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The Pictures #2
The Syndicate
June 1947.
Jonathan Craine has left his old life in Hollywood behind him. But when notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel is murdered, Craine is summoned back to Las Vegas to find his killer. All he has helping him is a lone crime reporter with her own agenda.
He only has five days. Or there will be fatal consequences for Craine and his son.
Jonathan Craine has left his old life in Hollywood behind him. But when notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel is murdered, Craine is summoned back to Las Vegas to find his killer. All he has helping him is a lone crime reporter with her own agenda.
He only has five days. Or there will be fatal consequences for Craine and his son.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 9, 2018
Guy Bolton follows the superb The Pictures with this outstanding sequel with so much atmosphere that it just drips off the pages, featuring ex-LAPD detective Jonathan Craine, in reality a fixer for the Hollywood Film Studios, making the sleaze and criminal activities of major movie stars disappear. After the dangers that threatened the life of his young son, Michael, and all the horrors of his last case, Craine re-evaluates the direction of his life, his need to prioritise his son and moves to a remote farm. It is 1947, the war is over, and Craine finds his old life casts long shadows as he is given no choice but to return to Hollywood when his son's life is placed in mortal danger. New York mob boss, Meyer Lansky gives Craine 5 days to find the killer of the notoriously volatile LA mobster, Benny 'Bugsy' Siegel, famous for consorting with Hollywood's celebrity acting royalty of the day. If Craine fails, he and Michael will be murdered. He is forbidden to contact the police, and is to be accompanied at all times by the syndicate's Abraham 'Abe' Levine.
LAPD and the head of homicide, Captain Henson, are grateful to be sidelined from the murder investigation when the FBI take it over, lead by Special Agent Redhill. Tilda Conroy is a crime reporter on the most progressive newspaper in LA, rising through the ranks after stories she is not proud of. Although she has a different agenda to Craine, the two find themselves working together to get to the truth behind Siegel's murder. There is a background of paranoia where Hoover has the FBI investigating communism in Hollywood and HUAC, The House Un-American Committee's is pursuing unrelenting witch hunts. All this fuels the stress and tensions experienced by the movie studios along with the increasing number of labour strikes in the industry. With the clock ticking, Craine, a man with few skills or experience in real investigations, is forced to learn fast on his feet in his desperation, assisted by Abe, with whom he finds himself getting surprisingly close to. The FBI are suppressing key pieces of evidence, blame the New York Syndicate for the murder, and seem remarkably uninterested in solving the case. Craine follows all the slim leads he has, including the rising costs incurred by Siegel in his visionary plans to create a gambling mecca in Las Vegas with The Flamingo hotel and casino.
The casual brutality and violence of the era is well captured by Bolton in his detailed and well researched depiction of the LA and Hollywood of the time, with the powerful connections between the movie business, the mafia, the press and City Hall laid bare. In many ways, Craine is in his elements, he has long established contacts with all the major players in LA, crucial to finding who is behind Siegel's death throughout his blood drenched and harrowing investigation. This is a story of power, greed, money, betrayal, deception, secrets and corruption, with the jostling for power of different mob groups, known as the syndicates. With such powerful players at play, Craine has to reach to the limit of his resources, mental, emotional and physical, if he is to stand the slightest chance of securing the safety of his beloved son. Bolton is a gifted writer, and I hope there is another in the series as soon as possible. Absolutely stunning read, I loved this novel, particularly Craine and Abe's complex relationship and the presence of leading actors of the day, such as Robert Mitchum, Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart and more. I adored both the period details and the gripping mystery at the heart of the novel. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.
LAPD and the head of homicide, Captain Henson, are grateful to be sidelined from the murder investigation when the FBI take it over, lead by Special Agent Redhill. Tilda Conroy is a crime reporter on the most progressive newspaper in LA, rising through the ranks after stories she is not proud of. Although she has a different agenda to Craine, the two find themselves working together to get to the truth behind Siegel's murder. There is a background of paranoia where Hoover has the FBI investigating communism in Hollywood and HUAC, The House Un-American Committee's is pursuing unrelenting witch hunts. All this fuels the stress and tensions experienced by the movie studios along with the increasing number of labour strikes in the industry. With the clock ticking, Craine, a man with few skills or experience in real investigations, is forced to learn fast on his feet in his desperation, assisted by Abe, with whom he finds himself getting surprisingly close to. The FBI are suppressing key pieces of evidence, blame the New York Syndicate for the murder, and seem remarkably uninterested in solving the case. Craine follows all the slim leads he has, including the rising costs incurred by Siegel in his visionary plans to create a gambling mecca in Las Vegas with The Flamingo hotel and casino.
The casual brutality and violence of the era is well captured by Bolton in his detailed and well researched depiction of the LA and Hollywood of the time, with the powerful connections between the movie business, the mafia, the press and City Hall laid bare. In many ways, Craine is in his elements, he has long established contacts with all the major players in LA, crucial to finding who is behind Siegel's death throughout his blood drenched and harrowing investigation. This is a story of power, greed, money, betrayal, deception, secrets and corruption, with the jostling for power of different mob groups, known as the syndicates. With such powerful players at play, Craine has to reach to the limit of his resources, mental, emotional and physical, if he is to stand the slightest chance of securing the safety of his beloved son. Bolton is a gifted writer, and I hope there is another in the series as soon as possible. Absolutely stunning read, I loved this novel, particularly Craine and Abe's complex relationship and the presence of leading actors of the day, such as Robert Mitchum, Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart and more. I adored both the period details and the gripping mystery at the heart of the novel. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.
March 24, 2019
“The Syndicate” (The Pictures #2) by Guy Bolton is set in 1947 a few years after Bolton’s 2017 book ”The Pictures” and we find former LAPD detective Jonathan Craine living in retirement with his 16-year-old son, Michael, in rural northern California, on a pig farm, away from L.A., a city Craine has grown to despise. Sure the book is full of chauvinism and racism, and hearings by the House Un-American Activities Committee, but it’s America in the 40’s.
It seems author Guy Bolton is a screen writer and he has his action writing down pat as there is rarely a dull moment. The opening few paragraphs alone set the scene and the remainder of the novel follows in its wake. Bolton moves between characters with great ease and develops all the main players well. In this book we are kept in the dark about the crime but we, the reader, know the bigger picture. We know how Las Vegas will develop, we know about the history of the studios, and we know about how the FBI grows in size and power.
The book is about the murder of Bugsy Siegel, who lived the Hollywood lifestyle with the stars of the era and was also a mobster who worked for crime boss Meyer Lansky. It’s to Bolton’s credit how well he intersperses actual fact into this fiction narrative. When summoned to Las Vegas to meet mob head Meyer Lansky, Craine is given the impossible task of finding Siegel’s murderers. If Craine can’t find Siegel’s murderers in five days, he and his son will both be killed.
We next meet crime reporter Tilda Conroy, who is working on her own investigation into the killing of Segal. For me, the Conroy character is far more interesting than the clichéd Craine who is our main character. Through Tilda and her co-workers we encounter the racial aspects of this time in American history.
I admit to enjoying “The Syndicate” a bit more than the earlier work by Bolton. In fact I would greatly enjoy a full length novel featuring Tilda Conroy as the primary focal point.
This is a 'buddy' read with the outstanding and wonderful Nat K. from Australia, our second one.
It seems author Guy Bolton is a screen writer and he has his action writing down pat as there is rarely a dull moment. The opening few paragraphs alone set the scene and the remainder of the novel follows in its wake. Bolton moves between characters with great ease and develops all the main players well. In this book we are kept in the dark about the crime but we, the reader, know the bigger picture. We know how Las Vegas will develop, we know about the history of the studios, and we know about how the FBI grows in size and power.
The book is about the murder of Bugsy Siegel, who lived the Hollywood lifestyle with the stars of the era and was also a mobster who worked for crime boss Meyer Lansky. It’s to Bolton’s credit how well he intersperses actual fact into this fiction narrative. When summoned to Las Vegas to meet mob head Meyer Lansky, Craine is given the impossible task of finding Siegel’s murderers. If Craine can’t find Siegel’s murderers in five days, he and his son will both be killed.
We next meet crime reporter Tilda Conroy, who is working on her own investigation into the killing of Segal. For me, the Conroy character is far more interesting than the clichéd Craine who is our main character. Through Tilda and her co-workers we encounter the racial aspects of this time in American history.
I admit to enjoying “The Syndicate” a bit more than the earlier work by Bolton. In fact I would greatly enjoy a full length novel featuring Tilda Conroy as the primary focal point.
This is a 'buddy' read with the outstanding and wonderful Nat K. from Australia, our second one.
September 26, 2018
4 stars
Thanks to Oneworld Publications for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. This is an excellent sequel to The Pictures It is now 1947, and Jonathan Craine has left the LAPD and Hollywood. He now lives on a farm in Bridgeport, California. He has managed to reconnect with his son Michael, whom he neglected until Michael's mom (and Craine's wife) committed suicide. But then a helicopter lands with armed men who want him to find Bugsy Siegel's killer. He declines, until they threaten to kill his son, cutting off 2 of Michael's fingers in the process. They give him 1 week to find the killer, or Michael dies. He does find the killer, but it is a very tense thriller/mystery, with many twists and turns. He receives help from an unlikely source, Tilda Conroy, who wrote the story that put Craine's wife on the path to suicide. She now has a guilty conscience and wants to be a reporter with integrity. The book ends with something of a small cliffhanger and setting up book 3 in the series. Although I read book 1 in the series, this can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to Oneworld Publications for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. This is an excellent sequel to The Pictures It is now 1947, and Jonathan Craine has left the LAPD and Hollywood. He now lives on a farm in Bridgeport, California. He has managed to reconnect with his son Michael, whom he neglected until Michael's mom (and Craine's wife) committed suicide. But then a helicopter lands with armed men who want him to find Bugsy Siegel's killer. He declines, until they threaten to kill his son, cutting off 2 of Michael's fingers in the process. They give him 1 week to find the killer, or Michael dies. He does find the killer, but it is a very tense thriller/mystery, with many twists and turns. He receives help from an unlikely source, Tilda Conroy, who wrote the story that put Craine's wife on the path to suicide. She now has a guilty conscience and wants to be a reporter with integrity. The book ends with something of a small cliffhanger and setting up book 3 in the series. Although I read book 1 in the series, this can be read as a standalone.
June 20, 2020
”A part of him had always believed his past would catchup with him.”
We meet up with Jonathan Craine several years after the events in ”The Pictures”. It’s now 1947. WWII has been and gone, and Jonathan Craine has left behind the bright lights of L.A and his job as a police “fixer” for the LAPD, and has moved to a farm with his son Michael, in an attempt to pick up the pieces of their relationship.
”He liked the certainty of life on the farm. The quiet routine.”
Various mob families have moved across the country, and have infiltrated the movie industry, amongst others. The HUAC hearings are beginning to burn the movie studios, along with equity strike action. Vegas is still a sandy strip in the desert, which Benjamin “Bugsy” Seigel has the vision to turn it into a mecca of entertainment for the stars, a place where they can unwind and play, free from prying eyes**. The Flamingo Hotel plays part of this dream.
”A pink neon sign above the entrance read: The Flamingo.”
”Gambling. Prostitution. Narcotics. Nevada’s regulatory laws are considerable more lax.”
An assassin’s bullet put an end to Bugsy Seigel realising his dream, and this is where the book begins. And where Jonathan Craine is dragged from his solitary existence on his farm, back to a city he’d turned his back, in order to discover who killed Bugsy.
”Benjamin “Bugsy” Seigel; internationally renowned businessman, gambler and mobster. Almost mythical in his circles. Like a god.”
Jonathan Craine is as a jaded as ever. Country life doesn’t seem to have lightened his load or his personality (but I still like him as a character). And being back in L.A doesn’t help his disposition, especially as it seems his past is coming back to haunt him again. Under extreme circumstances (no spoilers!) he has no choice but to attempt to discover who set Bugsy up.
”There was violence in his life again. And there would only be more.”
