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A Nick Williams Mystery #7
The Mangled Mobster
Wednesday, June 16, 1954
Construction on the new twenty-story building for Consolidated Security at the corner of Market and Montgomery is ahead of schedule, thanks to Henry and Pam. Nick is looking forward to his office on the nineteenth floor. The twentieth floor is designed to be a restaurant. He's hoping for French or Italian. Carter wants something with less garlic.
But then an unknown man falls from the top of the steel skeleton and things grind to a halt.
When Henry gets a late-night call warning him and Nick to not investigate, Mike takes action to protect them both but Nick gets a late-night visit from some wiseguys and it doesn't end well... For them.
That's just the beginning of a tale of mobsters, refugees, and The Old Poodle Dog that twists and turns its way to a thrilling conclusion.
In the end, it's an adventure for Nick, Carter, and the whole gang in the City we love the most: Baghdad By The Bay.
Construction on the new twenty-story building for Consolidated Security at the corner of Market and Montgomery is ahead of schedule, thanks to Henry and Pam. Nick is looking forward to his office on the nineteenth floor. The twentieth floor is designed to be a restaurant. He's hoping for French or Italian. Carter wants something with less garlic.
But then an unknown man falls from the top of the steel skeleton and things grind to a halt.
When Henry gets a late-night call warning him and Nick to not investigate, Mike takes action to protect them both but Nick gets a late-night visit from some wiseguys and it doesn't end well... For them.
That's just the beginning of a tale of mobsters, refugees, and The Old Poodle Dog that twists and turns its way to a thrilling conclusion.
In the end, it's an adventure for Nick, Carter, and the whole gang in the City we love the most: Baghdad By The Bay.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2016
28 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Frank W. Butterfield
123 books106 followersFrank W. Butterfield, not an assumed name, loves old movies, wise-cracking smart guys with hearts of gold, and writing for fun.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 27, 2017
This is the 7th book in the Nick Williams mysteries. In this book we find Nick missing Carter, who with other members of the Consolidated Security firm is investigating an arson. Nick is conducting a business conference with Henry Winters ( Carter's hometown friend who is working on the 40 story building Nick is constructing) when both are alerted that there is an urgent matter at the construction site. They discover that an unknown male has fallen from the 20th floor of the construction site.It turns out to be a murder most foul.Also, we find the mafia is alive and well in San Francisco.Twists and turns, tears and fears.I love this series of the richest man in San Francisco, the man he loves, and their friends and family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2019
Personally, the murder/mystery aspect of this book didn't grab my interest but as always love getting more of the story about Nick and Carter and their community of friends / former lovers / employees. 3.5 stars.
April 13, 2018
Each book just grows off of the last one. The "pile of rocks" was a big surprise to me. I almost like old man Williams and Mrs. Wilson now that the sticks are coming out of their asses. Thank you Mr. Butterfield!
February 11, 2017
The Mangled Mobster (Nick Williams Mystery #7)
By Frank W. Butterfield
By the author, 2016
Five stars
Well, things keep getting weirder and more interesting in 1954 San Francisco. Nick Williams, richest gay man in America, is building an office building. Part of this is simply expanding his real estate holdings in the City by the Bay, but Nick also needs room for his expanding business, Consolidated Security. All of Nick’s businesses employ gay folks cast aside by social prejudice, making him a sort of happy super hero.
Then it looks like the mob is getting involved, and Nick learns something more of the complications of doing business in the construction trades. A strange murder leads Nick and his friends down yet another torturous road to a surprise ending, but along the way there’s more to be said about Nick’s new relationship with his father and the “pile of rocks” he grew up in on Nob Hill. Now that Nick’s secretary, Marnie Wilson (homage to Della Street) is also his stepsister, there are complications in his life that are, for once, happy.
Plus, now that Nick’s husband, Carter Jones, the tall drink of water from Georgia, has his own budding career as an arson investigator working for their company, he’s away from home more. Nick’s loneliness stirs up all sorts of emotions he normally keeps tamped down. In Butterfield’s usual way, he mixes the detective story with an ongoing love story, and into that stirs fascinating facts about gay life in the bad old days. As ever, Nick’s coterie of once-wounded friends is there, backing him up and giving him purpose.
Carter is the dark horse in this book. Nick loves Carter, desperately, but he doesn’t always see him as being a proactive force in their life together. Let’s just say that Nick learns better this time around.
