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Occupation: Gangster
In the lawless streets of Hell's Kitchen, power belonged to those willing to take it.
Gangster, a gripping new novel from author Brendan Kelly, brings to life the rise of the Westies, a tight-knit Irish-American crew who defied the Mafia and ruled their own turf in New York City for an unforgettable decade.
At its heart is Jimmy Coonan, a man shaped by hardship, loyalty and a fierce desire for power. From his upbringing and deep admiration for his father to his early encounters with Mickey Spillane, Coonan's story is as personal as it is ruthless. Alongside him stands Mickey Featherstone, a Vietnam veteran returning to a city already consumed by violence, where survival demands allegiance and brutality.
Written by Brendan Kelly, writer, former boxer and actor, known for his roles in numerous acclaimed films, including The Rock, Con Air, Clockers, Cellular, The Devil's Own and the HBO series Oz, as well as a memorable turn as the lovable bodyguard in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, this novel draws on lived experience. As a young fighter working the door at a Manhattan bar, Kelly encountered the real Westies firsthand, and drew on that experience in creating the characters that populate Gangster.
Gangster, a gripping new novel from author Brendan Kelly, brings to life the rise of the Westies, a tight-knit Irish-American crew who defied the Mafia and ruled their own turf in New York City for an unforgettable decade.
At its heart is Jimmy Coonan, a man shaped by hardship, loyalty and a fierce desire for power. From his upbringing and deep admiration for his father to his early encounters with Mickey Spillane, Coonan's story is as personal as it is ruthless. Alongside him stands Mickey Featherstone, a Vietnam veteran returning to a city already consumed by violence, where survival demands allegiance and brutality.
Written by Brendan Kelly, writer, former boxer and actor, known for his roles in numerous acclaimed films, including The Rock, Con Air, Clockers, Cellular, The Devil's Own and the HBO series Oz, as well as a memorable turn as the lovable bodyguard in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, this novel draws on lived experience. As a young fighter working the door at a Manhattan bar, Kelly encountered the real Westies firsthand, and drew on that experience in creating the characters that populate Gangster.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2026
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