I found the descriptions of the neighbourhoods and job roles which were so clearly defined by ethnicity and gender to be a real eye opener. Tilda Conroy is a journalist on the local rag, and what a great character she is. “Held back” by being a woman, she becomes embroiled in the maelstrom of Jonathan Craine’s universe.
This book can definitely be read as a standalone. However I think that reading ”The Pictures” first would be ideal, as it gives insight into Jonathan Craine’s character, and puts this story in context for what occurs with him.
Will there be more books in this series? I’d like to think so, but the ending (again, no spoilers), makes me think otherwise. Fingers crossed.
*** Big shout out to my reading buddy, the extremely well read and knowledgeable Karl, who kindy agreed to join me (again) for this next installment. Thanks Karl! Make sure you read his fab review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ***
* HUAC = House Un-American Activities Committee. According to Wikipedia it was set up to “…investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees…”. The aim was to discover Communists and/or fascism in the American entertainment industry, particularly, the film industry. It of course turned so many lives upside down.
** Legalized gambling & prostitution was a “selling” point for opening hotels and entertainment venues in L.A.
”At times it felt like the whole city was a giant chess game that a handful of men in penthouse offices were playing to amuse themselves.”
October 3, 2018
'The Syndicate' is crime writer Guy Bolton's follow-up to 'The Pictures', and it's back we go to 1940s Hollywood and the golden era of movie stars and mafia dons who move about as though they own the show. Bolton not only knows how to deftly plot an intricate and thoroughly splendid thriller, he understands how to keep the reader in the palm of his hand for the duration. The setting and time in which it's set add authenticity to the already overwhelming old school feel that emanates from it. This is the unique selling point (USP) of the novel and what sets it apart from the rest of the genre. I was so intrigued by it all that I devoured it in record time and later wished I'd savoured it a little more!
Former detective Jonathan Craine has retired to rural California when he is requested to return to Las Vegas to meet mob boss Meyer Lansky he is given the unwelcome task of finding out who killed infamous mobster Bugsy Siegel in his Beverly Hills mansion. There are many stipulations that are bound to make it an almost impossible assignment, but if he can't find the murderer within five days both him and his son will lose their lives.
This is a beautifully written, gripping and perfectly executed plot, and I loved the realistic and seemingly accurate descriptions of the mob - it's evident Bolton has researched this topic meticulously. As a character, Craine is a highly motivated (well, wouldn't you be if you were promised you and your families lives would be in danger?), intelligent and independent protagonist, it's impossible not to get behind him in his quest for safety. The cliffhanger ending is most frustrating as it is set up for continuation into the third book. If you're a fan of novels which feature gangsters and the criminal underworld, you'll appreciate this one I'm sure! This is a superb follow-up, and I look forward to reading more of Bolton's work in the future. I'm already eagerly anticipating the third book in the series.
Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Former detective Jonathan Craine has retired to rural California when he is requested to return to Las Vegas to meet mob boss Meyer Lansky he is given the unwelcome task of finding out who killed infamous mobster Bugsy Siegel in his Beverly Hills mansion. There are many stipulations that are bound to make it an almost impossible assignment, but if he can't find the murderer within five days both him and his son will lose their lives.
This is a beautifully written, gripping and perfectly executed plot, and I loved the realistic and seemingly accurate descriptions of the mob - it's evident Bolton has researched this topic meticulously. As a character, Craine is a highly motivated (well, wouldn't you be if you were promised you and your families lives would be in danger?), intelligent and independent protagonist, it's impossible not to get behind him in his quest for safety. The cliffhanger ending is most frustrating as it is set up for continuation into the third book. If you're a fan of novels which feature gangsters and the criminal underworld, you'll appreciate this one I'm sure! This is a superb follow-up, and I look forward to reading more of Bolton's work in the future. I'm already eagerly anticipating the third book in the series.
Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
November 16, 2018
This book is a sequel to The Pictures. Jonathon Craine is no longer employed by the LAPD and is living in a remote ranch in Northern California, with his son Michael. Some years have passed and Word War II has come and gone. In the immediate aftermath of the war Craine is hoping to live out a quite life with his son. But this is a crime fiction novel, so I guess we know that’s not going to happen!
One day they get a surprise visit which turns their world upside down. Suddenly Craine is forced back to Los Angeles, this time in an attempt to track down the killer of mobster Bugsy Siegel. And the clock is ticking – he needs to quickly identify the killer or the life of his son, and maybe his own life too, will be forfeit.
This is a pacy thriller and along the way I learned a good deal about the genesis of Las Vegas and the high level set-up of organised crime in America at that time. Siegel and his partners – including legendary crime boss Meyer Lanskey - had invested heavily in the building of the Flamingo Hotel, but Siegel’s death threw the cat amongst the pigeons. Identifying his killer was important to Lanskey and Craine was the man appointed to do it.
What I liked about this book was that the time restriction placed on Craine meant that there was a sense of urgency in all his actions; the tension here was ever present. There were some good twists too. I also liked the mix of fact and fiction, with many real life characters flitting in and out of this tale. What I wasn’t so fond of was the fact that some actions just didn’t seem to make any sense – there were several ‘why the hell did he do that’ moments that really spoilt the cohesion of the piece for me.
If you loved book 1 then you’ll probably gorge yourself on this one too. But for me it was a bit of a missed opportunity – it’s almost a brilliant book. I believe a few tweaks here and there would have improved this immeasurably.
My thanks to Oneworld publications and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One day they get a surprise visit which turns their world upside down. Suddenly Craine is forced back to Los Angeles, this time in an attempt to track down the killer of mobster Bugsy Siegel. And the clock is ticking – he needs to quickly identify the killer or the life of his son, and maybe his own life too, will be forfeit.
This is a pacy thriller and along the way I learned a good deal about the genesis of Las Vegas and the high level set-up of organised crime in America at that time. Siegel and his partners – including legendary crime boss Meyer Lanskey - had invested heavily in the building of the Flamingo Hotel, but Siegel’s death threw the cat amongst the pigeons. Identifying his killer was important to Lanskey and Craine was the man appointed to do it.
What I liked about this book was that the time restriction placed on Craine meant that there was a sense of urgency in all his actions; the tension here was ever present. There were some good twists too. I also liked the mix of fact and fiction, with many real life characters flitting in and out of this tale. What I wasn’t so fond of was the fact that some actions just didn’t seem to make any sense – there were several ‘why the hell did he do that’ moments that really spoilt the cohesion of the piece for me.
If you loved book 1 then you’ll probably gorge yourself on this one too. But for me it was a bit of a missed opportunity – it’s almost a brilliant book. I believe a few tweaks here and there would have improved this immeasurably.
My thanks to Oneworld publications and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2018
Budgsy Seagal's murder, mobsters, hollywood, and crime, in fine fiction.
Jonathan Craine, the former Hollywood movie 'fixer' returns in the follow-up to The Pictures to face off against FBI agents, mobsters, and greedy casino owners.
Set some 8 years after the events of the preceding novel, Craine has set up shop on a rural property in California with his son. The peace and tranquility is soon spoiled when a gun toting mobster flies in and crashes Craine's life.
Force to do the mob's bidding, Craine must find Bugsy Siegel's killer before his own son joins the mobster in death.
The Syndicate is fast-paced, violent, and full of action. A worthy successor to The Pictures.
There's a lot of facts intertwined in this clever fiction which readers familiar with the era will appreciate.
My rating: 5/5. I can't wait to see where author Guy Bolton takes Craine and co. next.
Jonathan Craine, the former Hollywood movie 'fixer' returns in the follow-up to The Pictures to face off against FBI agents, mobsters, and greedy casino owners.
Set some 8 years after the events of the preceding novel, Craine has set up shop on a rural property in California with his son. The peace and tranquility is soon spoiled when a gun toting mobster flies in and crashes Craine's life.
Force to do the mob's bidding, Craine must find Bugsy Siegel's killer before his own son joins the mobster in death.
The Syndicate is fast-paced, violent, and full of action. A worthy successor to The Pictures.
There's a lot of facts intertwined in this clever fiction which readers familiar with the era will appreciate.
My rating: 5/5. I can't wait to see where author Guy Bolton takes Craine and co. next.
September 7, 2018
BookTrail the locations in the novel
Meet the author
Having loved The Pictures, I was dying to read this so when I met the author a while ago, I practically wrestled him to the ground for a copy. He’s that nice, he made sure I got a lovely proof and even agreed to an interview for TheBooktrail so I mustn’t have wrestled too much!
Phew! Thank goodness for that as now I’ve read this, I REALLY want book three! It’s even more fascinating and captivating than the Pictures if that is possible. THIS is the dark side of Hollywood and it’s all based and inspired on true facts and the real Hollywood gangster life.
This is the most evocative read I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in a long while. I got to meet Bugsy Siegel – the real mob man of Hollywood although not for long as he’s killed in the early chapters. This is no spoiler as the whole book focuses on the search for his killer.
Ex-LAPD detective Jonathan Craine is now in a fixer for the Hollywood Film Studios, so basically tries to make all the sleaze fall of the accused and make the accusers go away. In the present post Weinstein and current MeToo movement, this seems particularly surreal and relevant.
Craine is drafted into find out who killed the most famous LA mobster of all time. And as you read and find out about Bugsy, his life and what he did….boy are you in for a read. It’s like a tour of Hollywood but although you start at one notorious home, the rest of the journey is around the shadows and dark corners of a very glitzy world. But scratch that surface and it oozes evil…
He has only five day to do it and he’s going to have a member of ‘the syndicate’ to accompany him…
IF this trail and chase is not nerve wracking enough – there is a lot at stake here not to mention the life of Craine and his son!! – but Guy manages to fix this even more in your conscience with the fact that he evokes the time and political atmosphere of the time by plenty of references or nudges to Hoover and his FBI investigating communism….paranoia and high stakes all round.
Oh I won’t say more – that’s for you to discover as blimey this is some discovery! Then it’s off to Vegas where we see where Siegel created The Flamingo – his iconic gambling mecca in Las Vegas
If THAT’s not enough – figures of Hollywood make various appearances throughout the book.
All in all it’s one heck of a literary yet cinematic reading experience.
competition to win copies of this book here : win a book
October 6, 2018
4.5 stars
You can also find this review on my book blog.
Before ever getting the chance to read The Syndicate I’ve seen it mostly on Twitter and found the cover to be intriguing as well as the 1940’s noir feel to it something I knew I’d enjoy – and I did enjoy reading it.
The Syndicate by Guy Bolton begins with a bang – a mobster called Bugsy Siegel comes home and has drinks with two friends but after a while something shocking happens, he gets shot in his home with two witnesses who know nothing about why he was killed and who would’ve killed him. Enter Jonathan Craine a now retired fixer who dealt with many scandals and deals featuring Hollywood movie stars. Craine now lives on a farm with his son and has distanced himself from his previous life but the murder of Siegel brings trouble his way. Craine and his son get visited by a few people who want Craine to investigate the murder but as Craine politely refuses his son becomes imprisoned by them. In order to save his son he has to cooperate with them and find out who killed Bugsy Siegel. As Craine begins the search for Siegel’s killer he enters a dangerous world where everyone could be a suspect and in order to find out who killed the infamous mobster and save his son he will have to do what he does best with limited time and limited access to news reports, crime documents etc. Will Craine be able to save his son and find Siegel’s murderer?
I found The Syndicate to be such a fantastic, fast-paced and thrilling book because right from the start you get action and it intrigues you and makes you want to read on and find out who killed Siegel and will Craine be able to find it out. Bolton writes superbly and I loved that he featured Old Hollywood stars like Ava Gardner, Judy Garland and more in the background of the book. You won’t find a dull moment in the book because the mystery keeps you pulled in. I loved how flawed Craine was and how we saw his vulnerabilites but more than that I loved that Bolton featured a woman as part of the story, Tilda Conroy as well as another woman of colour. Bolton mentions issues which were big at that time like colourism where only white people were allowed into bars and restaurants and sexism. I appreciated this and it gave points to Bolton in my mind. Whenever I read this book I read huge chunks of it which only happens when a book manages to keep you entertained. I liked the ending of the book and I when I finished the book I was left with a melancholic feeling because I had such a great time reading it.
