In a world trembling on the brink of war the death of one man could change history. What if the Mafia and FBI joined forces to assassinate Hitler in 1938? The gangster Bugsy Siegel and an agent to control his volatile nature go to Italy on a mission to kill the Nazi leader.
I would first like to say that I am normally uninterested in stories featuring assassination attempts on Hitler, since they tend to be boring and cliché. However, the unusual premise of the U.S. government teaming up with the Mafia to kill Hitler was intriguing. Especially, with Ben Siegel as one of the triggermen. The book was action-packed and the author's characterizations for the most part were good. Like another reviewer, I'm disappointed that FitzGerald didn't go into more detail about the results of the assassination. Here's to hoping he writes a sequel.
Great story with the theme of an alternate history, about the mafia and FBI wanting to assassinate Adolf Hitler when he visits Italy. Left me wanting more, I really enjoyed it.
I have come to realize that plots that try to change history come with serious repercussions...and I love it. Payback is precisely one of these novels, and I couldn't have been more pleased by the outcome of its plot.
Assassinating Hitler has been a popular topic as of late, and even though I have seen other novels discuss this possibility and the "what ifs" of it all, Payback brought more to the table. It is a novel filled with disaster and possibility, and Michael Fitzgerald didn't hold anything back.
Fitzgerald's writing is crisp and clear. He didn't add unnecessary details or drama that could hinder this type of story, and he stuck straight to the facts. It was clear to me that he knows this time period well and prepped his novel in length to make sure that it was as factual as possible. I couldn't put Payback down due to the historical intrigue, and I am sure that crime enthusiasts, as well as history buffs, will faun over it. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in WWII history as well as alternate history and crime!
This is an intriguing story and brilliantly conceived. The FBI and The Mafia join forces in an assassination attempt on Hitler in 1938. The Mafia in both America and Italy are used so that they can be blamed whatever the outcome even although the plot is hatched and devised by the US government.
The two main assassins are two Italians, one a native speaker and the other a hot-headed American Italian, two widely differing characters who have to learn to work together. The decision is made to attempt the assassination during Hitler’s visit to his staunchest ally Mussolini in Rome.
The action is very well described and the aftermath involves many of the well- known Nazis and how they react to the plot. There was an intriguing mixture of fictional and non-fictional characters and many interesting theories as to how this plot, if successful, could have affected the world.
This book was very easy to read, I finished it in 2 days, and thoroughly enjoyed the story. It really made me think what could have happened if this had been real and not fictional. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good plot.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review