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Anatomy of a Death #1
Gangster In Our Midst
Gangster In Our Midst tells the neglected Iowa story of one of Al Capone's gangsters, Louie La Cava, who descended in the 1920s on the people in the small Midwestern town of Oxbow, Iowa (similar to Fairbank, Iowa, the author’s hometown). La Cava was Capone’s bookkeeper, lieutenant, and sometimes hit man. This true story is told through FBI and police reports, newspaper accounts, and in the words of locals who knew the gangster best. La Cava and his wife lived among the people of Oxbow for some sixty years, and are buried there.
250 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2017
About the author
Betty Brandt Passick
6 books12 followersBETTY BRANDT PASSICK is a multi-award-winning author of a gangster series, which began with the story of Louie La Cava, a Chicago mobster who came to her hometown of Fairbank, Iowa (called ‘Oxbow’ in the novels) in the early 1920s, where he remained on and off for the next 60 years. Gangster in Our Midst, Bookkeeper, Lieutenant, and Sometimes Hitman for Al Capone (2017), most recently won the 2025 Editor’s Choice Award of Literary Excellence from Reader’s House book review magazine in the UK. The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie (2021) won an Indie Book Award from Shelf Unbound book review magazine in the USA. And now comes: Anatomy of a Death (2026), the story of the life of a respected 1870s physician that unravels from alcohol and opioid addiction, set in the post-Civil War America. Two significant memorials preceded the gangster series. Her novellas, poems, and short stories also regularly appear in books and magazines. She writes a “Gangster Blog” and a column for her hometown newspaper, the Fairbank Islander. In 2023, she launched the annual Wapsie Writing Contest to encourage children/teens (in particular) and adults to write creatively. She teaches writing workshops and enjoys inspirational public speaking to encourage writing at every age. Betty is a member of several mystery crime writers’ organizations, the Iowa Writers Collaborative, and others.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 12, 2020
I debated on giving this book a 2-star rating but decided on 3-star mainly because my biggest objection to this book was what I expected versus what the book delivered. That may be my own fault.
Had the title been “The Minute Details of Our Small Town Life Including an Occasional Visit and Lots of Speculation of a Gangster” or “A Small Town Marshall: His Town and His Acquaintance with a Gangster”, the book may have been true to the title. As it was, I expected more of the gangster and much, much less of the community baseball games, boxing matches, church services, the locals and their specific health and money woes and those basic mundane activities in small town Iowa. Most of the book had absolutely nothing to do with the gangster in question, Louis La Cava. However, the author kept him as the theme by inserting snippets like how his car was seen by one town character, after an entire chapter about that characters’ life or La Cava’s name was seen in the newspaper by someone who was at a baseball game. That was a mention in the chapter that was dedicated to the baseball game. It was more like a ghost story. Louis La Cava, the gangster, was the ghost and he was a very shy one.
This story was much more about Oxbow, Iowa and the locals, than the gangster. Plus, Oxbox is not a real town. This story actually happened in Fairbanks, Iowa. Why change the name of the town? I read the real name of the town was not used on the advice of the author’s editor. I think that was bad advice. There is a map of Oxbox in the forward portion of the book. Is this really a map of Fairbanks or is that also completely made up? Do the incidents at the businesses described in the book that are shown on the map actually occur, or are those made up? And are the people whose lives the reader is exploring in detail also made up? The author admits some characters had to be created and the book is noted on the cover as being a historical novel but at the end, the author claims the story is TRUE. Most TRUE historical novels do provide an accounting of the real characters versus the imagined. We do not get that with this book.
I believe this book would be a real thrill for anyone from Fairbanks, Iowa. Also, the book was not poorly written at all, as a matter of fact, the author has a writing style I enjoy. It is a basic, simplistic and down to earth style with enough description that even everyday scenes can be of interest. So, it was not a bad read as it was written. It was simply not what I expected and the unexpected was not positive, in my opinion.
Had the title been “The Minute Details of Our Small Town Life Including an Occasional Visit and Lots of Speculation of a Gangster” or “A Small Town Marshall: His Town and His Acquaintance with a Gangster”, the book may have been true to the title. As it was, I expected more of the gangster and much, much less of the community baseball games, boxing matches, church services, the locals and their specific health and money woes and those basic mundane activities in small town Iowa. Most of the book had absolutely nothing to do with the gangster in question, Louis La Cava. However, the author kept him as the theme by inserting snippets like how his car was seen by one town character, after an entire chapter about that characters’ life or La Cava’s name was seen in the newspaper by someone who was at a baseball game. That was a mention in the chapter that was dedicated to the baseball game. It was more like a ghost story. Louis La Cava, the gangster, was the ghost and he was a very shy one.
This story was much more about Oxbow, Iowa and the locals, than the gangster. Plus, Oxbox is not a real town. This story actually happened in Fairbanks, Iowa. Why change the name of the town? I read the real name of the town was not used on the advice of the author’s editor. I think that was bad advice. There is a map of Oxbox in the forward portion of the book. Is this really a map of Fairbanks or is that also completely made up? Do the incidents at the businesses described in the book that are shown on the map actually occur, or are those made up? And are the people whose lives the reader is exploring in detail also made up? The author admits some characters had to be created and the book is noted on the cover as being a historical novel but at the end, the author claims the story is TRUE. Most TRUE historical novels do provide an accounting of the real characters versus the imagined. We do not get that with this book.
I believe this book would be a real thrill for anyone from Fairbanks, Iowa. Also, the book was not poorly written at all, as a matter of fact, the author has a writing style I enjoy. It is a basic, simplistic and down to earth style with enough description that even everyday scenes can be of interest. So, it was not a bad read as it was written. It was simply not what I expected and the unexpected was not positive, in my opinion.
January 27, 2020
A fun, entertaining read
“A Gangster in our Midst” by Betty Brandt Passick is an historical novel set in Oxbow, Iowa, a small-town Midwest-American city during the Great Depression and Prohibition eras, and weaves together a story of the courageous men, woman and children who lived and worked in the area and their encounters with a shadowy mystery man rumored to have ties to organized crime boss Al Capone which makes it a fun, entertaining read with characters the author brings to life through local dialogue and history that fits the time and place. You get a real sense of community, loyalty, caring and compassion as the story develops. You feel their pride, their emotions, their morality through the author’s story and her words.
Mary Jo Wiseman, CMP | Author, “The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings”
“A Gangster in our Midst” by Betty Brandt Passick is an historical novel set in Oxbow, Iowa, a small-town Midwest-American city during the Great Depression and Prohibition eras, and weaves together a story of the courageous men, woman and children who lived and worked in the area and their encounters with a shadowy mystery man rumored to have ties to organized crime boss Al Capone which makes it a fun, entertaining read with characters the author brings to life through local dialogue and history that fits the time and place. You get a real sense of community, loyalty, caring and compassion as the story develops. You feel their pride, their emotions, their morality through the author’s story and her words.
Mary Jo Wiseman, CMP | Author, “The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings”
May 31, 2025
This was a new to me author that I found at a sister’s in crime event at a local library. Had a nice long chat with the author. She intrigued me with her story so I had to pick up the first book. I am not too big on gangster books, but this one was a lot of fun to read. It made it more of an interesting read putting a spin on a gangster to be more kind and familiar. This story delves into small town, Midwest living during a few different eras and really makes you wonder the details! Looking forward to picking up her next book!
August 12, 2020
Even gangsters are Human
An interesting well written tale of mysteries, humanity and spirituality, all set in a
small Iowa town.
Blends small town values, depression era woes, and big time gangsters in a mix
that is thoughtfully entertaining.
An interesting well written tale of mysteries, humanity and spirituality, all set in a
small Iowa town.
Blends small town values, depression era woes, and big time gangsters in a mix
that is thoughtfully entertaining.
January 14, 2022
I won a copy of this book at a book festival, and I am now providing my honest review.
Even though the title of this book implies that it is a story about a gangster… and part of it certainly is… I think that the real story is about the small town to which he comes and goes. Snapshots of life. That’s as close as I can come to accurately describing what it felt like to read this book.
The story spans the lifetime of several characters. As each chapter unfolds, we are immediately welcomed into their experiences of small-town life. Just as the people change over time, so does the town. There is a curious maturity that we are privileged to watch unfold. But more than that, we are invited to take a walk down Main Street and be a part of it all. It’s an emotional journey that is completely unexpected… and wonderful. Over the course of the story, we are invited to examine the connections that bind a place to its people, and the people to their home.
When I began to read, I thought this would be a book about the inside workings of the titular gangster. Eagerly I read, hoping to get the skinny on him and his outfit. I was hoping to watch his crimes from the inside and watch the how the community endured under his influence. What I got was better. Reading this story, I was able to see inside the gangster himself. I was a witness to his thoughts as a “regular” person who loves his wife, supports his community, and delights in being an “average” person away from his “job”. Ms. Passick skillfully uses individually distinctive dialect styles and vocabulary to help us enjoy a sensation of really getting to know the characters as people, as if we were sitting at the same table, riding in the same car, or standing near the same hunting blind while conversations float in and out of our ears.
Reading this book gave me the sensation of watching the town pull out a photo book. I listened to it tell the story of the years it remembered, and the secrets it kept about the interesting, and sometimes unconventional people who lived there. As time marched on, the town reflected the distinct experiences of each soul and how living side-by-side impacted each of them in very different ways. The story was brisk and unpredictable, making it a genuinely enjoyable read.
Even though the title of this book implies that it is a story about a gangster… and part of it certainly is… I think that the real story is about the small town to which he comes and goes. Snapshots of life. That’s as close as I can come to accurately describing what it felt like to read this book.
The story spans the lifetime of several characters. As each chapter unfolds, we are immediately welcomed into their experiences of small-town life. Just as the people change over time, so does the town. There is a curious maturity that we are privileged to watch unfold. But more than that, we are invited to take a walk down Main Street and be a part of it all. It’s an emotional journey that is completely unexpected… and wonderful. Over the course of the story, we are invited to examine the connections that bind a place to its people, and the people to their home.
When I began to read, I thought this would be a book about the inside workings of the titular gangster. Eagerly I read, hoping to get the skinny on him and his outfit. I was hoping to watch his crimes from the inside and watch the how the community endured under his influence. What I got was better. Reading this story, I was able to see inside the gangster himself. I was a witness to his thoughts as a “regular” person who loves his wife, supports his community, and delights in being an “average” person away from his “job”. Ms. Passick skillfully uses individually distinctive dialect styles and vocabulary to help us enjoy a sensation of really getting to know the characters as people, as if we were sitting at the same table, riding in the same car, or standing near the same hunting blind while conversations float in and out of our ears.
Reading this book gave me the sensation of watching the town pull out a photo book. I listened to it tell the story of the years it remembered, and the secrets it kept about the interesting, and sometimes unconventional people who lived there. As time marched on, the town reflected the distinct experiences of each soul and how living side-by-side impacted each of them in very different ways. The story was brisk and unpredictable, making it a genuinely enjoyable read.
March 20, 2026
As if the close-knit Iowa town of Oxbow didn’t have enough wacky characters at the height of Prohibition in the 1920s, suddenly Louie La Cava shows up, Italian-American, well dressed, sociable, and more money to throw around than you’d ever expect from a guy who calls himself a cigar salesman.
He marries a local lass, befriends the town constable, and treats the kids to movies on the weekend. Then he disappears for months at a time, and one hears stories of Gangland killings in remote places like Chicago, where Louie has roots. The rumor mill cranks up, and pretty soon people start thinking something should be done about it.
Starting with these few historical details, Betty Passick develops the story of Oxbow from the Proibition era of the twenties, the Great Depression of the Thirties, World War II of the early 1940s, and the post-war world that followed. It’s a worthy story. And it’s fascinating to see how different every thing was those many years ago.
Like any historical novel, it’s hard to tell sometimes who was a real person and who was a fictional character created to keep the story moving forward. Also, there are places where the dialog falters and the pace drags. The overall structure feels more like a chronological listing of events than the narrative arc of a novel.
But these are niggling objections. The author’s great contribution is painting a picture of Iowans as vital, living people. Her picture of Iowans is completely at odds with the stilted Iowans portrayed in the painting American Gothic. And much more appealing.
He marries a local lass, befriends the town constable, and treats the kids to movies on the weekend. Then he disappears for months at a time, and one hears stories of Gangland killings in remote places like Chicago, where Louie has roots. The rumor mill cranks up, and pretty soon people start thinking something should be done about it.
Starting with these few historical details, Betty Passick develops the story of Oxbow from the Proibition era of the twenties, the Great Depression of the Thirties, World War II of the early 1940s, and the post-war world that followed. It’s a worthy story. And it’s fascinating to see how different every thing was those many years ago.
Like any historical novel, it’s hard to tell sometimes who was a real person and who was a fictional character created to keep the story moving forward. Also, there are places where the dialog falters and the pace drags. The overall structure feels more like a chronological listing of events than the narrative arc of a novel.
But these are niggling objections. The author’s great contribution is painting a picture of Iowans as vital, living people. Her picture of Iowans is completely at odds with the stilted Iowans portrayed in the painting American Gothic. And much more appealing.
May 17, 2024
Storyline: ⭐
Characters: ⭐
Writing Style: ⭐
Storyline - What storyline? There was either an attempt to show how a gangster arriving in a small town really shook it up or an attempt to tell a bit of history of one of the guys that was on Al Capones payroll. Either way, it was severely disorganized and very hard to follow or care. The amount of detail put in a T-Ball game and the lack of detail put into the great mystery man who appeared is astonishing. A couple routes could of been taken. Focus on one character and tell the story through their eyes, Sweeney or Louie would make the most sense. Or tell the story as a compilation of many accounts of the time as a person interviewing folks of the town etc.
Characters - Maybe the author was banking on the fame of the gangsters mentioned or the stereotype of a small town to skirt the responsibility to character build. Sweeney was the only character I might be able to say a little about and that would be fact-based items like him job and family. Nothing deeper.
Writing style - I find it hard to judge when the other two items are lacking so severely. This book was a gift and I will not be looking into others by this author.
Characters: ⭐
Writing Style: ⭐
Storyline - What storyline? There was either an attempt to show how a gangster arriving in a small town really shook it up or an attempt to tell a bit of history of one of the guys that was on Al Capones payroll. Either way, it was severely disorganized and very hard to follow or care. The amount of detail put in a T-Ball game and the lack of detail put into the great mystery man who appeared is astonishing. A couple routes could of been taken. Focus on one character and tell the story through their eyes, Sweeney or Louie would make the most sense. Or tell the story as a compilation of many accounts of the time as a person interviewing folks of the town etc.
Characters - Maybe the author was banking on the fame of the gangsters mentioned or the stereotype of a small town to skirt the responsibility to character build. Sweeney was the only character I might be able to say a little about and that would be fact-based items like him job and family. Nothing deeper.
Writing style - I find it hard to judge when the other two items are lacking so severely. This book was a gift and I will not be looking into others by this author.
November 20, 2025
Gangster in Our Midst grabbed me from the first page, small-town Iowa innocence colliding with Prohibition danger, all told with Betty Passick’s earthy wit and heart. It’s one of those rare historical mysteries that feels both richly researched and irresistibly alive. A true gem for readers who love history with soul.
May 7, 2024
I just couldn't finish it. Found the writing inane.
August 20, 2025
This was good for a book with no plot or action and few characters you can care about. I didn’t hate it but had to enjoy the picture of small town life back in the day.
June 3, 2019
A multiple perspective book about a suspected gangster who made frequent visits to his wife's small Iowa town in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Some strange choices made by the author; such as deciding to shove in all her historical research, and also having the gangster character written with a thick Italian accent (Imma gonna take-a all the kiddies to the movies)
June 27, 2022
A fascinating account of down to earth people having to adjust to interacting with a man most people feared. The humanity of all involved is exposed and the reader becomes a part of the story itself with the informative backdrop of politics and world events.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews