Manhattan Masquerade

Galen Slaughter and Joe Beringer are partners at the Greater Gotham Detective Agency. Although very different men in many ways, both are veterans of the World War who share a remarkable proficiency with fists and firearms. Their lives since the Armistice have been far from peaceful but the greatest challenge of all comes during the first fifteen days of 1933. At a time when the Depression is at its absolute worst they find themselves part of a small band of men and women tasked with protecting the unsuspecting millions of New York City from a mysterious new criminal organization. Outnumbered and out-gunned by gangsters and corrupted police officers alike, they must also contend with the bitter realization that even heroes have dark secrets.

Manhattan Masquerade (Mystery Thriller)

“Greater Gotham Detective Agency Book 1”

By Michael Howard

Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN # 978-1543158069

Price $15.99

638 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“The Action Never Slows”

The New York underworld has a new crime mastermind calling himself Tanas Fericul (change the letters around and you get Satan Lucifer). Mobsters are disappearing, and the Mob is worried. Galen Slaughter of the Greater Gotham City Detective Agency is already working on the case for personal reasons. His partner, Joe Beringer is drawn into the case when Richard Whiting hires him to trail the beautiful heiress, Jessica Silverton. Then he discovers that his secretary, Betty Kern is secretly reporting to Whiting behind his back. And Linwood Hewitt’s Trans-Global Detective Agency also has agents working on the case.

This is a non-stop action thriller from the first page, and the action never slows down. It covers the first 15 days of January in 1933, and there is something going to happen on the last day. Not only is there a good mystery within the criminal element, there are things the detective agency wants kept hidden also. The story is steeped in foreign and national espionage.

The mysterious Wrath is back after years of silence, and could be a new person wearing strange costume. And who is the great American spy of WWI, known as The Peacemaker, and why is he involved. And if that wasn’t enough, the beautiful WWI spy known as R-1 is also involved some way. All right, I’m going out on a limb now. This has got to be the best new pulp novel for not only 2017, but possibly for the last decade. Not only is it a spy thriller, it is the shadow world of the 1930’s, and pulp heroes, all rolled into one. This novel should win all kinds of awards in the pulp community. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE MAN IN THE BLACK FEDORA

  

Bootleg Broadway

 It’s 1932. Prohibition rages, the Depression ravages, and Billy McGlory comes of age whether he wants to or not. Musical and adventurous, Billy dreams of having his own ritzy supper club and big band. On the eve of his marriage to the pregnant Prudence, the shifty “businessman” Rosario Ingovito offers him all that and more. Fame, fortune, his own Broadway musical—it’s all his for the taking, despite Pru’s opposition to Rosie’s ventures. Meanwhile, Pru’s artistic career gains momentum and their child is born. Can anything go wrong for Billy? Only when he gets in way over his head does he stop to wonder how his business partner really makes his millions, but by then it’s far too late…

Bootleg Broadway (Historical Romance)

Diana Rubino

The Wild Rose Press

ISBN #978-1509201280

Price $18.99

402 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“Inside The Mob.”

It’s 1932 New York, and young Billy McGlory, a musical genius has high hopes of seeing his name in lights. He has just married his childhood sweetheart, Prudence Muller, who also wants to be an artist. She’s pregnant, and Billy wants the best for their child. He’s discovered by Rosario Ingovito, a local mobster once from the Chicago Mob, now setting up business in New York. Rosie has big plans for Billy and his piano. Setting him up in a club, it only gets better as the mobster uses Billy’s talent to bring people in the clubs he owns. But Pru wants Billy out of the mobs. She knows where this connection will lead if he stays with his new pals.

It does sky rocket Billy to fame, with his name in lights; his own hit play on Broadway, and records. Billy is flying high while his wife sinks into depression and drugs. With the mobs involvement in bootleg whiskey, prostitution, and now moving into drugs and gambling, Billy also sees that it must end, but in the mob, there’s only one way out.

This was a fascinating story set in Prohibition and the Depression era New York. We see inside the Mafia, even meeting Al Capone and other high-ups in the mob. There are dirty cops and politicians on the take. The author did her research, and the reader is better for it. The love story is bittersweet, and the story ends as only such a story can when the mob runs the show – and your life. Yes, it’s a romantic tale, yet it’s also a Mafia story, and I highly recommend it to readers especially interested in the period, and for those who love a good yarn, and want to be entertained. It’s not just a love story.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

NYC Book Show

COME TO THE BOOK SHOW!

The 24th annual

New York City Collectible Paperback &

Pulp Fiction Expo,

our big 2012 book show will be held

Sunday, October 14, 2012,

at the Holiday Inn at 440 West 57th Street in NYC in the BIG ROOM on the first floor.

 

A limited number of 6’ and 8’ tables available but email for tables asap, as they go fast.

 

Admission: Preview (8am) $10; General (9am - 3pm) $5; After 3pm FREE

 

Confirmed Guest authors and artists so far include:

CHARLES ARDAI, award-winning crime author and editor of the Hard Case Crime series.

 

LAWRENCE BLOCK, legendry mystery and crime author, creator of the Matt Scudder series & more!

ED BALCOURT, renown artist rep who was a key player in paperback cover art and pb publishing.

 

VICTOR BANIS: vintage 60s soft-core author of classic gay eroticia and sleaze paperbacks!

 

ANN BANNON: vintage Gold Medal author of classic lesbian pulp novels!

MARCUS BOAS, fabulous fantasy artist who will display some of his wonderful paintings!

 

CAROL BUGGE, author of many fine mystery novels and fine Sherlockian pastiches!

RON GOULART, master storyteller, SF writer, pulp and comic book scholar.

C.J. HENDERSON, well-known hard-boiled crime, fantasy and horror author.

MORRIS HERSHMAN, original Manhunt author and also Midwood Books author as Arnold English.

MARVIN KAYE, famous fantasy author and renown Sherlockian anthologist and editor of Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine andWeird Tales.

 

MARIJANE MEAKER: Classic Gold Medal author who wrote crime as Vin Packer and lesbian novels as Ann Aldrich, and many other fine bestsellers!

ANNETTE & MARTIN MEYERS, mystery author couple, who also write as Maan Meyers.

 

JOHN NORMAN: Bestselling science fiction author and creator of the famous GOR series!

S.J. ROZAN, crime author and creator of the famous Lydia Chin series and much more.

 

JASON STARR, author of many excellent crime and noir thrillers.

STAN TRYBULSKI, hard-boiled crime author with many fine books to his credit.

 

F. PAUL WILSON: famed science fiction & horror author, creator of the Repairman Jack series!

KEN WISHNIA, hard crime writer, as well as popular historical mystery author.

 

Guest signing times will be posted on our website, www.gryphonbooks.com and also on the Program given out at the day of the show.