left to linger.
There were also many instances of present day language and idioms sprinkled amongst words no longer used. Serious editing would have helped.
The story though plodded along for me. At times the action was unbelievable, at other times terribly slow. Threads of the story were left to linger.
There were also many instances of present day language and idioms sprinkled amongst words no longer used. Serious editing would have helped.
February 29, 2024
Granzow’s at the top of his game with this one. A deft combination of history, family dynamics, and an examination of the questionable line between “good” and “bad” and how narrow it seems to be. This historical crime thriller uses the well-researched setting of Prohibition-era St. Paul, MN as the backdrop to propel readers on a narrative journey rich with interesting characters, fascinating conflicts, and a desire to back the winners…who might just be losers in the end.
May 23, 2024
Great read
I really enjoyed the story. The characters and their development through the book were well crafted. I normally read “period” stories set in medieval/ancient times so this story and its time period was actually a welcome change. The book reminded me of the recent Netflix series “Peaky Blinders “ so any fans of that show will surely enjoy reading this book. I look forward to book two and hopefully I won’t have to wait to long.
I really enjoyed the story. The characters and their development through the book were well crafted. I normally read “period” stories set in medieval/ancient times so this story and its time period was actually a welcome change. The book reminded me of the recent Netflix series “Peaky Blinders “ so any fans of that show will surely enjoy reading this book. I look forward to book two and hopefully I won’t have to wait to long.
November 3, 2024
An outstanding novel! The story of two brothers after WWI who come up with a plan to sell machine guns to criminals in St.Paul after the war.There are plenty of plot twists and he does a great job of mixing in some real people and places in St. Paul in the 1920's. He weaves a number of characters in the novel and does a great job of developing those characters. This is the 1st novel in this series and I cannot wait to read future novels by Nate Granzow!
February 24, 2024
Quite a few people have summarized what the novel is about in depth in their reviews. So I'll skip that. Here's the skinny: If you think you'd like to read a book that has similar action to The Untouchables, Scarface (the original one), and a bit of 1917, this is one you absolutely should pick up.
This reader is hoping Granzow is already working on the follow-up book on Crooks Haven.
This reader is hoping Granzow is already working on the follow-up book on Crooks Haven.
July 5, 2024
Too notch writing. I read Minnesota authors to support local talent and I’m sure glad I grabbed this book. Set in St. Paul’s free wheeling prohibition days, even the Mississippi River caves make an appearance. No spoilers here. Let’s just say when the book ended I immediately searched for another of Nate Granzow’s to read. We’re in luck!
July 27, 2024
St Paul 1920's history
I enjoyed all the St Paul landmarks and the accurate historical portrayal of the city during prohibition.
However, smuggling guns on an Iron ore Laker through the St Lawrence Sea way in 1922 was bizarre. The Sea way opened in the late 1950's. Clever plot, good interesting characters, but very violent. If you don't mind the gritty details, a good read.
I enjoyed all the St Paul landmarks and the accurate historical portrayal of the city during prohibition.
However, smuggling guns on an Iron ore Laker through the St Lawrence Sea way in 1922 was bizarre. The Sea way opened in the late 1950's. Clever plot, good interesting characters, but very violent. If you don't mind the gritty details, a good read.
September 30, 2024
Very entertaining. I live near Saint Paul and recognized many of the sites mentioned. Even been in or on some of them. I wish this Author all the success in the world. Good story with interesting characters. A few twists. Loved the character development, especially the flashbacks. Looking forward to his future efforts. Highly recommend.
October 4, 2024
A heady dose of Noir...
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'm a sucker for Noir gangster tales. Not sure why that is, but there it is. The relationship between the brothers was well executed and the setting very real. I would consider this a prime choice to put on your reading list.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'm a sucker for Noir gangster tales. Not sure why that is, but there it is. The relationship between the brothers was well executed and the setting very real. I would consider this a prime choice to put on your reading list.
March 25, 2024
excellent
Excellent and exciting read about mobsters in St. Paul back in the day. If you live near or in St. Paul Minnesota this is a must read. It’s right up there with Saint Mudd by Steven Thayer. Another great MN author.
Excellent and exciting read about mobsters in St. Paul back in the day. If you live near or in St. Paul Minnesota this is a must read. It’s right up there with Saint Mudd by Steven Thayer. Another great MN author.
April 29, 2024
A look at the underbelly of Saint Paul
Great book. Loved it .Contrasting characters in a city with a vibrant underworld and two brothers looking to make a score well developed plot and some good twists and turns. Go for it worth the time
Great book. Loved it .Contrasting characters in a city with a vibrant underworld and two brothers looking to make a score well developed plot and some good twists and turns. Go for it worth the time
September 28, 2024
Fantastic story and fantastic writing. In the spirit of the movie "Road to Perdition", the author kept me intrigued cover to cover. I was able to paint a very clear mental picture of every character and setting, which speaks volumes about the talent of the writer. I highly recommend this book!
February 16, 2025
Especially if you’re from the Twin Cities - the references to local places is really entertaining. The story itself is also very well told. A mixture of history, local nostalgia and fiction - it’s a great and quick read!
May 14, 2024
EXCELLENT mobster novel! Loved all the time period references.
July 4, 2024
entertaining and well written
Bring a native St Paulite, I could not resist reading this book. 7 out of 10. I enjoyed the read.
Bring a native St Paulite, I could not resist reading this book. 7 out of 10. I enjoyed the read.
July 17, 2024
Great read!
I loved this story! In addition to telling a good story he really brings to light what those Minnesota winters are like.
I loved this story! In addition to telling a good story he really brings to light what those Minnesota winters are like.
September 7, 2024
The writing is great, but the storyline felt a little boring.
September 10, 2024
Great Story!!
Nate kept your attention!! Loved how he went from the Europe time line and then back to St. Paul. Enjoyed it.
Nate kept your attention!! Loved how he went from the Europe time line and then back to St. Paul. Enjoyed it.
November 26, 2024
Fast-paced, small chapters in this book are great for readers with short attention spans or those who tire quickly when reading. I would recommend it.
February 7, 2025
Think peaky blinders set in 1922 St.Paul. Very cool knowing the locations of the story as a Minnesota native
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews