Gangster Nation: A Novel

Gangsterland #2

by Tod Goldberg

"Gangster Nation is a razor. It will slice you open and reveal your insides. And like the best of Tod Goldberg's work, it'll show you everything you are at your core." —Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author of The President's Shadow

It's been two years since the events of Gangsterland, when legendary Chicago hitman Sal Cupertine disappeared into the guise of Vegas Rabbi David Cohen. It’s September of 2001 and for David, everything is coming up gold: Temple membership is on the rise, the new private school is raking it in, and the mortuary and cemetery—where Cohen has been laundering bodies for the mob—is minting cash. But Sal wants out. He’s got money stashed in safe-deposit boxes all over the city. He’s looking at places to escape to, Mexico or maybe Argentina. He only needs to make it through the High Holidays, and he’ll have enough money to slip away, grab his wife and kid, and start fresh.

Across the country, former FBI agent Matthew Drew is now running security for an Indian Casino outside of Milwaukee, spending his off-time stalking members of The Family, looking for vengeance for the murder of his former partner. So when Sal’s cousin stumbles into the casino one night, Matthew takes the law into his own hands—again—touching off a series of events that will have Rabbi Cohen running for his life, trapped in Las Vegas, with the law, society, and the post-9/11 world closing in around him.

Gangster Nation is a thrilling follow-up to Gangsterland, an unexpected, page-turning examination of the seedy foundations of American life. With the wit and gritty glamor that defines his writing, Goldberg traces how the things we most value in our lives—home, health, even our spiritual lives—have been built on the enterprises of criminals.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books of fiction, notably the acclaimed Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Gangster Nation; The Low Desert, a Southwest Book of the Year; and Gangsters Don’t Die, an Amazon Best Book of 2023 as well as a Southwest Book of the Year. Other works include The House of Secrets, which he co-authored with Brad Meltzer, and Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His short fiction and essays have been anthologized widely, including in Best American Mystery & Suspense and Best American Essays, and appear regularly in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Alta. Tod Goldberg is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where founded and directs the Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts. His next novel, Only Way Out, will be released this fall from Thomas & Mercer.

Reviews

[Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm fairly irritated at this point. I tried the first book, and while I didn't love it, it was just good enough to get me to check out the second part. Now I've been cliffhangered by a story I'm only mildly interested in and gotta wait if I want to continue.

It's got stuff I like, but most of it is just the main characters rehashing the events that have already happened with occasional bursts of violence. I don't hate it, but if I'd know it would require 3 (Or more?) books to get the whole story, I don't think I would have started it.

[Patrick O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may sound odd, given the subject matter, but Tod Goldberg achieves a certain sophistication in his language while writing about all that murder and mayhem in Gangster Nation. Obviously he could have gone the total full frontal shoot ‘em up. But instead Goldberg got inside his protagonist’s mind and explored his ongoing (and readily relatable) issues of identity and desire. Throw in a subplot of the effects of organized crime on American society and the ever evolving debate on religious freedom and you have much more to digest than your usual run-of-the-mill crime novel. Plus, let’s face it. Sequels are hard. Most times the second book is judged not by its quality, but by its quality compared to the quality of the first book. Like as if it couldn't be considered as a stand-alone piece of work. Fortunately Gangster Nation is just as strong and compelling as Gangsterland (maybe even better). If you haven’t already gotten into this series, you should do so now.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violent and suspenseful follow-up to Gangsterland. Goldberg's Las Vegas murder mystery reads at times like a critique of neoliberalism disguised as a murder mystery. Ends with a cliffhanger.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won an ARC of Gangster Nation from Goodreads. I read and enjoyed Gangsterland and I also enjoy listening to Tod Goldberg as a host of the Literary Disco podcast. This novel picks up a couple of years after Gangsterland and Rabbi David Cohen is continuing to minister to his flock in Las Vegas while continually trying to figure out how to get his old life back. Having previously murdered several FBI agents as well as enemies of his previous criminal enterprise, there are still people searching for him. This story moves swiftly and while I enjoyed it, I found the constant references to corruption in every day life tiresome at times. Tod writes crisply and pulls you into his characters worries and concerns. I will wait impatiently for the third in this series.

[Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first, Gangsterland, quite a bit.

The fun was in hitman Sal Cupertine's transition into his "secret identity" as Rabbi David Cohen.

In Gangster Nation, Rabbi Cohen's role is well established and he has a certain flair for some good schemes.

While there are some good observations about post-Sept 11th society, this book did not hold my interest. I almost gave up and was definitely underwhelmed by the ending.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both Gangster Land and this newest edition Ganster Nation. This one ends with an opening for a 3rd novel in this very well written series. Great crime fiction Chicago mob style with a little Jewish twist set in Sin City.

[Rory Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some readers found all the Judaica in this story a drag. I did not. I thought it went hand in hand with all the black humor, which I enjoyed. At first I thought Tod Goldberg was aping Don Winslow, and though they do have a lot in common stylistically, there is more than enough to separate them (the Judaica comes in again here).

This is #2 in what has to be at least a trilogy. I came to it out of order, but that didn't interfere with the reading experience. I intend to go back for #1 at some point.

[Cees Rhienen · Rating 3 out of 5]

[RECENSIE] Gangsterstaat van Tod Goldberg

Origineel, interessant met soms wat trage voortgang

Oorspronkelijke titel: Gangster Nation
ISBN: 9789021407845
Uitgeverij: Q (Singel Uitgeverijen)
Pagina’s: 415
Beoordeling: 3,5 ster

In 2016 verscheen Gangsterland van de Amerikaanse journalist en auteur Tod Goldberg. Een verhaal waarin de Amerikaanse maffia een dominerende rol speelt. In september 2017 verscheen in Amerika het tweede deel uit deze serie, Gangster Nation, ongeveer een maand later in het Nederlands vertaald als Gangsterstaat. Het verhaal draait om huurmoordenaar Sal Cupertine.

Sal Cupertine heeft de uitzonderlijk wrede moord op FBI-agent Jeff Hopper op zijn conto staan. Hopper wordt met afgehakt hoofd gevonden, een hoofd dat wel is gebalsemd maar waaruit de ogenballen zijn verwijderd. Omdat er massaal jacht op hem wordt gemaakt, verdwijnt hij uit het zicht, laat zijn uiterlijk veranderen en vervolgt zijn leven in Las Vegas als rabbijn David Cohen.
Vanuit de vluchtplaats van Sal heeft voormalig FBI-agent Matthew Drew zich voorgenomen om de moordenaar van zijn ex-collega op te sporen en te doden.
Onwetend van de jacht op hem probeert David Cohen zijn nieuwe leven meer inhoud te geven en in die hoedanigheid beheert hij de synagoge en de daarbij behorende begraafplaats en uitvaartcentrum. De twee laatste leveren de rabbijn niet alleen veel geld op maar weet hij ook goed te gebruiken voor het laten verdwijnen van zijn slachtoffers. Want naast zijn Joodse functie blijft hij ook even makkelijk mensen om het leven brengen waarvan hij denkt dat ze een bedreiging voor hem kunnen vormen.

Goldberg heeft in dit vervolg zijn opmerkelijke schrijfstijl weer volledig toegepast. Naast de zoektocht van Drew naar de verdwenen Cupertine ontwikkelt zich binnen het maffiabolwerk dat bekend staat als De Familie, een hevige strijd om de macht. Dit deel van de georganiseerde misdaad probeert via protectiegeld, belastingontduiking, prostitutie en afpersing hun penningen binnen te halen. De argwanende rabbijn merkt daar niet zoveel van maar draagt wel zijn financieel deel bij aan zijn vrouw Jennifer die samen met hun zoon William zijn achtergebleven.
Omdat Cohen van oorsprong geen lid van de Joodse gemeenschap is en wel heel snel inhoudelijke kennis op moet doen, krijgt de lezer hierdoor wel interessante informatie over het leven van deze bevolkingsgroep.

Gangsterstaat is evenals zijn voorganger Gangsterland geen supersnel verhaal. Wel een verhaal dat bol staat van mooie dialogen. Vanuit meerder perspectief toont Goldberg hoe de Joodse gemeenschap functioneert, hoe de achtergebleven Jennifer haar leven probeert vorm te geven en natuurlijk het gebeuren tussen jager en prooi. Waarbij de vrome rabbijn Cohen geen enkele schroom heeft als hij het nodig acht om als de seriemoordenaar Cupertine dreigende zaken op te lossen. Dit alles verheft de serie tot een origineel en goed doordacht en uitgewerkt geheel waarbij een volgende deel op zich laat wachten. Maar bovenal is het honderd procent Amerikaans.

Eindoordeel: 3,5 sterren

Spanning: 3 sterren
Plot: 4 sterren
Leesplezier: 4 sterren
Schrijfstijl: 3 sterren
Originaliteit: 5 sterren
Psychologie: 3 sterren

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sal Cupertine/Rabbi David Cohen still a fugitive in Vegas, trying to get out from under, just trying to get back with his family. Good but not quite as good as the first in the series; 3.8 stars. It’s a serial narrative but there’s a bit too much backing and filling about what’s been going on since the first book ended. Also Goldberg is good on the nuts and bolts of corruption - from strip club skims to how criminals made money off of 9/11 - but he tends to go into too much repetitive detail in making the point that everything is corrupt - or about to be. Also: to make a hit man a sympathetic character he can’t be gratuitously violent, which isn’t the case here, especially when he just needs a ride back to Vegas.

[Chris Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vegas was always barely, where.

Novel as Las Vegas kick,
excise neon and rain slicked streets cliches,
Sam Spade did neon and rain, first, best.

When gangster Bugsy Siegel lived and died Las Vegas,
he lorded over real men in suits,
each one a sport, rolling big bankroll,
now the man sitting next to you,
at the big, green poker table,
oh, wait, that's the author,
wears a Bugs Bunny t-shirt and sandals.

#poem

Chris Roberts, Patrons Saint to Original Gangsters

[Will B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this second book. Seeing Sal really embrace the Jewish faith and being David Cohen was real cool to me, and the appearances from Rabbi Kales was cool. Once it all unraveled and we found out about Peaches, I wish they went more into that story, but maybe that’s coming in the 3rd book. I truly love this series and hope they make a tv show or movie one day.

[Joe Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost four stars. I enjoyed it throughout, however I felt nothing happened until the very end of the epilogue.

Side note, in 2001 I worked for my dad’s construction company building houses on Royal Troon in the town of Dayton, which the book references as a street with houses being built on it (takes place in 2001 in the book).

Alright, I’m rounding it up to four stars.

[Melissa D'Haene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing by Goldberg & great narrating by Heller.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm completely hooked on the darkly comic, excellent murderer Sal Cupertine. Or maybe I prefer David Cohen? Either way, I'll read this smoothly written, fast-paced gangster series (I hope?) forever. The writing is perfect, and I loved the addition of the Native Mob as well as 9/11 and its affect on mafia business. Warning: Ends on a cliffhanger. Book 3, please, asap? (I'll read The Low Desert to keep me going until then.)

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed reading the first book, Gangsterland but had no trouble in picking up the story. Sal Cupertine is a well known hit man in Chicago disappears and reappears as Rabbi David Cohen in Las Vegas with a new career boy launderer for cash, raking off money from a Jewish private school. He planted his stash all over in lock boxes all over. It is a disconcerning that he can preside over weddings and funerals without ever making mistakes. That bothered me all the way through the book. He not even Jewish , he was a con man. The book was engrossing and kept me reading and I was partially interested in the part of Las Vegas that I was familiar with and now want to check out more of the history.

There is also ex-FBI man, Matthew Drew who although he didn't have much time in with the Federal Agency, was still pretending at first that he was still on the case. He becomes so wrapped up in it that he decides to just do what he wants and not worry about any consequences I start to hate him so much that I was relieved with the book would rotate back to other stories. The writing was direct and very dark. The details of Sal Cupertine's face collapsing and the demise of Ronnie Cupertine did not make for a steady stomach through this book.

I received this finished copy from the publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review.

[Kate Maruyama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeper dive into Sal Cupertine/David Cohen's increasingly twisted life. Hilariously fun reading as he takes his Talmudic learning to his gangster upbringing. But underneath run deeply fascinating character studies of the lengths people will go to maintain their lifestyles, protect their own, doggedly maintain their plans, even of vengeance, in a world come unhinged by 9/11. The ripple effect of characters' actions on each other's lives weaves these stories into a tight, page turning throughline.

[Cerinawithasea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The sequel conducts extended discussions on how America is defined by crime, boldly linking gangland violence to the 9/11 attacks . . . Sal/David's mixing of Talmudic citations with Bruce Springsteen lyrics is still very funny. The sacred gets the stuffing kicked out of it by the profane in this wild and sometimes-shocking novel." —Kirkus Reviews
It's been two years since the events of Gangsterland, when legendary Chicago hitman Sal Cupertine disappeared into the guise of Vegas Rabbi David Cohen. It's September of 2001 and for David, everything is coming up gold: Temple membership is on the rise, the new private school is raking it in, and the mortuary and cemetery—where Cohen has been laundering bodies for the mob—is minting cash. But Sal wants out. He's got money stashed in safe-deposit boxes all over the city. He's looking at places to escape to, Mexico or maybe Argentina. He only needs to make it through the High Holidays, and he'll...

**"One can't help but think of such greats as Mario Puzo, Jimmy Breslin, Elmore Leonard, and Donald E. Westlake while reading this witty, brutal, vital book. Goldberg is a master." -- *Mystery Scene Magazine***

**"Sal Cupertine is back - and better than ever. I love this guy." -- Lee Child, *New York Times* bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series. **

** **

**"Gangster Nation is a razor. It will slice you open and reveal your insides. And like the best of Tod Goldberg's work, it'll show you everything you are at your core." --Brad Meltzer, *New York Times* bestselling author of *The President's Shadow***

It's been two years since the events of *Gangsterland*, when legendary Chicago hitman Sal Cupertine disappeared into the guise of Vegas Rabbi David Cohen. It's September of 2001 and for David, everything is coming up gold: Temple membership is on the rise, the new private school is raking it in, and the mortuary and cemetery--where Cohen has been laundering bodies for the mob--is minting cash. But Sal wants out. He's got money stashed in safe-deposit boxes all over the city. He's looking at places to escape to, Mexico or maybe Argentina. He only needs to make it through the High Holidays, and he'll have enough money to slip away, grab his wife and kid, and start fresh.

Across the country, former FBI agent Matthew Drew is now running security for an Indian Casino outside of Milwaukee, spending his off-time stalking members of The Family, looking for vengeance for the murder of his former partner. So when Sal's cousin stumbles into the casino one night, Matthew takes the law into his own hands--again--touching off a series of events that will have Rabbi Cohen running for his life, trapped in Las Vegas, with the law, society, and the post-9/11 world closing in around him.

*Gangster Nation* is a thrilling follow-up to *Gangsterland*, an unexpected, page-turning examination of the seedy foundations of American life. With the wit and gritty glamor that defines his writing, Goldberg traces how the things we most value in our lives--home, health, even our spiritual lives--have been built on the enterprises of criminals.

**

### Review

**Praise for *Gangster Nation*** 

**Named 1 of 6 Crime Must-Reads This September by LitHub**

**Named One Of The Favorite Crime Fiction Books of 2017 by The Rap Sheet
A *Desert Sun* Holiday Gift Guide Pick**

"Sal Cupertine is back―and better than ever. I love this guy." ―**Lee Child** 

"*Gangster Nation* is a razor. It will slice you open and reveal your insides. And like the best of Tod Goldberg's work, it'll show you everything you are at your core." ―**Brad Meltzer**, *New York Times* bestselling author of *The President's Shadow* 

"The sequel conducts extended discussions on how America is defined by crime, boldly linking gangland violence to the 9/11 attacks . . . Sal/David's mixing of Talmudic citations with Bruce Springsteen lyrics is still very funny. The sacred gets the stuffing kicked out of it by the profane in this wild and sometimes-shocking novel." ―*Kirkus Reviews* 

"Goldberg's new novel is every bit as entertaining and at least as quirky as its predecessor―not an out-and-out comedy but certainly lighter than most books featuring organized crime figures and crazed law enforcers (although there are moments of memorable darkness). The book can be read as an installment in a series or as a stand-alone; Goldberg provides enough background to allow newbies to pick up the important plot threads." ―*Booklist* 

"One can't help but think of such greats as Mario Puzo, Jimmy Breslin, Elmore Leonard, and Donald E. Westlake while reading this witty, brutal, vital book. Goldberg is a master, expertly building upon the grim goings-on of *Gangsterland*, merrily pursuing plot points set up there to their logical, wicked ends. And, as if the impressive buildup of tension weren't sufficient, he ends the current installment on a cliff hanger of truly epic proportions, setting up what appears to be the forthcoming and final installment of the Gangster trilogy. This reviewer is already getting itchy, waiting for that welcome denouement." ―*Mystery Scene Magazine*

**

*"*Offbeat doesn't begin to describe Goldberg's impressive sequel to 2014's *Gangsterland...*Fans of clever mixes of dark humor and violent crime by authors such as Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen will be pleased." -- *Publishers Weekly*

"It's thriller that walks a neat path from funny to frightening, its characters motivated by the overlapping codes of criminality and religion." --* Los Angeles Daily News*

"Not only religion but family (what is the mafia if not a family?) and community are dissected in Goldberg's sharp satires, which also happen to be excellent crime novels." ―LitHub, 1 of 6 Crime Must-Reads This September 

"[A] fast-paced, addicting novel." ―*San Diego City Beat* 

"Fans of Elmore Leonard will quickly devour Tod Goldberg's latest novel, *Gangster Nation* . . . This worthy follow-up sees Goldberg fine-tune his signature mix of dark humor, violent crime, Talmudic wisdom and suburban satire." ―*Orange Coast Magazine* 

"Written with humor and the same type of dark, up-close-and-personal style of dialogue that Don Winslow is known for, Goldberg also mixes in some eyebrow-raising historical facts about how criminals (of all types, but especially gangsters) have shaped and changed America throughout the country's history. A touch better than its predecessor (*Gangsterland*), Goldberg's latest novel is a bold and daring adventure that hits hard early on and never lets up. The story twists and turns its way to a surprising ending, setting things up nicely for the planned third and final book in the Sal Cupertine trilogy, The Death of a Gangster." ―*The Real Book Spy* 

"Tod Goldberg's brilliant *Gangster Nation* is hilarious, complex, and a total page-turner. It's also a little insane, in the best possible way." ―Lisa Lutz, *New York Times *bestselling author of *The Passenger* 

*"Gangsterland* was compelling in every way, and in *Gangster Nation*, its sequel, Tod Goldberg has written an enthralling portrait of consequences―emotional, physical, moral, you name it. Amid all the expertly choreographed violence and intrigue is a moving, thought-provoking story about the fluid nature of identity, spirituality, and love. I enjoyed every page." ―Vu Tran, author of *Dragonfish* 

"*Gangster Nation* punches even harder than the excellent *Gangsterland* did: against the backdrop of 9/11, everybody's roughed up and bleeding, and nobody's hiding it well. Tod Goldberg's weird world is getting *The Sopranos*-good, and *The Sopranos*-funny: he can hit you high, low, or straight in the gut. Meshugener wiseguys. It'll make you a better killer―and a better rabbi." ―Bill Beverly, author of *Dodgers* 

"Rabbi David Cohen has some problems. His face is caving in due to bad jaw surgery. He hasn't spoken to his wife or son in years. Also, he killed someone he shouldn't have. I should really mention that he's not a normal rabbi. He's a hit man in disguise. Still, he's good at what he does. He knows how to guide preteens to Bar Mitzvah manhood, counsel troubled members of his congregation, and shut down Kabbalah frauds―and maybe shake them down while he's at it. Sound like the best premise for a novel you've ever heard of? Well, it is. *Gangster Nation* is a delight. A mitzvah, even. The plot's got every twist and turn you could want, the jokes are Woody Allen good, and the writing (if you can slow yourself down to admire it) is beautiful. I couldn't recommend this book more." ―Lily Meyer, events manager, Politics & Prose 

**Praise for *Gangsterland*** 

"Complex characters with understandable motivations distinguish this highly unusual crime novel...Goldberg injects Talmudic wisdom and a hint of Springsteen into the workings of organized crime and FBI investigative techniques and makes it all work splendidly." ―*Publishers Weekly*, Starred Review 

"Sal's transformation―and intermittent edification―into Rabbi Cohen is brilliantly rendered, and Goldberg's careening plot, cast of memorably dubious characters, and mordant portrait of Las Vegas make this one of the year's best hard-boiled crime novels." ―*Booklist*, Starred Review 

"Clearly influenced by the great Elmore Leonard, Goldberg puts his own dry comic spin on the material...Clever plotting, a colorful cast of characters, and priceless situations make this comedic crime novel an instant classic." ―*Kirkus*, Starred Review 

"In his plotting, dialogue, and empathy for the bad guys, Goldberg aspires to the heights of Elmore Leonard. For those who miss the master, *Gangsterland* is a high-grade substitute." ―*New York Times* 

"For many of us, *The Godfather*, book or movie, ushered us into a second boyhood, teaching that the incorrigible vitality of a first-rate gangster story could temporarily inoculate us against adult sanity. For readers of a like mind, Tod Goldberg's *Gangsterland* will arrive as a gloriously original Mafia novel: 100 percent unhinged about the professionally unhinged...torridly funny...the novel swells with a spiritual but jazzy tone."―*New York Times Book Review* 

"As sharp as a straight razor. But a lot more fun. Count me a huge fan." ―Lee Child, *New York Times* bestselling author of *Personal: A Jack Reacher Novel* 

"*Gangsterland* is rich with complex and meaty characters, but its greatest strength is that it never pulls a punch, never holds back, and never apologizes for life's absurdities. If this novel were a person, you could ask it for a bookie." ―Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of *The Fifth Assassin* 

"Tod Goldberg is a one-of-a-kind writer, and this is his best novel to date. Harrowing, funny, wise, and heretical, *Gangsterland* is everything a thriller should be." ―T. Jefferson Parker, author of *Full Measure* 

"Tod Goldberg has long been one of the most interesting writers around, and *Gangsterland* is his biggest and best book so far." ―Thomas Perry 

"With his eye for human detail and trademark wit, as dry as a desert breeze, Tod Goldberg charts Sal Cupertine's unlikely transition from stone-cold mob hitman to Las Vegas rabbi. This tale of witness relocation-by-mob―part Elmore Leonard, part Theatre of the Absurd―is a compelling examination of salvation, which comes in various guises and moves in elusive ways. A wholly unique tale from a wholly unique voice." ―Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of *Don't Look Back* 

"Infinitely readable, infinitely funny, and infinitely better than anything else you'll read this year!" ―Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries and

### About the Author

**Tod Goldberg** is the author of the crime-tinged novels *Living Dead Girl*, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, *Fake Liar Cheat, * and the popular Burn Notice series. His essay ''When They Let Them Bleed'' was selected by Cheryl Strayed for inclusion in Best American Essays 2013. He is also the author of the story collections *Simplify * a 2006 finalist for the SCIBA Award for Fiction and winner of the Other Voices Short Story Collection Prize, and *Other Resort Cities.* His short fiction has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, twice receiving special mention for the Pushcart Prize as well as being named a distinguished story of the year in *The Best American Mystery Stories 2009.* His essays, journalism, and criticism appear regularly in many publications, including the *Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, * and *Las Vegas CityLife, * and have been featured in *E!*, *Salon, **Jewcy*, and the *Wall Street Journal*, among many others.

[Kees van Duyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over zijn eerste in het Nederlands vertaalde boek Gangsterland heeft de Amerikaanse auteur Tod Goldberg vijf jaar nagedacht. Daardoor wist hij precies wat er zou gebeuren en wanneer. Hij besteedt sowieso veel tijd aan het nadenken over hoe je met een moord kunt wegkomen. Dit gegeven heeft hij zowel in dit boek als in Gangsterstaat, het tweede uit de trilogie, verwerkt. In deze drieluik staat huurmoordenaar Sal Cupertine, alias rabbijn David Cohen, centraal. Een personage dat al in 2009 zijn opwachting maakte in het verhaal Mitzvah uit de verhalenbundel Other Resort Cities.

Drie jaar geleden is maffia-huurmoordenaar Sal Cupertine als rabbijn David Cohen ondergedoken in Las Vegas. Hij is daar de spirituele leider van de synagoge, maar daarnaast beheert hij ook een aantal zaken voor de lokale maffia. Dit gaat hem prima af, want het ze zijn alle een financiële goudmijn. Niet zonder reden, want David heeft het voornemen om met zijn gezin naar het buitenland te vluchten. Toch moet hij op zijn hoede blijven, want oud FBI-agent Matthew Drew is vastberaden hem te vinden. Alleen al om wraak te nemen voor de moord op zijn voormalig partner Jeff Hopper. David zal dus alert moeten zijn om in leven te kunnen blijven.

Net als in Gangsterland, het eerste boek met Sal Cupertine, begint Gangsterstaat met een proloog. Deze bestaat voor een groot deel uit een erg summiere samenvatting van wat zich in het vorige boek heeft voorgedaan en voor het overige uit een introductie van wat de lezer in dit tweede boek te wachten staat. Doordat de auteur heel kort terugkomt op het voorgaande boek, kan deze opvolger, ondanks dat er wel af en toe een verwijzing naar dat eerdere boek gemaakt wordt, goed afzonderlijk gelezen worden. Maar om meer over en van Sal Cupertine, alias David Cohen, te begrijpen, is het aan te bevelen toch met Gangsterland te beginnen.

Gangsterstaat wijkt in veel opzichten niet af van zijn voorganger. Het verhaal verloopt in een vrij traag tempo, de auteur maakt nog steeds gebruik van lange en soms nodeloos ingewikkelde zinnen en wanneer hij iets wil vertellen of duidelijk maken weidt hij soms uit over niet ter zake doende details. Het gevolg is dat dit het verhaal vertraagt en het bij vlagen ook nog eens saai en langdradig is. Een ander nadeel is dat de lezer hierdoor het verband kwijt kan raken, niet meer precies weet waarover het op dat moment gaat. Wat wel interessant is, is dat het verhaal een mooi beeld geeft van hoe het er in de Joodse geloofsgemeenschap aan toegaat. Doordat Cohen rabbijn is, wordt dit uitvoerig uiteengezet. Eigenlijk te veel voor een thriller. Ook de verwevenheid van de maffia in de Amerikaanse maatschappij wordt heel goed in beeld gebracht. Want zijn de casino’s in Las Vegas immers niet gefinancierd door veramerikaanste Joods-Italiaanse misdaadorganisaties?

Omdat het verhaal zich voor een groot deel in 2001 afspeelt en in dat jaar ook de terroristische aanslagen op de Twin Towers plaatsvonden, heeft Goldberg deze destijds actuele gebeurtenis op een handige manier in het verhaal verwerkt. Dat zorgt voor een beetje spanning, maar buiten dit waren er ook nog wel een paar andere momenten die het spanningsveld iets groter maakten. Desondanks komt die spanning ook nu weer veel te weinig aan bod. Het is vooral het verhaal dat beschrijft hoe een gezochte huurmoordenaar uit handen van de autoriteiten probeert te blijven, maar ook hoe zijn alter ego zich weet te handhaven in een wereld die in feite niet de zijne is. Dat doet hij voor het grootste deel ook nog eens op een manier waardoor je sympathie voor hem gaat krijgen.

Hoewel Gangsterstaat bij vlagen interessant is en vooral richting de ontknoping wat meer boeit, heeft het te weinig verrassingen. Misschien dat Goldberg dit voor het derde deel bewaart, want dit verhaal mag dan een afgerond geheel zijn, voor David is het dat nog niet, want er is een overduidelijke opening naar een vervolg.

[Ashlie aka The Cheerbrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read was a long time coming! I purchased Gangster Nation when it came out in 2017 and Tod was going on tour promoting it. First things first, I'm referring to him by his first name not because we are in any way actual friends, but because I FEEL like we are because I am a longtime listener of his podcast, Literary Disco, wherein he and two of his friends from an MFA program read and review books. Also, one of those friends is Rider Strong, aka Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World, so there's that. This podcast has been brightening my life since its debut in 2012 and after 194 episodes, I can safely say they know what they're talking about. They are writers who love reading and have introduced me to so many great books and just brightened my dang life. So, if you haven't given it a listen, run don't walk, to your nearest podcast.

And now, this book! This is the second in what I recently learned will actually be a trilogy, the first book was Gangsterland and introduced us to Sal, a notorious mobster who ends up on the run from the FBI and is sent out to Vegas, undergoes plastic surgery, and is now masquerading as a rabbi. I liked the first installment well enough but thought it dragged a little. And I mean, I looove Tod so really wanted to like his books, so my expectations were probably sky-high. This second book took me a minute to get into, but once I gave it a chance I could NOT put it down, plus, I had the opportunity to actually read it while in Vegas which made for a fun experience. His writing is addictive and delicious: it was hard to pick a quote for this post because so many stuck out. There were a number of gasp-out-loud moments and the ending leaves you fulfilled, but curious about where the next installment will go.If like me you enjoy mafia stories and have rewatched Goodfellas and Casino more times than you can count, then this series is definitely for you.

[Laurie Rockenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the audible version...
What kind of writer gets me to feel empathy for a mobster hit man? A good one. Is the whole story line believable? Maybe not, but it's a fun story anyway. One reason we care about Sal/David is the way he is so in love with his wife that he doesn't stray to other women--even after three years. It would be so easy to rationalize that, and Goldberg makes it feel real. I love the way Sal is 'turning into David' and yet... The novel explores a bit of nurture vs. nature. What makes us who we are? Sal/David is a very complicated person who is constantly questioning himself, wondering who he is what he might have been. He has taken the enforced learning he had to become a credible Rabbi to a very deep level.

The other POV characters are equally interesting and emotionally charged. Goldberg makes some painful choices in this story--surprising ones that had me literally gasping out loud. I won't put any spoilers in this review, but it should be no surprise that not everyone in a book titled Gangster Nation makes it out alive and unharmed. And, the book leaves you on a total cliff, feet dangling in the air, and your hands grasping at crumbling earth.

(My only pet peeve is the narrator doesn't pronounce Nevada correctly. Even Sal would get that right after three years. Is it nit-picking to ask that the pronunciation to be different for different POV character? Maybe. I don't know anyone living in Nevada who doesn't cringe whenever they here it pronounced the 'wrong' way. It only happens a couple of times.)

[Jennifer G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of Gangster Nation from a Goodreads giveaway.

This was a strange, weird book. The main character is a mob hit man who constantly thinks about killing people. Oh, and his face happens to be falling apart after bad plastic surgery. But no worries, he's hiding out in Vegas disguised as a Jewish rabbi...and this leads to him becoming quite confused about who he really is...but not confused enough to have no problem preforming any of his religious duties. Thru all of his confusion, he has no problem planning the robberies from members of his congregation. But wait, the fun doesn't stop there, no....he's also being stalked by an ex-FBI agent. It wasn't a total convoluted mess, there were some interesting plot points tied into 9/11 .....But while trying to wrap your mind around the cartoon characters and wacky premise, you get to wade through page after page of deep introspection and long religious sequences....

So, I gave up on this at half way through....and I was so disgusted by it, I started ranting about it to my husband. Something about the book must have pipped his curiosity, because the next thing I know he's finishing the book and raving about how much he liked it. I asked what he'd been smoking, and then he called me crazy...and at that point we decided to drop the topic since we clearly disagreed. I told him I was going to write a one star rating, and he threatened to hide my kindle.....so this review is a compromise. He wanted to rate it a 5, I wanted to rate it a 1...

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

AS Gangster Land closed, we found hitman, Sal, sold into service to another mafia family and seeking a way out. I personally disliked the conclusion of Gangster Land, not knowing that there was a sequel to the story and that wasn't really the conclusion. In fact, I'm not certain that this ends even here, though Sal aka Rabbi Cohen, is in deep doo doo at the end of the book.

Goldberg writes well and is able to communicate deep emotional turmoil. Sal is very, very conflicted. At times, he feels he IS a Rabbi and at others he realizes he is just playacting. He is fearful and his fearfulness causes him to take a tragic step. Also, his plastic surgery is failing and he wants to get it redone before his face collapses back into a semblance of hitman Sal and gives him away.

Goldberg excels in gangster dialogue and attitude-- and does a good job portraying those who are caught up in the life yet remain conflicted about their own personal conduct. At times, it is almost as if the author re-invents the crime novel. This isn't about a quick score or a heist. This is a story of deeply entrenched and ever expanding criminal endeavors.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, Counterpoint, for providing a free advance copy for review.
Gangster Nation picks up a couple of years after Gangsterland, and follows former hit man, Sal Cupertine, who is now hiding in Las Vegas as Rabbi David Cohen. David knows that he's still a wanted man, and avoids being seen by surveillance cameras and checking in on his wife and son back in Chicago, despite his desperate desire to know they are surviving without him. This is a great story told with humor, suspense, and plenty of action. Sal/David is such a great character- he's going through the motions and expectations of his life as a rabbi while battling his natural tendencies towards violence and threats, and reading the ways he sometimes calls on his former persona in his current life is wickedly entertaining. The epilogue will leave readers wanting to read more about what happens next for the rabbi, with the final paragraphs leading to one of my favorite book endings of the year.

[Heather Scott Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldberg’s newest book, Gangster Nation (Counterpoint), is the sequel to his award-winning 2014 novel, Gangsterland. The series is going to be produced for TV by the team behind Peaky Blinders. The premise of the books is that Sal Cupertine, Chicago mafia hit man, makes a mistake: he shoots undercover FBI agents in a deal gone bad. He’s subsequently hidden in a temple in Las Vegas, given a new face, and a new identity: Rabbi David Cohen. Since he’s not Jewish — and has to become so, at least ostensibly— quickly, Rabbi David Cohen pulls from the Jewish texts he binge reads and rounds them out with Bruce Springsteen lyrics. Gangster Nation picks up two years after Gangsterland: Sal’s new face is failing him, and he is growing desperate to reunite with his wife and son.

Read more of my interview with Tod Goldberg at Electric Literature .

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sal Cupertine, hitman for the Chicago mob, continuing his life in hiding as Rabbi David Cohen in Las Vegas. Writing is excellent as is the plotting. Goldberg's story just flies along. Cupertine, gifted with a great memory, is able to quote the Talmud to his congregation, give solace, etc. while still being a hitman and still plying that trade along with other cons.

I once read a description of Tamburlaine, Marlowe's play, that described that character as "Giant the Jack Killer." That's an apt description of Sal as well. All who cross him pay for it, even if they cross him accidentally, or even if he thinks (mistakenly) that they have. He takes no prisoners.

Goldberg does attempt to humanize him somewhat through his love for his wife and son whom he cannot contact, with some success. Still, this is not a romantic hero . . . this is Giant the Jack Killer.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

GANGSTER NATION by Todd Goldberg is every bit as funny as GANGSTER LAND the initial entry into this Las Vegas- Chicago Mob tale of comic woe and laughs. Sal Cupertine is a deposed hit man. He has been relocated to Las Vegas, and is a Rabbi. And such a Rabbi. Quoting the Torah and the Talmud, all the while calculating how he can escape his new identity, reclaim his wife and child, and get out once and for all. Unfortunately, the mob bosses back in Chicago have other ideas, as does a dedicated ex-F.B.I. agent who wants revenge for his murdered partner and a few other dead agents.
Goldberg has written a funny, unique and sometimes poignant novel of mistake, regret, and faith. GANGSTERNATION is violent, unpredictable, and wonderful. Read it if you know what is good for you.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This is the first book I have read by Tod Goldberg. I found this to be a very enjoyable story to read. It kept me interesting to finding out if Rabbi David Cohen (Sal) will ever make it back to his wife and child before the FBI finds him. The author outlines the many challenges and consequence and how they effect each characters' actions on each other's lives. There are many subplots. I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in the series. The book was well written in a way that doesn't require reading the first book. There were a couple of subplots late in the book that didn't make sense why it was including unless it is a setup for the 3rd book. An example of this is when the churches hire security guards. A good book to read.

[Keith Rosson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to GANGSTERLAND, with an expected third novel to follow, but there's more than enough here to stand on its own. I don't think I've ever read crime fiction like this before. While it's still plotted wire-tight, GANGSTER NATION is way more reliant upon character development and a sense of place than endless gunfights or invincible cliche-spouting killers. Goldberg writes circles around most crime writers, and even though the novel is dense, wordy, self-reflective, there's a velocity here that I rarely come across, as well as an inherent humanness. I plowed through this thing. Heartily recommended.

[P. Heaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having loved the first in the series, "Gangsterland," I couldn't wait to read the second book. I was very disappointed with "Gangster Nation." Seemed to be grittier, far less humor, too much time spent on the ruminations of characters, rants about the government/society and killings were more violent. There's a large audience of readers who like this sort of novel, I'm just not one of them. I've heard the books have been picked up for a TV series. It will fit right in with the tastes of today's audiences and undoubtedly make Mr. Goldberg rich and famous. I wish him well. I mean that sincerely.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little confusing but surprisingly good, despite the ridiculous plot (a hit man masquerading as a rabbi). It is well-plotted, moves along at a good pace, and has interesting social commentary.

On the negative side, I found the relationships very confusing. This book is the second in a series. The author seems to assume that anyone reading this book had also read the previous one ("Gangsterland"), and does not clearly explain how the characters came to be involved with each other.