What do you think?
Rate this book
Lion on Fire
"Sometimes you have to burn your world down before you can live in it"
Brian, a clean-cut, recent college grad, takes a side job in an underground casino in New York City to make extra cash to help his derelict brother out of a jam. Nothing goes as planned, and soon Brian is forced to team up with a charismatic co-worker to rob the mobsters who run the casino.
Lion on Fire is the third book by Ted Galdi, the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Elixir and An American Cage. He’s been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets.
Main character Brian is shocked to learn that his younger brother not only has been dealing cocaine, but foolishly lost a whole package of it, and now owes his boss $30,000. If Brian’s brother doesn’t come up with the money in a few weeks, he’s dead.
Brian decides to help. However, he realizes scrapping together that sort of cash in such a short timeframe is nearly impossible legally. So he approaches Dusty, another driver at the limousine company where he works, and asks him about the whispers of lucrative, yet illegal, side jobs he’s heard among the staff.
After proving himself trustworthy with an initiation test, Brian is invited to participate in an underground driving network that shuttles wealthy individuals to extravagant, though illicit, gambling events set up in multi-million-dollar Manhattan penthouses.
At first things go smoothly, and Brian pockets a lot of much-needed extra income. However, they turn jarring once he finds out a high-profile Russian gangster is behind the gambling events, and becomes mixed up with him not only professionally, but personally.
With tensions rising, and the fate of Brian’s relationships with his parents and girlfriend now entangled with the underground casino, not to mention the life of his brother, he winds up in a position where pulling off a mafia robbery may be his only chance to get himself and his loved ones out of this mess alive and intact.
Lion on Fire is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed gambling thriller, and also an emotionally charged buddy story, which pairs do-gooder Brian with the charmingly wild and alluringly mysterious Dusty, who not only guides Brian through the dangerous world of the mafia casino, but ushers him toward a new and profound view of the world as a whole.
The book is perfect for fans of crime fiction that’s edgy while having a soul. A Russian mafia thriller featuring a revenge plan and heist, it’s loaded with adrenaline. However, it is just as touching as it is exciting. At the core of a plot about organized crime and pursuing police officers is the budding friendship of two young men who initially seem very different.
Set in New York City, Lion on Fire takes readers on a ride through a colorful cross section of neighborhoods and the lives that populate them. It’s written in the tradition of the Manhattan thriller, showcasing both the glamour and the grit of the city.
With this unique story, you’ll find yourself quickly turning pages as your pulse rises, while cheering for characters who make their way into your heart.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2017
567 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Ted Galdi
27 books2,337 followersTed Galdi, an Amazon #1 bestselling author, writes suspenseful, smart crime thrillers. His goal is to get your blood and brain pumping when you read his novels and short stories.
He's been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets. He’s a winner of a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and a Silver Medal in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Ted is a graduate of Duke University.
To learn more about him and download a free bestselling crime thriller, visit his website at tedgaldi.com.
He's been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets. He’s a winner of a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and a Silver Medal in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Ted is a graduate of Duke University.
To learn more about him and download a free bestselling crime thriller, visit his website at tedgaldi.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
January 15, 2023
Lion on Fire by Ted Galdi is a fast-paced thriller with two millennials confronting the Russian mob. Brian is a college grad who has a brother that gets in trouble a lot. When his brother ends up in a huge fix with the mob, Brian starts working for the mob to help get his brother straight, but (things are never as easy as they seem to be) a new opportunity has opened up, and he just can’t say no to the quick cash "easy" money. (Just a side-note: in my experience, there is no such thing as quick cash easy money; there is such a thing as quick jail easy incarceration. Thank God, I learned that through the experience of others.) Characterization is good; the narrative structure is involved and complex, despite the stream-lined exposition. The climax is a little too short, but the dénouement is satisfying despite its imperfections. The main characters kind of remind me of myself and my brother. He would get me into fixes all the time, and I would have to finagle getting us out of the shady crap he would get us into.
December 27, 2017
Ted Galdi led me on a whirlwind tour through his character-driven narrative. The main protagonist was well-drawn. The storyline stayed on point as the scenes bombarded me with one challenging predicament after another. My stomach did flip flops as the tension built. The well-written action continued to skyrocket until the very end. An ending that caught me by surprise.
Looking to make ends meet, Brian Rolson, age 22, was content to be a limo driver. For the time being. Other opportunities were soon to come around. So he hoped. Besides, he needed to get out of his parents house. Time to grow up. Be a big boy. That was the plan. But a life-altering change was riding in the wind. Things would never be the same again.
His younger brother Kip screwed up. Big time. Got himself into a jam laced with serious consequences. He owed a drug dealer $18,000 for cocaine he was going to sell. That's when things went South. It was stolen right out from underneath his own nose - the back seat of his car. Sitting in there plain sight. Unbelievable.
If this criminal wasn't paid off in full, Kip's future was destined to be pushing up daisies. Nobody else to turn to, he confessed his dilemma to Brian. Fortunately, Kip had been given some time to come up with the cash. Several weeks. Still, a lot of money to put together. It all fell on Brian's lap. That's what big brothers are for. Time to come up with a plan. In a hurry.
A spark of luck beamed Brian's way. His boss offered him a Saturday night gig. It involved picking up clients to secretly rendezvous at various illegal gambling locations. Paid $1,000 for the night. Under dire circumstances, he grabbed it.
It all went well until one night he overslept and broke rule number 1: never keep the high rollers waiting. While shuttling latecomers to the clandestine location, he was greeted by the man in charge. A ruthless Russian mobster. Needless to say, he was not happy. There was a falling out. From there everything escalated downhill. The deadline for payment in full was closing in. What to do?
Desperate now to get his hands on quick money to bail out his brother, he partnered with a fellow driver to rip off the casino. In short order, they devised a plan. Though not exactly foolproof. Ultimately, it meant taking on the Russian mob. If successful, problem solved. If not, he and his brother would become a statistic.
Gratitude sent to Ted Galdi for sending me this digital edition in exchange for an unbiased review.
Looking to make ends meet, Brian Rolson, age 22, was content to be a limo driver. For the time being. Other opportunities were soon to come around. So he hoped. Besides, he needed to get out of his parents house. Time to grow up. Be a big boy. That was the plan. But a life-altering change was riding in the wind. Things would never be the same again.
His younger brother Kip screwed up. Big time. Got himself into a jam laced with serious consequences. He owed a drug dealer $18,000 for cocaine he was going to sell. That's when things went South. It was stolen right out from underneath his own nose - the back seat of his car. Sitting in there plain sight. Unbelievable.