If you’re someone who enjoys reading about mysterious deaths, who likes noir and getting lost in thrilling books, The Syndicate is the one for you.
I would like to thank the publisher Point Blank Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and weren’t influenced by anything.
You can also find this review on my book blog.
Before ever getting the chance to read The Syndicate I’ve seen it mostly on Twitter and found the cover to be intriguing as well as the 1940’s noir feel to it something I knew I’d enjoy – and I did enjoy reading it.
The Syndicate by Guy Bolton begins with a bang – a mobster called Bugsy Siegel comes home and has drinks with two friends but after a while something shocking happens, he gets shot in his home with two witnesses who know nothing about why he was killed and who would’ve killed him. Enter Jonathan Craine a now retired fixer who dealt with many scandals and deals featuring Hollywood movie stars. Craine now lives on a farm with his son and has distanced himself from his previous life but the murder of Siegel brings trouble his way. Craine and his son get visited by a few people who want Craine to investigate the murder but as Craine politely refuses his son becomes imprisoned by them. In order to save his son he has to cooperate with them and find out who killed Bugsy Siegel. As Craine begins the search for Siegel’s killer he enters a dangerous world where everyone could be a suspect and in order to find out who killed the infamous mobster and save his son he will have to do what he does best with limited time and limited access to news reports, crime documents etc. Will Craine be able to save his son and find Siegel’s murderer?
I found The Syndicate to be such a fantastic, fast-paced and thrilling book because right from the start you get action and it intrigues you and makes you want to read on and find out who killed Siegel and will Craine be able to find it out. Bolton writes superbly and I loved that he featured Old Hollywood stars like Ava Gardner, Judy Garland and more in the background of the book. You won’t find a dull moment in the book because the mystery keeps you pulled in. I loved how flawed Craine was and how we saw his vulnerabilites but more than that I loved that Bolton featured a woman as part of the story, Tilda Conroy as well as another woman of colour. Bolton mentions issues which were big at that time like colourism where only white people were allowed into bars and restaurants and sexism. I appreciated this and it gave points to Bolton in my mind. Whenever I read this book I read huge chunks of it which only happens when a book manages to keep you entertained. I liked the ending of the book and I when I finished the book I was left with a melancholic feeling because I had such a great time reading it.
If you’re someone who enjoys reading about mysterious deaths, who likes noir and getting lost in thrilling books, The Syndicate is the one for you.
I would like to thank the publisher Point Blank Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and weren’t influenced by anything.
October 3, 2018
I have to admit I have not read The Pictures but everything I hear about this novel was that it was superb. Guy Bolton now returns with the sequel The Syndicate. (Point Blank) The year is 1947 and Ex police detective Jonathan Caine now out of retirement following the murder of the infamous mobster Benny ‘Bugsy’ Siegel.
Now Caine’s son’s life is in danger and now he must return to Hollywood and find the killer. The pressure on Caine is massive as mob boss Mayer Lansky has given him just five days to find the killer of Benny Siegel or he and his son will die.
Caine now must use all his experience and knowledge of his past experience and track down the killer before the trail goes cold. Going to the police is clearly out of the question so he must use other methods in tracking down the killer. Plus, he is not alone. For the mob have added ‘Abe’ Levine to accompany Caine at all times. Keeping a close eye on proceedings.
The clock is ticking and every hour that goes by and the thought of his son being killed at the hands of the mob keeps Caine focussed at all times. The scene is brilliantly depicted at all times and the violence of the day you cannot hide from. The movie business rules throughout here and with the links that Caine had from his past all come through in this brilliantly portrayed crime novel. You don’t mess with the mob when the stakes are high and Caine knows what will happen if he fails in his task. It is all to play for. Added into the mix are some major actors of the day with Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, and Cary Grant all have walk on parts in this exhilarating sequel. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
400 Pages.
Now Caine’s son’s life is in danger and now he must return to Hollywood and find the killer. The pressure on Caine is massive as mob boss Mayer Lansky has given him just five days to find the killer of Benny Siegel or he and his son will die.
Caine now must use all his experience and knowledge of his past experience and track down the killer before the trail goes cold. Going to the police is clearly out of the question so he must use other methods in tracking down the killer. Plus, he is not alone. For the mob have added ‘Abe’ Levine to accompany Caine at all times. Keeping a close eye on proceedings.
The clock is ticking and every hour that goes by and the thought of his son being killed at the hands of the mob keeps Caine focussed at all times. The scene is brilliantly depicted at all times and the violence of the day you cannot hide from. The movie business rules throughout here and with the links that Caine had from his past all come through in this brilliantly portrayed crime novel. You don’t mess with the mob when the stakes are high and Caine knows what will happen if he fails in his task. It is all to play for. Added into the mix are some major actors of the day with Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, and Cary Grant all have walk on parts in this exhilarating sequel. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
400 Pages.
January 11, 2019
The Pictures was author Guy Bolton’s entry into pure, noir fiction. The read was golden as it was retro. Why then does his follow-up, The Syndicate, lack any of that LA snap?
The Pictures
was smooth, single-malt brewed to a James Cain beat.
As a sequel, The Syndicate is as memorable as that last Coors Light before the keg is kicked.
Set eight years later, LAPD fixer Jonathan Craine is removed from both Hollywood and the force. He is a tired, quiet man, a fact that Bolton repeats. Constantly. Almost as much as Craine cries. Craine’s previous Bogart-chic has been repressed with Robert Reed defeat. Yet, he is pulled back to LA for one more job. This time? Find out who murdered mobster Bugsy Siegel.
Bolton, who was a master of capturing 1939’s grace, spins the style roulette in Vegas for this outing, but does nothing to enhance the stay. Name dropping Sinatra is as ubiquitous as modern-day Elvis impersonators. Bolton revives some of his charm with a cleverly-situated cat-and-mouse chase trapped within a tight time constraint. The action keeps moving, but the tale has been told before and The Syndicate suffers with repetitive fatigue.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for the ARC. The Syndicate is fine, easy read, but is a flat-footed sequel when compared to The Pictures ’ stiletto heights.
Read this review and more on my site: readatjoes.org
As a sequel, The Syndicate is as memorable as that last Coors Light before the keg is kicked.
Set eight years later, LAPD fixer Jonathan Craine is removed from both Hollywood and the force. He is a tired, quiet man, a fact that Bolton repeats. Constantly. Almost as much as Craine cries. Craine’s previous Bogart-chic has been repressed with Robert Reed defeat. Yet, he is pulled back to LA for one more job. This time? Find out who murdered mobster Bugsy Siegel.
Bolton, who was a master of capturing 1939’s grace, spins the style roulette in Vegas for this outing, but does nothing to enhance the stay. Name dropping Sinatra is as ubiquitous as modern-day Elvis impersonators. Bolton revives some of his charm with a cleverly-situated cat-and-mouse chase trapped within a tight time constraint. The action keeps moving, but the tale has been told before and The Syndicate suffers with repetitive fatigue.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for the ARC. The Syndicate is fine, easy read, but is a flat-footed sequel when compared to The Pictures ’ stiletto heights.
Read this review and more on my site: readatjoes.org
October 14, 2018
This book opens with the killing of Bugsy Siegel. You are then taken to a farm in upstate California where a man Jonathan Crane is forced to go to Vegas where there he is given the tasked by Myra Lansky to solve the killing in five days. Going back to L.A. where he once worked for L.A.P.D. but really was a fixer for the studios. Now dealing with a police captain that does not want to help he must find someone else. That person is a crime reporter Tilda Conroy. He also has a guy sent with named Abe who follows him around. He starts putting pieces together only to find out that the FBI agent in charge is holding out with evidence. You also get a look at Hoovers look into Hollywood stars through an investigation called HUAC, The House Un-American Committee which was looking into communism in Hollywood by actors, writers, directors, mainly a witch hunt that started shortly after WWII. The author keeps the story going along with Crane wanting to find the answers so he can save his son. You as the reader are taken through L.A. greed, wealth of Hollywood, the mafia and corruption of both the L.A.P.D and the F.B.I. A good story that keeps your attention from beginning to the end. With good characters, and good descriptions of old L.A. a very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 16, 2024
Fun read!! Mafia history with a flair.
November 23, 2019
Wonderful modern day noir.
October 1, 2018
Guy Bolton’s The Syndicate is a bit of a belter. I was drawn into the murky world of gangsters and their power plays from the very first pages as we “witness” infamous mob boss Bugsy Siegel being gunned down.
The shooting of one of America’s most notorious characters clearly created ripples at the time and another mob boss, Meyer Lanskey, wants to know who murdered Siegel. He summons Jonathan Craine to undertake the impossible mission of finding a murderer.
Working under extreme duress Craine is pulled from his quiet secluded life, he had been working on his farm, back to the metropolitan buzz of Hollywood and Las Vegas. He has worked these urban pastures in the past but time away from the cities must place him at a disadvantage as he tries to piece together clues which may lead him to identify a murderer.
Craine first appeared in The Pictures, a book I have not (yet) read but will certainly be hunting down after the huge blasts of enjoyment I experienced while reading The Syndicate. At no point did I feel that I wished I had read The Pictures before picking up The Syndicate – everything I needed to know was made clear without the presumption I knew the key players.
Guy Bolton does a fabulous job of building the environment and detail in The Syndicate which makes everything that occurs seem so vivid. I tend to jump between titles and read a couple of books at a time but The Syndicate held my attention and nothing else was getting a look-in until I had finished reading this one. I love when I get so caught up in a story – sign of a cracking read.
If you enjoy hard-boiled American crime thrillers then this book is perfect for you. Highly recommended.
The shooting of one of America’s most notorious characters clearly created ripples at the time and another mob boss, Meyer Lanskey, wants to know who murdered Siegel. He summons Jonathan Craine to undertake the impossible mission of finding a murderer.
Working under extreme duress Craine is pulled from his quiet secluded life, he had been working on his farm, back to the metropolitan buzz of Hollywood and Las Vegas. He has worked these urban pastures in the past but time away from the cities must place him at a disadvantage as he tries to piece together clues which may lead him to identify a murderer.
Craine first appeared in The Pictures, a book I have not (yet) read but will certainly be hunting down after the huge blasts of enjoyment I experienced while reading The Syndicate. At no point did I feel that I wished I had read The Pictures before picking up The Syndicate – everything I needed to know was made clear without the presumption I knew the key players.
Guy Bolton does a fabulous job of building the environment and detail in The Syndicate which makes everything that occurs seem so vivid. I tend to jump between titles and read a couple of books at a time but The Syndicate held my attention and nothing else was getting a look-in until I had finished reading this one. I love when I get so caught up in a story – sign of a cracking read.
If you enjoy hard-boiled American crime thrillers then this book is perfect for you. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2019
After jumping ahead almost a decade from where The Pictures left off, Bolton finds his groove more readily than the trope-filled predecessor. While the reintroduction of Crane as he’s shooting of a dog doesn’t endear us immediately, this is a solid and straightforward detective piece. Once again using historical events and famous faces as his backdrop, Bolton surprises us by kicking off the main story in the fledgling mob-run Las Vegas before returning to more familiar territory of Hollywood. Bolton keeps the investigative narrative on the straight and narrow, only once arbitrarily upping the stakes on the already ticking tock. The final act is pumped full of adrenaline as Crane literally falls over the finish line. After this chapter, I’ll definitely be looking forward to whatever Bolton has in store for us next.
November 3, 2018
Hard-nosed and snappy; this has its feet firmly in the thriller category as the pacing and writing whips along with some very good descriptions of LA that don't gloss over the problems of sex/race/class of the time. Definitely competent and took the reader on a well thought out and researched journey; the period details never felt forced, which is a risk with this kind of novel. A recommend, especially for fans of Old Hollywood.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2018
For some reason I missed "The Pictures" but I am so pleased that thanks to Net Galley I have read, nay - devoured his follow up, "The Syndicate."
What a well written, exciting and perfectly plotted thriller this is.
I enjoyed it from the start and Bolton's descriptions of the mob seemed spot on.
I loved the relationship between Jonathan Craine and his son and I will now be going back to read the first book.
Highly recommended.
What a well written, exciting and perfectly plotted thriller this is.
I enjoyed it from the start and Bolton's descriptions of the mob seemed spot on.
I loved the relationship between Jonathan Craine and his son and I will now be going back to read the first book.
Highly recommended.
December 28, 2018
This is my first Guy Bolton book and I loved it. The effortlessly way he wove fact and fiction made this story flow. Towards the end I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't read fast enough. I will be ordering his first Craine book "The Pictures" and look forward to more books by Mr. Bolton.
I received this from LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an honest review.
I received this from LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an honest review.
October 26, 2018
Lives up to the promise of the first novel. Fascinating depiction of Hollywood during the McCarthy era.
August 1, 2024
HOLLYWOOD, LAS VEGAS, AND THE MOB
On June 20, 1947, someone using a .30 caliber military M1 carbine pumped several bullets into the notorious mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel through a window of his palatial Beverly Hills home. So died the man who has come down through history as the founder of modern Las Vegas, which he had envisioned as a gambling paradise in the desert and a fountain of new wealth for the New York Mob. Although no one was ever charged with Siegel’s murder, speculation raged in the press. And the British screenwriter and author Guy Bolton follows one line of speculative inquiry to unmask a possible killer in his novel about Hollywood and the Mob, The Syndicate. The book is a delightful romp through post-war Hollywood, filled with gun-toting mobsters, A-list movie stars, black-suited G-men, headline-seeking Congressmen, and a crusading reporter.
THE MOB KIDNAPS A FORMER LAPD DETECTIVE
The Syndicate is the second of Bolton’s novels about LAPD detective Jonathan Crane but is not in any normal sense a sequel. Eight years have passed since the events of 1939 that crowded the pages of The Pictures. Crane has left behind the LAPD and the Hollywood studios. He now lives and works on a small farm miles from Los Angeles with his seventeen-year-old son, Michael. Suddenly their peaceful lives are shattered when three mobsters invade their home and “invite” Crane to accompany them to meet their boss. When he politely declines, the men seize Michael and cut the tips off several of his fingers while holding down a struggling Crane. Then, threatening to kill the boy if Crane resists further, they hustle him off to Las Vegas and deliver him to the head of the New York Mob, Meyer Lansky.
THE DETECTIVE MUST SOLVE SIEGEL’S MURDER—IN FIVE DAYS
Lansky astonishes Crane with the explanation for his kidnapping. He wants the former cop to identity Siegel’s killer—within five days. If he does, the gangsters will let both him and his son go. If he doesn’t, well, that’s the end of them.
But Crane hadn’t ever been a real cop. True, he had been a lieutenant at the LAPD, but his real function was to serve as a “fixer” for the Hollywood studios. If a star overdosed, or ran down someone while driving drunk, or committed some other crime, Crane’s job was to make the charges go away. He was very good at that. But he’d never been practiced as an investigator. The fact that he’d taken on the Chicago Mob back in 1939, helping send all their bosses to prison, was no proof of his skill as an investigator. At least that’s Crane’s own opinion.
Unaccountably, though, Lansky trusts him. And he assigns an associate, a tough-talking New York mobster named Abe Levine, as his assistant. Thus the two set off on a frantic and seemingly futile quest to solve Bugsy Siegel’s murder
A TERRIFIC STORY, SUSPENSEFUL TO THE END
The story that unfolds involves Crane’s old nemesis, the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, and a feisty woman reporter for one of the city’s leading newspapers who’s in search of the big story. Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, the biggest of the studios, plays a major role, too. There are also mobsters galore, the honest cop who heads the LAPD homicide unit, the anti-Communist publisher of Hollywood’s trade paper, lots of big-name Hollywood stars, and the members of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). It’s a terrific story, and suspenseful to the end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Guy Bolton is a British screenwriter who lives in London. He is a graduate in Film & Literature from Warwick University. The Syndicate is his second novel, a sequel to The Pictures. He also has two television series and two feature films in development, according to his agents.
On June 20, 1947, someone using a .30 caliber military M1 carbine pumped several bullets into the notorious mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel through a window of his palatial Beverly Hills home. So died the man who has come down through history as the founder of modern Las Vegas, which he had envisioned as a gambling paradise in the desert and a fountain of new wealth for the New York Mob. Although no one was ever charged with Siegel’s murder, speculation raged in the press. And the British screenwriter and author Guy Bolton follows one line of speculative inquiry to unmask a possible killer in his novel about Hollywood and the Mob, The Syndicate. The book is a delightful romp through post-war Hollywood, filled with gun-toting mobsters, A-list movie stars, black-suited G-men, headline-seeking Congressmen, and a crusading reporter.
THE MOB KIDNAPS A FORMER LAPD DETECTIVE
The Syndicate is the second of Bolton’s novels about LAPD detective Jonathan Crane but is not in any normal sense a sequel. Eight years have passed since the events of 1939 that crowded the pages of The Pictures. Crane has left behind the LAPD and the Hollywood studios. He now lives and works on a small farm miles from Los Angeles with his seventeen-year-old son, Michael. Suddenly their peaceful lives are shattered when three mobsters invade their home and “invite” Crane to accompany them to meet their boss. When he politely declines, the men seize Michael and cut the tips off several of his fingers while holding down a struggling Crane. Then, threatening to kill the boy if Crane resists further, they hustle him off to Las Vegas and deliver him to the head of the New York Mob, Meyer Lansky.
THE DETECTIVE MUST SOLVE SIEGEL’S MURDER—IN FIVE DAYS
Lansky astonishes Crane with the explanation for his kidnapping. He wants the former cop to identity Siegel’s killer—within five days. If he does, the gangsters will let both him and his son go. If he doesn’t, well, that’s the end of them.
But Crane hadn’t ever been a real cop. True, he had been a lieutenant at the LAPD, but his real function was to serve as a “fixer” for the Hollywood studios. If a star overdosed, or ran down someone while driving drunk, or committed some other crime, Crane’s job was to make the charges go away. He was very good at that. But he’d never been practiced as an investigator. The fact that he’d taken on the Chicago Mob back in 1939, helping send all their bosses to prison, was no proof of his skill as an investigator. At least that’s Crane’s own opinion.
Unaccountably, though, Lansky trusts him. And he assigns an associate, a tough-talking New York mobster named Abe Levine, as his assistant. Thus the two set off on a frantic and seemingly futile quest to solve Bugsy Siegel’s murder
A TERRIFIC STORY, SUSPENSEFUL TO THE END
The story that unfolds involves Crane’s old nemesis, the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, and a feisty woman reporter for one of the city’s leading newspapers who’s in search of the big story. Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, the biggest of the studios, plays a major role, too. There are also mobsters galore, the honest cop who heads the LAPD homicide unit, the anti-Communist publisher of Hollywood’s trade paper, lots of big-name Hollywood stars, and the members of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). It’s a terrific story, and suspenseful to the end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Guy Bolton is a British screenwriter who lives in London. He is a graduate in Film & Literature from Warwick University. The Syndicate is his second novel, a sequel to The Pictures. He also has two television series and two feature films in development, according to his agents.
February 5, 2019
This book whisks the reader back in time to the late 1940’s where the Mob rubs elbows with Hollywood stars and movie moguls. Where Las Vegas is still a fledgling city. And where retired LAPD detective Jonathan Craine has gone into seclusion. But when the Mob wants you, they will find you..and in a very dramatic fashion. They land a helicopter on Carine’s farm, and come in with their typical string arm fashion. They demand Jonathan’s help. Or Else. Their boss, Meyer Lansky, wants to find out who killed his friend, legendary Mob boss Bugsy Siegal. Craine’s son is held as leverage to assure that Jonathan finds the man responsible for the death. He has only one week to get to the bottom of the murder, if he doesn’t succeed, both he and his son are dead.
Fast-paced, well plotted, and with a star-studded cast of characters, I found myself captivated but the story. Bolton does a remarkable job of combining fact and fiction seamlessly.
Fast-paced, well plotted, and with a star-studded cast of characters, I found myself captivated but the story. Bolton does a remarkable job of combining fact and fiction seamlessly.
November 2, 2020
Many years has passed since the end of book one and Craine and his soon-to-be 17 yo son, Michael, have settled in a farm in the middle of nowhere. Away from the glitz and the violence. Except that violence came to find them. An important businessman in LA has been assassinated and his business partners seem to think that Craine is the best chance they had in finding out who's responsible. Craine isn't about to go back into this murky world but in the end, his hands were forced. Michael was held hostage and Craine was given less than a week to find the murderer.
It was a rough beginning. It's one of the reasons I don't particularly enjoy mafia books, the violence, the roughing up of an individual (yes, I've read The Godfather and that was a huge struggle!). Thankfully, the main theme of this novel is the investigation into a murder and this was something I enjoy reading. Even if Craine felt slow in figuring things out, he did get there in the end, and what a glorious ending.
It was a rough beginning. It's one of the reasons I don't particularly enjoy mafia books, the violence, the roughing up of an individual (yes, I've read The Godfather and that was a huge struggle!). Thankfully, the main theme of this novel is the investigation into a murder and this was something I enjoy reading. Even if Craine felt slow in figuring things out, he did get there in the end, and what a glorious ending.
May 25, 2019
I picked up this book from the newly released bookshelf in my local library thinking it would be something a little bit more suave, and a little bit more about Las Vegas. It was anything but! This is a no nonsense, tightly wound gumshoe story about a man trying to save his son, only to be caught up in mob business from coast to coast. It plodded along at times, but I kept at it, and this morning I finish the last 90 pages or so totally satisfied with the fast-paced action and plot twists.
November 3, 2020
An ex-detective has to solve the murder of a famous gangster to protect his son.
I thought this was a very entertaining read for the most part, there about fifty pages of incoherent stuff about the power of the studios etc. towards the end, but overall it kept me gripped. If you like the old crime / thriller movies you get on TV on a Sunday afternoon you’ll probably enjoy this book.
It took around seven hours to read this book.
I thought this was a very entertaining read for the most part, there about fifty pages of incoherent stuff about the power of the studios etc. towards the end, but overall it kept me gripped. If you like the old crime / thriller movies you get on TV on a Sunday afternoon you’ll probably enjoy this book.
It took around seven hours to read this book.
April 21, 2022
Didn't think I would like this more then the first novel but here I am. I think it's because we already know a bit about the world. All the hard work was done in the previous novel. Now everything could be build upon existing characters and places.
Really like Craine better here, he came off as a bit whiny in the first novel, which was still the case here for only a bit.
Mystery itself was handled very well, probably gonna enjoy that one more the second time I read so I'll see all the clues.
Really like Craine better here, he came off as a bit whiny in the first novel, which was still the case here for only a bit.
Mystery itself was handled very well, probably gonna enjoy that one more the second time I read so I'll see all the clues.
January 28, 2019
I received this book as part pf LibraryThings early reviewer program.
I really enjoyed this book, even without having read The Pictures. The author does a great job combining history with fiction and I find myself wanting to read more about that period of old Hollywood. The book grbbed me early and kept me wanting more. I’ll definitely look for a copy The Pictures soon.
I really enjoyed this book, even without having read The Pictures. The author does a great job combining history with fiction and I find myself wanting to read more about that period of old Hollywood. The book grbbed me early and kept me wanting more. I’ll definitely look for a copy The Pictures soon.
May 8, 2021
If you like old Hollywood and mysteries you will like this book. Corruption in 20th century L.A. is ground covered by many authors. This series is not my favorite books to cover this topic, but they are still very good and worth reading.
June 3, 2019
Interesting spin on a topic that everyone has wondered about who's interested in mob crime, which I am. Liked the authors treatment a lot. Look forward to more of his books
March 12, 2020
Engaging fiction on the murder of Bugsy Siegel
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