Road to Purgatory

Road to Perdition #3

by Max Allan Collins

From Max Allan Collins, 2017 Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Honoree for a Lifetime of Excellence in Mystery Writing comes the brilliant sequel to "Road to Perdition," his masterpiece of crime fiction that became both a literary and cinematic classic.

Twenty-two year-old Michael O’Sullivan returns from the second World War with a medal of honor, a glass eye, and the violent skills necessary to avenge his family, who were gunned down by the Chicago mob when he was a child. O’Sullivan becomes mobster Frank Nitti’s trusted chauffer…and an undercover operative for federal agent Eliot Ness…but even as he seeks revenge, he finds himself being seduced by the criminal underworld that he loathes.

Praise for ROAD TO PURGATORY

“PURGATORY succeeds in putting us inside the head of an honorable man descending into a hell of his own creation,” Entertainment Weekly

“An explosive, action-packed blockbuster, destined to rank right up there with THE GODFATHER series when all is said and done.” Detroit Free Press

“A cordite-drenched Shakespearean tragedy.” Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Noir, Crime, Graphic Novels, Mystery, Adventure

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 23, 2004

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Ayz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Allan Collins’ use of themes in this multi generational crime saga, is what really makes these books for me. It creeps up on you in each installment.

Onto book 3.

[Stephen J. Golds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some mediocre and cringy writing at times but a great story mixing real-life people and incidents with the fictitious. Probably a must read for fans of crime fiction.
4/5

[MM Suarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Loyalty. Omertà—that’s the code, Michael. Our secrets are our secrets.”

I did not enjoy this novel as much as I did Road to Perdition, and it is a somewhat strange sequel, as some of the back stories for Michael Sr., Michael Jr. etc. were changed around or altered in some way. This novel is not for everyone it is for readers who like me enjoy this genre, it's a fun, entertaining read, however, I think I'll give myself a rest before finishing up the trilogy.

[Brenda Broeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked the movie Road to Perdition, you need to read this book. It is the sequel...what happens to the young boy who witnessed so much mob violence...he loses his mother, brother and father to the mob, and then he grows up. Road to Perdition shows us what becomes of him. By the way, this was a gift from my teenage son who bought if for me because the book cover had a tommy gun on it...he thought that was cool. Little did he know what a good book he had bought for me :) PS It should be out in movie form in a few years from what I hear.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big fan of Max Allan Collins' series detective Nate Heller (and the film Road to Perdition), I was excited to finally read this sequel to the latter. As with the early Heller stories, it takes place in the Chicago run by the mob of Al Capone (but in reality by his "lieutenant," Frank Nitti). There are overlaps with Heller, in particular the heavy presence of Eliot Ness, who here will remind no one of either Robert Stack or Kevin Costner. While there is plenty of great pulp action, I think this is the book's only weakness: it should be a graphic novel. While the book is a fast-paced read, I think it was meant to accompany comic-style illustrations. This is not a fatal flaw but the continuation of the O'Sullivan family saga into World War II-era Chicago feels like minor Heller. Also, I think there are too many characters of Irish ancestry whose name starts with "O'" here: O'Sullivan, O'Hara, O'Hanlon, O'Meara. Three and a half stars.

[Harold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as "Road To Perdition," But it held my interest none the less. Again Collins did a great job of weaving real life characters and events into a good novel, but my only problem is that a lot of it strained credibility. Just a little too far fetched.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Road to Purgatory is a novel written by Max Allan Collins.

This novel serves as both a sequel and a prequel to Road to Perdition. Michael O'Sullivan is a promising up-and-coming talent in the Looney Gang. One night when Mr. Looney is in danger of dying when O'Sullivan proves his worth by creating a distraction that will save his boss's life and pave way for him becoming chief enforcer. Michael O'Sullivan Jr, now known as Michael Satariano, has been raised by adopted parents. He joins World War 2 where he becomes the war's first Medal of Honor winner but is injured and forced to return home. Federal Agent Ness approaches Michael to infiltrate Capone's Chicago mob, who murdered his father when he was a child. Now Michael must fight to see if his revenge is more powerful than the new crime family he belongs to.

I enjoyed the book but some of the pacing was off. I was really into Michael Jr's story which is told over the course of about 150 pages when it abruptly shifts to his father's prequel tale before finishing back on Michael Jr. That switch really took me out the narrative and I struggled for days to get back in to it. The story continues to weave fact and fiction of the Chicago mob scenes through the 1920s and 40s but feels a little too involved by the end and I didn't agree with some of the character decisions made.

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a "Road to Perdition" junkie.

I have read the original "Road to Perdition" graphic novel (slightly different from the movie). I loved it, but prefer the movie's ending. Then I read the 2nd graphic novel, which contained 3 background stories of Micheal and his dad that happened while the original story was going on.

Then of course I read the movie adaptation by Collins. Now this story which follows the movie version. I plan to read the third novel,

Last week a bought the 3rd graphic novel which features an older Micheal and his grandaughter:

And of course I LOVE the movie version.

Micheal is such a tragic character. A good follow up.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this back to back with Road to Perdition and I'm utterly baffled with the direction this "sequel" took. Major plot points created in the first book were altered. The biggest being how/where Michael Jr. ended at the end of perdition. It feels like the author was paid to make more and abandoned the first work which was complete as a single story. Even worse was the way Michael was written in the self insertion Gary Sue style that had him litterally fighting off and killing 50 Japanese soilders in a single WWII altercation. Very disappointed because while the first one wasn't perfect it was enjoyable. Michael went from being a character that was relatable to a predictable machismo action hero. Dropped at pg 51.

[Zachary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this is kind of a strange exercise in bearing witness to someone unwilling to recognize when they have a good thing. Road to Perdition, the graphic novel, was (to me) a perfect book, telling a simple, evocative, impactful story that had a stunning beginning, a wonderful middle, and a heartfelt end. But apparently that's just not quite enough. So, instead of ending with this perfect, incredible ending, we get a sequel novel that effectively tortures its main character by having him do a whole host of entirely unnecessary things with no real thematic significance to any of it beyond a vague gesture towards revenge that honestly feels entirely out of step with the character of Michael Jr. that we got to know in the first book. I read this knowing that it was likely going to be bad because I just wanted to know precisely how bad, and while parts of the story aren't absolutely terrible, the characterization of especially Michael just never feels right; he seems too hard boiled and too boisterous to fit with the Michael you meet in the first book. Beyond that, the book's plot and prose are just...fine, and really show just how much the art was contributing to the narrative in the graphic novel. Left exclusively to the writing, the story becomes strained and even turgid, to say the least. If you really love the characters and just have to know what the author himself thinks happened to them, I suppose you can have a good time with this book. But for me, this stands out as a rare example of an author not knowing what's best for his characters and writing them a continuation that they neither needed nor deserve.

[Ted Gault · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never seen a sequel so quickly and bluntly mutate core events from its predecessor. For some reason I cannot fathom, the author changed important parts of the protagonist's backstory from the past book. On top of that, I saw nothing in the grown up version of the character that seemed familiar from their childhood self. It's basically NOT THE SAME CHARACTER. So why am I reading a sequel? I stopped 15% of the way through.

I'm a huge fan of the movie and was so excited to read a full trilogy. The first book was great, but throwing out clear parts of the original story FROM HIS OWN BOOK is just ... stupid. I know Collins wrote the comic before the movie, and then had the interesting task of writing book 1 based on a movie based on his comic, so maybe book 2 is more a sequel to the comic that a sequel to the movie/BOOK 1?! Why. Why did you do this, Collins?!

[Michael Fredette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Road to Purgatory, Max Allan Collins [Brash Books, 2004].

After returning home from the Pacific Theater a decorated war hero, Michael O’Sullivan is recruited by Elliot Ness to infiltrate Capone’s crime organization. Road to Purgatory is the conventional print/prose sequel to the classic graphic novel Road to Perdition. This trilogy is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

***
Road to Purgatory is locally published by Brash Books of Leawood, KS.

***
Max Allan Collins is one of America’s most lauded writers of hard boiled crime novels. Collins is a twenty-one time recipient of the Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America. His series fiction includes Nolan, Quarry (the basis of a Cinemax show), and Elliott Ness. Additionally, he has completed and continued Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer series. His adaptations of Saving Private Ryan, American Gangster and Air Force One were New York Times bestsellers.
His graphic novel Road to Perdition served as the basis of a film by Sam Mendes featuring Tom Hanks.

[Ted Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am intrigued by this genre. ROAD TO PURGATORY is Max Allan Collins' sequel to Road to Perdition set in WWII era Chicagoland. Using his tradition real gangster figures, he continues his story with a WWII hero involved with last stages of Capone - Ness saga. The story evolves in typical gangland style.

[Maurice J · Rating 5 out of 5]

some of Colins’s best writing

Great sequel to Road to Perdition. Michael O’Sullivan a great finely drawn character. Amazing how he never gets hit given the hundreds of bullets aimed at him.

[William Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that mix true history with fictional characters. This read did an exceptional job doing that. I recommend it if you like this kind of book as well.

[Diane Yackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believable story line occurring during the mob infested era of the early 20th century. Highlights the fragility of relations and trust. Great read.

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The follow up to Road to Perdition - covers the next generation of Chicago mafia

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable gangster novel. Collins is great at taking facts and real participants and twisting them to come to the right conclusions for his book. It would be nice to see this one as a movie as well. Well done to the author...3.5 Stars

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

"It's 1942, and -- from the Atlantic to the Pacific -- the world is torn apart. Ten years earlier Michael O'Sullivan accompanied his gangster father on the road, fleeing from the mobsters who killed his mother and young brother. After an idyllic upbringing by loving adoptive parents in a small Midwestern town, Michael is now deep in the jungles of Bataan, carrying a tommy gun like his father's, fighting the Japanese. When brutal combat unearths deep-buried feelings of violence and revenge, Michael returns to the homefront a battle-scarred veteran of twenty-two, ready to pick up his old war against the Chicago Mob.