If this criminal wasn't paid off in full, Kip's future was destined to be pushing up daisies. Nobody else to turn to, he confessed his dilemma to Brian. Fortunately, Kip had been given some time to come up with the cash. Several weeks. Still, a lot of money to put together. It all fell on Brian's lap. That's what big brothers are for. Time to come up with a plan. In a hurry.
A spark of luck beamed Brian's way. His boss offered him a Saturday night gig. It involved picking up clients to secretly rendezvous at various illegal gambling locations. Paid $1,000 for the night. Under dire circumstances, he grabbed it.
It all went well until one night he overslept and broke rule number 1: never keep the high rollers waiting. While shuttling latecomers to the clandestine location, he was greeted by the man in charge. A ruthless Russian mobster. Needless to say, he was not happy. There was a falling out. From there everything escalated downhill. The deadline for payment in full was closing in. What to do?
Desperate now to get his hands on quick money to bail out his brother, he partnered with a fellow driver to rip off the casino. In short order, they devised a plan. Though not exactly foolproof. Ultimately, it meant taking on the Russian mob. If successful, problem solved. If not, he and his brother would become a statistic.
Gratitude sent to Ted Galdi for sending me this digital edition in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 15, 2021
Good Read
I received a free copy off a Facebook post and I'm glad I clicked on it. This book is a fast paced read. It's like watching a movie. The method of writing is such as I could envision the events entirely. Recommend to anyone that enjoys a lot of action, bookies, mafia, and gambling.
I received a free copy off a Facebook post and I'm glad I clicked on it. This book is a fast paced read. It's like watching a movie. The method of writing is such as I could envision the events entirely. Recommend to anyone that enjoys a lot of action, bookies, mafia, and gambling.
March 12, 2018
Shades of Gray
Brian and Dusty are two millennial males both trying to make extra money for their own noble reasons. They get caught up in the underworld of illegal pop up casinos run by the Russian mob when they both become limo drivers to the secret NYC locations.
Bearing witness to more than they are comfortable with, especially Brian, the more sensitive and straight-laced of the two with a healthy respect and fear of the law, both make the risky decision to avenge a female friend and come up with the money they both require at a much faster rate.
Themes of loyalty, integrity and good people getting caught up in bad choices are central to the story. The role of parental influence and expectation weighs heavily as does the bonds of friendship. The story line is based on simple morality, the lines between good and evil and the justifications we make for our behavior. It is about the shades of gray in between the black and the white. This is a quick and entertaining read.
BRB Rating: Read It.
Brian and Dusty are two millennial males both trying to make extra money for their own noble reasons. They get caught up in the underworld of illegal pop up casinos run by the Russian mob when they both become limo drivers to the secret NYC locations.
Bearing witness to more than they are comfortable with, especially Brian, the more sensitive and straight-laced of the two with a healthy respect and fear of the law, both make the risky decision to avenge a female friend and come up with the money they both require at a much faster rate.
Themes of loyalty, integrity and good people getting caught up in bad choices are central to the story. The role of parental influence and expectation weighs heavily as does the bonds of friendship. The story line is based on simple morality, the lines between good and evil and the justifications we make for our behavior. It is about the shades of gray in between the black and the white. This is a quick and entertaining read.
BRB Rating: Read It.
July 29, 2018
Lion On Fire - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Fresh out of college and ready to set the world on fire, Brian's an upright citizen in the making and his father, an NYPD detective is rightly proud of him.
Unfortunately, such is not the case with Brian's younger brother, in Ted Galdi's exciting thriller, Lion on Fire.
Kip is the complete opposite of Brian - wild and reckless, the last thing he's interested in is ending up like his emotionally repressed (as he sees it), father or boring (by comparison) goody-two-shoes big brother, who's clearly their parents' favourite. Determined to make a quick fortune by whatever means available, legal or not, Kip gets into hock with D'Anthony, a local drug-dealer, for $30k worth of cocaine, only to literally blow a good bit of it treating his friends to a 3-hour private party at a lap-dancing club, then staggering out to find his car's been broken into and his stash flown from the place he left it! D'Anthony's not the forgiving type, so Kip has 60 days to make good what he owes - or else, he'll be 'sleeping with the fishes'!
Naturally he turns to his big brother, afraid his Dad will cut him off to protect his own reputation and job, at the very least.Necessity is the mother of invention as they say, so Brian gets himself a job as stretch limo driver for the Mob, (as you do!) at their Big Hitter company, where he earns a wage picking up high rollers and taking them to illegal private pop-up casinos, where they can be fleeced of their money in private for high stakes.
What will the brothers do as the time melts away quicker than snowflakes in Hell and Kip has only $12,000 and $18k still to find - or else? Brian's work colleague Dusty, (also a chauffeur), wants to see the world and comes up with what he thinks is a foolproof scheme - he and Brian will rob the casino's Russian Mafia boss, Igor and get out of town before he can realise what they've done. Does that plan work? Or have Brian and Dusty signed their own death warrants, trying to save Kip? Buy, borrow or get your copy of Ted Galdi's fantastic new novel, Lion On Fire today - you'll love it, I guarantee...it's a winner!
Fresh out of college and ready to set the world on fire, Brian's an upright citizen in the making and his father, an NYPD detective is rightly proud of him.
Unfortunately, such is not the case with Brian's younger brother, in Ted Galdi's exciting thriller, Lion on Fire.
Kip is the complete opposite of Brian - wild and reckless, the last thing he's interested in is ending up like his emotionally repressed (as he sees it), father or boring (by comparison) goody-two-shoes big brother, who's clearly their parents' favourite. Determined to make a quick fortune by whatever means available, legal or not, Kip gets into hock with D'Anthony, a local drug-dealer, for $30k worth of cocaine, only to literally blow a good bit of it treating his friends to a 3-hour private party at a lap-dancing club, then staggering out to find his car's been broken into and his stash flown from the place he left it! D'Anthony's not the forgiving type, so Kip has 60 days to make good what he owes - or else, he'll be 'sleeping with the fishes'!
Naturally he turns to his big brother, afraid his Dad will cut him off to protect his own reputation and job, at the very least.Necessity is the mother of invention as they say, so Brian gets himself a job as stretch limo driver for the Mob, (as you do!) at their Big Hitter company, where he earns a wage picking up high rollers and taking them to illegal private pop-up casinos, where they can be fleeced of their money in private for high stakes.
What will the brothers do as the time melts away quicker than snowflakes in Hell and Kip has only $12,000 and $18k still to find - or else? Brian's work colleague Dusty, (also a chauffeur), wants to see the world and comes up with what he thinks is a foolproof scheme - he and Brian will rob the casino's Russian Mafia boss, Igor and get out of town before he can realise what they've done. Does that plan work? Or have Brian and Dusty signed their own death warrants, trying to save Kip? Buy, borrow or get your copy of Ted Galdi's fantastic new novel, Lion On Fire today - you'll love it, I guarantee...it's a winner!
May 1, 2019
Brian is a recent college graduate who is working as a limo driver in Manhattan. His younger brother gets into trouble and asks him to help pay a large debt for him. Brian enlists the aid of his coworker and friend, Dusty, who links him up with weekend jobs picking up gamblers who are going to casinos set up by the Russian mob and run at separate locations each week. They successfully do this until Brian’s father learns what he is doing and throws him out of the house. Following this, he inadvertently misses a deadline for pickups and goes to get them with his girlfriend in her car. Ivan, the casino boss, is furious. The girlfriend entitled and demanding and as a result, Ivan slaps her in the face. Dusty also sees this. The two young men (they are in their early 20’s) decide to get revenge on Ivan for doing this by robbing him. I won’t go any further into the plot because of spoilers but found this to be fast and entertaining reading. Thanks to she Author and Publisher for an e-Galley for an honest review.
February 28, 2018
"Something just doesn't feel right about it. Kip got into this mess by selling drugs, by veering into the underworld. And now I, the good brother who never broke a rule in his life, am supposed to veer into the underworld myself to get him out of this mess."....
Brian is living the way he should be. Smart, reliable and moving up in life. A life with a plan. Until his younger brother, Kip, does something so stupid Brian almost has no choice but to step in. The money he owes a drug dealer will probably cost him his life. If Brian can’t figure out a way to help him get the money, more than Kips life will be at stake.
Brian is a limo driver. Trusted to do a little extra side work for the boss. Driving high rollers to an underground casino. When he gets with a friend and decides the quick fix is to rob the casino, everything quickly becomes a tangled mess.
You could feel the characters desperation, and the brothers desire to fix this as quick as they can. Can they get the money in time to save Kip’s life? Will Brian make it out of this in one piece? Brian will have to make a big choice to save his family. Did I mention dad is a state trooper? Getting this by him, without raising suspicions, isn’t going to be easy. He knows Brian is acting off. If dad interferes they could all end up dead.
This was a quick read. Well rounded characters. Immediately draws you in. Plenty of heart stopping moments, the kind that you can’t stop reading until you find out who makes it and who doesn’t, or if Brian can pull this off and save Kip. Brian is good at a lot of things, but he never planned to be a criminal.
Thank you, Ted Galdi.
Brian is living the way he should be. Smart, reliable and moving up in life. A life with a plan. Until his younger brother, Kip, does something so stupid Brian almost has no choice but to step in. The money he owes a drug dealer will probably cost him his life. If Brian can’t figure out a way to help him get the money, more than Kips life will be at stake.
Brian is a limo driver. Trusted to do a little extra side work for the boss. Driving high rollers to an underground casino. When he gets with a friend and decides the quick fix is to rob the casino, everything quickly becomes a tangled mess.
You could feel the characters desperation, and the brothers desire to fix this as quick as they can. Can they get the money in time to save Kip’s life? Will Brian make it out of this in one piece? Brian will have to make a big choice to save his family. Did I mention dad is a state trooper? Getting this by him, without raising suspicions, isn’t going to be easy. He knows Brian is acting off. If dad interferes they could all end up dead.
This was a quick read. Well rounded characters. Immediately draws you in. Plenty of heart stopping moments, the kind that you can’t stop reading until you find out who makes it and who doesn’t, or if Brian can pull this off and save Kip. Brian is good at a lot of things, but he never planned to be a criminal.
Thank you, Ted Galdi.
October 28, 2020
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Lion on Fire
Subtitle: A casino-heist thriller
Author: Ted Galdi
Genre: Crime
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series? N/A
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
What do you do if your little brother gets into trouble selling drugs and getting into debt? Brian tries to help him by taking a job in a casino and is soon forced to realise just getting a bit of money is not going to cut it. He sets up a heist with one of his co-workers and all turns to hell from there.
What I liked about the book:
The book kept you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
There is a lot of action and excitement in this book.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
The author has written other books.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book reminds me of other crime and mafia-type stories.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes
If you like crime novels, this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
"Sometimes you have to burn your world down before you can live in it"
Brian, a clean-cut, recent college grad, takes a side job in an underground casino in New York City to make extra cash to help his derelict brother out of a jam. Nothing goes as planned, and soon Brian is forced to team up with a charismatic co-worker to rob the mobsters who run the casino.
Lion on Fire is the third book by Ted Galdi, the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Elixir and An American Cage. He’s been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets.
Main character Brian is shocked to learn that his younger brother not only has been dealing cocaine, but foolishly lost a whole package of it, and now owes his boss $30,000. If Brian’s brother doesn’t come up with the money in a few weeks, he’s dead.
Brian decides to help. However, he realizes scrapping together that sort of cash in such a short timeframe is nearly impossible legally. So he approaches Dusty, another driver at the limousine company where he works, and asks him about the whispers of lucrative, yet illegal, side jobs he’s heard among the staff.
After proving himself trustworthy with an initiation test, Brian is invited to participate in an underground driving network that shuttles wealthy individuals to extravagant, though illicit, gambling events set up in multi-million-dollar Manhattan penthouses.
At first things go smoothly, and Brian pockets a lot of much-needed extra income. However, they turn jarring once he finds out a high-profile Russian gangster is behind the gambling events, and becomes mixed up with him not only professionally, but personally.
With tensions rising, and the fate of Brian’s relationships with his parents and girlfriend now entangled with the underground casino, not to mention the life of his brother, he winds up in a position where pulling off a mafia robbery may be his only chance to get himself and his loved ones out of this mess alive and intact.
Lion on Fire is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed gambling thriller, and also an emotionally charged buddy story, which pairs do-gooder Brian with the charmingly wild and alluringly mysterious Dusty, who not only guides Brian through the dangerous world of the mafia casino, but ushers him toward a new and profound view of the world as a whole.
The book is perfect for fans of crime fiction that’s edgy while having a soul. A Russian mafia thriller featuring a revenge plan and heist, it’s loaded with adrenaline. However, it is just as touching as it is exciting. At the core of a plot about organized crime and pursuing police officers is the budding friendship of two young men who initially seem very different.
Set in New York City, Lion on Fire takes readers on a ride through a colorful cross section of neighborhoods and the lives that populate them. It’s written in the tradition of the Manhattan thriller, showcasing both the glamour and the grit of the city.
With this unique story, you’ll find yourself quickly turning pages as your pulse rises, while cheering for characters who make their way into your heart.
About the Author:
Ted Galdi, an Amazon #1 bestselling author, writes suspenseful, smart crime thrillers. His goal is to get your blood and brain pumping when you read his novels and short stories.
He's been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets. He’s a winner of a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and a Silver Medal in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Ted is a graduate of Duke University.
His available releases are the books Elixir, An American Cage, and Lion on Fire, and the short stories A Road to Nowhere, Hazel Is Missing, Intrusion, and The Split. Over 100,000 people have read his titles.
To learn more about him and download a free bestselling crime thriller, visit his website at tedgaldi.com.
Basic Details:
Book Title: Lion on Fire
Subtitle: A casino-heist thriller
Author: Ted Galdi
Genre: Crime
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series? N/A
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
What do you do if your little brother gets into trouble selling drugs and getting into debt? Brian tries to help him by taking a job in a casino and is soon forced to realise just getting a bit of money is not going to cut it. He sets up a heist with one of his co-workers and all turns to hell from there.
What I liked about the book:
The book kept you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
There is a lot of action and excitement in this book.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
The author has written other books.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book reminds me of other crime and mafia-type stories.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes
If you like crime novels, this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
"Sometimes you have to burn your world down before you can live in it"
Brian, a clean-cut, recent college grad, takes a side job in an underground casino in New York City to make extra cash to help his derelict brother out of a jam. Nothing goes as planned, and soon Brian is forced to team up with a charismatic co-worker to rob the mobsters who run the casino.
Lion on Fire is the third book by Ted Galdi, the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Elixir and An American Cage. He’s been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets.
Main character Brian is shocked to learn that his younger brother not only has been dealing cocaine, but foolishly lost a whole package of it, and now owes his boss $30,000. If Brian’s brother doesn’t come up with the money in a few weeks, he’s dead.
Brian decides to help. However, he realizes scrapping together that sort of cash in such a short timeframe is nearly impossible legally. So he approaches Dusty, another driver at the limousine company where he works, and asks him about the whispers of lucrative, yet illegal, side jobs he’s heard among the staff.
After proving himself trustworthy with an initiation test, Brian is invited to participate in an underground driving network that shuttles wealthy individuals to extravagant, though illicit, gambling events set up in multi-million-dollar Manhattan penthouses.
At first things go smoothly, and Brian pockets a lot of much-needed extra income. However, they turn jarring once he finds out a high-profile Russian gangster is behind the gambling events, and becomes mixed up with him not only professionally, but personally.
With tensions rising, and the fate of Brian’s relationships with his parents and girlfriend now entangled with the underground casino, not to mention the life of his brother, he winds up in a position where pulling off a mafia robbery may be his only chance to get himself and his loved ones out of this mess alive and intact.
Lion on Fire is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed gambling thriller, and also an emotionally charged buddy story, which pairs do-gooder Brian with the charmingly wild and alluringly mysterious Dusty, who not only guides Brian through the dangerous world of the mafia casino, but ushers him toward a new and profound view of the world as a whole.
The book is perfect for fans of crime fiction that’s edgy while having a soul. A Russian mafia thriller featuring a revenge plan and heist, it’s loaded with adrenaline. However, it is just as touching as it is exciting. At the core of a plot about organized crime and pursuing police officers is the budding friendship of two young men who initially seem very different.
Set in New York City, Lion on Fire takes readers on a ride through a colorful cross section of neighborhoods and the lives that populate them. It’s written in the tradition of the Manhattan thriller, showcasing both the glamour and the grit of the city.
With this unique story, you’ll find yourself quickly turning pages as your pulse rises, while cheering for characters who make their way into your heart.
About the Author:
Ted Galdi, an Amazon #1 bestselling author, writes suspenseful, smart crime thrillers. His goal is to get your blood and brain pumping when you read his novels and short stories.
He's been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets. He’s a winner of a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and a Silver Medal in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Ted is a graduate of Duke University.
His available releases are the books Elixir, An American Cage, and Lion on Fire, and the short stories A Road to Nowhere, Hazel Is Missing, Intrusion, and The Split. Over 100,000 people have read his titles.
To learn more about him and download a free bestselling crime thriller, visit his website at tedgaldi.com.
August 20, 2019
Ted Galdi is a fantastic writer who knows how to use language to create atmosphere.
Sometimes you want to do the right thing but the means to get there are far from right and you know it.
This short novel took me in immediately and it was pure pleasure.
Sometimes you want to do the right thing but the means to get there are far from right and you know it.
This short novel took me in immediately and it was pure pleasure.
January 29, 2019
This story has a slow burn to it. Brian Rolson starts off as a good, but naive, fellow who is helping his younger brother Kip out. Their State Trooper dad has strict high expectations of both his sons and Kip has already had a mark against him. Now he’s gotten involved with some drug gangs and owes them $18k, which he can’t possibly pay off in time without help. So Brian, who’s been a limo driver for a while now, agrees to take up driving for this illicit casino business. Manhattan has strict rules about casinos but the Russian Mob has ways around them.
As the story unfolds, we get a few more characters, like Dusty who becomes Brian’s good best buddy in this illicit casino business. Then there’s Brian’s girlfriend (Samantha? maybe?) who reluctantly gets dragged into this and then unceremoniously kicked out. That spurs our duo on to what becomes a big flustercluck.
Igor is the Mobster that Brian has the most dealings with. He is calm, concentrated, and scary! One of my favorite scenes is where Igor, Samantha, and Brian are all crammed into a car having a heated discussion. It was intense and I wasn’t sure everyone was going to make it out of that car alive.
Dusty is lovable because he’s almost a Puck – so care free and full of life. He’s got this philosophy that you should take chances, live that life to the fullest, because death comes in an instant and then you’re not around to deal with any messy clean up (physically or emotionally). Brian isn’t sure he buys into that but it does intrigue him.
As wrapped up as I was in this tale, I did miss the ladies. There’s a brief appearance of Brian’s mom, a woman who runs the little bank at the casino events, and Samantha (plus some bar ladies and gamblers). Samantha has the most lines but she’s mostly there to provide emotional fuel for Brian and Dusty to hatch their plan. She hasn’t got a full personality like Brian or Dusty. So I would have liked more ladies and more from them.
I liked the underlying role of Brian’s dad. His strong expectations from his kids motivate Brian just as much as that event with Samantha. Both sons feel that they can’t go to their dad for help or guidance because they will forever be labeled Mess-Ups, never to crawl out from that black cloud.
While the heist attempt itself was full of riveting scenes, I could see all sorts of issues with their plan leading up to the attempt. Why oh why! Boys! So many ways for things to go wrong and for it to end in tears. But the ending was full of suspense and action, kept me hooked, and on the edge of my seat. 4.5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book. My opinions are wholly my own.
The Narration: Scott R. Pollak did a great job with this narration. He had the perfect voice for Brian, who is naive and a little too helpful to everyone. He’s eager to please. Then he also had the perfect care-free voice for Dusty. I also liked his strong, unforgiving voice for Brian’s dad (the state trooper). His few female voices were feminine. The pacing was perfect. There were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.
As the story unfolds, we get a few more characters, like Dusty who becomes Brian’s good best buddy in this illicit casino business. Then there’s Brian’s girlfriend (Samantha? maybe?) who reluctantly gets dragged into this and then unceremoniously kicked out. That spurs our duo on to what becomes a big flustercluck.
Igor is the Mobster that Brian has the most dealings with. He is calm, concentrated, and scary! One of my favorite scenes is where Igor, Samantha, and Brian are all crammed into a car having a heated discussion. It was intense and I wasn’t sure everyone was going to make it out of that car alive.
Dusty is lovable because he’s almost a Puck – so care free and full of life. He’s got this philosophy that you should take chances, live that life to the fullest, because death comes in an instant and then you’re not around to deal with any messy clean up (physically or emotionally). Brian isn’t sure he buys into that but it does intrigue him.
As wrapped up as I was in this tale, I did miss the ladies. There’s a brief appearance of Brian’s mom, a woman who runs the little bank at the casino events, and Samantha (plus some bar ladies and gamblers). Samantha has the most lines but she’s mostly there to provide emotional fuel for Brian and Dusty to hatch their plan. She hasn’t got a full personality like Brian or Dusty. So I would have liked more ladies and more from them.
I liked the underlying role of Brian’s dad. His strong expectations from his kids motivate Brian just as much as that event with Samantha. Both sons feel that they can’t go to their dad for help or guidance because they will forever be labeled Mess-Ups, never to crawl out from that black cloud.
While the heist attempt itself was full of riveting scenes, I could see all sorts of issues with their plan leading up to the attempt. Why oh why! Boys! So many ways for things to go wrong and for it to end in tears. But the ending was full of suspense and action, kept me hooked, and on the edge of my seat. 4.5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book. My opinions are wholly my own.
The Narration: Scott R. Pollak did a great job with this narration. He had the perfect voice for Brian, who is naive and a little too helpful to everyone. He’s eager to please. Then he also had the perfect care-free voice for Dusty. I also liked his strong, unforgiving voice for Brian’s dad (the state trooper). His few female voices were feminine. The pacing was perfect. There were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.
Want to read
February 19, 2021Брайан, недавний выпускник колледжа, подрабатывает в подпольном казино в Нью-Йорке, чтобы заработать дополнительные деньги, чтобы помочь своему заброшенному брату выбраться из затора. Ничего не происходит по плану, и вскоре Брайан вынужден объединиться с харизматичным коллегой, чтобы ограбить бандитов, управляющих казино.
«Лев в огне» - третья книга Теда Галди, автора бестселлеров No1 на Amazon « Эликсир и американская клетка» . О нем писали журнал Kirkus , ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio и многие другие СМИ.
Главный герой Брайан шокирован, узнав, что его младший брат не только торговал кокаином, но и по глупости потерял его целую пачку и теперь должен своему боссу 30 000 долларов. Если брат Брайана не примет деньги через несколько недель, он мертв.
Брайан решает помочь. Тем не менее, он понимает, что сдать такую наличность в такой короткий срок практически невозможно с юридической точки зрения. Поэтому он подходит к Дасти, другому водителю компании по производству лимузинов, где он работает, и спрашивает его о прибыльных, но незаконных подработках, которые он слышал среди сотрудников.
После того, как Брайан доказал, что заслуживает доверия с помощью начального теста, его приглашают участвовать в сети подземных водителей, которая перевозит богатых людей на экстравагантные, хотя и незаконные, азартные игры, организованные в многомиллионных пентхаусах на Манхэттене. Евросоюз, масоны, оккультизм все это будет.
Поначалу все идет гладко, и Брайан получает столь необходимый дополнительный доход. Однако они начинают раздражаться, когда он узнает, что за игорными событиями стоит известный российский гангстер, и смешивается с ним не только профессионально, но и лично.
С ростом напряженности, и судьба отношений Брайана с его родителями и девушкой теперь связана с подпольным казино, не говоря уже о жизни его брата, он оказывается в положении, когда ограбление мафии может быть его единственным шансом получить сам и его близкие выбрались из этого бардака живыми и невредимыми.
«Лев в огне» - это веселый, динамичный, насыщенный азартными играми триллер, а также эмоционально заряженная история о приятелях, в которой добрый Брайан соединяется с очаровательно диким и соблазнительно таинственным Дасти, который не только ведет Брайана через опасный мир казино мафии, но ведет его к новому и глубокому взгляду на мир в целом.
Книга идеальна для любителей криминальной фантастики, острой, но имеющей душу. Триллер о русской мафии с планом мести и ограблением полон адреналина. Однако это так же трогательно, как и увлекательно. В основе сюжета об организованной преступности и преследовании полицейских лежит зарождающаяся дружба двух молодых людей, которые поначалу кажутся очень разными.
« Лев в огне», действие которого происходит в Нью-Йорке, берет читателей в путешествие по красочным районам и жизням, которые их населяют. Он написан в традициях манхэттенского триллера, демонстрируя гламур и мужество города.
В этой уникальной истории вы будете быстро перелистывать страницы по мере учащения пульса, поддерживая персонажей, которые пробиваются в ваше сердце.
«Лев в огне» - третья книга Теда Галди, автора бестселлеров No1 на Amazon « Эликсир и американская клетка» . О нем писали журнал Kirkus , ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio и многие другие СМИ.
Главный герой Брайан шокирован, узнав, что его младший брат не только торговал кокаином, но и по глупости потерял его целую пачку и теперь должен своему боссу 30 000 долларов. Если брат Брайана не примет деньги через несколько недель, он мертв.
Брайан решает помочь. Тем не менее, он понимает, что сдать такую наличность в такой короткий срок практически невозможно с юридической точки зрения. Поэтому он подходит к Дасти, другому водителю компании по производству лимузинов, где он работает, и спрашивает его о прибыльных, но незаконных подработках, которые он слышал среди сотрудников.
После того, как Брайан доказал, что заслуживает доверия с помощью начального теста, его приглашают участвовать в сети подземных водителей, которая перевозит богатых людей на экстравагантные, хотя и незаконные, азартные игры, организованные в многомиллионных пентхаусах на Манхэттене. Евросоюз, масоны, оккультизм все это будет.
Поначалу все идет гладко, и Брайан получает столь необходимый дополнительный доход. Однако они начинают раздражаться, когда он узнает, что за игорными событиями стоит известный российский гангстер, и смешивается с ним не только профессионально, но и лично.
С ростом напряженности, и судьба отношений Брайана с его родителями и девушкой теперь связана с подпольным казино, не говоря уже о жизни его брата, он оказывается в положении, когда ограбление мафии может быть его единственным шансом получить сам и его близкие выбрались из этого бардака живыми и невредимыми.
«Лев в огне» - это веселый, динамичный, насыщенный азартными играми триллер, а также эмоционально заряженная история о приятелях, в которой добрый Брайан соединяется с очаровательно диким и соблазнительно таинственным Дасти, который не только ведет Брайана через опасный мир казино мафии, но ведет его к новому и глубокому взгляду на мир в целом.
Книга идеальна для любителей криминальной фантастики, острой, но имеющей душу. Триллер о русской мафии с планом мести и ограблением полон адреналина. Однако это так же трогательно, как и увлекательно. В основе сюжета об организованной преступности и преследовании полицейских лежит зарождающаяся дружба двух молодых людей, которые поначалу кажутся очень разными.
« Лев в огне», действие которого происходит в Нью-Йорке, берет читателей в путешествие по красочным районам и жизням, которые их населяют. Он написан в традициях манхэттенского триллера, демонстрируя гламур и мужество города.
В этой уникальной истории вы будете быстро перелистывать страницы по мере учащения пульса, поддерживая персонажей, которые пробиваются в ваше сердце.
February 4, 2018
Brian is such a responsible young adult. He’s going to college, and working to put himself through school. He’s doing the right thing. His father is a Detective with the New York Police Department, and knows he doesn’t have anything to worry about as far as Brian is concerned. However his other younger son, Kip, is another story. Kip has never continued with much as far as income or even school. Brian finds out that Kip has becomes involved with a drug dealer, De’ Anthony. Kip’s drug stash was stolen, while he treated some of his buds to three hours of a lap-dance at a strip club. Now the drug dealer is demanding all of the money that Kip was supposed to make on the sales of the drugs, which is $30,000. And he must have this money as soon as possible, or they will kill him. Kip has $12,000 that he saved up, but that still leaves $18,000. Brians best friend, Dusty, arranges an interview and test run for being a driver with Barney. Brian decides to go to work for Barney, who handles a secret casino night, that is moved to various hotels so that the police will not know where it is. Each night the location will be shared with Brian with a password. His job would be to drive specific individuals to the particular casino location. If he is able to accomplish this, he would not only make good money, but tips as well. Hopefully, he will be able to get Kip out of this mess with the drug dealer. Both Brian and Kip need to keep this from their father. He would probably disown both of them. However, Dusty had other ideas. He has been thinking that there has to be another way to make huge money so that they can finally be rich and do whatever they want. Dusty devises a plan to steal chips from a specific casino night, during a fake police sting. What could possibly go wrong? The downside is that the Russian Mafia is the one running these Casino nights. Dusty has it all planned, or so he thinks? What will Brian do? Will their father find out what they have done? Will they get out of this alive? What a fast paced and action packed book. I thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue and roller coaster ride throughout the book. The plot was great!!
July 11, 2018
Little brothers can be a real trial! Brian’s younger brother Kip has gotten himself into a world of trouble--this time selling illegal drugs. Brian takes on the responsibility of assisting his younger sibling, but the time period to accomplish this is short and the consequences for the little brother could be deadly if he does not succeed.
Enter Dusty, someone who befriends Brian and undertakes the task of helping both Brian and his younger brother. Dusty and Brian both work at the same company as limousine drivers. The wise and edgy Dusty is not above knowing some lucrative but illegal events and together they both conspire a way to get some quick money. The author introduces a Russian born gangster named Igor. Igor is someone who understands the American economy and Brian is swept up in the underworld while keeping the prize in sight; eighteen thousand dollars within 60 days.
The opening chapter spears your attention and then swiftly guides you through the drama as it weaves into each new development. Galdi weaves the well-plotted tale with precision and keeps the story fast moving and entertaining while slipping in a few twists along the way. The characters provide a tight look at budding friendships and loyalty and the tale maintains engagement with twists and turns that keep this mind-boggling saga very entertaining. It moves the reader through hope they'll succeed and then fear they won't and your heart sinks a little the deeper they go.
I received this ebook download from the author, appreciated the opportunity to read, and the resulting review is my own. I recommend Lion on Fire to anyone who would enjoy a little escapism and a thrilling fast-paced, suspenseful crime narrative. My only complaint is that the story ends too soon. It definitely ended, however, with a surprise and that's what makes it a winner in true Galdi tradition. I look forward to other works by Mr. Galdi! 5 stars C.E. Williams
See the full review on https://rosepointpublishing.com/2018/...
Enter Dusty, someone who befriends Brian and undertakes the task of helping both Brian and his younger brother. Dusty and Brian both work at the same company as limousine drivers. The wise and edgy Dusty is not above knowing some lucrative but illegal events and together they both conspire a way to get some quick money. The author introduces a Russian born gangster named Igor. Igor is someone who understands the American economy and Brian is swept up in the underworld while keeping the prize in sight; eighteen thousand dollars within 60 days.
The opening chapter spears your attention and then swiftly guides you through the drama as it weaves into each new development. Galdi weaves the well-plotted tale with precision and keeps the story fast moving and entertaining while slipping in a few twists along the way. The characters provide a tight look at budding friendships and loyalty and the tale maintains engagement with twists and turns that keep this mind-boggling saga very entertaining. It moves the reader through hope they'll succeed and then fear they won't and your heart sinks a little the deeper they go.
I received this ebook download from the author, appreciated the opportunity to read, and the resulting review is my own. I recommend Lion on Fire to anyone who would enjoy a little escapism and a thrilling fast-paced, suspenseful crime narrative. My only complaint is that the story ends too soon. It definitely ended, however, with a surprise and that's what makes it a winner in true Galdi tradition. I look forward to other works by Mr. Galdi! 5 stars C.E. Williams
See the full review on https://rosepointpublishing.com/2018/...
April 12, 2018
Brian is just an average guy living in New York City driving a limo for a company called Big Hitter. He is planning to save the money he is earning to get his own place, so he isn't living with his parents anymore. Those plans get pushed to the side when Brian's brother asks for help coming up with $30,000 to replace a package of cocaine he lost. Brian, not wanting his dad to find out or have his brothers life on the line, agrees to help. He talks to his friend Dusty, another driver, and is given a job driving gamblers to illegal casino games. Things go from bad to worse as Brian finds out that the Casinos are run by the Russian Mafia.
After an incident of Brian's girlfriend getting hit by Igor, one of the Russian Mobsters, Dusty comes up with a plan to steal from the casino in a way that won't be tracked back to them. Brian just wants to get him brothers debt paid off and Dusty want to travel the world. Like most amateur heists, things don't go as planned.
The ending was far from what I expected. You'll have to read the book to find out why.
After an incident of Brian's girlfriend getting hit by Igor, one of the Russian Mobsters, Dusty comes up with a plan to steal from the casino in a way that won't be tracked back to them. Brian just wants to get him brothers debt paid off and Dusty want to travel the world. Like most amateur heists, things don't go as planned.
The ending was far from what I expected. You'll have to read the book to find out why.
August 23, 2018
Lion on Fire is a quick read of approximately 165 pages. A bit of a novella. But in that short span of pages, Ted Galdi has produced a ton of action and suspense.
You may be left wondering how this sweet, honest, law-abiding, respectable young man could possibly have gotten himself mixed up with the Russian mafia and a whole pack of trouble. Brian keeps trying to do the right thing by helping out his brother. All he was going to do is act as a limo driver to earn some big bucks to pay off his brother's debt and possibly save his life, but as each day progresses, Brian gets himself in deeper and deeper into what looks like no way out. And then there is Dusty. Gotta love Dusty! He and Brian become good friends and later attempt the unimaginable... to rob the Russian mafia and their casino. Not for the money! For the honor of a girl, Brian's girlfriend.
This is the third book I have read by Author Ted Galdi. I become more and more fascinated by the way his mind works each time I read a new novel from him. Keep going Ted. I want to read more from you!
You may be left wondering how this sweet, honest, law-abiding, respectable young man could possibly have gotten himself mixed up with the Russian mafia and a whole pack of trouble. Brian keeps trying to do the right thing by helping out his brother. All he was going to do is act as a limo driver to earn some big bucks to pay off his brother's debt and possibly save his life, but as each day progresses, Brian gets himself in deeper and deeper into what looks like no way out. And then there is Dusty. Gotta love Dusty! He and Brian become good friends and later attempt the unimaginable... to rob the Russian mafia and their casino. Not for the money! For the honor of a girl, Brian's girlfriend.
This is the third book I have read by Author Ted Galdi. I become more and more fascinated by the way his mind works each time I read a new novel from him. Keep going Ted. I want to read more from you!
January 2, 2018
Ted Galdi is a storyteller that eschews the esoteric and evasive language that many writers seem to lean towards today in favor of straightforward and clear prose. In “Lion on Fire,” a short and engrossing novel of wanting to do right but slipping into serious transgression, Brian gets involved with some mobsters who can get ugly.
Brian’s brother has taken on a debt he can’t pay back and Brian assumes the load to clear up a mess. He, along with a friend, hatches a plan to rob an mob-run casino through subterfuge rather than muscle and you’ll have to read the book to see how that works out for him.
Galdi doesn’t mince around with fancy writing to get his story told. His characters are plain folk with anxieties and nervousness that accompany their novice approach to robbery. The plan doesn’t sound well thought out to me and I’m not sure the author thinks it is either. Nevertheless, it’s a good read that won’t gross you out.
July 28, 2018
Lion on Fire by Ted Galdi traces the actions of a recent college graduate as the tries to keep himself employed and his younger brother out of trouble. Brian has decided that driving a limo, rather than taking allow paying internship, is the best way fro him to advance toward his goals in life. When his brother Kip confides that he is in debt to the mafia for losing some drugs, Brian decides that it is his responsibility to get his brother out of trouble by making $18,000 in a couple of weeks. Brian's slightly older work friend Dusty suggests that he ask the proprietor of the lime service whether there is an opening for special fare limo drivers. This leads to Brian and Dusty taking on the Russian mob in order to get some quick cash. Common sense is not part of a college education. The story is a good thriller and a very quick read, and the characters are interesting but not always believable. Note: I received this book for free and am providing a not required review.
January 29, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's packed with action and suspense. Brian's younger brother gets in trouble with the local cocaine dealer due to his own stupidity and Brian also doesn't want his father, who's:in law enforcement, finding out about it. Brian finds a way of making extra money driving his limo and gets into all sorts of problems. He an fellow limo driver, Dusty become good friends and are both driving underground casino customers to and from the Russian Mafia casinos. The experiences they have and the plans they make are epic. The language is very authentic, so stay clear of the book if you are offended by the f-word and others. I love the way Ted Galdi worked in how verbal and physical abuse of women is not okay. It's a terrific book that was terrific and very entertaining.
Read
January 17, 2023Interesting read.
Prologue, Lion on Fire - Not much of an intro but I have Lion on Fire so I'll see if this is worth the time spent reading it. After reading Lion on Fire, this prologue isn't needed. There more about the beginning of their friendship and the favor but that appears in the book. 3*
Lion on Fire - I was surprised how interesting this story is since I had read the prologue setting up this story, which was not necessary. Good characters and story lines made this an easy book to get immersed in the pages. 4*
A Road to Nowhere - A short story about how some things never are as they appear. Good dialog and story line made a quick, easy read. 4*
An American Cage - Not a bad story. There were parts where I laughed at some language used and a major action scene, but overall, an interesting read. 4*
Prologue, Lion on Fire - Not much of an intro but I have Lion on Fire so I'll see if this is worth the time spent reading it. After reading Lion on Fire, this prologue isn't needed. There more about the beginning of their friendship and the favor but that appears in the book. 3*
Lion on Fire - I was surprised how interesting this story is since I had read the prologue setting up this story, which was not necessary. Good characters and story lines made this an easy book to get immersed in the pages. 4*
A Road to Nowhere - A short story about how some things never are as they appear. Good dialog and story line made a quick, easy read. 4*
An American Cage - Not a bad story. There were parts where I laughed at some language used and a major action scene, but overall, an interesting read. 4*
December 30, 2018
Wow! I thought ‘Lion on Fire’ was a great goodread! Ted Galdi had me from the beginning cryptic sentence with his compelling writing style and narrative concerning a mysterious duffel bag and a character hell-bent on reaching a destination on time. My interest grew as the plot grew with main character, Brian going to great lengths to help his drug dealing kid brother. Mr. Galdi’s storyline has exciting play by play action and perfectly chosen words to describe emotional feelings of despair, fear, grief, and forgiveness that had me till the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the compelling writing style and characters of this book and recommend it to all readers. Ted Galdi is a new fav author for me.
April 21, 2019
Shocking and Daring Casino Heist
Brian is a college grad with a policeman father. Brian has always been clean cut and a hard worker. He finds out his brother Kip had a pack of cocaine stolen from him and owes the dealer $30,000 and if he doesn't pay it in a short time he will be elimanated. Brian has a good job driving a limo. When he finds out his brother is in dangerous trouble, he allows himself to take a job shuttling wealthy individuals to illicit gambling games. He later learns the Russian mob is involved. He and his friend Dusty decided to rob the casino to pay off Kip's debt. Now the action gets breathtakingly exciting!! A good read that will make you hold your breath.
Brian is a college grad with a policeman father. Brian has always been clean cut and a hard worker. He finds out his brother Kip had a pack of cocaine stolen from him and owes the dealer $30,000 and if he doesn't pay it in a short time he will be elimanated. Brian has a good job driving a limo. When he finds out his brother is in dangerous trouble, he allows himself to take a job shuttling wealthy individuals to illicit gambling games. He later learns the Russian mob is involved. He and his friend Dusty decided to rob the casino to pay off Kip's debt. Now the action gets breathtakingly exciting!! A good read that will make you hold your breath.
April 4, 2020
Brians younger brother owed a big debt so his brother decided to help him out so he don't get killed. So he took a job as a limo driver not knowing if it was legal or not. He was to drive and pick up people and drop them off elsewhere. Eventually he found out it was because they were gambling at the place where he dropped them off at. Igar the boss was angry with him one night because he was late and being that he had to take his girlfriend car instead of his limo Igar slapped her & told her to get lost . She had no idea what was going on. So she left & took off walking. Brain was mad he couldn't find her. Later on his friend comes up with this idea how to get back at Igar & have him loose a lot of money. Does it work for the two of them? Find out
October 6, 2022
Lion on Fire by Ted Galdi is his third book. Brian Rolson is an honest, college grad, son of an NYPD detective who is proud of him. Not so much his brother Kip though. When Kip finds himself owing his boss $30,000 over a drug deal gone bad, he turns to Brian for help. Brian ends up working for the Russian mob to bail Kip out and keep him from getting killed. But will Brian survive himself? Brian and his best friend Dusty plan a casino heist that turns deadly. This action-packed thriller keeps you turning pages while holding your breath. It is also an emotional story, with a surprising twist at the end. This is an interesting read and I look forward to reading more by this author. I received a free advance e-copy of this book from the author.
February 1, 2018
Fast paced story which keeps the reader captivated trying to discern what is coming next. The author does not let the story line lag, nor does he get so absorbed in laying out detail after detail so as to overwhelm the story. Galdi lays out just enough information to keep the reader engaged. He then moves the story along so that the reader wants to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.
The story is a pretty predictable tale of a young man needing to make a quick buck who gets involved with the wrong crowd. Then Galdi throws in some unexpected detail to add zest to the tried and true. Then a twist here and a turn there make the story even more interesting and exciting.
The story is a pretty predictable tale of a young man needing to make a quick buck who gets involved with the wrong crowd. Then Galdi throws in some unexpected detail to add zest to the tried and true. Then a twist here and a turn there make the story even more interesting and exciting.
May 15, 2018
A Really Fascinating Story
A stretch-limo driver accepts a job driving for the Russian Mafia. He has to collect wealthy clients to gamble at secret destinations and deliver them there. He does this to rescue his younger brother from a massive drug debt. The irresponsible youngster left a big bag of expensive drugs in plain view in his car, which was broken into. Now he is being held responsible for the full value by the drug dealers. Their father is a law enforcement officer. He is shocked when he discovers his older, previously law abiding son mixed up with crime. Then the son meets a fearless friend and together they turn the tables. A fascinating read!
A stretch-limo driver accepts a job driving for the Russian Mafia. He has to collect wealthy clients to gamble at secret destinations and deliver them there. He does this to rescue his younger brother from a massive drug debt. The irresponsible youngster left a big bag of expensive drugs in plain view in his car, which was broken into. Now he is being held responsible for the full value by the drug dealers. Their father is a law enforcement officer. He is shocked when he discovers his older, previously law abiding son mixed up with crime. Then the son meets a fearless friend and together they turn the tables. A fascinating read!
March 30, 2019
Lion On Fire by Ted Galdi writes skillfully and his mastery over words delivers a great read. Absolutely NO disappointment with this book! Suspense, intrigue, jam packed action, well built plot and characters, and story telling by Ted Galdi to end all story telling. Just a pleasure to read Lion On Fire. ALL pleasure as the pages turn as fast as one can read them, because it is a definite page turner and I could not wait to turn the page with excitement of what was to come next. That makes this book a W-I-N-N-E-R!! Very lovely style of writing as well. Like I said, this book had everything. Compelling read for sure!! Ted Galdi has it “going ON”!!
May 27, 2020
I am surprised!
Coming into this with an open mind, I still didn't know what to expect. Not sure I was going to like it, I jumped in the deep end.
The characters were quite likeable and intriguing. The story line is believable as well as interesting, with just enough back story to keep you interested and not skipping ahead. Moves at just the right pace, not too violent and very worth the read!
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book and even like the ending. Let's me guess what happens to Dusty and to Brian/Samantha. Give it a read and see what I mean. You'll enjoy this one 😄
Coming into this with an open mind, I still didn't know what to expect. Not sure I was going to like it, I jumped in the deep end.
The characters were quite likeable and intriguing. The story line is believable as well as interesting, with just enough back story to keep you interested and not skipping ahead. Moves at just the right pace, not too violent and very worth the read!
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book and even like the ending. Let's me guess what happens to Dusty and to Brian/Samantha. Give it a read and see what I mean. You'll enjoy this one 😄
February 27, 2022
It seemed to be a first novel that needed a bit of tightening up. I think the author could have benefited from a good writing group.
My main issue is that the story was written in the first person and so it has the thoughts and feelings of the first person. And, a lot of that was not believable. It felt more like what the author thought the character should think and feel than what the character actually thought and felt...right up until close to the end. Then the author got out of his own head and allowed the character to come alive.
I would actually give 2.5*, but GR does not allow half-points.
My main issue is that the story was written in the first person and so it has the thoughts and feelings of the first person. And, a lot of that was not believable. It felt more like what the author thought the character should think and feel than what the character actually thought and felt...right up until close to the end. Then the author got out of his own head and allowed the character to come alive.
I would actually give 2.5*, but GR does not allow half-points.
December 17, 2017
I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. Wow! He was just trying to help out his brother and didn’t expect to get into so much trouble. A casino heist by amateurs goes awry and there is a surprise ending. This is a good story as far as it goes. I would have liked more content and further character development. This book is worth the read and I would like to read more from Ted Galdi in the future.
March 19, 2018
Lion on Fire is a world far beyond my reach. The world of Brian and his family, at first sounded like many other middle-class families but as the book progressed I discovered them to very different from what I first thought. Brian, without giving too much away was a good guy caught between a rock and a hard place. He sought a way to help his brother and this led him far beyond his normal life. The story ran at a neat pace, the writing was strong, the only but I would add is that I would have liked Sam to have played a bigger part than she did. I enjoyed Lion on Fire.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews