The Many Murders of Michael Malloy

by Simon Read

A devious speakeasy owner. A crooked undertaker. A cunning bartender. A psychotic cabbie. A hapless greengrocer. A notorious thug.
And one Irishman who came to be known as 'Iron Mike'.
Set around New York's Prohibition-era speakeasy scene in the 1930s in what became known as 'the most grotesque chain of events in New York criminal history', The Many Murders of Michael Malloy is the tragic true story of six low-rent, desperate and extraordinarily incompetent murderers and one lonely Irish emigrant of exceptional fortitude and resilience.
Poisoned, frozen, knocked down twice – Malloy survived it all, until he didn't.
This is the utterly compelling, stranger-than-fiction story of the most infamous Irish murder you've never heard of.

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

I'm the author of nine non-fiction books published on both sides of the Atlantic. Hachette will release my next book, THE IRON SEA, in November.

When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading (naturally), messing about on the piano, listening to classic British rock, and searching for good English pubs (I live in Arizona, where such drinking establishments can sometimes be hard to find).

Please feel free to check out my website or visit me on Twitter.

Reviews

[Mark Power]

I read this as part of a book club. Not to my taste, but in a way, it's a pretty effective warning of what happens in a society without a welfare net and access to healthcare. They plot to kill each other for insurance money. It remined me of the last execution in my home town, Waterford. A man was convicted of killing two of his children for the insurance money, ten pounds for one, nine for the other. The good old days were generally awful.

[Conor Seery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting and genuinely funny about a series of attempted murders to claim insurance payout. Almost slapstick in places but a vivid depiction and background of all the characters and The Bronx at the time. would make a great Coen brothers or Martin McDonagh film.

[Belinda Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a crazy story! All true!

[Ann Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book - true story which is unbelievable. Laugh out loud at times but also poignant and a true portrait of greed.

[Kamil Kosakowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant at times, occasionally drifts into repetition. Despite that, mostly interesting, keeping the reader engaged. Not flawless, but certainly worth the read