By Frank W. Butterfield
By the author, 2016
Five stars
Well, things keep getting weirder and more interesting in 1954 San Francisco. Nick Williams, richest gay man in America, is building an office building. Part of this is simply expanding his real estate holdings in the City by the Bay, but Nick also needs room for his expanding business, Consolidated Security. All of Nick’s businesses employ gay folks cast aside by social prejudice, making him a sort of happy super hero.
Then it looks like the mob is getting involved, and Nick learns something more of the complications of doing business in the construction trades. A strange murder leads Nick and his friends down yet another torturous road to a surprise ending, but along the way there’s more to be said about Nick’s new relationship with his father and the “pile of rocks” he grew up in on Nob Hill. Now that Nick’s secretary, Marnie Wilson (homage to Della Street) is also his stepsister, there are complications in his life that are, for once, happy.
Plus, now that Nick’s husband, Carter Jones, the tall drink of water from Georgia, has his own budding career as an arson investigator working for their company, he’s away from home more. Nick’s loneliness stirs up all sorts of emotions he normally keeps tamped down. In Butterfield’s usual way, he mixes the detective story with an ongoing love story, and into that stirs fascinating facts about gay life in the bad old days. As ever, Nick’s coterie of once-wounded friends is there, backing him up and giving him purpose.
Carter is the dark horse in this book. Nick loves Carter, desperately, but he doesn’t always see him as being a proactive force in their life together. Let’s just say that Nick learns better this time around.
December 14, 2021
Nick and Carter's story continues as they face monumental changes in their lives. I can't help but think about the phoenix rising out of the ashes. It's so true for book 7. Love these guys. Love author Frank Butterfield's story telling.
January 20, 2017
Another Fun and Enjoyable Read
I always look forward to the fastest Nick Willams mysteries. They are fun and keep me reading fervently to the end. I love not only the main storyline, but the background action as well. I love the love between Nick and Carter, they come through family conflict and personal challenges fiercely holding onto each other. I hope more adventures are to come, and I will be waiting.
I always look forward to the fastest Nick Willams mysteries. They are fun and keep me reading fervently to the end. I love not only the main storyline, but the background action as well. I love the love between Nick and Carter, they come through family conflict and personal challenges fiercely holding onto each other. I hope more adventures are to come, and I will be waiting.
September 8, 2017
A charming gangster detective story
If a detective novel can have a gangster tinge and be charming too then this book takes the prize. These characters have really hit their stride. Page turner.
If a detective novel can have a gangster tinge and be charming too then this book takes the prize. These characters have really hit their stride. Page turner.
April 7, 2017
Gosh, I just love this series. Trying to space them out so I don't read through them too quickly.
June 28, 2025
Construction on a new office building, waiting to open their new offices on the top floor, what could possibly go wrong? As if you had to ask? It is Nick and Carter, after all.
There has been so much going on in my life this year, so many changes, so much stress and anxiety and unfortunately, even though books continue to be a relaxing step outside my life factor, finding the time and energy I want reviewing said books have become harder. So this will be shorter than it deserves.
Nick and Carter are still just a joy to read. Scratch that. You don't just "read" them, you experience them. You may not feel the danger physically but emotionally every single ounce jumps from the page and seeps into every pore. Their ever-growing but always-true, found family is everything most of us want, be it our inner or outer circle, you know they won't let the guys down and the guys won't let them down in turn. Honestly, as much as the mystery grabs me, it's that connection and devotion to their people that makes these a must read for me. I may not get to read them as much as I'd like, I enjoy every minute of them when I do.
With this entry, as it often does on some level, mystery and family intertwine, once the mob appears to have a role, Nick and Carter are given a blow when their home is destroyed which leads them to move into Nick's childhood home, or as it's often referred to: "the pile of rocks on the hill". A temporary scenario that could become permanent, will that weaken or strengthen the men's relationship with Nick's father? Will it help or hinder their search for what(and/or who is responsible) happened to the man who fell from their still-in-construction new office building? You'll have to read that to find out but I promise, you will enjoy every minute of The Mangled Mobster.
There has been so much going on in my life this year, so many changes, so much stress and anxiety and unfortunately, even though books continue to be a relaxing step outside my life factor, finding the time and energy I want reviewing said books have become harder. So this will be shorter than it deserves.