Suddenly, Michael "Satariano" must become one of the enemy, working his way quickly up to the trusted side of Frank Nitti, Al Capone's heir, putting himself -- and his soul -- in harm's way. Leaving behind his heartbroken childhood sweetheart, the war hero enters a limbo of crime and corruption -- his only allies: Eliot Ness, seeking one last hurrah as a gangbuster, and a lovely nightclub singer playing her own dangerous game. Even as Michael embraces his father's memory to battle the Mob from within -- leaving bodies and broken lives in his wake -- he finds himself sucked into the very way of life he abhors.

In a parallel tale set in 1922, Michael O'Sullivan, Sr., chief enforcer for Irish godfather John Looney, is about to become a father. The bidding of Looney -- and the misdeeds of the ganglord's crazed son Connor -- put the happy O'Sullivan home at risk. Both Michaels reach a crossroads of violence and compromise as two tales converge into the purgatory of good men trapped in bad lives." (From Amazon)

I really liked it! A continuation of Road to Perdition.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried watching the Road to Perdition film and found it slow and dull so I stopped after a while, but after reading this book I want to go back and get the original novel.

Young Michael finds he has a gift for coolness under fire and killing Japanese while serving in the Marines, but after losing an eye fighting off a Zero attack on a General's jeep, he's sent back home. Contacted by Elliot Ness, he goes undercover to bust up the Chicago mob, now led by Frank Nitti.

Yet the longer he's under, the more he gets pulled into the mob and follows in his hit man father's footsteps.

This book is an examination of a man who feels no remorse for what he's done - killing dozens - yet knows that it is wrong and wonders if he can really be forgiven for something he doesn't care about and keeps doing. Also, it is a history of the post-Capone mafia which is in a transition from the old days to the later mobsters such as Sam Giancana.

Well written and gripping, the story moves along well and even characters such as Nitti are interesting and develop over time.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

at first i thought the prose was too flamboyant but i was able to get over that by skimming the worst paragraphs. What made the book really bad was how utterly pointless it was. absolutely nothing happened in the pages of this book. There is one cool action scene in the middle, but it goes nowhere. When things do happen, they happen off the page in scenes we're not privy to, and the main character just spins his wheels the whole time. Road to Perdition was a good book, but who wants to read a needless sequel that does absolutely nothing but still manages to set up a second sequel?

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book demonstrates Max Allen Collins ability to use history to create interesting stories that also have twists worthy of Harlan Coben, even though if you know your history (especially gangster history) you know how it will turn out for some of the characters.

Some may find the premise of the story and certain turns, a little far fetched or "convenient" but he keeps the story moving so if you are willing to go along with it, you will be rewarded by being entertained by a fast moving story with a fair amount of suspense.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young man serving in the Philippines seems too young to be a killing machine but he is and serves well until he loses the sight of one eye and is sent home where he is given a new job for his country: going undercover to stop the mob. The mob that also killed his family.

This is the first book by Max Allan Collins that I've read and while it has a lot of violence in it, it is a compelling and easy to read story. The characters are well drawn and the action well described. I was quite ready to stay up all night to finish it.

[Donna Davis]

Ah geez. I really wanted to like this one, because Brash Books will be publishing it next month and they were among the very first publishers to auto-approve me when I first started my blog. Sadly, this thing features ugly stereotypes and anti-Japanese racist terms wall to wall, and I can't even get a hook into the plot. I read the first ten percent and then started skipping to random increments, hoping to find a reason to keep reading.

Sadly, I didn't find one.

[Matt Sabonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

So...the beginning of the book is utterly, utterly cliched. I think that serves a point, though, getting us lulled into a false sense of security, only for the rug to get taken out from under us. The climax was fairly interesting, I thought, especially for the various implications for the next book, as well as Michael's character. However, the book definitely isn't for everybody.

[Rancy Breece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramblimg and not as tightly written and satisfying as Perdition. The action moves ahead 10 years when, Michael, the enforcer’s son, and a newly minted war hero, takes a similar role in the Chicago area mob. We've seen a similar storyline in The Godfather. While Purgatory features historical crime and law enforcement figures and authenticity to the tale.

[Federico Kereki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read -- and I recommend reading beforehand the two ROAD TO PERDITION graphic novels first, specially the first. ROAD TO PURGATORY continues the story from there, and is a quick, nice, read, full of data relating Chicago mobsters in the 40's.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional read regarding a bygone era of American Criminal History and a cast of true living characters. Collins definitely has a flair with the written word, one that keeps the reader attached to every page.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Road to Perdition but still a good read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and easy read. Picks up pretty seamlessly from "Road to Perdition." Feels a lot like the novels from MACollins' "Nate Heller" series.