Things Could Get Ugly: The Great Depression, Jim Crow, the Syndicate, a corrupt politician … and a reporter

by Gary Reed

THINGS COULD GET UGLY The Great Depression, Jim Crow, the Syndicate, a Corrupt Politician … and a Reporter.It's late summer 1939. Hitler is threatening war in Europe. Here, the Great Depression lingers on, Jim Crow rules the South, and the Syndicate is spreading its tentacles. Jack O’Brien returns to his hometown looking for the story that will make his reputation as a reporter. He finds a misbehaving preacher, a wrongfully convicted black man, dirty cops, a crooked politician, a dangerous mobster ... and love. Things could get ugly.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2018

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Gary Reed was a prolific comic book writer and publisher. He was formerly the publisher of Caliber Comics and Vice President of McFarlane Toys.

Also wrote under assumed names (including Brent Truax, Kyle Garrett, Randall Thayer).

Reviews

[Contentmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction

The story drew me in to the point where I felt I was there in 1939. Captivating plot, richly drawn characters, and good writing make this book a "don't miss" !

[Contentmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction
The story drew me in to the point where I felt I was there in 1939. Captivating plot, richly drawn characters, and good writing make this book a "don't miss" !

[Elle Mott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was it the title that grabbed me? Or its historical context? —historical novels are always on my reading list. Set in 1939, this story grabbed me and the more into I got, the more I was taken on an action-packed mystery of intrigue.
As a writer, I notice exhaustive research must have been used to develop this story, yet it reads well, with this research used to eloquently tie the events of the time and place into the unfolding of this well-laid out mystery. Dialogue is also used well, bringing the story even more alive.
Yes, I recommend this book; it is a heart-throbbing gift for any reader of mystery, thriller, or late Depression-era history.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary Reed’s “Things Could Get Ugly,” set in 1939 as the world prepares for war and the City of Covington, Kentucky battles mob influence, follows rookie reporter Jack O’Brien in his quest for the facts of a story he hopes will advance his fledgling career. Tinged with a hint of humor, it encompasses murder, scandal, racism, gangsters, love, and no small amount of personal danger. Mr. Reed has constructed a complex story that tantalizes the reader by weaving the individual threads into a story thick with the ambiance of the era.

[W.F. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! A thrilling story about a young and daring reporter in the City of Covington in 1939 just before the second world war broke out. Well developed and enjoyable characters. The author did a great job to create the right atmosphere of that period and clearly did his research. Almost like reliving 1939 in the City of Covington. Captivating till the end.