Nick and Carter are still just a joy to read. Scratch that. You don't just "read" them, you experience them. You may not feel the danger physically but emotionally every single ounce jumps from the page and seeps into every pore. Their ever-growing but always-true, found family is everything most of us want, be it our inner or outer circle, you know they won't let the guys down and the guys won't let them down in turn. Honestly, as much as the mystery grabs me, it's that connection and devotion to their people that makes these a must read for me. I may not get to read them as much as I'd like, I enjoy every minute of them when I do.
With this entry, as it often does on some level, mystery and family intertwine, once the mob appears to have a role, Nick and Carter are given a blow when their home is destroyed which leads them to move into Nick's childhood home, or as it's often referred to: "the pile of rocks on the hill". A temporary scenario that could become permanent, will that weaken or strengthen the men's relationship with Nick's father? Will it help or hinder their search for what(and/or who is responsible) happened to the man who fell from their still-in-construction new office building? You'll have to read that to find out but I promise, you will enjoy every minute of The Mangled Mobster.
February 5, 2019
The seventh book in this series and for me it was confusing in that there were so many things happening it was difficult to follow the story, in fact there was a chapter where Nick was talking to Mike and did a precis of the main points in the story obviously the author realised that this read was difficult. Having said that, it was good to meet up again with so many old friends from the earlier books and the progression in their personal stories.
The one thing that comes out of these books is the climate of homophobia and oppression in the fifties with McCarthy and the paranoia and fear engendered by his "witch hunts" put together with police and FBI entrapment and dehumanisation of good people who just happened to be gay.
Not the best book in the series so far. 3 stars
The one thing that comes out of these books is the climate of homophobia and oppression in the fifties with McCarthy and the paranoia and fear engendered by his "witch hunts" put together with police and FBI entrapment and dehumanisation of good people who just happened to be gay.
Not the best book in the series so far. 3 stars
July 5, 2017
Without necessarily being able to cite why, in my opinion Frank W. Butterfield took things to a new level with The Mangled Mobster. I noticed it right in the beginning chapters and was reminded throughout the novel. I had stated (in a separate review) that The Larconic Lumberjack was my favorite up to that point in the series, but now I can't say for sure whether it still is.
Nick and Carter's world is expanding around us (the readers), and it is such fun to behold! Oh...and there were some more one-liners that had me roar with laughter. Boy do I love that!
Nick and Carter's world is expanding around us (the readers), and it is such fun to behold! Oh...and there were some more one-liners that had me roar with laughter. Boy do I love that!
April 3, 2019
A busy couple of weeks for Nick and Carter - a construction 'accident' pauses work on the new building, their house burns down (arson), they move into the 'pile of rocks' as Dr and the new Mrs Parnell move out, tangle with the mob... and buy a couple of cars and a construction company.
As always part of the fun is reading how Nick operates in the less welcoming world of the period - and the historical detail. That may seem a bit of an odd description but it really seems like a different world .
As always part of the fun is reading how Nick operates in the less welcoming world of the period - and the historical detail. That may seem a bit of an odd description but it really seems like a different world .
July 20, 2019
Wow
Ok, so I’m going to sound like a broken record: this is my fave book of the series. I love Nick and Carter. They make a big, no make that a HUGE decision on their future. Some traumatic things happen that had me weeping, scratch that, had me sobbing. Bullets flying, people being shot. Good guys. Bad guys. New characters. Recurring characters. Mike....sigh...makes my heart go pitter patter. Lots of whodunnit and whydunnit. Ch-ch-changes, lots of them. This is a 5* series. Read it.
Ok, so I’m going to sound like a broken record: this is my fave book of the series. I love Nick and Carter. They make a big, no make that a HUGE decision on their future. Some traumatic things happen that had me weeping, scratch that, had me sobbing. Bullets flying, people being shot. Good guys. Bad guys. New characters. Recurring characters. Mike....sigh...makes my heart go pitter patter. Lots of whodunnit and whydunnit. Ch-ch-changes, lots of them. This is a 5* series. Read it.
August 18, 2018
Great series. Well written with well developed characters.
September 4, 2018
Really liked this one, in particular for the character interactions. It was a chance to get better acquainted with them, as well as to provide more depth. Good 'mob' storyline as well.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews