Gangsters Don't Die: A Novel

Gangsterland #4

by Tod Goldberg

The “gloriously original” ( The New York Times ) and critically acclaimed crime series starring a Chicago hitman hiding out as a rabbi in the desert suburbs of Las Vegas comes to its thrilling conclusion

Mafia hit-man-turned-rabbi Sal Cupertine is ready to get out of the life. But it’s not going to be easy. His once-brilliant plan to pass himself off as Rabbi David Cohen is unraveling. Enemies on both sides of the law are hot on his trail. His wife and son are unreachable in witness protection and are probably in danger. In order to find his family, get out of the desert alive, and salvage his long-sought-after happy ending, Sal is going to have to confront some very bad people from his past.

Native American kingpin Peaches Pocotillo has wrested control of Chicago’s mob family while expanding his criminal empire in the west, and now seeks to settle an old score with Sal. These two antiheroes have a history that stretches back decades, and the blood feud between Peaches and Sal will lead them to a violent showdown deep in the heart of the low desert.

As complications cast old revelations in a new light, including one that stretches back to the long-ago death of Sal’s infamous gangster father Dark Billy Cupertine, Sal must team up with some unlikely allies—and confront the reality of who he has become—in this stunning conclusion to the popular and critically acclaimed Gangsterland trilogy.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Novels, Audiobook

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2023

About the author

Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books of fiction, notably the acclaimed Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Gangster Nation; The Low Desert, a Southwest Book of the Year; and Gangsters Don’t Die, an Amazon Best Book of 2023 as well as a Southwest Book of the Year. Other works include The House of Secrets, which he co-authored with Brad Meltzer, and Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His short fiction and essays have been anthologized widely, including in Best American Mystery & Suspense and Best American Essays, and appear regularly in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Alta. Tod Goldberg is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where founded and directs the Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts. His next novel, Only Way Out, will be released this fall from Thomas & Mercer.

Reviews

[Karen greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one very powerful series. It is not for the faint of heart. This book is chock full of violence as you would expect from a book about gangsters. The author also weaves religion into the story and it just fits. This book is very fast paced and action packed with so many twists and turn. It leaves nothing to the imagination and everything to the imagination. This story is dark and deep. This book was so good I did not want it to end and the end was so unexpected. I would hope that there will be more books to this series

[Patrick Schultheis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic series. The characters are wonderful and the plot is gripping. The writer’s style is great, with frequent humor thrown in.

I expected this to be the last in the series, but it might not be…

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won't lie, it took half way through the 2nd book in this trilogy before this reader saw any 'action'. Having said that it wasn't boring and I persevered.
This third book, Gangsters Don't Die, was a delight to read. The first book I've read for a while that had me hooked and unable to put it down. All the elements of the previous two books culminate in this third part.
I love the author's premise of a Mafia hitman who has plastic surgery and due to his near photographic memory, is able to pass himself off as a Rabbi, ministering to a congregation for four years... until the wheels start to come off.
I almost feel there could have been a fourth book added to tie up loose ends. Maybe Goldberg will write another book recounting the life and misdeeds of Sal Compertine/Rabbi David Cohen. I would definitely read it.

Recommended.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waffled between 4 and 5 stars. If you like mob movies, books and culture you would be hard pressed to find something disagreeable with this book. It’s tight. A well-paced mafia tale with lots of violence, loyalty and betrayal. A great recipe. Sal Cupertine, Family hitman, is coming to the end of his rope. Hiding out as Rabbi David Cohen in the suburbs of Las Vegas, the walls are starting to close in, it’s a new world with new gangsters like Peaches, Native American mob, who douses himself in peach cologne. It’s a new age and multi-cultural crime universe, how things have changed. What hasn’t changed is the ever-lasting chase between the FBI and the syndicates. Many walls.

Rabbi David Cohen is at the center of this tale and you will probably end up liking him as much as his synagogue congregants. He’s smart and as it turns out, has a lot of depth, not usually associated with ruthless hit men. Therein lies the rub. One can only hideout for so long and this is where we pick up the story, years later as it all starts to unravel. One of the reasons the violence is off the hook, as it should be. I don’t know Las Vegas, but it also plays a part with its changes and growth. Growth makes people greedy. You will read to love and hate may characters I betchya.

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gangster stories aren't my usual reading but I enjoyed this one. I saw the author at the Tucson Festival of Books, talking about writing the antihero; he was funny and informative and I was interested in what he said about writing gangster characters - people can't walk away from the consequences of their actions, and that's what he wrote about in this series.

Turns out this is the 4th book in the series, so there's a lot of referring back to previous events. I haven't read the first three but it was okay, I didn't feel lost. There's a prologue about the main character's father that kind of sets up the whole thing. He wanted a different life for his son, and throughout the rest of the book we see that son facing the consequences of choosing the same gangster life as his father.

David Cohen, beloved rabbi of a Las Vegas temple, is actually Sal Cupertine, hitman who's killed over a hundred people in his career. He's been in hiding in Vegas for four years after an incident where he killed some FBI agents. Only a couple of people know his true identity, and it seems he now identifies more with Rabbi David Cohen than with his old life. If it weren't for his own wife and son who are in witness protection, maybe he really could get out.

That son - there's something wrong with that kid, to put it mildly. If I'd read this beforehand I'd have asked the author what he had in mind. Three generations of Cupertine fathers and sons, neither of the younger ones raised by their mobster father but maybe there's some genetic flaw leading them to murder? I don't know. David/Sal's nickname was Rain Man because he can remember everything, and his son seems to have inherited that ability as well.

Lots and lots of characters, lots and lots of plot strands. The temple's at the center of a web of connections, like the funeral home and cemetery the mob uses to launder bodies (is that really a thing, I wonder?), the dying FBI agent who comes to the rabbi for counseling, and so on. Sal's potentially in line to lead the Chicago family, which is what made his father a target, and puts him in a risky position. The whole thing takes place not long after 9/11, meaning the FBI is obsessed with terrorism, making garden variety mobster activity easier to get away with, apparently. There's one very bizarre scene involving a warehouse full of body parts. New players in the gang world, many of them street and prison gangs, are changing things for the old style families. There's a scary sociopath named Peaches who's apparently angling to take over the Chicago family. David is haunted by one of his victims; he sees her everywhere.

The commentary on the relationship between gangsters and law enforcement was interesting. The idea seems to be that as long as the gangsters are just killing each other, the law doesn't much care, and some of the law enforcement people are actually in on the gang stuff anyway. Like I said, this isn't my usual genre, so I haven't thought much about the kinds of things that crop up in this book. I also enjoyed the look into the temple, the Torah, and David's spiritual journey.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I finished . . . and I'm glad to be finished. The violence after three novels took on a cartoonish flair. In one particularly gruesome scene, Sal/David blows up a warehouse storing body parts to be sold to medical facilities, both legit and otherwise. First a description of heads lined up like cabbages, etc. Then the explosion . . . with heads, legs, arms landing all over Las Vegas. Over the top? Yes.
Sal/David is being sought by Peaches who has taken over the Chicago gang as well as by the FBI. Sal wants to find his family (in witness protection) and escape the life. Sal partners with wrongly accused FBI agent on the run, Matthew, but that doesn't work so well for Matthew. The whole criminal scheme of the synagogue is discovered by FBI agent who is a member of the synagogue,
but Sal lands on his feet (or his snowshoes) in Juneau in witness protections as he gives up the family after shootout with Peaches in the Mojave Desert leave Peaches bleeding out. Sal's little boy, William, has inherited Sal's violence. By the age of 10 he has shot and killed a security guard and an FBI agent. He's in juvenile detention.
Second book in the series was the best. This probably the weakest--Goldberg seemed to feel a need to top the earlier violence and it was all a bit too much for me.

[J.D. O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m glad I waited until the series was complete before I started reading. It would have been rough waiting for Gangsters Don’t Die after the ending of Gangster Nation. This is one of the best crime series in recent memory. The set-up is almost slapstick. A mob hitman hides out as a rabbi. But like the Sopranos, it’s a funny, layered, complex look at the life of a gangster and everyone in his orbit. And for a book about a hitman, you really feel the violence and its consequences. There was one death in this book that really hurt. It has nice elegiac touches throughout, wrapping up the whole saga and giving deeper backstory to the characters. I will miss Sal Cupertine/Rabbi David Cohen and I look forward to visiting the Bagel Café when I’m in Vegas next month.

[Don Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

( 3 1/2). I had to mark this one up to 4 stars for a couple of reasons. First, the creativity of it all. Goldberg takes us on an unparalleled ride of amazing circumstances and somehow, has them sort of make sense. Secondly, we have one of the most incredible protagonists I have ever encountered. Sal Cupertino, aka Rabbi David Cohen is a character I may never forget. Engaging, smart, completely dangerous and ultra violent, yet so civilized and caring at the same time. We have no sex here at all, very little in the way of drugs and plenty of violence. A wonderful formula. Take a walk on the wild side with this one. Good stuff.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I missed that this was the end of a trilogy before now. This is a fast paced gangster novel set in Las Vegas and focused on a hit man posing as a rabbi...an interesting premise. The downside is that some of the characters could be difficult to keep track of. I got mixed up at times because I couldn't remember who was affiliated with what sometimes, but this would probably be clearer if I had read the whole series. I'm not sure why putting "Book 3 of the Gangsterland Trilogy" and such has gone out of fashion but it would be very helpful.

[Michael Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rabbis in this novel were gangsters in plain sight. The main source of income was illegal body parts. A father's murder set off a lifelong thirst for revenge. Las Vegas was home to a growing Jewish community. The fact that these gangsters could provide solace and comfort was unexpected. The FBI was on the case for most of the novel. Rabbi Cohen's son turns out to be a killer. There were numerous twists and turns. I would read another novel by this Author.

[Sue Ellen Melo]

I wanted to like this book. Certainly it checked many of the boxes that should have made this a good book: It was focused on a mafia family, the description suggested the main character was looking for peace, maybe even redemption. But as I read, I found it very hard to actually like any of the characters. There also seemed to be too much wanton violence for violence sake. I couldn’t even finish this one.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldberg wraps up the story of Rabbi David Cohen (aka Sal Cupertine) in a fast-moving, enjoyable story. Events evolve nicely and most loose ends are tied up. Peppered with sarcasm, cultural critiques, quotes from the Talmud (or is that Springsteen?) make the book a lot of fun. While we’ll probably not hear from the Rabbi again, I hope Goldberg has more stories in him.

[Martin 4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading and devouring all three in the series, I’m going to seriously miss Rabbi Cohen. One can only hope that Mr Goldberg bring back the good Rabbi in a fourth volume. The writing is crisp, clear, delicious , and kept this prolific reader clued to the page. Cost me a few nights sleep but I enjoyed every page! Bravo.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not being on social media anymore, I miss out on a lot of book release news. I had no idea book 3 came out.

The story was a bit slow in parts, but the last 25 to 30% were outstanding. It's hard to hate Sal, when he did good in his new life. Don't want to say much more, hate spoiling stories.
Mr. Goldberg knows how to weave a great gangster story!

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with the ending. Couldn’t put the series down. But this one seemed really disjointed compared to the others. Also disappointed how freaking everyone dies except Sal. Also, ten years suspended for four FBI agents, a CI, and a govt official???? The William stuff wasn’t necessary either. The kid needed help, they didn’t need to make him a murderer.

[guy mccarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sal/Rabbi David is such an imaginative and compelling character. The series was very well-written and engaging. I enjoyed his transformation into a true rabbi, and all that he learned from Hebrew teachings. More poignant that I read the final book during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hames.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Gangsterland series by Tod Goldberg. Sal Cupertine, a Chicago hitman posing as Rabbi David Cohen living in Las Vegas. Sal has been hospitalized after an attack and his plastic surgery has come undone compromising his true identity. Peaches Pocotillo, a Native American kingpin has taken over the Chicago mob. Former FBI Agent Matthew Drew who was framed for murders in Portland, Oregon along with Peaches are tracking down Sal. Sal prepares for a final showdown for his freedom or suffer his demise. I really enjoyed this amazing mystery thriller novel.

[Damon Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to Bouchercon in Nashville this year, and Tod Goldberg was one of the many authors I got to meet and listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him and picked up a copy of Gangsters Don't Die.

I am so glad I did, because I loved this book. I now have a new author i love and have some catch up reading to do. Can't recommend enough.

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuation of a series about a mob hit man hiding in Vegas as a rabbi. And he’s quite good at both ! Albeit with a tendency to cite Springsteen lyrics as the Talmud. Buy the premise…. Bitterly funny about how everything is corrupt, but takes a while to get going because the back story has to be recapitulated. (The prologue is a long repeat from book 2 about how Sal’s father, Dark Billy, died.) With the Feds and the Mob homing in, this one is about how to get out of Dodge, relatively unscathed or perhaps not.

[Keith Rosson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fitting, brutal, convincing end to the Gangsterland trilogy. The guy just writes crime fiction like no one else I've read, and this one, even as it's supposedly wrapping things up, was capable - more than once - of surprising me with plot twists and moments of explosive action and violence. There are some books that rattle around consistently in my head, where I find myself thinking about them in random moments, and this is gonna be one of them, I can tell. Recommended.

[Diane Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was so-so. Billy Cupertine jumps from the IBM building in Chicago and, I think, he is waking up in a hospital in Vegas. At I don't know who is who. But the Mafia is alive and working in Vegas.

Mr. Goldberg does a great interview and he is very funny!!!

[Stuart Shiffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in a series that I can only describe as a guilty pleasure. There is a lot of violence and a great deal of suspension of disbelief required along the way. A mafia hit man masquerading as a Rabbi is quite a premise. But the story keeps moving. Sei Gesund and enjoy!

[cordelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best of Tod Goldberg’s career thus far and a stunning conclusion for Rabbi David Cohen. This was a masterclass in character and pacing, wrapping up threads with devastating finesse. Tod is one of the best writers out there.

[Laurence May · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the one hand, the body count in this trilogy is astronomical. But on the other hand, Goldberg tells a great story and infuses it with interesting aspects of Judaism. So, surprisingly, I’m a fan despite the body count.

[Francesco Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Tod Goldberg does not disappoint. Great characters, ambiance, the story flows well from beginning to end. I love Tod's writing style, simple, direct, yet all encompassing. Now I need to go back and read the first two novels of the series.

[José Herculano Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this trilogy. The main character is unforgettable.

[Rob Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written, tense, surprising, heartbreaking, violent, and touching conclusion to an ambitious and fantastic trilogy. I hope this is not the end of Rabbi Cohen.

[Scott Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really going to miss Sal/Rabbi Cohen. Great story with unforgettable characters.
Mr. Goldberg is a helluva writer and really closed out this trilogy perfectly.
I highly recommend these books.

[Joe Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a very good ending to the series.

[Chick Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful blend of mystery and mysticism. Can’t wait to backfill with the earlier stories.